Photo: GettyThe United States is seeing its highest number of coronavirus cases in the first days of the new year.On Friday, the country recorded its 20 millionth case of COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic last March. As of Saturday afternoon, more than 20,304,200 people have been infected with the virus and at least 348,992 people have died, according to data from theNew York Times.The nation has doubled its total number of infections in less than two months as the U.S. hit 10 million cases on Nov. 9,NPRreported.The chilling milestone comes as the country is already behind in administering COVID-19 vaccinations.Nationwide distribution began on Dec. 14 after the Food and Drug Administration approved two vaccine candidates, one from Pfizer and another from Moderna. Frontline healthcare workers were the first to receive a dose, withan ICU nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Centergetting the historic first shot in New York.According to data from theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States has sent out 12.4 million doses as of Dec. 30 but only 2.7 million people have reportedly received the vaccination.Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.JOEL SAGET/AFP via Getty ImagesWhile government officials say there is a delay in reporting, the low number of vaccinations leaves the nation far behind in protecting vulnerable Americans.According to theNew York Times,government officials aren’t sure what is causing the delay but blame a variety of factors — including the holiday season, as many people take off from work and clinics reduce their hours.Additionally, a new coronavirus variant is beginning to spread across the nation. This past week it was discovered in California, Colorado and Florida.Colorado Gov. Jared Polis announced thefirst U.S. case of the seemingly faster-spreading varianton Dec. 29, found in a man in his 20s who has no travel history. CNN reported that both cases in Colorado came from men who had been working in an assisted living facility.Even at the time of its discovery, health experts said that the variant was likely already in the U.S.Since first being identified in the U.K. — leading to lockdowns in the country andtravel restrictionsworldwide — the variant has been found in at least 17 other countries including Australia, Canada and Spain.As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.
Photo: Getty
The United States is seeing its highest number of coronavirus cases in the first days of the new year.On Friday, the country recorded its 20 millionth case of COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic last March. As of Saturday afternoon, more than 20,304,200 people have been infected with the virus and at least 348,992 people have died, according to data from theNew York Times.The nation has doubled its total number of infections in less than two months as the U.S. hit 10 million cases on Nov. 9,NPRreported.The chilling milestone comes as the country is already behind in administering COVID-19 vaccinations.Nationwide distribution began on Dec. 14 after the Food and Drug Administration approved two vaccine candidates, one from Pfizer and another from Moderna. Frontline healthcare workers were the first to receive a dose, withan ICU nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Centergetting the historic first shot in New York.According to data from theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States has sent out 12.4 million doses as of Dec. 30 but only 2.7 million people have reportedly received the vaccination.Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.JOEL SAGET/AFP via Getty ImagesWhile government officials say there is a delay in reporting, the low number of vaccinations leaves the nation far behind in protecting vulnerable Americans.According to theNew York Times,government officials aren’t sure what is causing the delay but blame a variety of factors — including the holiday season, as many people take off from work and clinics reduce their hours.Additionally, a new coronavirus variant is beginning to spread across the nation. This past week it was discovered in California, Colorado and Florida.Colorado Gov. Jared Polis announced thefirst U.S. case of the seemingly faster-spreading varianton Dec. 29, found in a man in his 20s who has no travel history. CNN reported that both cases in Colorado came from men who had been working in an assisted living facility.Even at the time of its discovery, health experts said that the variant was likely already in the U.S.Since first being identified in the U.K. — leading to lockdowns in the country andtravel restrictionsworldwide — the variant has been found in at least 17 other countries including Australia, Canada and Spain.As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.
The United States is seeing its highest number of coronavirus cases in the first days of the new year.
On Friday, the country recorded its 20 millionth case of COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic last March. As of Saturday afternoon, more than 20,304,200 people have been infected with the virus and at least 348,992 people have died, according to data from theNew York Times.
The nation has doubled its total number of infections in less than two months as the U.S. hit 10 million cases on Nov. 9,NPRreported.
The chilling milestone comes as the country is already behind in administering COVID-19 vaccinations.
Nationwide distribution began on Dec. 14 after the Food and Drug Administration approved two vaccine candidates, one from Pfizer and another from Moderna. Frontline healthcare workers were the first to receive a dose, withan ICU nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Centergetting the historic first shot in New York.
According to data from theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States has sent out 12.4 million doses as of Dec. 30 but only 2.7 million people have reportedly received the vaccination.
Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.JOEL SAGET/AFP via Getty Images
While government officials say there is a delay in reporting, the low number of vaccinations leaves the nation far behind in protecting vulnerable Americans.
According to theNew York Times,government officials aren’t sure what is causing the delay but blame a variety of factors — including the holiday season, as many people take off from work and clinics reduce their hours.
Additionally, a new coronavirus variant is beginning to spread across the nation. This past week it was discovered in California, Colorado and Florida.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis announced thefirst U.S. case of the seemingly faster-spreading varianton Dec. 29, found in a man in his 20s who has no travel history. CNN reported that both cases in Colorado came from men who had been working in an assisted living facility.
Even at the time of its discovery, health experts said that the variant was likely already in the U.S.
Since first being identified in the U.K. — leading to lockdowns in the country andtravel restrictionsworldwide — the variant has been found in at least 17 other countries including Australia, Canada and Spain.
As information about thecoronavirus pandemicrapidly changes, PEOPLE is committed to providing the most recent data in our coverage. Some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, readers are encouraged to use online resources from theCDC,WHOandlocal public health departments.PEOPLE has partnered with GoFundMeto raise money for the COVID-19 Relief Fund, a GoFundMe.org fundraiser to support everything from frontline responders to families in need, as well as organizations helping communities. For more information or to donate, clickhere.
source: people.com
