COVID Live Updates: US nears 400,000 deaths, governors press White House for more vaccines

COVID-19 Live Updates, News and Information

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Sunday, January 17, 2021

US nears 400,000 deaths, governors press White House for more vaccines

Multiple states now have more appointments than doses.

NEW YORK (WABC) -- State officials are urgently pressing the Trump administration for more coronavirus vaccine doses.

The news comes as Johns Hopkins University reports the death toll from the virus nears 400,000 in the U.S.

Multiple states now have more appointments than doses.

Doctors at Northeast Georgia Medical Center say the ICU is at 200% capacity.

Several governors are accusing the White House of lying that 20 million more doses were about to become available.

Earlier this week, HHS Secretary Alex Azar said the federal government was "releasing the entire supply" of vaccines to states "rather than holding second doses" in reserve, but those second doses had already been shipping out for weeks.

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Here are more of today's headlines:

NYC offering transportation for seniors

Beginning this week, seniors age 65 or older who are unable to make their own arrangements and need transportation to and from a COVID-19 vaccination appointment can sign up for transportation through the City, Mayor de Blasio announced today.

"We are moving heaven and earth to get our senior neighbors vaccinated", said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "Now, seniors who need a ride to an appointment will get one, ensuring our vaccines go to those who need them most."

Woman ready to celebrate 109th birthday after beating COVID

A woman in Wisconsin who beat COVID-19 is now getting ready to celebrate her 109th birthday. Ruth Stryzewski spent several weeks in isolation while fighting the virus, but her family said her symptoms were mild.

New Jersey numbers

An additional 4,686 COVID cases were reported in New Jersey, bringing the statewide total to 565,097 and 26 new deaths.

UK aims to give 1st COVID-19 shot to all adults by September

The U.K. government plans to offer a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine to every adult by September as the nation's health care system battles the worst crisis in its 72-year-history.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Sunday that the government will soon begin a trial of round the clock injections at some locations as it continues to add more vaccination sites to increase the pace of delivery. The National Health Service opened a mass vaccination center on Saturday at the historic Salisbury Cathedral, where injections were accompanied by organ music.

India starts world's largest COVID-19 vaccination drive

India started inoculating health workers Saturday in what is likely the world's largest COVID-19 vaccination campaign, joining the ranks of wealthier nations where the effort is already well underway.

India is home to the world's largest vaccine makers and has one of the biggest immunization programs. But there is no playbook for the enormity of the current challenge.

Governors complain over pace of COVID-19 vaccine shipments

Governors bitterly accused the Trump administration Friday of deceiving the states about the amount of COVID-19 vaccine they can expect to receive as they ramp up vaccinations for senior citizens and others. But the government attributed the anger to confusion and misguided expectations on the part of the states.

Meanwhile, the race between the vaccine and the virus may be about to heat up: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that the new, more infectious variant first seen in Britain will probably become the dominant version in the U.S. by March.

Vaccination site to open at Manhattan church amid supply shortage

Appointments have been booked solid as new COVID-19 vaccination sites open up around New York City, but distribution is just one part of the battle. The need for these shots grow every day as New York reports a total of 32,725 deaths from coronavirus since the pandemic began, 1.2 million people have tested positive and the current positivity rate stands well over 5%. On Saturday, 500 seniors were vaccinated at NYCHA complexes, and yet another vaccine site opens Sunday at the Abyssinian Church in Harlem.