Former DOH employee Rebekah Jones receives whistleblower status

The employee, Rebekah Jones, had raised questions about Florida’s COVID-19 data after being ousted as the data’s curator.

Café charges patrons $5 if they wear a mask or for 'bragging' about COVID vaccine

"$5 FEE ADDED TO ORDERS PLACED WHILE WEARING A FACE MASK," a sign posted in the window of the café reads. In the fine print below the sign says that any customer "caught bragging" will also have to pay the penalty.

New COVID-19 variant found in Vietnam is hybrid of India, UK strains

Vietnam's health minister said the new variant could be responsible for a recent surge, which has spread to 30 of the country’s 63 municipalities and provinces.

Uptick in coronavirus cases prompts Chinese city to lock down neighborhood

The southern Chinese city of Guangzhou has shut down a neighborhood and ordered residents to stay home for door-to-door coronavirus testing following an upsurge in infections that has rattled authorities.

EEOC says employers can demand, incentivize COVID-19 shots

The EEOC says it is not discriminatory to demand an employee get a vaccine because it's not related to a disability and that the unvaccinated are not a protected class under other federal laws.

Immunity to COVID-19 could last for years, new studies suggest

Both studies published in May suggest that individuals who were infected with COVID-19 and got the vaccine could have immunity against the virus, plus variants, for years.

Georgia's youngest business owner hit by fraudulent unemployment claims

In April, the business started receiving letters from the Georgia Department of Labor indicating men and women were seeking unemployment benefits--people who have never worked for Mason Super Dogs.

European regulators approve Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children 12-15

The European Medicines Agency has authorized Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for use in children 12-15, the E.U.‘s first shot cleared for kids.

Walmart partners with schools to open COVID-19 vaccine clinics for adolescents

Walmart said it has worked with local school districts to open vaccine clinics in Georgia, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Texas and Pennsylvania. It hopes to open additional clinics in the coming weeks.

Diapers, toilet paper, other consumer goods to cost more starting in June

The prices of many everyday items will start to rise beginning next month as the country’s economy eases its way out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Colorado joins Ohio in offering $1M COVID-19 vaccine lottery

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Tuesday announced that the state will be offering five $1 million lottery prizes, totaling $5 million, to residents who have been vaccinated.

CDC approves test sail for Royal Caribbean cruise line, the first as COVID-19 cases drop

The CDC has given Royal Caribbean approval to conduct a test sail next month, a sign that the cruise industry is poised to bounce back this year after suffering major losses from the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.

SeaWorld no longer requiring masks for fully vaccinated employees

The theme park had already dropped the mask requirement for guests who were vaccinated along with Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando.