Here ‘s what’s happening Saturday with pandemic coronavirus infection in the US:
THREE CONVERSATIONS TO BE INFORMED TODAY
– The Army General in charge of distributing COVID-19 vaccines across the United States has apologized after many regulators said they had shortened their expectations. Gen. said. Gustave Perna that he made mistakes by naming numbers of doses that he thought would be ready for delivery. Perna said the government is now on track to get about 20 million doses to states by the first week of January.
– The Associated Press took more than $ 7 billion in purchases by states in the spring for personal protective equipment and high-demand medical devices such as air conditioners and infrared thermometers. This is the most complete accounting to date of what states were buying, how much they were spending and who they were paying at a time of chaos when inadequate national stocks left them. sparring.
– The pandemic may be helping a lesser known corner of the seafood market: seaweed. Atlantic Ocean Farms in Maine says it has doubled its harvest this year to 450,000 pounds (204 kilograms). The seaweed is processed into products such as seaweed sauerkraut and frozen kelp cubes for smoothies.
NUMBERS: The seven-day follow-up average for new daily deaths in the U.S. over the past two weeks rose from 2,001 on Dec. 4 to 2,576 on Friday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
LOT OF DEATH: The U.S. death toll stands at more than 315,000 people, up from about 300,000 when the week began.
QUESTIONNAIRE: “I want to take personal responsibility for the misunderstanding. I know that not much has been done these days. But I am concerned. … This is a Herculean attempt and we are not perfect. “- Gen. Gustave Perna, who is in charge of distributing coronavirus vaccines, in response to criticism about so far less distribution to states.
ICYMI: Publisher’s arrest has led to changes in access to courts in North Carolina county. Reporters must seek permission, but up to five people will be allowed to see events in Alamance County. Court workers had called out the virus to keep out journalists. Tom Boney Jr. of The Alamance News was handcuffed when he complained on December 8th.
ON THE HORIZON: Conciliators in Congress appear close to slowing down the nearly $ 1 trillion COVID-19 relief package. House members stood for a vote no earlier than Sunday. The proposed package includes $ 600 payments to individuals.
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Find the full AP coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic