New York health provider may have fraudulently obtained COVID-19 vaccine

The vaccine was then given to members of the public not yet eligible.

A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now infected more than 80.2 million people worldwide and killed over 1.7 million of them, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.


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Increase in MIS-C seen in LA County

An increasing number of children are being infected with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), according to a statement Saturday relased by Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda L. Solis, supervisor to the First District.

"It is heartbreaking that every day, more than 14,000 Los Angeles County residents are testing positive for COVID-19. It is even more painful to see an increasing number of children being infected by MISC-C. There is a misconception that COVID-19 only impacts those who are older or those with underlying health conditions. At this point in the crisis, we can say for certain that COVID-19 causes severe consequences in people of all ages, including children, and even without underlying health conditions. In Los Angeles County, the Latinx community is bearing the brunt of COVID-19 and MISC-C cases," the statement read.

There have been 51 total cases of MIS-C in children, including one child death. All 51 children with MIS-C were hospitalized and nearly 50% of the children were treated in the intensive care unit. Of the children with MIS-C, 31% were under the age of 5 years old, 38% were between the ages of 5 and 11 years old, and 31% were between the ages of 12 and 20 years old. Latinx children account for nearly 73% of the reported cases, according to the statement.

Experts say the inflammatory syndrome resembles toxic shock syndrome and Kawasaki disease, itself a rare inflammatory disease typically affecting children under the age of 5, and has the potential to be deadly.

-ABC News' Matthew Fuhrman, Olivia Rubin and Soo Rin Kim


Spain and Sweden confirm new COVID-19 variant

Madrid health officials confirmed Saturday that four cases of the new variant of COVID-19 already detected the U.K, have been discovered in Spain, Reuters reported.

The new variant has also been detected in Sweden after a traveler from Britain fell ill on arrival and tested positive for it, the Swedish Health Agency said on Saturday, according to Reuters.


Boston Medical Center responds to report of doctor's serious allergic reaction to Moderna vaccine

"The employee received the Moderna vaccine Thursday and as is our standard practice was being observed post vaccination by trained nurses. He felt he was developing an allergic reaction and was allowed to self-administer his personal epi-pen. He was taken to the Emergency Department, evaluated, treated, observed and discharged. He is doing well today," Boston Medical Center said in a statement to ABC News.

- Aaron Katersky


7 million people traveled by plane in last 7 days

Despite health official warnings to stay home this holiday season, and while overall air travel is down nearly 60% from this time last year, the Transportation Security Administration's numbers have jumped, showing more than 7 million people hitting the skies in the past seven days, according to a "Good Morning America" report Saturday.

Over 7.8 million travelers were screened by the TSA since last Friday, Dec. 18 -- the busiest stretch of travel since the beginning of the pandemic.


LA County has record death toll 2nd day in a row

Los Angeles County reported its highest number of new COVID-19 deaths for the second consecutive day Thursday.

The county reported 148 new deaths, surpassing Wednesday's record of 145.

"A person now dies every 10 minutes in LA County from COVID-19," said Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, as she urged people to follow public health directives.

There were 13,678 new cases reported, and nearly 6,500 people are currently hospitalized -- a record 20% of whom are in the intensive care unit, officials said.

The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in the county has increased by more than 1,600 people in the past week, officials said.