US reports 93,000 hospitalizations for coronavirus

the coronavirus spreads quickly. More than 4 million American cases were reported in November, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University. That’s a third of the 13.5 million cases in the United States since the start of the pandemic.

The coronavirus race vaccine approaches the finish line with two companies neck and neck. Modern announced Monday that it has sought emergency approval from the Food and Drug Administration for its vaccine, making it the second company, after Pfizer, to request an emergency authorization. Moderna reports that their vaccine is over 94% effective. If approved, Moderna’s vaccine as well as Pfizer’s could be given to 20 million people in a matter of weeks.

“We could see these two vaccines come out and hug people before Christmas,” Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said.

Meanwhile, hospitals across the country are treating more than 93,000 coronavirus patients, which is a new record, according to the COVID Tracking Project.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is advocating for doctors and nurses to quit their retirement, saying New York needs to increase bed capacity by 50%.

“In the new battlefield, hospital capacity is the primary concern – period!” Cuomo said.

In the west, Los Angeles County is closing playgrounds, limiting the number of people who can shop at one time and telling residents they can’t meet anyone who doesn’t live with them, even at the outside.

In northern California, Santa Clara County has banned all contact sports for at least three weeks, which means the San Francisco 49ers will play home games in Arizona. Another NFL team, the Denver Broncos, has declared all four quarterbacks ineligible for violating COVID-19 protocols. The substitute quarterback in Sunday’s game threw more interceptions than completions. And the Saints in New Orleans were fined $ 500,000 for a celebration without a mask.

Schools in Florida will remain open despite concerns from teachers. State Governor Ron DeSantis is not mince words.

“The people who advocate closing schools to mitigate viruses are actually the flat earth people of today,” he said.

There are also new warnings after millions of ignored requests to stay home and avoid gatherings. In Houston, a party drew hundreds of people. However, the crowd did not violate the city’s COVID-19 guidelines.

Family, friends and community members in South Los Angeles mourn the death of a religious leader from the coronavirus. Gregory Bundy, associate pastor of the Church of God in Christ at Greater Page Temple, has passed away at the age of 65.

“He loved his family, he loved his church and he was just a great man,” his daughter, Shonda Bundy, told CBS Los Angeles.

The family opened a GoFundMe account to cover funeral expenses.