Experts warn country is entering worst phase
By Washington Post reporters Antonia Noori Farzan, Rick Noack, Adam Taylor, Kim Bellware, Lateshia Beachum, Ruby Mellen, Hamza Shaban, Meryl Kornfield and Meryl Kornfield and Darren Sands
The United States surpassed 10 million coronavirus cases Monday, just 10 days after hitting 9 million. The average number of daily new infections has exceeded 100,000, and public health experts warn that the country is entering the pandemic’s worst phase. At least 237,000 Americans have died of the coronavirus since February.
The milestone came as Pfizer announced its coronavirus vaccine candidate was more than 90 percent effective, compared with a placebo. Epidemiologists and health experts were optimistic about the results but also cautioned that more information is needed on the vaccine’s long-term efficacy and safety.
Here are some significant developments:
- Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson has tested positive for the coronavirus, as the White House faces a fresh wave of infections.
- President-elect Joe Biden announced a new coronavirus task force Monday. His ambitious plans to address the pandemic could face hurdles in a divided Congress.
- As Pfizer’s vaccine news emerged, the Dow Jones industrial average futures spiked more than 5.4 percent, or 1,525 points.
- Utah Gov. Gary R. Herbert (R) declared a state of emergency and issued a statewide mask mandate late Sunday, after months of resisting such an order.
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