COVID-19 has killed greater than 440,000 Individuals, and infections have continued to mount regardless of the introduction of a pair of vaccines late in 2020. USA TODAY is monitoring the information. Maintain refreshing this web page for the newest updates. Sign up for our Coronavirus Watch newsletter for updates to your inbox, join our Facebook group or scroll through our in-depth answers to reader questions.
A high epidemiologist and adviser to President Joe Biden’s transition group mentioned Sunday that the U.S. must prioritize giving a single dose to as many people as possible earlier than specializing in second doses of the two-shot vaccines.
Michael Osterholm, the director of the Heart for Infectious Illness Analysis and Coverage on the College of Minnesota, advised “Meet the Press” he expects one other surge of infections throughout the subsequent few months. Osterholm cited new variants, comparable to these first detected in Britain and South Africa, that seem to unfold extra simply than the unique virus.
“The hurricane is coming. Due to this surge, we’ve got to name an audible,” he mentioned.
The vaccines now in use, from Moderna and Pfizer, require two doses spaced out over a couple of weeks. One dose, nonetheless, does present some safety. And Osterholm mentioned information signifies that the longer folks wait till the second dose “the higher chances are you’ll do.”
“We nonetheless wish to get two doses in everybody, however I believe proper now, upfront of this surge, we have to get as many one-doses in as many individuals over 65 as we presumably can,” Osterholm mentioned, saying such a spotlight may “cut back severe sickness and demise that’s going to happen over the weeks forward.”
Within the headlines:
►Republican Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson mentioned Sunday that vaccine distribution has been “seamless” beneath the Biden administration. “President Biden and his group is working to guarantee that partnership and never tear it aside, which I am very grateful for,” Hutchinson advised ABC Information’ “This Week.”
►The Vatican has unveiled new COVID protocols for distribution of ashes on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17. Monks, as an alternative of reciting a selected blessing and making a cross on every parishoner’s brow, will stand at arms size and sprinkle the ashes on every recipient’s head “with out touching them or talking any phrases.”
►One of many nation’s largest vaccination websites quickly shut down Saturday when dozens of protesters blocked the doorway to Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, stalling tons of of motorists who had been ready in line.
►A second U.S. state reported a case of the coronavirus variant first recognized in South Africa. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan confirmed a case of the B.1.351 variant in his state Saturday. South Carolina reported no less than two circumstances of the variant earlier this week.
►After opening itself to New Yr’s revelers, Dubai is now being blamed by several countries for spreading the coronavirus overseas, at the same time as questions swirl concerning the city-state’s skill to deal with reported file spikes in virus circumstances.
►Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., mentioned she requested to maneuver her Washington workplace away from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, saying the Georgia Republican “berated” her within the Capitol earlier this month over a mask altercation.
📈 Right this moment’s numbers: The U.S. has greater than 26 million confirmed coronavirus circumstances and greater than 440,000 deaths, in keeping with Johns Hopkins University data. The worldwide totals: Greater than 102 million circumstances and a pair of.2 million deaths. About 49.2 million vaccine doses have been distributed within the U.S. and 29.6 million have been administered, according to the CDC.
📘 What we’re studying: Functions to medical college for this coming fall are up 18%, in keeping with the Affiliation of American Medical Faculties. And plenty of college officers particularly notice the variety of candidates from historically underrepresented Americans is helping to drive the surge.
Triumph of science over COVID waylaid by confusion, frustration
In late December, the concept secure, efficient vaccines in opposition to COVID-19 had been created in lower than a yr appeared miraculous. Satisfaction within the outstanding feat, nonetheless, has been replaced by confusion, unfairness, frustrating waits and the nightmare of vaccine vials gathering mud whereas tens of 1000’s of individuals proceed to die of what’s now a preventable illness. Even folks main the trouble are at a loss to elucidate what occurred.
“I’d love to grasp it,” mentioned Moncef Slaoui, head of the vaccine growth effort beneath the Trump administration and now an adviser to the Biden administration. “What makes me unhappy is … the 1000’s of those who have labored day and evening during the last many, many months actually really feel horrible, really feel depressed, as a result of the entire thing is now positioned as a catastrophe.” Read more here.
– Karen Weintraub and Elizabeth Weise
Not all COVID sufferers get again senses of style and scent
Thousands and thousands of individuals worldwide have suffered adjustments to their sense of scent or style after contracting COVID-19. Typically, the signs normally solely final a couple of weeks. However a yr into the pandemic, researchers still aren’t sure when some COVID-19 survivors may get their senses back – if ever – and lots of are fighting the long-term security, hygiene and psychiatric implications of the loss. Within the coming yr, there might be no less than 1 million new circumstances of individuals within the U.S. with chronically diminished senses of scent or style due to COVID-19, mentioned Dr. Jay Piccirillo, an ear, nostril and throat specialist and professor on the Washington College Faculty of Drugs who research the subject.
“We have gotten a greater concept concerning the long-term, power results of COVID on scent and style,” he mentioned. “The issues we have discovered recommend that most individuals get better scent and style, however not all.”
US pauses plan to offer virus vaccine to Guantanamo prisoners
The U.S. is backing off for now on a plan to supply COVID-19 vaccinations to the 40 prisoners held on the detention middle at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Pentagon chief spokesman John Kirby mentioned in a tweet Saturday that the Protection Division could be “pausing” the plan to offer the vaccination to these held at Guantanamo whereas it evaluations measures to guard troops who work there. Kirby mentioned no prisoners had but obtained the vaccination. The plan drew some criticism after The New York Instances reported that the vaccination of prisoners would begin within the coming days.
“We’re pausing the plan to maneuver ahead, as we overview drive safety protocols,” Kirby mentioned. “We stay dedicated to our obligations to maintain our troops secure.”
NYC neighborhood struggles to vaccinate Latino residents
New York Metropolis Mayor Invoice de Blasio says a vaccine web site in Washington Heights administered photographs to largely white individuals who got here from exterior the predominantly Latino neighborhood.
“One way or the other as an alternative of specializing in the Latino neighborhood of Washington Heights, a spot that actually was hit laborious by COVID, as an alternative the method was in some way conducive to people from exterior of the neighborhood coming and getting vaccinated, however not people who dwell proper there in Washington Heights – completely backward,” the mayor mentioned in a press convention, according to a transcript.
Many cities and states are lagging in vaccinating people of color though they’re extra more likely to be hospitalized or die of the virus.
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