United States reported more than 4,000 Covid-19-related deaths in one day for the first time

Adams’ comments were echoed by Kentucky Health Commissioner Dr Steven Stack, who said on Thursday that sticking to the guidelines of who should be prioritized for the vaccine “shouldn’t prevent” establishments to use all the doses they receive.

“Sometimes more than 30% of eligible people refuse to receive the vaccine when it is offered,” Stack said. “You have to be flexible, otherwise we won’t administer the vaccine.”

“A shot in a voluntary arm is ultimately a higher priority than a shot in only certain arms,” ​​he added. “We set priorities, but we focus on not letting vaccines sit in a freezer, where it doesn’t help anyone, for long periods of time.”

US is ‘surprising’ about vaccine expectations, health official says

Nearly 6 million people have received their first dose of coronavirus vaccine, the CDC said, and an additional 21.4 million doses have been distributed.

This is far from what was promised: Federal government officials for Operation Warp Speed ​​had previously promised that 40 million doses would be distributed by the end of December and 20 million would be vaccinated.

“As a nation, we have been surprising and under-delivered,” Dr Stack said in a briefing, adding that his state had only received a third of what they expected.

“If we had just projected realistic amounts, the public wouldn’t have seen this as a shortcoming – we would have recognized it for the incredible accomplishment it was to have even so many vaccines so quickly.”

Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine described the discovery “a week or two in advance” of how many doses of the vaccine the state would receive.

“But then, the actual quantity that is going to be transported often ends up being somewhat different depending on the variables Operation Warp Speed ​​faces in terms of manufacturing and how much they receive.”

“I think it’s important not to set unrealistic expectations that would later disappoint the public,” she added. “It might make (the audience) disappointed with the program.”

States see ‘a health crisis of epic proportions’

At the epicenter of the virus is California, a state that has been among several to report record hospitalizations, increased deaths, and healthcare systems struggling to keep up with demand.

There were 459 new coronavirus deaths on Wednesday and a record 22,820 patients treated in hospitals for the virus, the California Department of Public Health reported.

More than 8,000 of them are hospitalized in Los Angeles County, where the emergency medical system is under enormous pressure, the health department said.

“This is a health crisis of epic proportions. I am more troubled than ever before, and in part my concern is rooted in the fact that it will take so much more to slow the spread given the high rate. community spread, “Los Angeles County Public Health Department Director Barbara Ferrer said in a statement.

On Thursday, one person died from Covid-19 in the county every 8 minutes.

In an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said more vaccinations and funding were needed to help bring the virus under control. But it’s also “on us as individuals,” he said.

“We need to continue to do everything in our power to tighten our bubble, make the right decisions and make sure that … we are doing everything we can to stop this now.”

Kentucky had two highs on Wednesday: 5,743 new cases reported in one day and an 11.7% positivity rate, the state’s highest rate since May.

“Today’s figures show how critically important a centralized effort and response is to defeat this virus,” Governor Andy Beshear said.

In Louisiana, the rise in cases and hospitalizations has led to tighter restrictions on coronaviruses in New Orleans. As of Friday morning, gatherings and special events are not allowed except for people living together in the same household, and outdoor tables in bars and restaurants will be limited to six people from the same household, according to an office statement. of the mayor.

“The coming weeks will be a watershed moment in the history of our response to this pandemic,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “These restrictions are short term, but they are in place for a reason.”

The “ very dangerous game ” of the variant

The patient identified in Harris County, Texas, which includes Houston, was a man aged 30 to 40 with no travel history, officials said – the implication being that the variant is circulating locally.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said his state health officials had identified two cases in people between the ages of 15 and 25 living in New Haven County. The two have recently traveled – one to Ireland and one to New York State.

Cases of the variant have been found in other states, including California, Florida, Colorado, Georgia, New York, and Pennsylvania. And health experts warn that could become a problem if the United States does not control the spread of the coronavirus.

“We are playing a very dangerous game with this virus right now,” CNN senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen, Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO technical officer for coronavirus response, told CNN. “What worries us is that the more it spreads, the more opportunities there are for change.”

Van Kerkhove stressed that many mutations would not have much of an impact on the virus, but if a virus alters its genetics in the right way, tests might not be able to detect it as easily and vaccines might not. not work as well. against.

The virus is more likely to mutate in countries like the United States, which are experiencing unprecedented and uncontrolled spread.

She pointed out that some countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, have better controlled the pandemic.

“It is entirely up to us to be able to bring the virus under control,” she said. “The virus is controllable, including these variants.”