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, 6:42 PM EST

Vaccine won't help curb cases until spring: White House report

The coronavirus vaccine will not substantially reduce the spread of the virus until the spring, according to the White House coronavirus task force's weekly briefing for governors. The report was obtained by ABC News.

The briefing said it will take at least 100 million Americans to be immunized before viral spread, hospitalizations or fatalities can go down.

PHOTO: ER tech Brenda de la Cruz, right and nurse Janet Hays, left, work outside St. Mary Medical Center in the triage tents as they handle the overflow at its 200 bed hospital during the outbreak of the coronavirus in Apple Valley, Calif., Dec. 8, 2020.
ER tech Brenda de la Cruz, right, and nurse Janet Hays, left, work outside St. Mary Medical Center in the triage tents as they handle the overflow at its 200 bed hospital during the outbreak of the coronavirus in Apple Valley, Calif., Dec. 8, 2020.
Mike Blake/Reuters

"Behavioral change and aggressive mitigation policies are the only widespread prevention tools that we have to address this winter surge," the task force report said.

The task force noted that state and local governments aren't implementing the same mitigation policies that curbed cases back in the summer.

It also said 2,000 counties are in COVID-19 red zones.

"This current fall to winter surge continues to spread to every corner of the U.S., from small towns to large cities, from farms to beach communities," the report said.

-ABC News' Brian Hartman and Josh Margolin

Dec 08, 2020, 5:47 PM EST

Maryland could begin vaccine distribution next week

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced coronavirus vaccine distribution could begin as early as next week for critical health care workers, long-term care facility residents and staff and first responders.

Hogan said the state will initially receive 155,000 first doses of the two-dose COVID-19 vaccine. The Pfizer vaccine could begin distribution starting Dec. 14, while the Moderna vaccine could begin distribution a week later, according to the governor.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said he will be vaccinated publicly as soon as a vaccine becomes available to help increase confidence in the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine during a news conference on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020 in Annapolis, Md.
Brian Witte/AP

"The state has signed up all of the state's 227 nursing homes and 1,668 assisted living facilities for the federal distribution partnership through CVS and Walgreens," according to a statement from the governor's office.

Maryland will also roll out a campaign educating residents on the vaccine and encouraging residents to get the shots.

Dec 08, 2020, 4:17 PM EST

California hospitalizations up 70%

Hospitalizations in California have jumped 70% in the last two weeks and intensive care unit hospitalizations have increased by 68.7%, California Health Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said.

In Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley, ICU availability has fallen to 10.1% and 5.6% respectively, he said.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered any region with less than 15% ICU capacity to follow a three-week stay-at-home order. In those regions, restaurants, bars and personal care services are closed.

A testing center worker displays a copy of QR code for cellphone scanning of appointments as people arrive at a Covid-19 testing center in Los Angeles, Dec. 8, 2020.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

When it comes to the holidays, Ghaly said, "We ask you to cancel travel plans."

Travel is explicitly restricted in areas under regional stay-at-home orders.

Dec 08, 2020, 4:00 PM EST

North Carolina to begin modified stay-at-home order

North Carolina will begin a "modified stay-at-home order" on Friday requiring residents to stay home between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Restaurants, bars, and most retail stores and more must close by 10 p.m. and alcohol sales must end by 9 p.m., said Gov. Roy Cooper

Pictures of North Carolina Tar Heels fans fill the seats in the first quarter of a game at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C., Dec 5, 2020. Fans are not permitted to attend games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bob Donnan/USA TODAY Sports via USA Today Network

"Our trends are alarming," Cooper tweeted.

"We already have strong safety protocols and capacity limitations in place -- including a statewide mask mandate," Cooper said. "With this additional action beginning Friday, we hope to get these numbers down."

The order lasts until Jan. 8.

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