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.
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.
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US saw dramatic increases in cases, deaths last week: HHS
After a slowdown in reporting and testing over the Thanksgiving holiday, week-over-week data shows dramatic increases in new cases and new deaths in the U.S., according to an internal memo from the United States Department of Health and Human Services that was obtained by ABC News.
From Dec. 1 to Dec. 7, the country recorded 1,341,309 new cases, which was an 18.8% jump from the previous seven-day period, according to the memo.
During that same period, the U.S. saw 15,202 new coronavirus related deaths, which was a 50.6% increase compared with the previous week, HHS said.
About 29% of the nation's hospitals have more than 80% of their ICU beds filled, the memo said.
-ABC News' Josh Margolin
Trump officials passed when Pfizer offered US more vaccine doses this summer
The Trump administration declined additional doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine late this summer when the pharmaceutical company offered them to the U.S. government, a senior Trump administration official familiar with the matter confirmed to ABC News.
Pfizer may be unable to produce more of the vaccine for United States citizens until June 2021 because it has committed those doses to other countries.
"The U.S. government placed an initial order of 100 million doses for Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine, and Pfizer is ready to begin shipping initial doses soon after receiving an Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA," Pfizer told ABC News in a statement.
"Any additional doses beyond the 100 million are subject to a separate and mutually-acceptable agreement. The company is not able to comment on any confidential discussions that may be taking place with the U.S. government."
The development was first reported by New York Times.
-ABC News' Josh Margolin and Eric Strauss contributed to this report.
Massachusetts to halt elective surgeries due to COVID-19
On Friday, hospitals in Massachusetts will stop offering elective surgeries that can be safely postponed, Gov. Charlie Baker said at a press conference Monday afternoon.
"This action will free up unnecessary staffing and beds," Baker said. "We all know we're in the midst of a second surge. We're seeing a higher number of new cases each day. And in turn, an increase in hospitalizations statewide."
On Sunday, Massachusetts reported 4,747 new infections and a seven-day average testing positivity rate of 5.3%. There are 1,416 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19.
Despite the worsening statistics, the state is better prepared this time around, Baker insisted. In addition to reallocating hospitals resources, the state is ramping up and winterizing testing sites, stockpiling PPE and preparing two field hospitals in Worcester and Lowell.
-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh contributed to this report.
Navajo Nation begins 3-week stay-at-home lockdown
Navajo Nation begins a three-week emergency lockdown on Monday, during which residents are required to remain at home 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Essential businesses, including grocery stores, gas stations, laundromats, hay vendors and restaurants providing drive-thru or curbside service, may remain open on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Off-reservation travel is not permitted and on weekends, a full lockdown will be in place.
"The Navajo Nation’s health care system is in a state of major crisis," Myron Lizer, vice president of Navajo Nation, said in a statement. "We cannot be careless and we have to stay the course."
The rules include exceptions for essential workers and emergency situations. Residents are permitted to leave their homes for essential food, medicine and supplies, as well as outside exercise within the vicinity of their homes and wood gathering.
The lockdown rules will be in effect until Dec. 28.
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices votes to recommend Pfizer vaccine
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, an independent group of medical experts that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in a virtual meeting on Saturday voted 11-0 recommending the Pfizer vaccine for Americans 16 years and older.
Three committee members recused themselves because they had a conflict of interest.
This recommendation now heads to CDC Director Robert Redfield, who must sign off before doses can be administered.
ABC News’ Lauren Lantry contributed to this report.