WLIW21 and PBS offer regular, in-depth reporting on the coronavirus COVID-19 that addresses the disease, emergency response measures, the economic impact and the safety precautions that are best for your health. Here is the latest from medical professionals and experts, politicians and officials, and journalists who cover coronavirus news. This page will be updated as reporting continues.
Recent COVID-19 News and Numbers
Click for Hotlines and Information Sources for Nassau and Suffolk Counties
WLIW21 offers coronavirus coverage updates via email or mobile. Sign up for email alerts here, or text INFORMATION to 30644 for mobile notifications.
MetroFocus Interviews
(l to r): Hosts Rafael Pi Roman, Jenna Flanagan and Jack Ford.
MetroFocus is on weeknights at 5, 7 and 11 p.m. on broadcast and livestream; listen weeknights on 88.3 WLIW-FM at 11 pm.
July 6: Phase 3, Evictions, NYPD & Transgender Rights
New York State Senator Brad Hoylman discusses the outlook for New York as phase 3 of the reopening gets underway on July 6; his new bill that will protect New Yorkers who can prove financial hardship during COVID-crisis from eviction; and current hot button issues, from sweeping police reform to efforts to ensure LGBTQ rights.
PBS NewsHour Reports
PBS NewsHour is on weeknights at 6pm and weekends at 6:30pm on broadcast and livestream. Listen to half-hour broadcasts on 88.3 WPPB weeknights at 6pm. See PBS NewsHour Essential Coronavirus FAQ.
July 10: States Return to Containment Measures as Virus Sets Records
The U.S. has set another record for daily new coronavirus infections — as it has on six out of the past 10 days. Texas logged 10,000 new cases Thursday, and hospitals in Florida are overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients. With no signs of improvement in infection rates, more states are again implementing restrictions such as mask requirements and business shutdowns.
July 9: Top U.S. Health Official Say States Should Pause Reopening
The rising number of coronavirus infections in the U.S. proves the pandemic is far from abating. New cases are setting single-day records in several states and declining in only two. While the nation’s top medical officials say states should pause reopening in order to control virus spread, the Trump administration insists schools should resume as normal this fall.
July 8: Why is the U.S. Struggling to Test Everyone Who Needs It?
Since the earliest days of the coronavirus pandemic, public health experts have emphasized that having an efficient system for wide-scale testing was key to bringing the COVID-19 outbreak under control. But in reality, virus testing in the United States has consistently missed the mark. William Brangham talks to Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
July 7: New Data Illuminates Details of PPP Funding Distribution
The Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, is one of the federal government’s signature efforts to help small businesses weather the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, there is new data from the Trump administration about how this money was distributed during the past few months, and to whom. Lisa Desjardins joins Judy Woodruff to discuss where PPP funds went and whether the program is likely to be extended.
July 6: What the Pandemic Means for Hurricane Preparation
Weather forecasters say the current tropical storm season is likely to be more active than normal, with as many as six major hurricanes. But planning for these disasters is more complex this year. The coronavirus pandemic has made it harder to stock up on emergency supplies and will almost certainly complicate evacuation efforts.
July 6: Why Black, Latinx Americans are Suffering More from COVID-19
For months, it’s been clear that the pandemic is taking a disproportionate toll on people of color. Now, new data quantifies the disparities, showing that African American and Latinx people are nearly three times as likely to contract COVID-19 as white Americans and twice as likely to die from it. Amna Nawaz talks to Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo of the University of California, San Francisco.
July 5: Experts Focus on Superspreaders to Study Virus Transmission
As businesses reopen and cases across several states in the U.S. and across the world surge, experts worry that “superspreaders,” a small percentage of infected people are transmitting the virus to a much larger percent, could be fueling the pandemic. Hari Sreenivasan speaks with Ben Lopman, an epidemiology professor at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health.
July 3: Cities Struggle to Keep Residents Compliant as Virus Surges
As the Fourth of July approaches, coronavirus cases are rising across the country, with businesses and public spaces again closing down as a result. Where does the U.S. stand in terms of managing this public health crisis? Judy Woodruff talks to top elected officials of two major metropolitan areas: Judge Lina Hidalgo of Harris County, Texas, and Mayor Carlos Gimenez of Miami-Dade County, Florida.
NJTV News
July 10: ‘Hot Spot’ Travelers Ignore NJ’s Quarantine Advisory
Many travelers arriving in New Jersey from so-called COVID-19 hot spot states mainly stay under the radar instead of staying in 14-day quarantine. Local health officials say they do have space available in local motels for quarantined travelers, but right now, they have no way to track down visitors who might be COVID-positive.
