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.
Latest headlines:
North Carolina to begin modified stay-at-home order
North Carolina will begin a "modified stay-at-home order" on Friday requiring residents to stay home between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Restaurants, bars, and most retail stores and more must close by 10 p.m. and alcohol sales must end by 9 p.m., said Gov. Roy Cooper
"Our trends are alarming," Cooper tweeted.
"We already have strong safety protocols and capacity limitations in place -- including a statewide mask mandate," Cooper said. "With this additional action beginning Friday, we hope to get these numbers down."
The order lasts until Jan. 8.
Colorado's first gentleman home from hospital
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis' husband, Marlon Reis, was released from the hospital Tuesday after being admitted this weekend for COVID-19, the governor said.
"Marlon and I are so thankful for the doctors, nurses, and staff who took care of him," Polis tweeted.
Reis is "feeling well" and will take steroids for two more days per his doctor's recommendation, the governor's office said.
Polis, who also tested positive for COVID-19, "continues to not experience any symptoms," his office said.
ABC News' Jeff Cook contributed to this report.
Biden lays out top COVID-19 priorities for 1st 100 days in office
President-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday outlined his top three COVID-19 priorities for his first 100 days in office: a 100-day mask-wearing program, 100 million doses of the vaccine into Americans arms in the first 100 days, and getting schools reopened permanently.
"We didn’t get into this mess quickly. We're not going to get out of it quickly," Biden said. "But I'm absolutely convinced that, in 100 days, we can change the course of the disease and change life in America for the better."
Biden warned that distributing the vaccine would be one of the hardest and costliest challenges the country will face and will require the cooperation of Congress.
“We’re gonna need Congress to fully fund vaccine distribution to all corners of the country, to everyone," Biden said. "I'm encouraged by the bipartisan efforts in Congress around a $900 billion economic relief package which I've said is critical, but this package is only a start for more action early next year."
"We'll also need the Trump administration to act now," Biden added, "to purchase the doses it has negotiated with Pfizer and Moderna, and to work swiftly to scale manufacturing to U.S. populations and the world."
ABC News' Molly Nagle contributed to this report.
Washington state extends restrictions through holidays
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said the state's restriction on social gatherings, restaurants, bars, gyms and religious services will be extended to Jan. 4, 2021.
"We need to buckle down through the holidays," Inslee tweeted.
"The hospitalization projections are scary. We’re already at 80% ICU capacity," Inslee said, adding, "our hospitals are still on the brink."
Washington state has over 184,000 diagnosed COVID-19 cases and at least 2,941 fatalities.
South Korea sees record-breaking rise in new cases
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency reported 1,030 newly diagnosed COVID-19 cases on Sunday, bringing the country's total to 46,645.
This is the first time since the beginning of the pandemic that South Korea broke the 1,000 mark in new cases and follows Saturday's record of 950 new cases.
Yonhap reports that President Moon Jae-in held an emergency meeting and called the current situation "the worst crisis" since the outbreak began and a "desperate time" when the government should make an all-out effort stem further infections.
-ABC News' Christine Theodorou