Coronavirus

The novel coronavirus has upended lives around the world. NCR is continually covering how the novel virus impacts our church, our society and our government. 

Read about how women religious are coping and helping during the global pandemic at our sister website, Global Sisters Report.

On Holy Thursday, Pope Francis prayed for the dead as well as for the priests, doctors and nurses who he said represented the "saints next door" during the coronavirus pandemic. Over the next months, National Catholic Reporter and Global Sisters Report will be bringing the stories of Catholics in this crisis: those who have died, but also those whose service brings hope. To submit names of people for consideration for this series, please send a note to saintsnextdoor@ncronline.org.

The coronavirus pandemic is fundamentally changing how we do and be church. What could these changes mean for us in the long-term? How will they affect us in the years to come, well after the initial threat of the pandemic has passed? NCR surveyed two dozen theologians, social directors, non-profit leaders and pastors, asking them each to consider these questions. 

Welcome to NCR's Coronavirus Tracker, where you can find the latest news about the coronavirus pandemic as it relates to the Catholic Church and other institutions. We hope you find it useful in navigating these complex times and welcome your suggestions for how we might improve it. To receive the Coronavirus Tracker by email each weekday afternoon, sign up here.

The coronavirus pandemic caused many businesses, schools, parishes and more to shut down for months in an attempt to get the infection rate under control. Many parishes have now reopened and parishioners are going back to Mass. Many businesses have reopened to customers. And schools are discussing plans for reopening in the fall. But what steps have been taken to keep the coronavirus in check?