Coronavirus and hospital infections have fallen in the U.S., but the decline in deaths from about 4,500 in January has not been as sharp
NUMBERS:
VACCINES: More than 65.9 million people, or 19.9% of the U.S. population, have received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Approximately 35 million people, or 10.5% of the population, have completed their immunization.
ISSUES: The seven-day follow-up average for new daily cases in the U.S. went down over the past two weeks from 69,891 on Feb. 25 to 53,797 on Thursday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
DEATHS: The seven-day follow-up average for daily new deaths in the U.S. went down over the past two weeks from 2,079 on Feb. 25 to 1,386 on Thursday, according to Johns Hopkins University.
STATE VACCINATION RULES: The percentage of the population that received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to the CDC: New Mexico (27.7%); Connecticut (27.6%); Alaska (26.5%). States with the lowest rates: Alabama (16.7%); District of Columbia (15.9%); Georgia (14.6%).
THREE THINGS TO FIND TODAY
– Coronavirus and hospital infections have fallen, but the decline in deaths from around 4,500 in January has not been as steep. But after weeks of going around 2,000, it has dropped to about 1,400 U.S. lives lost each day. Health experts urge surveillance.
– International alliances force President Joe Biden to release AstraZeneca vaccine products, which received emergency approval from the European Union and the World Health Organization but not from the US
– Broadway theaters are still closed and endless in sight. That means people who make their living in entertainment need to be creative. Dancers teach online classes and actors do voice work.
QUESTION: “A year later and things are still not the way they are,” says Jeremy Shouse, a North Carolina restaurant manager, who says his salary has dropped by 20%. The AP-NORC poll finds that 54% of Black Americans have lost some form of household income during the pandemic compared to 45% of Americans bright.
ICYMI: Religious leaders and spiritual counselors across the U.S. cared for the sick, fed the hungry, quarreled with the lost. Some did so while overcoming the coronavirus or lamenting the loss of members of their own family.
ON THE HORIZON: No. 11 Kansas, No. 16 Virginia and Duke unlisted miss Big 12 and ACC men’s basketball tournaments this weekend because of advanced coronavirus testing.
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Find the full AP coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic