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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Baltimore mayor shuts down indoor, outdoor dining
Baltimore will shut down indoor and outdoor dining beginning Friday, said Mayor Brandon Scott, who was sworn in on Tuesday.
Restaurants can offer takeout and delivery.
Scott’s order also sets a 25% capacity limit at retail stores, religious institutions, gyms and malls.
The new rules come as Maryland reported a record number of hospitalizations during the pandemic -- 1,715 patients -- surpassing the previous peak in April.
ABC News' Dee Carden contributed to this report.
Rudy Giuliani says he'll be discharged from hospital today
President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, told WABC Radio that he'll be discharged from the hospital Wednesday afternoon following his COVID-19 diagnoses.
“I feel just about 100% right now," he said.
Giuliani said he will isolate for a few more days “because the way they calculate it, I probably got it [the virus] about seven, eight days ago.”
Seven days ago, Giuliani was in Michigan, testifying at the state's House Oversight Committee hearing for suspicion of voter fraud. The next day, he appeared at a hearing at the Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee to contest that state's results.
ABC News' Ben Gittleson contributed to this report.
Fauci: Speed of vaccine development 'was not compromising safety'
Dr. Anthony Fauci stressed Wednesday that the speed of vaccine development “was not compromising safety, nor was it compromising scientific integrity.”
"The speed is really a reflection of the extraordinary scientific advances that have been made that allowed us to do things in weeks to months that normally would have taken several years," Fauci explained at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Summit. "The process that went into deciding the safety and efficacy was both independent and transparent."
"We've got to be doing a lot of community engagement and community outreach to get people to understand," Fauci said.
ABC News' Sophie Tatum contributed to this report.
Passenger tests positive on Royal Caribbean cruise ship
An 83-year-old passenger on board Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, Singapore's Ministry of Health said in a statement.
The passenger had reported to the ship medical center with symptoms and was tested with PCR equipment on board. The 83-year-old was immediately isolated after getting the results.
Close contacts of the individual have tested negative and have been quarantined.
Singapore's National Public Health Laboratory will re-test that sample and a second sample will be taken to verify the results.
An epidemiological investigation has been initiated and contact tracing is in progress, the Ministry of Health said. All passengers will undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing before they are allowed to leave the terminal at Marina Bay Cruise Centre.
The ship will go through a "deep cleaning and disinfection," the cruise line said in a statement.
"The health and safety of our guests and crew are of utmost importance to us, and we have made the decision to cancel the 4-night cruise departing tomorrow, December 10," Royal Caribbean said.
ABC News' Christine Theodorou contributed to this report.
FDA ‘very comfortable’ with vaccine safety profile for 16, 17 year olds
Common questions surrounding the newly authorized Pfizer vaccine include safety for teenagers and the risk of allergic reactions.
Though the final data doesn’t have conclusive data on 16 and 17 year olds because they weren’t enrolled in trials until more recently, the FDA is “very comfortable with the safety profile that was observed in 17 and 16 year olds," Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, told reporters.
Regarding allergies, Marks said 1.6% of the population has had a severe allergic reaction.
Marks said you should notify your doctor if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to a vaccine and noted that sites that administer the vaccine will have medications on hand to respond to an allergic reaction.
ABC News’ Anne Flaherty contributed to this report.