RationalWiki:What is going on with the coronavirus?/December 2020

December 2020
Alaska's largest prison Goose Creek Correctional Center in Mat-Su borough, has said just over 90% of its inmates (1115 out of 1236) have contracted COVID-19. Additionally, it has also been reported that over 40% of all prisoners in Alaska contracted the virus. Amid a huge surge in cases, the UK changes its vaccination strategy. Instead of giving people the standard second dose roughly 21 days after the first, the UK will focus on giving as many first doses as possible and not offer a second dose until 12 weeks later. Boris Johnson argues that giving just one dose is enough to provide protection, and it allows more people to have immunity against the virus. The New Yorker debuts The Plague Year in their first issue of 2021, detailing exactly how the United States screwed up its response to COVID-19. The Oxford--AstraZeneca vaccine has been approved for use in the UK, and doses will start being given on 4 January. Incoming US House of Representatives member (R-LA), who was frequently pictured at campaign events without masks or social distancing, dead at 41, from complications of COVID-19. Journalist Zhang Zhan jailed for "provoking trouble" because of her reporting firsthand accounts of the Wuhan Covid-19 outbreak Queen Elizabeth II, in her Christmas Day message, praises people who have risen to the challenges of the year in the UK and around the world and tells those missing their friends and family they are not alone. Pope Francis uses his Christmas Day Urbi et Orbi message to call on world leaders to make sure everyone has access to the coronavirus vaccine. Christmas Eve Mass at the Church of the Nativity was closed to the public and Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem, under a strict lockdown and a 7:00 pm to 6:00 am curfew, are generally a bit muted.

The Holy See has declared that it is morally acceptable for Roman Catholics to recieve Covid-19 vaccines based on research that used cells derived from aborted fetuses In an effort to boost public confidence in the jab, Joe Biden receives the Pfizer vaccine on live TV. A few days ago, Mike Pence did the same thing. [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-55379632 Restrictions in Scotland will only be relaxed on Christmas Day, not from December 23 to 27 as previously planned. A strict lockdown will come into force across the country from December 26.] Hospital CEOs have gotten rich cutting staff and supplies just as another wave is striking the country At least nine countries have banned travel from the UK, in response to the increased spread of a new strain of coronavirus, which prompted the southeast's move into tier 4. This new strain spreads far easier than previous strains, however does not appear to be vaccine resistant or more deadly. The EU will meet on Monday to discuss a more coordinated response to this new development. The Northern Irish Ambulance Service is getting assistance from its Irish colleagues of the HSE for the first time ever, due to a shortage of staff because of COVID-19. [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-55379237 A full lockdown across Wales, planned for after Christmas, has started early. Restrictions will be eased on Christmas Day only, not from 23 to 27 December as previously planned.] Christmas cancelled as London and the South East move to tier 4. FOLLOW UP: It gets worse: railway stations were slammed with people leaving London before tier 4 rules went into force at midnight, with trains packed to capacity. Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis, claims that deliveries of the vaccine to the state would be delayed, due to "production issues at Pfizer.” Pfizer immediately issue a rebuttal, saying, in effect, that Florida hadn't ordered any vaccines.  A new variant of the coronavirus has been identified in South Africa, which appears to be driving the second wave there, especially among younger people.   Australia cancels further research on its domestic UQ/CSL vaccine, after trials showed antibodies that had developed interfered with HIV diagnosis and led to false positives on some HIV tests. French President Emmanuel Macron tests positive for Covid New Zealand economy jumps 14% in the 3 months to 30 September - back to pre-covid levels even without millions of tourists. It is accompanied by revised figures for how much was lost in the lockdown - down from 12.1% to 11%. However the article also warns this is a "one-off" increase due to pent up demand from lockdown, and total GDP is still down on a year ago. A man who jet-skied for 4½ hours from Scotland to the Isle of Man, and then walked 15 miles (25km) to his girlfriend's house, has been jailed for four weeks for breaking COVID 19 laws. A new variant of coronavirus has been identified in the UK, which could be responsible of the sharp rise of Covid cases in the South of England. There's currently no evidence to suggest this variant is more deadly or resistant to vaccines, but the WHO has been notified of its discovery. Eswatini Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini has died in South Africa after his condition rapidly worsened in the past month. Germany will be in lockdown over Christmas and New Year as deaths and infections are at record levels. Scientists behind the British Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and the Russian Sputnik V one are to team up and combine the two vaccines to see if together they can create a more effective one. The US has reached, and breached, its "9/11 a day" in terms of Covid deaths. Gaza strip faces collapse as its health system struggles to obtain test kits due to Israeli blockade Group at ‘epicenter’ of German coronavirus protests placed under state surveillance as covid-19 deaths mount (paywall). Non paywall article at dw.com Canada becomes the second country to approve the Pfizer vaccine for use. It comes days after the UK started rolling out the Pfizer vaccine to vulnerable people outside of clinical trials. Jenna Ellis, another member of Trump's batshit insane legal team, who claimed she was doing God's work in trying to overturn the election result, has - surprise, surprise - the virus. Police raid the home of former state data scientist who accused the government of covering up the extent of the pandemic. 90-year-old Margaret Keenan has become the first person in the world to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination outside of a clinical trial. She said it was the "best early birthday present", as she is turning 91 next week. A man, now nicknamed the "Italian Forrest Gump", stepped outside for a walk after an argument with his wife ended up walking 280 miles!. Police were less impressed than social media, and issued a $485 for breaking Covid curfew laws. Trump has been claiming credit for the success of the Pfizer vaccine - and been debunked already - turns out his administration didn't even take advantage of an opportunity to lock in early orders for it, putting Americans at the back of the queue. Darth Vader actor, the late David Prowse's daughter says her father died from Covid-19. Superspreader wedding linked to seven deaths of people who didn't even attend Because the year 2020 is a poorly written political thriller, Rudy Giuliani has tested positive for coronavirus Ohio Governor, Mike DeWine, facing impeachment calls from fellow Republicans, over his mask mandate. A 102 year old woman, who survived the 1918 Spanish Flu and cancer, beats Covid-19 twice Portugal to ban travel between municipalities until Tuesday. The government has also announced its plan to make the vaccine against Covid-19 free and universal Joe Biden says on his first day as President he will ask all Americans to wear masks for his first 100 days in office. He also said he would "be happy" to publicly take a vaccine once it's approved by US public health officials Covid-related hospitalizations in the US top 100,000, as the country records its record number of daily fatalities. 1 in every 800 North Dakota residents has died from Covid. The UK becomes the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer vaccine for use. People in high-risk groups could start being vaccinated within days. Police in Brussels have broken up a sex party involving 25 men, which contravened Belgian COVID laws on meeting indoors. The party was noted for involving a number of diplomats and an MEP, who was later identified as Hungarian Fidesz MEP, an ally of Orbán. He has since apologized and tendered his resignation. Updated: Belgian prosecutors are looking at whether Mr Szájer should be prosecuted for being in possession of an ecstasy tablet that was in his backpack. Also, the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said one of its diplomats was at the party. Dr. Scott Atlas, Donald Trump's special adviser on the coronavirus who questioned the need for masks, opposed lockdown and supported herd immunity, has resigned.