2021 Breaking News Story

A fireman wearing personal protective equipment, (PPE), speaks through his gas mask after responding to a suspected Covid-19 call in an apartment on April 06,...

A fireman wearing personal protective equipment, (PPE), speaks through his gas mask after responding to a suspected Covid-19 call in an apartment on April 06, 2020 in Yonkers, New York. Yonkers is in Westchester County, just north of New York City, the spring epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. Emergency medical services (EMS) medics are the healthcare workers most on the frontline in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic. Medics must enter the homes of infected and highly contagious patients, often treating them with life-saving procedures, including intubations, before transporting them to local hospitals. Throughout the United States, many medics had to ration personal protective equipment early in the pandemic and others came down sick themselves. Most all of these medics worked grueling hours, especially in the spring and winter of 2020 as the pandemic surged and claimed ever more victims.

EMS paramedics deliver Zully, a Covid-19 patient, new mother and Guatemalan asylum seeker to her home, as her husband Marvin, also covid-positive, comforts her on...

EMS paramedics deliver Zully, a Covid-19 patient, new mother and Guatemalan asylum seeker to her home, as her husband Marvin, also covid-positive, comforts her on her bed April 25, 2020 in Stamford, Connecticut. Almost a month earlier Zully had arrived to Stamford Hospital 8 months pregnant and gravely ill with Covid-19. She was admitted, put into a medically induced coma and given an emergency C-section. Her son was born healthy but his mother would remain on a ventilator for several weeks more, and he could not be sent home as both his father Marvin and brother Junior, 7, (R), were also sick with the virus. The family slowly recovered, eventually tested negative and were able to welcome baby Neysel at home.

EMS senior captain Isabel Sky-Eagle provides oxygen to a woman suffering from possible Covid-19 symptoms before transporting her to a hospital on August 12, 2020...

EMS senior captain Isabel Sky-Eagle provides oxygen to a woman suffering from possible Covid-19 symptoms before transporting her to a hospital on August 12, 2020 in Houston, Texas. Medics with the Houston Fire Department wear protective clothing (PPE), for all patients suffering from breathing difficulties in order to protect themselves from potential infection.

An EMT carefully takes a woman, 77, with severe Covid-19 symptoms through the snow for ambulance transport to a hospital on December 17, 2020 in...

An EMT carefully takes a woman, 77, with severe Covid-19 symptoms through the snow for ambulance transport to a hospital on December 17, 2020 in Yonkers, New York. A family member in her home was also sick with the virus. Nationwide infection rates soared during the winter holiday season.

A busload of Covid-19 patients arrive to the Wakefield Campus of the Montefiore Medical Center on April 06, 2020 in the Bronx borough of New...

A busload of Covid-19 patients arrive to the Wakefield Campus of the Montefiore Medical Center on April 06, 2020 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The patient transfers were designed to help overwhelmed hospitals even out caseloads in New York City at the epicenter of the U.S. coronavirus pandemic.

The body of a nursing home resident lies in bed after the man died from cardiac arrest on August 12, 2020 in Houston, Texas. Medics...

The body of a nursing home resident lies in bed after the man died from cardiac arrest on August 12, 2020 in Houston, Texas. Medics had intubated the man and performed CPR but could not recusitate him. Heart failure, especially in seniors, is a common result of advanced Covid-19 and medics treat most such cases as if they are positive for the virus. Nationwide, nursing home populations have been devestated by the pandemic.

A frayed flag flies from the roof of a car as paramedics from Empress EMS transport a suspected COVID-19 patient from a home on April...

A frayed flag flies from the roof of a car as paramedics from Empress EMS transport a suspected COVID-19 patient from a home on April 07, 2020 in Mount Vernon, New York. Westchester County, adjacent to New York City, was part of the spring epicenter of the pandemic.

Medics intubate a patient, 92, with COVID-19 symptoms at his home on April 06, 2020 in Yonkers, New York. EMS Capt. AJ Briones and EMT...

Medics intubate a patient, 92, with COVID-19 symptoms at his home on April 06, 2020 in Yonkers, New York. EMS Capt. AJ Briones and EMT Michelle Melo from Empress EMS were able to stabilize the man and transport him to a local hospital, although he died while in a coma a week later. Emergency medical services (EMS) medics are the healthcare workers most on the frontline in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic. Medics must enter the homes of infected and highly contagious patients, often treating them with life-saving procedures, including intubations, before transporting them to local hospitals.

Paramedic Patricia Rodriguez sits in her ambulance after a 12-hour shift on April 06, 2020 in Yonkers, New York. With the coronavirus pandemic spiking in...

