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Another 92,000 are predicted to die from the virus over the next three weeks or so, according to an ensemble forecast released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In Pennsylvania, officials said the number of hospitalizations was close to double the peak recorded in the spring. The governor of Louisiana said earlier this week that the state is seeing a “huge spike” in infections and hospitalizations. And in Arizona, officials on Tuesday reported a record number of hospitalizations and intensive care for Covid-19.
Hundreds of thousands of infections are added to the country’s tally every day, with the United States adding more than three million new infections reported since the start of the month.
Echoing warnings from other leaders, Los Angeles officials added that they had “not yet fully seen the effect of the transmission in the period from Christmas to New Years.”
States expand groups eligible for vaccination
And some experts have urged states to open up vaccine eligibility to more groups, to help speed up vaccine administrations.
In New Jersey, residents 65 and older and residents aged 16 to 64 with certain chronic health conditions can now register for the vaccine, officials said on Wednesday. California has also expanded its eligibility criteria to include residents 65 and over. A press release from the state’s health department added that healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities remain California’s top priority for vaccines.
“There is no higher priority than distributing these vaccines efficiently and fairly as quickly as possible to those facing the most serious consequences,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “People 65 and over are now the next group eligible to start receiving vaccines. For those who are not yet eligible for vaccines, it’s up to you.”
The announcements follow similar announcements made by state leaders, including Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, who said earlier this week that residents 65 and older or those with pre-existing health conditions can take appointments for vaccinations against Covid-19.
“My main priority is not to try to fight this pandemic with increasingly strict orders,” Reeves said. “It’s getting better and better at distributing the vaccine, and that’s what we’re focusing on now.”
Opening of mass vaccination centers
And while expanding the list of people who can get vaccinated, states are providing more options for residents who can get vaccinated.
“This plan is underway,” he said, adding that the city will release more details once the plan is developed.
De Blasio’s announcement came a day after he and New York Mets owner Steve Cohen said a 24-hour mega vaccination site would be set up at Citi Field in Queens later this month. -this.
In Hawaii, officials said on Wednesday they would open two new Covid-19 mass vaccination sites, which they hope will be able to vaccinate between 3,000 and 4,000 people per day within weeks.
The site will be able to vaccinate more than 7,000 people every day, Andrew Do, acting chairman of the county watchdog, said at a press conference Wednesday.
Here’s how pharmacies will help you
Pharmacies will also play a key role in helping administer vaccines.
On Wednesday, the head of one of the country’s largest drugstore chains expressed optimism that she could soon administer up to a million doses of the vaccine a day.
“We are optimistic that the federal program will soon open up and open up more direct distribution to pharmacies across the country, which will open up access,” CVS Health executive vice president Karen Lynch said Wednesday during the annual JP Morgan Health Care conference. .
CVS can administer 25 million vaccines per month, Lynch said, through its outlets across the country.
“We have a wide reach,” Lynch added, saying the company’s 10,000 stores could reach about 85% of the US population.
Walgreens also said earlier this week that it plans to deliver around 30 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine across the country by the end of the summer, once the vaccines are available to the larger population. large.
The drugstore chain said it was recruiting and training staff and increasing digital and phone booking capabilities in preparation for wider vaccine deployment.
“We are making sure that everyone is ready to tackle this as soon as the vaccines become available in mass, which we believe will likely be March, April,” Alexander Gourlay, COO of Walgreens, said at the conference.
CNN’s Amanda Watts, Alexandra Meeks, Gregory Lemos, Lauren del Valle, Jamiel Lynch, Michael Nedelman and Sarah Moon contributed to this report.
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