US marks one year of pandemic; Georgia, Florida vaccine

Thursday marks one year because the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. 

Since then, life within the United States has drastically changed. From distant work and college schedules to new methods to attend occasions and church companies, COVID-19 has altered how we dwell. And some of the modifications might go on lengthy after the virus is gone.

Since the primary case in January 2020, the U.S. has suffered a devastating loss: Nearly 530,000 deaths, together with 29 million circumstances. 

There are indicators of each hope and hassle forward. The Food and Drug Administration has given emergency use authorization to 3 coronavirus vaccines. Nearly a 3rd of the nation has been given one dose of the vaccine, and the Biden administration has secured sufficient cargo by May to vaccinate each grownup. 

But the U.S. has reported greater than 3,300 circumstances of the three variants discovered all through the world. Arizona, Massachusetts, Ohio and Tennessee on Tuesday every reported practically doubling their tallies of the B.1.1.7 variant first seen within the United Kingdom, a USA TODAY analysis of CDC data shows.

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky has described the nation as being at a “critical nexus” within the pandemic. 

The decline in COVID-19 circumstances and deaths exhibits indicators of stalling as variants are circulating. At the identical time, she mentioned, measures which have been taken to cease the pandemic are “now too often being flagrantly ignored.”

“Fatigue is winning,” she mentioned. 

Walensky known as the following three months a pivotal interval as vaccinations ramp up.

“Even though it’s counterintuitive,” added White House COVID-19 adviser Andy Slavitt, “it’s actually the most important time for people to make sure we run through the tape and finish that up.”  

Also within the information: 

►The Biden administration has organized to buy an further 100 million doses of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine — sufficient when added to vaccines from different sources to present the nation with greater than sufficient doses to inoculate each American, the White House mentioned Wednesday.

►A video that shows a ride-sharing passenger ripping off her masks, coughing on a driver, trying to steal his cellphone and breaking the driving force’s masks has prompted a police investigation and bans from each Uber and Lyft.

►Georgia will increase COVID-19 vaccine standards beginning Monday to everybody 55 years and older, plus youthful adults who’re chubby or have critical well being situations, making greater than two-thirds of Georgians who’re 16 years and older eligible for vaccination. Further south, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says that after the state makes individuals 60 years and older eligible for the COVID vaccine subsequent Monday, it should quickly drop the age to 55 after which in all probability open it as much as the remainder.

►Utah Gov. Spencer Cox says all adults within the state shall be eligible to obtain COVID-19 vaccines on April 1. Alaska lifted eligibility necessities for the state Tuesday. 

📈 Today’s numbers: The U.S. has over 29.1 million confirmed coronavirus circumstances and greater than 529,200 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. The world totals: More than 117.9 million circumstances and a pair of.61 million deaths. More than 127.8 million vaccine doses have been distributed within the U.S. and 95.7 million have been administered, according to the CDC.

📘 What we’re studying: Wednesday, President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 reduction invoice was permitted by the House. Here are 10 components you might not know about.

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Black neighborhood fights COVID vaccine lies on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube

Name a COVID vaccine conspiracy idea circulating on social media, and hairstylist Katrina Randolph has heard it. So each time a shopper slides into her chair, she snips away at fears and misconceptions. 

No, the vaccine isn’t an effort to sterilize Black individuals. It can’t alter your DNA. It received’t implant a microchip to trace your actions. And no, individuals of coloration aren’t getting used as guinea pigs.

Randolph has put herself on the entrance strains of the Black neighborhood’s struggle in opposition to COVID vaccine misinformation, half of a community of barbershops and wonder salons working with Dr. Stephen B. Thomas, who runs the Maryland Center for Health Equity on the University of Maryland School of Public Health.

The Health In-Reach and Research Initiative – or HAIR – used to give attention to educating individuals about power illnesses equivalent to diabetes and colon most cancers, Thomas says. 

Now it’s taking up one thing simply as harmful and extra insidious: Viral misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines that’s contributing to Black Americans getting vaccinated at a much lower rate than white Americans.

– Jessica Guynn

Democratic-led states fared poorly early in pandemic, then rallied forward

States led by Republican governors fared higher within the first few months of the pandemic, however the development reversed in early June, and from mid-year by way of early December, states with Democratic governors had a decrease incidence of coronavirus infections and deaths, a brand new research discovered.

The report, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, says researchers theorized Democratic-led states would do poorly early on as a result of of entry factors within the U.S. coasts, that are largely Democratic strongholds. That certainly occurred, however whereas most states issued stay-at-home mandates when infections skyrocketed in March and April, Republican governors have been slower to reply and stored the orders in place for a shorter time, the researchers mentioned. They additionally identified Democratic governors have been extra prone to require the use of masks.

“Gubernatorial party affiliation may drive policy decisions that impact COVID-19 infections and deaths across the U.S.,” the study concluded. “Future coverage choices ought to be guided by public well being issues quite than political ideology.”

COVID-19 vaccine now obtainable at some Target shops

The COVID-19 vaccine has arrived at Target shops in 17 states.

The retailer introduced Wednesday the rollout of vaccines for those who are eligible at more than 600 CVS in-store pharmacies at Target places in elements of the nation. CVS Health acquired pharmacies in Target shops for $1.9 billion in 2015.

Target informed USA TODAY that choose shops within the following states are providing vaccines by appointment by way of CVS: Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia. Which of the vaccines can be found varies by location.

– Kelly Tyko

Contributing: The Associated Press

Source Link – rssfeeds.usatoday.com

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