USA TODAY is keeping track of the news surrounding COVID-19 as a pair of vaccines join the U.S. fight against a virus that has killed more than 365,000 Americans since the first reported fatality in February. Keep refreshing this page for the latest updates surrounding the coronavirus, including who is getting the vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, as well as other top news from across the USA TODAY Network. Sign up for our Coronavirus Watch newsletter for updates directly to your inbox, join our Facebook group or scroll through our in-depth answers to reader questions for everything you need to know about the coronavirus.
In the headlines:
► The U.S. on Thursday reported another daily death record: 4,085 COVID-19. That was more than 200 deaths above Wednesday's record, a USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows. At that pace, an American is reported dead every 21 seconds. More details below.
► The December employment report is set to release Friday, showing job losses for the first time since April after some states reversed reopening plans due to a surge in COVID-19 cases. Economists predict the setback could last through February as the COVID-19 vaccine becomes widely available in late spring.
► Arizona is experiencing a "surge within a surge," with some hospitals running out of ICU beds and in need of more front-line workers. Health officials are calling Arizona "the hot spot of the world right now" as the state led the country with the highest number of new COVID-19 cases for the third day in a row Wednesday.
► Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, predicted the COVID-19 death toll will continue to rise this month as the U.S. nears 4,000 daily deaths. The expected surge "likely will be a reflection of the holiday season travel and the congregate settings that usually take place socially during that period of time," Fauci said in an interview with NPR. "We believe things will get worse as we get into January."
► North Carolina prison officials are considering offering prisoners who decided to get a coronavirus vaccine more guest visitations and other perks. Nine inmates are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, and a total of 36 have died.
► South Africa Health Minister Zwelini Mkhize announced the country has bought 1.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for its health care workers. The country will receive the first 1 million doses later this month, followed by an extra 500,000 doses in February.
► "Mean Girls" the musical on Thursday announced it will not return to Broadway when it reopens following the extended coronavirus shutdown. Broadway is shutdown through May 30, although many expect the shutdown to extend to fall.
? Today's numbers: The U.S. has more than 21.5 million confirmed coronavirus cases and 365,300 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. The global totals: More than 88 million cases and 1.9 million deaths.
Thursday record deaths: An American dies every 21 seconds
The United States reported 4,085 COVID-19 deaths on Thursday, which was more than 200 deaths above Wednesday's record, which broke Tuesday's record, a USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows. At that pace, an American is reported dead every 21 seconds.
America also blew way past a record for deaths in a week, with 19,349. That's up nearly 400 deaths past the old record.
And the U.S. set a new record for coronavirus cases in a week, to 1,599,479. That's up nearly 46,000 cases from a revised record set Thursday, which is about 159 cases per minute. Daily cases reported Thursday hit 274,703, second-worst after Jan. 2.
The holidays closed testing sites, delayed paperwork and changed who gets tested. This latest week, 49 states had more cases than a week before and 36 states had more deaths. And COVID Tracking Project data shows 43 states with higher testing positivity.
In all, 13 states reported record numbers of cases for the week and five states reported a record number of deaths.
– Mike Stucka
FDA warns against accuracy of Curative test used widely in California
More than a hundred COVID-19 testing sites throughout California could be producing a substantial number of false-negative results, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA released a statement this week alerting patients and health care providers to the risk of false results with a particular type of SARS-Cov-2 test from Curative, a start-up medical testing company founded in 2020.
According to Curative's website, it has more than 100 testing sites scattered throughout California, including large clusters in the Inland Empire, Bay Area and Los Angeles County. Some of those sites are in partnership with local counties.
As the Curative tests are self-administered, there is a chance of the swab not being conducted properly, leading to inaccurate results, according to the FDA. A false-negative test could mean individuals do not self-isolate, leading to increased spread of the virus within the community.
Curative issued a statement this week defending its test: "Curative's test has been validated and is being offered during the pandemic under an Emergency Use Authorization, and is labeled with specific warnings, precautions and limitations that FDA reiterated in the safety communication,'' the company said.
– Nicole Hayden, Palm Springs Desert Sun
Panel to review case of Indiana doctor who reported racism before death
Indiana University Health has convened a panel of national experts on diversity and health care to investigate a high-profile case involving alleged racist treatment at the health care system’s hospital in Carmel, Indiana.
The six panelists, four of whom are Black, will review the circumstances surrounding the care Dr. Susan Moore received for the coronavirus at IU Health North last month. Moore said in a widely circulated video that a doctor denied her medicine, ignored her pain and sought to discharge her prematurely because she was Black.
IU Health officials said the panel is expected to complete its review within weeks. After sharing its findings with Moore’s family, IU Health officials said that the results will be shared publicly “in a way that balances transparency with respect for the family’s request for privacy.”
– Shari Rudavsky, Indianapolis Star
More contagious coronavirus variant found in 3 more states
Three more U.S. states have discovered the more contagious coronavirus variant that was first identified in the United Kingdom. As of Thursday, the strain has been found in eight states and 33 countries.
Texas health officials on Thursday announced the state found the variant known as B.1.1.7 in a man with no history of travel. The man, who is between 30 and 40 years old, is isolating while health officials work to identify and quarantine his close contacts.
In Pennsylvania, health officials identified the strain in a person described as a "traveler," The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. "It was not a community spread case," Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine said. The patient experienced mild symptoms and is isolating at home, the newspaper reported.
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont on Thursday said the state discovered two cases of the coronavirus variant. The two people, between the ages of 15 and 25, each traveled recently, one to Ireland and the other to New York state.
Contributing: The Associated Press
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