Paramedic Patricia Rodriguez sits in her ambulance after a 12-hour shift on April 06, 2020 in Yonkers, New York. With the coronavirus pandemic spiking in the New York City area in the spring, medics worked grueling hours of 12 and even 24 hours shifts.

A daughter darts in to touch her father's head while saying a brief benediction as medics transport him to a hospital on April 02, 2020...

A daughter darts in to touch her father's head while saying a brief benediction as medics transport him to a hospital on April 02, 2020 in Stamford, Connecticut. He had multiple Covid-19 symptoms. The moment when medics load patients into ambulances is especially difficult for both patients and loved ones, as hospitals have barred visitations due to the pandemic. For those who lose a family member, it is the final in-person goodbye.

A teen stands in the street as an ambulance prepares to take away his mother, who family members found unresponsive in their home on August...

A teen stands in the street as an ambulance prepares to take away his mother, who family members found unresponsive in their home on August 14, 2020 in Houston, Texas. With more than 90,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases, Houston's Harris County had the highest number of coronavirus cases in Texas. EMS medics treat all unresponsive patients as if they were Covid cases.

Family members mourn the death of Conrad Coleman Jr. during his burial on July 03, 2020 in Rye, New York. Coleman, 39, died of Covid-19...

Family members mourn the death of Conrad Coleman Jr. during his burial on July 03, 2020 in Rye, New York. Coleman, 39, died of Covid-19 on June 20, 2020, just over two months after his father Conrad Coleman Sr. also died of the disease. EMS had transported him to hospital, and he fought the disease for weeks before succumbing. The African American community was especially hard-hit by coronavirus pandemic, in terms of both illnesses and deaths.

This series chronicles the immediate aftermath and protests over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody which broke out...

This series chronicles the immediate aftermath and protests over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody which broke out in Minneapolis and sparked a world wide movement. Protesters demonstrate outside of the burning Minneapolis Police Department 3rd Precinct, Thursday, May 28, 2020, in Minneapolis. Protests over the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died in police custody on May 25, broke out in Minneapolis for a third straight night.

Police fire tear gas and less-lethal rounds at protesters during a demonstration at the intersection of East Lake Street and Hiawatha Avenue, Friday, May 29,...

Police fire tear gas and less-lethal rounds at protesters during a demonstration at the intersection of East Lake Street and Hiawatha Avenue, Friday, May 29, 2020, in St. Paul, Minn. Protests continued following the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on Memorial Day.

A protester runs past burning cars and buildings on Chicago Avenue, Saturday, May 30, 2020, in St. Paul, Minn. Protests continued following the death of...

A protester runs past burning cars and buildings on Chicago Avenue, Saturday, May 30, 2020, in St. Paul, Minn. Protests continued following the death of George Floyd, who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on Memorial Day.

Protesters demonstrate outside of the burning Minneapolis Police Department 3rd Precinct, Thursday, May 28, 2020, in Minneapolis. Surrounding buildings burn after authorities vacated the area...

Protesters demonstrate outside of the burning Minneapolis Police Department 3rd Precinct, Thursday, May 28, 2020, in Minneapolis. Surrounding buildings burn after authorities vacated the area before marches converged outside the precinct.

Protesters raise their fists in defiance outside a burning fast food restaurant near the Minneapolis Police Department 3rd Precinct, Friday, May 29, 2020, in Minneapolis.

Protesters raise their fists in defiance outside a burning fast food restaurant near the Minneapolis Police Department 3rd Precinct, Friday, May 29, 2020, in Minneapolis.

Protesters and residents watch as police in riot gear walk down a residential street, Thursday, May 28, 2020, in St. Paul, Minn. Protests over the...

Protesters and residents watch as police in riot gear walk down a residential street, Thursday, May 28, 2020, in St. Paul, Minn. Protests over the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died in police custody on May 25, sparked clashes throughout the region.

Protesters join arms in defiance during a demonstration outside of the burning Minneapolis Police Department 3rd Precinct, Thursday, May 28, 2020, in Minneapolis.

Protesters join arms in defiance during a demonstration outside of the burning Minneapolis Police Department 3rd Precinct, Thursday, May 28, 2020, in Minneapolis.

A small group vandalizes a bank building as mobile demonstrations converge around the Minneapolis Police Department 5th Precinct, Friday, May 29, 2020, in Minneapolis. Protests...

A small group vandalizes a bank building as mobile demonstrations converge around the Minneapolis Police Department 5th Precinct, Friday, May 29, 2020, in Minneapolis. Protests continued following the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on Memorial Day.

