https://www.voanews.com/z/6730 The latest news, information, guidelines, and outlook for the COVID-19 pandemic that's killed thousands of people and sickened millions of others around the world. https://www.voanews.com/Content/responsive/VOA/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.voanews.com/z/6730 en 2026 - VOA 60 Sat, 18 Apr 2026 04:22:23 -0400 Pangea CMS – VOA New assessment points finger at China https://www.voanews.com/a/cia-covid-likely-originated-in-a-lab-but-agency-has-low-confidence-in-report-/7950532.html https://www.voanews.com/a/cia-covid-likely-originated-in-a-lab-but-agency-has-low-confidence-in-report-/7950532.html Sat, 25 Jan 2025 20:28:11 -0500 COVID-19 PandemicUSAEast AsiaScience & HealthChina Newswebdesk@voanews.com (Associated Press) Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) has recently spread widely across China, overwhelming hospitals and evoking memories of the COVID-19 outbreak. HMPV is not a new virus; it has been known for years and typically has a low mortality rate. Nevertheless, epidemiologists are calling for greater transparency about the spread of the virus to help contain infections. While the health care system is under strain, experts stress that there is no need for panic. They recommend the public follow basic... https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-mandarin-china-s-winter-surge-of-flu-like-hmpv-cases-raises-concerns-of-transparency-/7932775.html https://www.voanews.com/a/voa-mandarin-china-s-winter-surge-of-flu-like-hmpv-cases-raises-concerns-of-transparency-/7932775.html Sun, 12 Jan 2025 12:30:33 -0500 China NewsEast AsiaScience & HealthCOVID-19 Pandemicwebdesk@voanews.com (Chan-Long Ku) Funding and attention for long COVID research are dwindling in many wealthy countries https://www.voanews.com/a/many-long-covid-patients-adjust-to-slim-recovery-odds-as-world-moves-on/7864712.html https://www.voanews.com/a/many-long-covid-patients-adjust-to-slim-recovery-odds-as-world-moves-on/7864712.html Sat, 16 Nov 2024 01:30:00 -0500 Science & HealthCOVID-19 Pandemicwebdesk@voanews.com (Reuters) Officials opposed to the decision worry about impact for people who can’t travel elsewhere but need or want the vaccine https://www.voanews.com/a/covid-19-shots-banned-at-public-health-district-in-idaho-likely-first-in-us-/7848342.html https://www.voanews.com/a/covid-19-shots-banned-at-public-health-district-in-idaho-likely-first-in-us-/7848342.html Fri, 01 Nov 2024 18:49:00 -0400 Science & HealthUSACOVID-19 Pandemicwebdesk@voanews.com (Associated Press) Many countries have experienced surges of COVID-19, including at the Olympics, where at least 40 athletes have tested positive https://www.voanews.com/a/who-governments-unprepared-to-combat-global-covid-19-surge/7732307.html https://www.voanews.com/a/who-governments-unprepared-to-combat-global-covid-19-surge/7732307.html Tue, 06 Aug 2024 15:23:48 -0400 COVID-19 PandemicScience & Healthwebdesk@voanews.com (Lisa Schlein) While China has extended visa-free entry to 12 European countries, industry experts say new measures are unlikely to drive travel recovery https://www.voanews.com/a/china-sees-more-foreign-visitors-but-far-fewer-than-before-covid/7696561.html https://www.voanews.com/a/china-sees-more-foreign-visitors-but-far-fewer-than-before-covid/7696561.html Sat, 13 Jul 2024 07:08:43 -0400 China NewsEast AsiaCOVID-19 Pandemicwebdesk@voanews.com (Lin Nai-Chuan) The agency calls on nations to strengthen monitoring and report all cases https://www.voanews.com/a/who-limited-surveillance-hampers-bird-flu-risk-assessment-/7694342.html https://www.voanews.com/a/who-limited-surveillance-hampers-bird-flu-risk-assessment-/7694342.html Thu, 11 Jul 2024 14:45:40 -0400 Science & HealthUSAAfricaCOVID-19 Pandemicwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA News) Improvement has been slow and uneven across geography and economic status https://www.voanews.com/a/most-us-students-are-recovering-from-pandemic-setbacks-but-millions-lag-/7639371.html https://www.voanews.com/a/most-us-students-are-recovering-from-pandemic-setbacks-but-millions-lag-/7639371.html Sun, 02 Jun 2024 03:39:15 -0400 USAStudent UnionCOVID-19 Pandemicwebdesk@voanews.com (Associated Press) World still needs plan to deal with the next pandemic https://www.voanews.com/a/who-negotiators-fail-to-draft-pandemic-treaty-/7626586.html https://www.voanews.com/a/who-negotiators-fail-to-draft-pandemic-treaty-/7626586.html Fri, 24 May 2024 22:43:52 -0400 Science & HealthCOVID-19 Pandemicwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA News) Zhang Zhan is freed, but concerns about her safety persist amid ongoing surveillance and restrictions on her activities