August 13, 2020, a lab technician sorts blood samples for a
COVID-19 vaccination study at the Research Centers of America in
Hollywood, Florida. CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP)
The United States recorded its 10 millionth case of the
coronavirus Monday, according to a count by Johns Hopkins
University, the same day that Pfizer and BioNTech announced their
vaccine showed 90 percent effectiveness.
Shortly before 1400 GMT Monday the tracker by the
Baltimore-based university showed 10,018,278 cases recorded in the
United States since the pandemic began, and 237,742 deaths.
Both are the highest tolls in absolute terms in the world.
The United States is now well into its third and by far biggest
surge of its epidemic.
But interim results provided by Pfizer and BioNTech offered hope
for a game changer in the trajectory of the pandemic.
According to preliminary findings, protection in patients was
achieved seven days after the second of two vaccine doses, and 28
days after the first.
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Outgoing President Donald Trump, heavily criticised for his
handling of the health crisis, described the breakthrough as “great
news,” while top US pandemic expert Anthony Fauci said the result
was “extraordinary.”
President-elect Joe Biden meanwhile urged Americans Monday to
wear masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus and not consider it
a “political statement,” as he named the scientists who will lead
his administration’s response to the pandemic.
“We’re still facing a very dark winter,” Biden said. “The bottom
line: I will spare no effort to turn this pandemic around once
we’re sworn in on January 20.”
Biden applauded the vaccine announcement, but insisted a mask
still remains “the most potent weapon” against the virus, and that
“today’s news does not change that urgent reality.”
AFP
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