July 9: Hundreds Brave Massive Lines at Motor Vehicle Commission
Winding lines of hot and frustrated customers can be found outside Motor Vehicle Commission offices across the state.
July 8: Governor Orders People Must Wear Masks Outdoors
Gov. Phil Murphy Wednesday ordered people to wear masks if they’re in outdoor crowds where it’s not possible to safely social distance. Local law enforcement will monitor compliance. While some residents and health care workers applauded the mandate saying it will keep people safe, critics deplored the order as another rule imposed by Murphy without lawmakers’ input.
July 7: What Colleges and Universities Will Look Like in the Fall
Schools like Rutgers and Princeton University are working to map out plans for higher education amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
July 6: Summer Camps Reopen to Excited Parents and Kids Amid COVID
This year by far was the most challenging summer to stay open for Camp Sam in Sewell, but they’re doing so safely while trying to maintain camp traditions.
July 3: People Flock to Reopened Shore Attractions on July 4th Weekend
Outdoor amusements can now operate at just 50% capacity. Venues that lost weeks of business to the pandemic are scrambling. It’s a slow start. Shore towns desperately want to attract crowds, but they don’t want them to be too crowded. It’s a very fine line to walk in the summer sand.
Amanpour and Company
Left to right: Walter Isaacson, Michel Martin, Christiane Amanpour, Hari Sreenivasan
<Amanpour and Company is on Monday – Saturday at 12am; repeats at 5am and 3pm. Watch broadcast or livestream.
Firing Line with Margaret Hoover
Firing Line is broadcast Fridays at 8:30pm and streams live.
July 3: Sean Penn
Actor Sean Penn discusses his efforts to expand coronavirus testing access through his non-profit, CORE. The organization initially offered free drive-through tests in Penn’s hometown, Los Angeles, and is now in a dozen cities. Penn urges people to come together in this moment of crisis rather than focus on partisan politics.
GZERO World with Ian Bremmer
Ian Bremmer. Photo: Richard Jopson.
Ian Bremmer, a renowned political scientist, entrepreneur and bestselling author, shares his perspective on recent global events and interviews the world leaders, experts and newsmakers. Watch Sundays at 10:30am or stream now.
July 12: The Politics of a Pandemic with Senator Chris Coons
Why isn’t Congress doing more to respond to the pandemic? Will Russia pay for putting bounties on the heads of American soldiers? What would a “Biden Doctrine” foreign policy look like? An interview with Delaware Senator Chris Coons. Then a Harvard epidemiologist takes stock of what we’ve learned about the coronavirus so far. And on Puppet Regime, Covid-19 rides the (second, or first?) wave.
Hotlines and Information
NY State Hotline: 888-364-3065
See New York State coranavirus updates here.
Covid19.NYC is an independent website offering public health information to New Yorkers, aimed at centralizing and aggregating info from a range of medical authorities. All information is sourced from WHO, CDC, NYS Department of Health and NYC Department of Health websites and guidelines.
Nassau County
Text COVID19NC to 888777 to get updates on Coronavirus in Nassau County on your mobile device.
Nassau County Coronavirus Hotline: 516-227-9570
Nassau County COVID-19 information and resources. The site updates its data on cases, deaths, hospitalizations, number of ventilator patients and discharges daily at 5pm.
Suffolk County
Text COVIDSUFFOLK to 67283 to get updates on Coronavirus in Suffolk County on your cell phone.
Call 1-888-364-3065 with questions about travel and symptoms.
Suffolk County COVID-19 information and resources, including daily reports of deaths, cases, and cases by county.
Remote Learning Resources from WNET Education
Programs for remote learning air on THIRTEEN, WLIW21, WLIW WORLD and NJTV to better serve families during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Let’s Learn NYC!, for children in grades 3K through second grade, offers lessons to supplement remote learning episodes. Stream episodes here.
- WORLD At Home Learning for grades 6-12 airs Monday-Friday from 12 noon – 5 p.m. See program details and schedule information for science, history and English language arts programming.
- WLIW21 at Home Learning for K-12 airs Monday-Friday from 6:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., and focuses on all major school subjects, drawing from WNET’s vast archive of PBS and locally produced content. See schedule.
- NJTV Learning Live lessons are taught by some of New Jersey’s finest public school teachers. They are archived on NJTVonline.org/learn.
Help keep students learning at home with tools for parents and educators on WNET’s Education site. All resources are free and standards-aligned.
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