USA TODAY tracks the news surrounding COVID-19 as a pair of vaccines join the US war against a virus that has killed more than 320,000 Americans since the first reported death in February. Keep updating this page for the latest updates on vaccine distribution, including who is getting vaccines and where they are, as well as other COVID-19 news across the USA TODAY network. Subscribe to our site Watch Coronavirus Newsletter To get updates directly to your inbox, Join our Facebook group Or scroll through Our in-depth answers to readers’ questions For everything you need to know about Coronavirus.
In the titles:
Pfizer and BioNTech announced a second agreement with the United States government to supply 100 million additional doses of the companies’ vaccine. This agreement brings the total number of doses to be delivered to the United States by July 31 to 200 million. Here it is The most recent experts have to say about vaccine deployment.
President Donald Trump has denounced a sweeping COVID-19 relief package he was expected to sign, and asked Congress Increase “ridiculously low” $ 600 to $ 2000. It was not immediately clear whether he would veto the two-party agreement.
California is on the verge of surpassing 2 million confirmed cases of coronavirus. With 1.95 million infections, half a million recorded in just two weeks, officials said the state could see 100,000 hospitalizations in January. As of Tuesday, the state’s intensive care capacity is 1.4% and 22,900 deaths.
Governor Asa Hutchinson announced Tuesday that Arkansas will build two facilities that will provide more than 100 additional hospital beds if the state runs out of capacity in the near future. “We have to be prepared for whatever comes in January,” the governor said of a possible spike in the wake of the Christmas holidays.
Long-term care facilities prepare to distribute the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to their residents early next week as part of a partnership between CDC and CVS Health, Hawaiian Public Radio reported. CVS validity I started vaccinating long-term care facility staff and residents Monday in 12 states. The pharmacy plans to expand its plan to 36 other states, in addition to the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
📈 Today’s numbers: The United States has more than 18.2 million confirmed cases of coronavirus and 322,500 deaths, According to data from Johns Hopkins University. Just eight days ago, the country reached 300,000 deaths due to the Corona virus. Global totals: More than 77.9 million cases and 1.71 million deaths.
Here’s a closer look at today’s top news:
NJ Veterans Homes have banned employees from wearing masks early in the outbreak
Not only did managers at veterans’ homes in New Jersey prevent employees from wearing masks during the first weeks of the outbreak, they devised a series of penalties with the help of Gov. Phil Murphy’s office against nurses who wore home masks without permission.
More than 190 residents have died from COVID-19 in the state’s veterans’ homes. The emails were obtained by The Register and NorthJersey.com, Part of the USA TODAY Network, it turns out that at least one worker had to go home because management didn’t allow him to wear a mask – even though he had a doctor’s note stating he had asthma.
“If they had done the minimum, they would have saved lives,” said Tony Agosto, CEO of Virgo Medical Services. “They could have stopped a lot of this.”
– Scott Fallon, NorthJersey.com
For many, the stimulus check won’t be in the mail – or the bank account
Congress passed a Covid-19 relief bill that could provide a second round of stimulus checks for millions of Americans as soon as next week. But Really, the rich wouldn’t get richer from these checks. Individuals earning up to $ 75,000, and couples earning less than $ 150,000 will receive the full amount – currently $ 600 but President Donald Trump is paying for more. The plan calls for the check to be reduced by $ 5 for every $ 100 of income above these income thresholds. It will be phased out completely with $ 87,000 for singles and $ 174,000 for couples.
Many students are also ineligible, as are immigrants who do not have a Social Security number. Some elderly and disabled people won’t get a check either.
– Jessica Menton
Here’s when the stores are open for groceries on Christmas Eve
Most stores will open similar hours this holiday season compared to Christmas Eve 2019, with the majority of major retailers shutting down by 6 PM, with some exceptions. Best Buy stores close at 7 PM and Target stores close at 8 PM, which is two hours before last year.
But amid the coronavirus pandemic, longer lines outside stores may be either in small parking lots or in front of stores as many limit the number of shoppers inside. Same day delivery is also expected to be a more popular option in 2020 with shipping delays between winter weather and vaccine shipments.
To help plan your last-minute shopping, Here are the store opening hours on Christmas Eve for supermarkets, retailers, and grocers who offer discounts.
– Kelly Tiko
COVID-19 has reached Antarctica, and it has now infected every continent
For several months, hundreds of scientists and researchers living in Antarctica have inhabited the only continent in the world without reporting a COVID-19 case. But the virus has now reached there.
On Monday, the Chilean army announced that 36 people at a base in Chile had been infected with the virus. Chile’s regional health minister said, Tuesday, that there were 21 injuries on board the supply ship Sargento Aldea of ​​the Chilean Navy. The Chilean Antarctic Institute informed the Antarctic National Program Directors Board on Friday, according to a statement emailed to USA TODAY, that the passengers of that ship, which sailed to Chile from the Antarctic Peninsula, had tested positive for COVID-19.
Another case was reported in an Antarctic village where the ship docked, according to Regional Health Minister Eduardo Castillo. No other country with a presence in Antarctica has publicly reported cases.
Joel Shannon
Contribution: The Associated Press
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