TOP HEADLINES
Biden to Call on Congress to Extend, Strengthen FFCRA
HR Dive – January 15, 2021
President-elect Joe Biden will call on Congress to put back into place paid-leave provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and strengthen the law by eliminating exemptions for employers with more than 500 or less than 50 employees.
Jobless Claims Show Modest Decline as Congress Works on More Stimulus
CNBC – January 21, 2021
Jobless claims for the week ending on Jan. 16 totaled 900,000, the Labor Department reported, slightly better than the Wall Street estimate of 925,000.
What to Consider Before Implementing a Mandatory Vaccine Policy
TLNT – January 8, 2021
The first COVID-19 vaccines have been released, with more to come in the near future. This landmark development raises an important question: Can employers require their employees to get the vaccine as a term and condition of continued employment?
What’s New from the CDC
Keep up with all the latest information on COVID-19 directly from the resources created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
GLOBAL NEWS
AUSTRALIA
Fall in Unemployment Raises Likelihood Australian Government Will Withdraw COVID Support
The Guardian – January 20, 2021
Unemployment in Australia has fallen by 0.2% to 6.6%, a quicker than expected recovery that increases the likelihood economic supports will be withdrawn.
CANADA
Pfizer Tells Canada It Will Not Receive Any COVID-19 Vaccine Doses Next Week
CNN – January 20, 2021
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sought to reassure Canadians that vaccine deliveries would pick up again in a few weeks and that the overall goal, to have every willing Canadian vaccinated by September, would remain on track.
INDIA
India is Giving Away Millions of Coronavirus Vaccine Doses as a Tool of Diplomacy
The Washington Post – January 21, 2021
India only started vaccinating its own population against the coronavirus a few days ago, but it is already using its manufacturing heft to generate goodwill with its neighbors.
UNITED KINGDOM
Too Early to Say When COVID-19 Lockdown Will End, UK PM Johnson Says
Reuters – January 21, 2021
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced yesterday a third national lockdown, instructing people to stay home amid a rapid rise in cases attributed to the new variant of COVID-19.
UNITED STATES
Tracking COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution by State: How Many People in The U.S. Have Received a Shot?
USA Today – January 16, 2021
See how many COVID-19 vaccines your state received, and how many people have gotten one so far.
POLAND
Number of Confirmed Coronavirus Cases in Poland Reaches 1,457,755
The First News – January 21, 2021
The number of Poland’s confirmed coronavirus infections has grown since Wednesday by 7,152 new cases and reached 1,457,755, the Ministry of Health said on Thursday. So far, 1,215,732 people have recovered.
