Here’s what happened to the US pandemic on Monday:
THREE THINGS TO KNOW TODAY
A major study by another candidate for the COVID-19 vaccination is underway on Monday, as states continue to roll out scarce supplies of the country’s first shots. The candidate nominated by Novavax Inc. made is the fifth to test the final phase in the US. About 30,000 volunteers are needed to prove that this vaccine – a different kind from its Pfizer and Moderna competitors – really works and is safe.
Murders in Detroit, New York, Philadelphia and other cities in the US reached the 2019 figure as violence escalated during the coronavirus pandemic. Authorities and some experts believe that there is no clear reason for the increase. They point to social and economic upheaval caused by COVID-19, hostility toward the police following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody, and a historical shortage of jobs and other resources in poorer communities as contributing factors. It happens in big and small cities, led by Democrats and Republicans.
Nearly 1.3 million people passed through US airport checkpoints on Sunday, the highest one-day total in more than nine months, despite fears that travel would lead to more cases of COVID-19. The Transportation Safety Administration said it selected 1,284,599 on Sunday, the most since March 15. More than 10 million people have traveled by air since December 18, including six days with at least 1 million people selected. Dr Anthony Fauci, the government’s top expert on infectious diseases, said the level of travel could lead to a further increase in COVID-19 cases. Fauci said the airports make it difficult to maintain social distance, and that people from different households gather at holidays.
THE NUMBER: The seven-day average daily deaths in the U.S. have declined over the past two weeks from 2421.3 on Dec. 13 to 2,207.1 on Dec. 27, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
DEATH: The number of deaths associated with COVID-19 in the US stands at more than 333,000.
NOTE: “I think the pandemic – COVID – has had a significant emotional impact on people across the country,” Detroit Police Chief James Craig said of a sharp increase in homicides this year in his city. ‘Individuals are not dealing with disputes. Or households, arguments, disputes over drugs, there is the speed of using a firearm that is carried illegally. ‘
ICYMI: President Donald Trump has signed a $ 900 billion pandemic relief package that ended days of drama over his refusal to accept the dual agreement that will provide cash to businesses and individuals and prevent a government strike. His delay in signing the measure led to the unemployment benefits lapse for millions and in the midst of the pandemic threatened to stop. In a statement, Trump reiterated his frustrations over the bill to deliver only $ 600 checks to most Americans instead of the $ 2,000 his fellow Republicans had already rejected.
ON THE HORIZON: Avalanche forecasters and search and rescue groups are worried that skiers and snowboarders – many of them inexperienced – will return to the country this ski season to avoid large crowds or booking systems at resorts. According to an industry trade group, sales of equipment related to the country increased by 76% compared to last year.
___
Find AP’s full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic