John Ruwitch

Amid High Stakes, China Is Fast-Tracking COVID-19 Vaccine Efforts

By John Ruwitch • May 20, 2020

The race for a coronavirus vaccine is on.

This week, Massachusetts-based Moderna Inc. reported promising preliminary results for the vaccine it is developing. It's one of eight vaccines under development that have been approved for clinical trials, according to the World Health Organization.

China Leads The Worldwide Race To Develop A COVID-19 Vaccine

By John Ruwitch • May 19, 2020

MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:

Pompeo Blasts WHO And China For Excluding Taiwan From This Week's Health Assembly

By John Ruwitch • May 18, 2020

Updated at 9:41 p.m. ET

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday blasted the head of the World Health Organization for bowing to Chinese pressure and not inviting Taiwan to attend the body's annual meeting, damaging its credibility at a crucial time.

The World Health Assembly started on Monday amid the worst pandemic in modern history.

Taiwan Likely To Remain Off WHO's Invite List Despite COVID-19 Successes

By John Ruwitch • May 17, 2020

LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO, HOST:

States And Hospitals Are Sourcing Their Own PPE From China

By Martin Kaste & John Ruwitch • Apr 21, 2020

AILSA CHANG, HOST:

Bandanas, Balaclavas, Bra Straps: How People Are Answering Call to Cover Their Faces

By John Ruwitch & Nathan Rott • Apr 11, 2020

With health officials now urging all Americans to cover their faces in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, and a growing list of places requiring it, millions of people are getting creative to try and do their part - pulling out sewing kits, ripping up T-shirts and repurposing everything from vacuum filters to old bras. Seriously.

Critic Of China's Coronavirus Response Is Under Investigation, Beijing Says

By John Ruwitch • Apr 7, 2020

China's ruling Communist Party is investigating outspoken former real estate executive Ren Zhiqiang, who criticized Chinese leader Xi Jinping last month for his handling of the coronavirus outbreak.

In an announcement posted online, the Beijing branch of the party's internal corruption watchdog said Ren, a party member, was suspected of "serious violations of discipline and the law."

China Reports Its First Day With No New COVID-19 Deaths

By John Ruwitch • Apr 7, 2020

China on Tuesday reported no deaths from COVID-19 for the first time since it began publishing data about the outbreak more than two months ago.

The milestone comes a day before the government is set to lift outbound travel restrictions on people in Wuhan, the country's hardest-hit city.

With a population of more than 10 million people, Wuhan has been under lockdown since Jan. 23 in a bid to stop the spread of COVID-19. The first cases of infection with the coronavirus were detected in Wuhan in December.

Tales Of Two Cities: Coronavirus Outcomes Differ Between Bay Area, New York City

By John Ruwitch & Rebecca Hersher • Apr 1, 2020

MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:

California Leans On National Guard To Help With Food Banks

By John Ruwitch • Mar 29, 2020

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

China Temporarily Closes Its Borders To Foreign Nationals

By John Ruwitch & Merrit Kennedy • Mar 26, 2020

Updated at 3:45 p.m.

China will close its borders to foreigners starting on Saturday, March 28, in a dramatic step to try to stop the coronavirus coming in from abroad.

The move is the latest in a string of tough steps by the Chinese government to combat the virus, which first appeared in the city of Wuhan late last year and has spread widely since.

Governor Expects More Than Half Of Californians To Become Infected With Coronavirus

By John Ruwitch • Mar 19, 2020

California Gov. Gavin Newsom expects about 56% of the state's population – more than 22 million Californians – to be infected with the coronavirus over an eight-week period.

The estimate was in a letter Newsom sent to President Trump, dated Wednesday, asking Trump to deploy the naval hospital ship Mercy to the waters off of Los Angeles through the beginning of September.