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Your Coronavirus Update – Today, Dec. 12, 2020
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
The positive rate in Worcester is at 26% right now according to Dr. Michael Hirsh, Worcester’s Medical Director.
Some first people to receive the vaccine in RI have already received their appointment times for late next week.
Kent & Women & Infants will receive over 900 doses each for next week.
RIDOH is saying hospital staff will get it first – then it will go to nursing homes.
Spokesperson says the distribution system to the homes has not yet been done in RI (CVS had said they were doing it).
Hospitals across Massachusetts will be cutting back on elective procedures to redeploy staff on COVID19 cases.
PC – Xavier Game Big East postponed
17 RI state police officers test positive and others are in quarantine
New RI Quarantining Requirements:
Pawtucket City Hall will remain closed during the “pause”
Portsmouth schools to go to distance learning for 3 weeks.
Drinking and vaccine: The Rhode Island Health Department said Friday that a story out of Russia warning people not to drink alcohol for two months when getting vaccinated against the coronavirus is not true. “There is no indication that moderate consumption of alcohol will affect the protection your body develops after getting an immunization,”
Today’s Data: Dec. 11, 2020
Deaths: 11 (Deaths in-hospital: 5) Total tests: 18,317 Total positives: 1,216 Percent positive: 6.6% Hospitalized: 466 (New admissions: 52; discharges: 57) ICU: 48 Ventilated: 25
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
The FDA approval came through last night for the Pfizer vaccine (see our story) and the shipping process has begun with first vaccinations expected today or within days.
Moderna has announced that he U.S. government has exercised its option to purchase an additional 100 million doses of mRNA-1273, Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate, bringing its confirmed order commitment to 200 million doses.
NYC has extended eviction moratorium.
On Friday afternoon, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows on Friday told Stephen Hahn, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, to submit his resignation if the agency does not clear the nation’s first coronavirus vaccine by day’s end, according to people familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss what happened. President Donald Trump tweeted that the FDA is “a big, old, slow turtle” in its handling of vaccines, while exhorting Commissioner Stephen Hahn to “get the dam vaccines out NOW.” He added: “Stop playing games and start saving lives!!!” Within hours the FDA released their authorization statement.
Baricitinib plus remdesivir shows promise for treating COVID-19
Australian government terminates deal to purchase 51 million doses of the University of Queensland’s potential COVID-19 vaccine
Covid-19 vaccine trials for children are under way at the urging of public-health experts, in a bid to curb transmission and reopen schools.
Amazon plans to train 29 million people for cloud-computing roles, especially those who aren’t already employed at the online giant.
5,000 Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies with freezers and dry ice to handle vaccine storage requirements for vaccine distribution as they also work with states to support vaccinations in long-term care facilities, if needed.
In Baltimore all indoor and outdoor dining suspended.
NYC losing another iconic restaurant: The 21 Club has told its 148 employees it has ceased operations indefinitely and they will be terminated March 9 of next year.
Pennsylvania will shutter indoor and outdoor dining.
Canada says it’ll provide the new Covid vaccine to every Canadian who wants it — for free. Canada has ordered more vaccines per capita than any other nation. They’re planning to donate excess supply to impoverished countries.
Advisers to Mexican health regulator to review Pfizer vaccine on Friday
Hong Kong to get Sinovac, Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines in first quarter
Mashantucket Pequot, Mohegan tribes hit pause on East Windsor casino project
Sanofi Pasteur, one of the world’s leading vaccine manufacturers, has suffered a major setback in its efforts to develop a Covid-19 vaccine, STAT’s Helen Branswell reports. The shot’s efficacy was underwhelming in older adults in a Phase 1/2 trial, despite having prompted a strong immune response in younger people.
Moderna studying adolescents in Covid-19 vaccine – may be able to include them
A new analysis of 73 million people’s electronic health records in the U.S. revealed that newly diagnosed cancer patients have a higher risk of severe Covid-19 infection than people without the disease. And this risk is even higher for Black cancer patients than those who are white.