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A critical-care physician at the University of Washington Medical Center discussed how his hospital is getting ready for a surge of coronavirus patients. (Video: Tim Matsui/The Washington Post, Photo: EPA/The Washington Post)

China reports zero new local coronavirus infections; Trump signs bill to ensure paid leave, other financial benefits

March 19, 2020 at 11:08 a.m. EDT
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President Trump has signed into law a bill to ensure paid leave benefits to many Americans, part of a broader aid package to fight the effects of the pandemic. The legislation also promises free coronavirus testing to anyone who needs it, including the uninsured; increases health funding around the country; and supports nutrition programs such as the food stamp system.  

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Coronavirus: What you need to know

New coronavirus booster: The CDC recommends that anyone 6 months or older get an updated coronavirus shot this fall, but the vaccine rollout has seen some hiccups, especially for children. Here’s what you need to know about the new coronavirus vaccines, including when you should get it.

Coronavirus variants: Scientists are concerned about the new BA. 2.86 coronavirus variant, a highly mutated form of the coronavirus that threatens to be the most adept yet at slipping past the body’s immune defenses. EG. 5, a new coronavirus subvariant, unofficially nicknamed “Eris,” is becoming a dominant strain in countries including the United States and Britain.

Rising covid-19 hospitalizations: The United States is experiencing a bump in coronavirus transmission for the first time since the public health emergency ended in May. It is exposing the challenges of avoiding the virus when free testing is no longer widely accessible. Here’s how coronavirus experts are approaching this fall’s expected rise in infections.

Covid deaths: Covid-19 was the fourth leading cause of death in the United States last year, and covid deaths dropped 47 percent between 2021 and 2022.

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