The development of multiple highly effective and safe vaccines is a huge victory over the virus that causes COVID-19. But for the vaccine to ultimately conquer the pandemic, public health officials must figure out how to handle much more complicated organisms: humans.
The slow distribution of the coronavirus vaccines in the U.S. has frustrated both public health experts and everyday Americans who are counting on it to curb the spread of a virus that has killed 376,000 of our family, friends and loved ones. The rollout has been stymied on two fronts: by logistical problems, and by the unwillingness of some people who qualify for the vaccine, including healthcare workers, to actually receive it. As top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci has reminded us, however, challenges are to be expected with such a big vaccine rollout, and things may get better now that the "glitches have been worked out."
There are other reasons to be optimistic. Now that vaccines are actually available, it seems like people are becoming more willing to get the shot. According to an Axios-Ipsos poll conducted Jan. 8 to 11, 60% of Americans now say they are very or somewhat likely to get the vaccine as soon as it becomes available, a 12-point jump from one month ago.
This morning, the Trump administration also announced new recommendations designed to speed up the vaccination process. States are being told to vaccinate everyone over 65, and to stop holding back second doses now that the supply chain is in full swing. President-elect Joe Biden's team is also expected to unveil a plan for speeding up the vaccine distribution process, although the Trump administration's new approach is similar to the plans Biden's team have already discussed.
It's too soon to tell whether either administrations' efforts will ultimately get the vaccine to the people who need it most, or only further complicate the process. It's troubling, to say the least, that states may soon expand vaccine eligibility although even many healthcare workers still haven't gotten inoculated. But as flawed as the vaccine rollout may be, it's still a cause for celebration, as each vaccination brings us a little closer to defeating COVID-19.
While 24.1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been shipped to various U.S. states as of this morning, only 7.14 million doses have been administered thus far, according to TIME's vaccine tracker—representing 2.2% of the overall U.S. population.
The chief scientist of the World Health Organization, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, warned yesterday that even with vaccines, we won't have global herd immunity from COVID-19 in 2021. "Even if it happens in a couple of pockets, in a few countries, it's not going to protect people across the world," she said, emphasizing that other measures to stem the spread of the virus will be necessary for at least the rest of the year.
The first doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine to be produced in India—5.7 million doses in all—were moved from warehouses and placed on nine flights on their way to 13 cities today, civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri said, per CNN. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said the country intends to vaccinate 300 million people over the next few months. After the U.S., India has reported the second-highest number of COVID-19 cases in the world, at nearly 10.5 million.
TODAY'S CORONAVIRUS OUTLOOK
The Global Situation
Nearly 90.9 million people around the world had been diagnosed with COVID-19 as of 1 a.m. E.T. today, and more than 1.9 million people have died. On Jan. 11, there were 609,476 new cases and 9,953 new deaths confirmed globally.
Here's how the world as a whole is currently trending:
Here's where daily cases have risen or fallen over the last 14 days, shown in confirmed cases per 100,000 residents:
And here is every country with over 1.5 million confirmed cases:
King Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia has declared a national state of emergency and suspended parliament as a result of rising COVID-19 cases in the country. The move grants Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's administration new powers, including the ability to control private hospitals and to deploy more police and military, according to the BBC. It will also shield the prime minister from going through what was expected to be a difficult March re-election campaign, the Associated Press reports. The country has seen cases rise about 77% in the last two weeks.
The Chinese city of Langfang, about 35 miles outside of Beijing, was placed under lockdown today, with residents headed into a seven-day quarantine, Reuters reports; testing will also be ramped up. A new lockdown is also in effect in Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei province, which almost entirely surrounds Beijing and has been home to most of China's recent locally transmitted infections.
The Situation in the U.S.
The U.S. had recorded more than 22.6 million coronavirus cases as of 1 a.m. E.T. today. More than 376,000 people have died. On Jan. 11, there were 204,652 new cases and 1,731 new deaths confirmed in the U.S.
Here's how the country as a whole is currently trending:
And here's where daily cases have risen or fallen over the last 14 days, shown in confirmed cases per 100,000 residents:
Several lawmakers have tested positive for COVID-19 following last week's attack on the U.S. Capitol, including Rep. Brad Schneider, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rep. Pramila Jayapal. The three lawmakers, all Democrats, have noted that some of their Republican colleagues refused to wear masks while sheltering in place last week.
The economic upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic caused a 10.3% drop in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, according to a study published today by the Rhodium Group. It's the greatest single annual drop since World War II, but the study authors warn that emissions will almost certainly rise again once economic activity rebounds unless the U.S. becomes less carbon-intensive.
All numbers unless otherwise specified are from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering, and are accurate as of Jan. 12, 1 a.m. E.T. To see larger, interactive versions of these maps and charts, click here.
WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW
Gorillas Test Positive For Coronavirus
Eight gorillas at San Diego Zoo Safari Park in California are believed to have been infected with the coronavirus, according to the AP. The animals are the first primates of their kind known to have contacted the virus. Read more here.
The Lesson of 1919? After Pandemics, People Are Ready For Fun
World War I and the Spanish Flu pandemic repressed the birthrate in 1919 and kept many Americans out of baseball stadiums and similar venues. However, those events led to plenty of pent up demand, according to NPR. Similarly, many Americans now say that once the pandemic is over, they're planning to spend more on vacations, sporting events and other leisure activities. Read more here.
Other Viruses Could Bounce Back After the Pandemic
Measures aimed at slowing the spread of coronavirus have had a happy consequence for people used to getting sick annually: they're slowing the spread of other viruses, like the seasonal flu, pneumonia and norovirus, according to the Washington Post. However, scientists warn that these viruses could rebound once people stop social distancing and masking. Read more here.
Thanks for reading. We hope you find the Coronavirus Brief newsletter to be a helpful tool to navigate this very complex situation, and welcome feedback at coronavirus.brief@time.com. If you have specific questions you'd like us to answer, please send them to covidquestions@time.com.
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Today's newsletter was written by Tara Law and edited by Alex Fitzpatrick.
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