https://www.voanews.com/a/chinese-journalist-freed-after-four-years-in-prison-for-covid-reporting/7624437.html https://www.voanews.com/a/chinese-journalist-freed-after-four-years-in-prison-for-covid-reporting/7624437.html Thu, 23 May 2024 14:50:00 -0400 Press FreedomEast AsiaChina NewsCOVID-19 Pandemicwebdesk@voanews.com (Kasim Kashgar) Gone are mandated isolation periods and masking https://www.voanews.com/a/cdc-relaxes-covid-guidelines-will-schools-day-cares-follow-suit-/7510945.html https://www.voanews.com/a/cdc-relaxes-covid-guidelines-will-schools-day-cares-follow-suit-/7510945.html Sat, 02 Mar 2024 02:00:00 -0500 USAScience & HealthCOVID-19 Pandemicwebdesk@voanews.com (Associated Press) Recent government public health campaigns on the importance of COVID-19 jabs have helped defeat vaccine hesitancy https://www.voanews.com/a/malawi-launches-new-covid-19-vaccination-campaign-amid-rising-cases-/7462317.html https://www.voanews.com/a/malawi-launches-new-covid-19-vaccination-campaign-amid-rising-cases-/7462317.html Mon, 29 Jan 2024 18:14:14 -0500 AfricaScience & HealthCOVID-19 Pandemicwebdesk@voanews.com (Lameck Masina) Lawmakers across the political spectrum who rarely agree on little else agree it's time to close the program https://www.voanews.com/a/ending-covid-era-program-may-help-congress-expand-child-tax-credit/7459878.html https://www.voanews.com/a/ending-covid-era-program-may-help-congress-expand-child-tax-credit/7459878.html Sat, 27 Jan 2024 12:15:46 -0500 USACOVID-19 Pandemicwebdesk@voanews.com (Associated Press) JN.1 variant is now the most prominent throughout the world https://www.voanews.com/a/nearly-10-000-died-from-covid-19-last-month-fueled-by-holiday-gatherings-new-variant-who-says-/7437761.html https://www.voanews.com/a/nearly-10-000-died-from-covid-19-last-month-fueled-by-holiday-gatherings-new-variant-who-says-/7437761.html Fri, 12 Jan 2024 14:07:58 -0500 Science & HealthCOVID-19 Pandemicwebdesk@voanews.com (Associated Press) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says nearly 10,000 deaths were reported in December, while hospital admissions during the month jumped 42% in nearly 50 countries — mostly in Europe and the Americas https://www.voanews.com/a/un-health-agency-holiday-gatherings-new-variant-have-driven-up-covid-cases-globally/7434556.html https://www.voanews.com/a/un-health-agency-holiday-gatherings-new-variant-have-driven-up-covid-cases-globally/7434556.html Wed, 10 Jan 2024 14:44:14 -0500 Science & HealthCOVID-19 Pandemicwebdesk@voanews.com (Associated Press)  Citing spikes in COVID, flu, masks mandated in health care centers https://www.voanews.com/a/spain-health-officials-reinstate-masks-rules-in-some-areas-/7428595.html https://www.voanews.com/a/spain-health-officials-reinstate-masks-rules-in-some-areas-/7428595.html Fri, 05 Jan 2024 16:31:10 -0500 EuropeScience & HealthCOVID-19 Pandemicwebdesk@voanews.com (VOA News) Surge could mean hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and many thousands of deaths across the country https://www.voanews.com/a/more-us-hospitals-requiring-masks-as-flu-covid-19-cases-surge-/7426123.html https://www.voanews.com/a/more-us-hospitals-requiring-masks-as-flu-covid-19-cases-surge-/7426123.html Wed, 03 Jan 2024 23:16:43 -0500 Science & HealthUSACOVID-19 Pandemicwebdesk@voanews.com (Associated Press) The COVID-19 pandemic affected international students, disrupting studies and weakening social skills. But the pandemic did generate some positives, say college counselors and students who are back to in-person learning in the U.S. VOA’s Laurel Bowman explores. Camera: Adam Greenbaum, Saqib Ul Islam https://www.voanews.com/a/covid-19-effects-linger-among-international-students-in-us/7414340.html https://www.voanews.com/a/covid-19-effects-linger-among-international-students-in-us/7414340.html Wed, 27 Dec 2023 09:15:11 -0500 Student UnionUSAScience & HealthCOVID-19 Pandemicwebdesk@voanews.com (Laurel Bowman) More than 18 million masks, 22 million gowns, 500,000 gloves, and more trashed https://www.voanews.com/a/us-trashing-troves-pandemic-gear-as-huge-costly-stockpiles-expire/7408299.html https://www.voanews.com/a/us-trashing-troves-pandemic-gear-as-huge-costly-stockpiles-expire/7408299.html Sat, 23 Dec 2023 03:18:40 -0500 USAScience & HealthCOVID-19 Pandemicwebdesk@voanews.com (Associated Press) But U.N. agency says current vaccines protect against new variant as well as others https://www.voanews.com/a/who-classifies-jn-1-coronavirus-strain-as-variant-of-interest-/7404388.html https://www.voanews.com/a/who-classifies-jn-1-coronavirus-strain-as-variant-of-interest-/7404388.html Tue, 19 Dec 2023 13:13:44 -0500 Science & HealthCOVID-19 Pandemicwebdesk@voanews.com (Reuters)