The U.S. set yet another record for new coronavirus cases on Friday, at nearly 250,000, even as a second vaccine, from Moderna, was agreed.
According to Johns Hopkins University, 249,709 new cases were registered, up from more than 247,000 on Thursday and part of a caseload of nearly 17.5m. 2,814 died, down from more than 3,300 Thursday but still among the deadliest days in U.S. history. The death toll was 313,406.
According to the Covid Management Project, 114,751 people were admitted to the hospital, another record high. Nearly 22,000 people were in intensive care.
With Congress unable to agree a new stimulus and relief package – and avoiding government shutdown on Friday – states were struggling to cope.
California, the most populous state, recorded more than 41,000 new cases and 300 deaths, both among the highest one-day numbers due to the pandemic. In the past week, California has reported more than a quarter of a million cases and 1,500 deaths.
Hospitals are fighting to find beds amid fears of a disease outbreak destroying facilities and staff. On Friday, nearly 17,000 people in California were admitted to the hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19 infections, more than double the previous peak in July. A state model showed the number could reach 75,000 by mid-January.
More than 3,500 Covid-19 patients diagnosed or suspected were in intensive care.
“There’s no place in the pub, so to speak,” Corona Regional Medical Center chief executive Mark Uffer told Communal Media. “Literally every back and cranny in the hospital [near Los Angeles] It’s used. ”
Some areas are “just at that stage of overdose,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. leading infectious disease expert, said at an event organized by the California State University system.
“We still have body beds,” Dr. Amy Herold, chief medical officer for the Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, told the San Francisco Chronicle. “But we need staff to take care of patients. There is no point in sitting in bed without someone noticing you. People work time and time again and they’re tired and it’s getting worse. ”
There was some good news in Michigan, where lawmakers and Governor Gretchen Whitmer approved a $ 465m pandemic spending plan, including relief payments to businesses and workers. The legislation received overwhelming support from the Senate late Friday and was expected to get a House passage Monday.
Nearly half of the funding would be used to continue, through March, 26 weeks of unemployment benefits in a year instead of 20. The bill would provide $ 45m in support of laid off workers or which saw hours cut due to its state order banning indoor dinners and closed entertainment venues. An employee would receive up to $ 1,650.
Small businesses would receive $ 55m in grants of up to $ 20,000 if they had to close, $ 15,000 if they closed partially. Concerts and other live entertainment sites could be worth $ 40,000.
In Washington, however, Democrats and Republicans in Congress cannot agree on a plan for relief. From the White House on Friday, as talks about Capitol Hill continued, Donald Trump announced approval from the Food and Drug Administration of the Moderna vaccine, which follows a picture developed by Pfizer for general use.
“Congratulations, the Moderna vaccine is now available! ”The president tweeted. The vaccine will add to the resources of the federal government and strengthen its effort to vaccinate all before spring or early summer 2021.
Amid baseless allegations that his election case with Joe Biden was caused by voter fraud, Trump also reiterated a series of messages advocating locksmiths and masonry orders, common measures to try to disrupt Covid- 19 reduce, which will not work.
Vice President Mike Pence was among lawyers for receiving a bullet in public. President Joe Biden will continue Monday.