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As Los Angeles County runs out of excess oxygen, ambulance crews have been instructed not to take patients to the hospital unless there is little hope of their survival and survival. declare them dead on the scene to preserve hospital capacity. (Washington Post)
On Wednesday at 8:00 am EST, the unofficial U.S. COVID-19 toll is 21,052,689 cases and 357,385 deaths, up nearly 228,000 cases and 3,757 deaths from Tuesday at the same time.
Tuesday’s one-day death toll marked a record high, surpassing the previous record from less than a week ago. (CNN)
More than 4.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given in the U.S. as of Jan. 5, according to CDC data. Approximately 17 million were distributed.
Opposing harsh criticism for the slow pace of vaccines, the Trump administration said it is accelerating plans to deliver the coronavirus vaccine in pharmacies. (Politico)
Kansas, Georgia, Arizona, Louisiana, and Virginia have administered the lowest proportion of their designated vaccine doses; the Dakotas have administered the highest level. (USA Today)
Houston Methodist is offering employees a $ 500 bonus for their work through the pandemic – but only if they receive the COVID-19 vaccine. (Houston Chronicle)
With limited supply such as production ramps up, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended two doses of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine within 21-28 days. (Reuters)
Studies to see if Moderna vaccine doses can be cut in half to double the supply can take 2 months, the National Institutes of Health said. (Reuters)
Mendocino County Hospital vaccinated 850 people in 2.5 hours after a refrigerator failed. (Napa Valley Record)
A handful of countries are still without COVID, but life there has still changed. (The Protector)
The COVID-19 therapeutic trial used by Congress is at a high level of false negativity, the FDA has warned. (CBS News)
Wealthy donors received COVID-19 vaccines with an invitation from a senior nursing home in Florida. (Washington Post)
COVID-19 “literally reduces our staff,” one emergency room nurse said: KHN / The Defendant look at how the virus kills colored medical workers.
WHO criticized China for inserting the DA probe into the origin of COVID-19. (Wall Street Journal)
Researchers cited an international study to examine links between COVID-19 and cognitive decline. (Washington Post)
The Grammy awards were postponed until March due to COVID-19. (CNN)
In other news:
- After the New York Times reported on a recent Northwell Health lawsuit against 2,500 patients for medical debt, the hospital system said it would stop suing patients during the pandemic and eliminate legal claims filed in 2020 .
- Harvard Pilgrim Health and Tufts Health Care Plan has officially merged, the companies announced. (FierceHealthcare)
- State medical boards often fail to control physicians who repeat harm to their patients, which CBS News review of reporting.
- Nearly one in four doctors said they had been personally assaulted on social media. (JAMA Internal Medicine)