Coronavirus updates: 1st vaccines now on the way to all 50 US states

Two main trucks left the Pfizer facility on Sunday morning, the company said.

Last Updated: December 14, 2020, 3:35 PM EST

A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now infected more than 71.5 million people and killed over 1.6 million worldwide, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news developed this week. All times Eastern.
Dec 08, 2020, 3:27 PM EST

Biden lays out top COVID-19 priorities for 1st 100 days in office

President-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday outlined his top three COVID-19 priorities for his first 100 days in office: a 100-day mask-wearing program, 100 million doses of the vaccine into Americans arms in the first 100 days, and getting schools reopened permanently.

"We didn’t get into this mess quickly. We're not going to get out of it quickly," Biden said. "But I'm absolutely convinced that, in 100 days, we can change the course of the disease and change life in America for the better."

Biden warned that distributing the vaccine would be one of the hardest and costliest challenges the country will face and will require the cooperation of Congress.

“We’re gonna need Congress to fully fund vaccine distribution to all corners of the country, to everyone," Biden said. "I'm encouraged by the bipartisan efforts in Congress around a $900 billion economic relief package which I've said is critical, but this package is only a start for more action early next year."

"We'll also need the Trump administration to act now," Biden added, "to purchase the doses it has negotiated with Pfizer and Moderna, and to work swiftly to scale manufacturing to U.S. populations and the world."

ABC News' Molly Nagle contributed to this report.

Dec 08, 2020, 3:09 PM EST

Washington state extends restrictions through holidays

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said the state's restriction on social gatherings, restaurants, bars, gyms and religious services will be extended to Jan. 4, 2021.

"We need to buckle down through the holidays," Inslee tweeted.

"The hospitalization projections are scary. We’re already at 80% ICU capacity," Inslee said, adding, "our hospitals are still on the brink."

A nurse administers a test during a COVID-19 testing and flu shot event at the Tacoma Dome on Nov. 28, 2020 in Tacoma, Wash.
David Ryder/Getty Images

Washington state has over 184,000 diagnosed COVID-19 cases and at least 2,941 fatalities.

Dec 08, 2020, 2:30 PM EST

Over 150 arrested at 'super spreader' party in LA County

Thirty-five juveniles and 116 adults were arrested at a "super spreader" underground party this weekend in Palmdale, California, said Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva.

The sheriff said the party was in clear violation of the governor's stay-at-home order, adding that the party would have been targeted without the pandemic due to allegations of drugs, weapons, prostitution and underage trafficking.

ABC News' Alex Stone contributed to this report.

Dec 08, 2020, 2:07 PM EST

Massachusetts enacts new restrictions as cases, hospitalizations rise

Massachusetts will roll back its reopening plans on Sunday as cases and hospitalizations rise in the aftermath of Thanksgiving, Gov. Charlie Baker said.

People wait in line to get a coronavirus test at a COVID testing site outside of Chelsea City Hall in Chelsea, Mass., Dec. 3, 2020.
Boston Globe via Getty Images

A nurse writes a note to communicate with staff outside the room of a Covid-19 positive patient at UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester, Mass., Dec. 4, 2020.
Allison Dinner/AFP via Getty Images

Capacity will be reduced from 50% to 40% in facilities including offices, gyms, places of worship and retail stores, Baker said.

In offices, people must wear masks when they're not alone, and at gyms, customers must wear masks at all times.

Changes are also coming to Massachusetts restaurants. Customers must wear masks at all times except when eating and drinking, and their time at tables will be capped at 90 minutes.

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