Coronavirus updates: US reports nearly 300,000 new cases in all-time high

A staggering 299,087 new cases were confirmed over the past 24 hours.

Last Updated: January 4, 2021, 4:07 AM EST

A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now infected more than 84.6 million people worldwide and killed over 1.8 million of them, 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 28, 2020, 10:40 AM EST

1st nursing home resident in NJ receives COVID-19 vaccine

New Jersey vaccinated its first nursing home resident, a 103-year-old resident of Roosevelt Care Center in Old Bridge Monday.

Mildred Clements is a resident of Roosevelt Care Center and recently celebrated her 103rd birthday.
The Office of Governor Phil Murphy/Handout

Mildred Clements, a Newark native who has lived through two pandemics, was met by a round of applause from the governor and state health commissioner after receiving her shot. Residents and staff at roughly 90 long-term care facilities in New Jersey are slated to start vaccinations Monday, according to the governor's office.

-ABC News' Aaron Katersky contributed to this report.

Dec 28, 2020, 9:31 AM EST

TSA reports highest number of airline passengers since pandemic hit

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on Sunday saw the highest number of people screened at the airport since the pandemic hit, a spokesperson tweeted Monday.

The 1,284,599 people screened at airports nationwide marks the sixth day in the last 10 with more than 1 million airline screenings. "If you choose to travel, please wear a mask," Lisa Farbstein, the TSA spokesperson, wrote on Twitter.

-ABC News' Michael Kreisel contributed to this report.

Dec 28, 2020, 8:00 AM EST

US may not see 3rd wave of COVID-19: HHS assistant secretary

Health experts have been worrying about a third wave of COVID-19 hitting the U.S. after the holidays, as already 9 million people have traveled during the season. But speaking to "Good Morning America" Monday morning, Adm. Brett Giroir, the assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), said the country may not see another big spike in cases.

"How bad it will get really depends on what people do. After Thanksgiving, in the Midwest and the Northern Plains, we did not see a spike in cases, and in fact, it continued to go down," he said.

He added that while traveling does put people at higher risk of contracting the disease, we will not necessarily see another spike if people follow the rules.

"Limit travel if you can. If you're sick, please don't travel. Always wear a mask and watch your distance. And be careful, it's not really the travel, but it's mixing your bubble with a new bubble once you get there," Giroir said.

He added that this week, 4.7 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine will be delivered to the U.S., getting the country closer to the government's goal of vaccinating 20 million Americans by the end of the year.

Dec 28, 2020, 7:56 AM EST

'No evidence' coronavirus variant is in US: HHS assistant secretary

Adm. Brett Giroir, the assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spoke to "Good Morning America" Monday morning to discuss the new coronavirus variant taking over the U.K.

"We don't have proof that it's here, but we do suspect that it is likely here, given the global interconnectedness," Giroir said. "We have no evidence that it's here. It's certainly not widespread here, but we need to look and make sure it's not here."

He added that while "there is increasing evidence that it really is more transmissible" or contagious, due to the viral load that people with that strain have been shown to have, there is "no evidence that it is more serious."

There is no evidence that people who become infected with the variant are more likely to be hospitalized or die, Giroir said.

"And we still believe -- don't have absolute proof -- but we have very good evidence and a good belief that the vaccines will still be effective," he added.

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