In a briefing with reporters Wednesday, Operation Warp Speed official Gen. Gus Perna said states are administering doses at a "good pace" and are "immunizing quite a bit of people." But the chief science adviser for the U.S. vaccine push added that vaccinating people is going "slower than we thought it would be."
Data from the CDC says about 1 million doses had been administered as of Wednesday morning out of the 9.5 million doses delivered. However, Perna says there is a lag time in reporting the administration of shots.
The shipments are for vaccines made by Pfizer and partner BioNTech and Moderna.
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Here are more of today's headlines:
UK-to-Newark passengers will soon have to show negative COVID-19 test
New Jersey and other states have joined New York in asking for airline passengers from the United Kingdom to show proof of a negative COVID test before traveling amid a spike in cases there and the prevalence of two new strains of the virus that have been shown to be more virulent.
"In effort to strengthen existing travel protocols with our partners at United, beginning Monday, December 28, all United customers with flights originating in the U.K. will be required to present proof of a negative COVID-19 test obtained within 72 hours of departure for incoming flights to Newark Liberty International Airport," Governor Phil Murphy said. "As we continue to experience a second wave of COVID-19 cases, it's critical that we take any and all precautions to mitigate the potential for further transmission."
Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and Delta Air Lines have all agreed to test passengers coming to New York City from the UK, after Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio questioned why six flights are arriving at JFK Airport daily from the UK with no additional precautionary measures in place.
Christmas travel appears heavy despite COVID warnings
Experts say it's a fact that traveling raises your risk of catching and spreading the coronavirus, and that's why millions of Americans are choosing to stay home this weekend. Millions more, however, appear to be ignoring government warnings. On Wednesday, December 23, the TSA screened 1,191,123 people at airport checkpoints nationwide. It's the highest checkpoint volume since March 16, when 1,257,823 people were screened. Despite warnings from the CDC and other agencies against traveling for the holidays, officials say more than 6 million travelers have been screened since Friday, December 18.
Republicans block $2,000 COVID-19 relief checks despite Trump demand
House Republicans shot down a Democratic bid on Thursday to pass President Donald Trump's longshot, end-of-session demand for $2,000 direct payments to most Americans as he ponders whether to sign a long-overdue COVID-19 relief bill. The made-for-TV clash came as the Democratic-controlled chamber convened for a pro forma session scheduled in anticipation of a smooth Washington landing for the massive, year-end legislative package, which folds together a $1.4 trillion governmentwide spending with the hard-fought COVID-19 package and dozens of unrelated but bipartisan bills.
NY hospitalizations near 7,000
The number of COVID-19 patients in New York hospitals reached 6,928, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday. On Wednesday, 226,296 coronavirus tests were reported to the state, 12,568, or 5.55%, were positive. Cuomo also announced 129 more deaths related to COVID-19.
NJ indicators
New Jersey reported 4,871 new positive cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Thursday. The state also reported 80 new confirmed deaths, following two days in a row of more than 100 deaths.
COVID-19 reaches Antarctica, last untouched continent
The pandemic has finally reached every continent on Earth. Chilean authorities announced that at least 58 people that were at two military bases in Antarctica or on a navy ship that went to the continent tested positive for the new coronavirus. So far no other country with a presence in Antarctica has publicly reported any other cases.
New study says pregnant women unlikely to transmit COVID to newborns
A new study found it's unlikely pregnant women can pass coronavirus to their newborns. Researchers from Harvard Medical School studied 127 pregnant women admitted to hospitals this year, 64 of whom tested positive for COVID -- but none of their babies did. The study found the virus is in respiratory fluids, but not the bloodstream or placenta. Doctors say more research is still needed.
Letters to Santa reveal toll pandemic is taking on kids
Writing letters to Santa is a tradition for children every year, but this year, those annual requests are taking on new meaning. Many of this season's letters reflect the reality of a year that was incredibly difficult for so many.
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