Coronavirus updates: Herd immunity by fall 'ambitious,' says surgeon general nominee

In 44 states, the seven-day average of new cases dropped over 10%.

ByMorgan Winsor, Erin Schumaker, and Emily Shapiro
Last Updated: January 22, 2021, 2:01 PM EST

A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now infected more than 98.7 million people worldwide and killed over 2.1 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.
Jan 22, 2021, 2:01 PM EST

Severe allergic reactions rare but possible with Moderna vaccine

A CDC report released Friday indicates that the risk of severe allergic reactions with Moderna's vaccine is low. Severe, life threatening allergic reactions were seen in 2.5 cases per million people receiving the first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the report said. 

A vial with the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine is displayed at the corona vaccination centre at the University hospital in Magdeburg, eastern Germany, Jan. 22, 2021.
Ronny Hartmann/AFP via Getty Images

Of the 4,041,396 first doses given as of Jan. 10, there were 1,266 (0.03%) reports of "adverse events," the report said. Among those, 108 "adverse events" were considered as possible cases of severe allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis. Ten cases were determined to be anaphylaxis (a rate of 2.5 anaphylaxis cases per 1 million doses) including nine people with a documented history of allergies or allergic reactions, the report said.

ABC News’ Sony Salzman contributed to this report.

Jan 22, 2021, 1:43 PM EST

UK variant may be associated with higher mortality, Boris Johnson says

More people are testing positive for the United Kingdom’s variant of the coronavirus, and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Friday “there is some evidence that the new variant may be associated with a higher degree of mortality.”

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a virtual press conference on the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, at 10 Downing Street in central London on Jan. 22, 2021.
Leon Neal/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

U.K. Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty stressed that the data is uncertain and there is a chance the new variant is increasing infections and mortality.

Ambulance crew member wheels a stretcher outside the emergency department at the the Royal London Hospital, Jan. 22, 2021.
Wiktor Szymanowicz/Shutterstock

The U.K. has seen record daily death tolls several times this week.

There were 1,401 deaths in the last 24 hours.

ABC News’ Kirit Radia, Sony Salzman and Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.

Jan 22, 2021, 1:00 PM EST

New York running out of vaccines today but more on the way: Cuomo

New York state has used 97% of its allocated vaccine doses so far (for weeks 1 through 5) and will run out of doses by the end of the day, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Friday.

Week 6 doses are currently being delivered, the governor said.

PHOTO: A New York City Health Department worker talks to two people over 65 who showed up to get COVID-19 vaccinations at a closed Brooklyn vaccine hub, Jan. 21, 2021, in New York.
A New York City Health Department worker talks to two people over 65 who showed up to get COVID-19 vaccinations at a closed Brooklyn vaccine hub, Jan. 21, 2021, in New York. One had an appointment and the other signed up but never received confirmation. Some city vaccine hubs postponed appointments by one week closed Thursday due to vaccine shortages.
Kathy Willens/AP

New York’s positivity rate has fallen to 5.65%, Cuomo said. Hospitalizations are also on the decline.

ABC News’ Rachel Katz contributed to this report.

Jan 22, 2021, 10:32 AM EST

'Patient No. 1' in US is now 'back to his normal life'

On Jan. 20, 2020, the first COVID-19 patient in the United States, known as "patient No. 1," was brought to a Washington state hospital.

Dr. George Diaz, the head of infectious diseases at Providence Regional Medical Center in Seattle, treated that patient. Diaz would later learn how to isolate COVID-19 patients properly, how to protect hospital staff and how to treat the illness.

"We used Remdesivir, which was a new anti-viral at the time. He was the first patient to receive this drug in the world, and he had a good response to treatment," Diaz told ABC's "Nightline."

"Patient No. 1" was treated for five days before being released from the hospital, Diaz said. One year later, he is "doing great," Diaz said.

"He's fully recovered and back to his normal life," Diaz said. "Many people survive the illness but have lots of medical problems afterwards. Fortunately, Patient One recovered well." 

ABC News’ Lauren Effron contributed to this report.

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