Protesters and National Guardsmen face off on East Lake Street during a demonstration decrying the of George Floyd while in Minneapolis Police custody, Friday, May...

Protesters and National Guardsmen face off on East Lake Street during a demonstration decrying the of George Floyd while in Minneapolis Police custody, Friday, May 29, 2020, in Minneapolis.

Taal Volcano began erupting on January 12, 2020 and spewed ash up to a kilometre high. The powerful eruption forced more than 200,000 residents living...

Taal Volcano began erupting on January 12, 2020 and spewed ash up to a kilometre high. The powerful eruption forced more than 200,000 residents living near the volcano to evacuate and damaged an estimated $60 million worth of crops and livestock. Dead trees near Taal Volcano's crater is seen covered in volcanic ash from the volcano's eruption on January 14, 2020 in Taal Volcano Island, Batangas province, Philippines.

A resident splashes water on a vehicle covered in ash mixed with rainwater as Taal Volcano erupts on January 12, 2020 in Talisay, Batangas province,...

A resident splashes water on a vehicle covered in ash mixed with rainwater as Taal Volcano erupts on January 12, 2020 in Talisay, Batangas province, Philippines.

Lightning strikes as a column of ash surrounds the crater of Taal Volcano as it erupts on January 12, 2020 as seen from Tagaytay city,...

Lightning strikes as a column of ash surrounds the crater of Taal Volcano as it erupts on January 12, 2020 as seen from Tagaytay city, Cavite province, Philippines.

Residents use plastic bags to shield themselves from ash mixed with rainwater as Taal Volcano erupts on January 12, 2020 in Talisay, Batangas province, Philippines.

Residents use plastic bags to shield themselves from ash mixed with rainwater as Taal Volcano erupts on January 12, 2020 in Talisay, Batangas province, Philippines.

Motorists cross a bridge partially blocked by trees fallen by volcanic ash from Taal Volcano's eruption on January 14, 2020 in Laurel, Batangas province, Philippines.

Motorists cross a bridge partially blocked by trees fallen by volcanic ash from Taal Volcano's eruption on January 14, 2020 in Laurel, Batangas province, Philippines.

Footprints of different animals are seen on a road covered in volcanic ash from Taal Volcano's eruption on January 14, 2020 in Laurel, Batangas province,...

Footprints of different animals are seen on a road covered in volcanic ash from Taal Volcano's eruption on January 14, 2020 in Laurel, Batangas province, Philippines.

The carcass of a cow floats in the shore as carcasses of horses, dead trees, and houses near Taal Volcano's crater is seen buried in...

The carcass of a cow floats in the shore as carcasses of horses, dead trees, and houses near Taal Volcano's crater is seen buried in volcanic ash from the volcano's eruption on January 14, 2020 in Taal Volcano Island, Batangas province, Philippines.

A resident who briefly returned home to retrieve belongings carries figurines of Jesus Christ and Mother Mary on January 14, 2020 in Laurel, Batangas province,...

A resident who briefly returned home to retrieve belongings carries figurines of Jesus Christ and Mother Mary on January 14, 2020 in Laurel, Batangas province, Philippines.

A house near Taal Volcano's crater is seen buried in volcanic ash from the volcano's eruption on January 14, 2020 in Taal Volcano Island, Batangas...

A house near Taal Volcano's crater is seen buried in volcanic ash from the volcano's eruption on January 14, 2020 in Taal Volcano Island, Batangas province, Philippines.

This series chronicles the immediate aftermath and 24 hours following the explosions that rocked Beirut, Lebanon on Aug. 4, 2020. Hoda Kinno, 11, is evacuated...

This series chronicles the immediate aftermath and 24 hours following the explosions that rocked Beirut, Lebanon on Aug. 4, 2020. Hoda Kinno, 11, is evacuated by her uncle Mustafa, in the aftermath of a massive explosion at the port in Beirut, Lebanon, Aug. 4, 2020. Massive explosions rocked downtown Beirut, flattening much of the port, damaging buildings and blowing out windows and doors as a giant mushroom cloud rose above the capital. Witnesses saw many people injured by flying glass and debris. A large amount of ammonium nitrate stored at the port exploded, causing at least 203 deaths, 6,500 injuries, and US$15 billion in property damage, and leaving an estimated 300,000 people homeless.

Aftermath of a massive explosion is seen in in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020. Massive explosions rocked downtown Beirut on Tuesday, flattening much of...

Aftermath of a massive explosion is seen in in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020. Massive explosions rocked downtown Beirut on Tuesday, flattening much of the port, damaging buildings and blowing out windows and doors as a giant mushroom cloud rose above the capital. Witnesses saw many people injured by flying glass and debris.