A highly transmissible variant of the coronavirus believed to have originated in southern England has reached more than a dozen countries, including China, the United States, Canada, and Spain.
The coronavirus variant, which was first discovered in September, is estimated to be about 70% more contagious than other existing strains that have led to more than 83 million COVID-19 cases around the world and 1.8 million deaths.
Chinese researchers confirmed the country’s first case of the mutated coronavirus after a woman returned to Shanghai from a trip to the United Kingdom earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported. The 23-year-old woman tested negative two days before flying to China, and subsequent investigation into her positive test showed that the strain was different than those confirmed in Shanghai and Wuhan.
The first case in the U.S. was confirmed in Colorado on Tuesday. Just 24 hours later, California health officials confirmed the second case, this time in San Diego. Neither patient had a history of travel, signaling that the mutated virus is now spreading from person to person.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, said the spread of the U.K. coronavirus variant in the U.S. was “inevitable.”
“You’ll be hearing reports from other states and more cases in the state that is already reported. Unfortunately, that’s just the reality of the way these viruses spread,” Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told the Today show on Thursday, New Year’s Eve. “The good news is that it does not appear to be more virulent, namely, making people more sick and leading to more death.”
To date, about 20 million cases and more than 344,000 deaths attributed to COVID-19 have been confirmed in the U.S. Current case totals are undercounts, given that many infections go undetected and undiagnosed.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the goal of getting 1 million New York residents, out of roughly 8 million, vaccinated by the end of January. This, as states and federal officials report a slower-than-desired vaccine rollout so far. New York City has administered roughly 88,000 vaccinations out of about 348,000 total allocated doses.
“The most important New Year’s resolution I could possibly offer you: In the month of January 2021, we will vaccinate a million New Yorkers,” he said in a Thursday press conference.
City officials will set up vaccination hubs in public spaces come January, including school gyms and churches, de Blasio said.
At least 3.13 million doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines have been administered since the rollout began in the second week of December, though that number may be an undercount because of lags in reporting.
States also vary in the number of shots administered so far, according to tracking maintained by Bloomberg. Maine, South Dakota, Connecticut, and the District of Columbia have administered roughly 50% of their allotted doses so far. Meanwhile, Florida has administered about 23% of its 783,600 allotted doses, Texas has administered just 22% of its 942,825 total doses, and California has administered just over 20% of its total 1,476,425 doses.
A healthcare worker at Aurora Medical Center in Wisconsin was fired after admitting to purposefully spoiling 500 doses of the coronavirus vaccine, according to the former employer. The employee “acknowledged that they intentionally removed the vaccine from refrigeration,” said a statement released by the hospital on Thursday. Local law enforcement officials confirmed they had been made aware of the incident but did not say whether they had arrested a suspect. The employee’s motive remains unclear.
“We are more than disappointed that this individual’s actions will result in a delay of more than 500 people receiving their vaccine,” the statement said.
More than 40 people in West Virginia were mistakenly given Regeneron’s IV treatment rather than the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the West Virginia National Guard announced Thursday. Julie Miller, an administrator for the Boone County Health Department, told CNBC by email that country health officials have contacted the people who did not receive the vaccine as planned and added that “we do not believe there is any risk of harm.”
“It has been determined that this was an isolated incident,” Miller said. “All of the affected individuals will be offered the COVID-19 vaccine today.”
Florida Rep.-elect Maria Elvira Salazar joins a growing list of elected officials in the U.S. who have tested positive for COVID-19. She said Thursday that she is “in quarantine at home & getting better each day.”
“I hope that you can forgive me as I have been unable to communicate through social media, but I was diagnosed with COVID-19,” Salazar wrote. “I look forward to hitting the ground running for my community, once it is medically permissible.”
Twelve bars and restaurants across New Jersey may face liquor license suspensions due to violations of COVID-19 safety regulations. At present, bars and restaurants must close by 10 p.m. and limit capacity to 25%. In one case, a restaurant faces an 85-day suspension of its liquor license for allegedly hindering an investigation of COVID-19 violations. Since New Jersey issued COVID-19 regulations in March, more than 200 restaurants and bars have faced penalties for violating the regulations.
Sen. David Perdue, a 71-year-old Georgia Republican seeking reelection, is in quarantine after coming into contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19, his campaign announced Thursday, just days before the pivotal runoff elections that could determine whether the GOP will hold on to control of the Senate. Perdue was set to campaign with President Trump in Georgia ahead of the Tuesday runoff contest.
