talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-21--FDA Panel Outlines Who Should Get COVID-19 Vaccine Next

NEW YORK ( AP ) — A federal advisory panel recommended Sunday that people 75 and older and essential workers like firefighters , teachers and grocery store workers should be next in line for COVID-19 shots , while a second vaccine began rolling out to hospitals as the nation works to get the coronavirus pandemic under control .
The two developments came amid a vaccination program that began only in the last week and has given initial shots to about 556,000 Americans , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
The COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being distributed , and regulators last week gave approval to the one from Moderna Inc. that began shipping Sunday .
Earlier this month , the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices said health care workers and nursing home residents — about 24 million people — should be at the very front of the line for the vaccines .
Sunday ’ s vote by the panel was who should be next in line , and by a vote of 13-1 , it decided that it should be people 75 and older , who number about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ front-line workers , who total about 30 million .
The essential workers include firefighters and police ; teachers and school staff ; those working in food , agricultural and manufacturing sectors ; corrections workers ; U.S .
Postal Service employees ; public transit workers ; and grocery store workers .
They are considered at very high risk of infection because their jobs are critical and require them to be in regular contact with other people .
It ’ s not clear how long it will take to vaccinate those groups .
Vaccine doses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But at the same time , some experts noted that not everyone who is recommended to get vaccinated may choose to get a shot .
The committee also voted that behind those groups should be people aged 65 to 74 , numbering about 30 million ; those aged 16 to 64 with medical conditions like obesity and cancer who are at higher risk if they get COVID-19 , numbering as many as 110 million ; and a tier of other essential workers .
This group of as many as 57 million includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ utility workers but also those in legal and financial jobs and the media .
The expert panel ’ s recommendation next goes to the CDC director and to states as guidance to put together vaccination programs .
CDC directors have almost always signed off on committee recommendations .
No matter what the CDC says , there will be differences from state to state , because various health departments have different ideas about who should be closer to the front of the line .
Federal officials expect that vaccine doses will be limited for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 20 million are projected to start getting shots this month , another 30 million next month , and 50 million in February .
That ’ s 100 million out of a population of more than 330 million .
Pfizer ’ s shots were first shipped out a week ago and started being used the next day , kicking off the nation ’ s biggest vaccination drive .
Public health experts say the shots — and others in the pipeline — are the only way to stop a virus that has been spreading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people per day on average test positive for the virus , which has killed over 316,000 in the U.S. and nearly 1.7 million worldwide .
Earlier Sunday , trucks left the Olive Branch , Mississippi , factory , near Memphis , Tennessee , with the vaccine developed by Moderna and the National Institutes of Health .
The much-needed shots are expected to be given starting Monday , just three days after the Food and Drug Administration authorized their emergency rollout .
In Louisville , Kentucky , UPS driver Todd Elble said his vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I ’ ve hauled ” in a 37-year career .
His parents contracted COVID-19 in November , and his 78-year-old father died .
He said the family speculates that his father got infected while traveling on a hunting trip with four other relatives to Wyoming , and some are still sick .
“ I ’ m going to take the vaccine myself .
I ’ m going to be first in line for my father — I ’ ll tell you that much — and any others that should follow , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my heart that everybody should , to help get this stopped.
” He added : “ To bring this back , I feel Dad was in the truck with me today.
” Dr. Moncef Slaoui , the chief science adviser to the federal government ’ s vaccine distribution effort , said on CNN ’ s “ State of the Union ” that nearly 8 million doses will be distributed Monday , about 5.9 million of the Moderna vaccine and 2 million of the Pfizer vaccine .
Slaoui also predicted the U.S. will experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ larger numbers of coronavirus cases possible from gatherings for Christmas .
“ I think , unfortunately , it will get worse , ” he said .
There won ’ t be enough shots for the general population until spring , so doses will be rationed at least for the next several months .
President-elect Joe Biden pledged earlier this month to have 100 million doses distributed in his first 100 days in office , and his surgeon general nominee said Sunday that it ’ s still a realistic goal .
But Vivek Murthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Press ” it ’ s more realistic to think it may be midsummer or early fall before vaccines are available to the general public , rather than late spring .
Murthy said Biden ’ s team is working toward having the shots available to lower-risk individuals by late spring but doing so requires “ everything to go exactly on schedule.
” Meanwhile , Trump ’ s surgeon general , Jerome Adams , defended the administration ’ s handling of the Pfizer vaccine Sunday , a day after the Army general charge of getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for “ miscommunication ” with states over the number of doses to be delivered in the early stages of distribution .
At least a dozen states reported they would receive a smaller second shipment of the Pfizer vaccine than they had been told previously .
Gen. Gustave Perna told reporters in a telephone briefing that he made mistakes by citing numbers of doses that he believed would be ready .
Slaoui said the mistake was assuming vaccines that had been produced were ready for shipment when there was a two-day delay .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we will not release vaccine doses for usage , ” he said .
“ And , sometimes , there could be small hiccups .
There have been none , actually , in manufacturing now .
The hiccup was more into the planning.
” But Adams told CBS ’ “ Face the Nation ” that “ the numbers are going to go up and down.
” “ It absolutely was not poor planning , ” he said .
“ There ’ s what we plan .
There ’ s what we actually allocate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivered , and then there ’ s what ’ s actually put in people ’ s arms.
” Adams , who is Black , said he understands that mistrust of the medical community and the vaccine among Blacks “ comes from a real place , ” the mistreatment of communities of color .
He cited the decades-long Tuskegee experiment in Alabama , where Black men with syphilis were not treated so the disease could be studied .
He also said immigrants in the U.S. illegally should not be denied the vaccine because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not ethically right to deny those individuals.
” “ I want to reassure people that your information when collected to get your second shot , if you get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine , will not be used in any way , shape or form to harm you legally , ” Adams said .
“ That is something that I have been assured of.
” Both the Moderna vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech shot require two doses several weeks apart .
The second dose must be from the same company as the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protective in large , still unfinished studies .
Hanna reported from Topeka , Kansas .
Also contributing was AP Radio correspondent Julie Walker in New York .

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal advisory panel recommended Sunday that people 75 and older and essential workers like firefighters, teachers and grocery store workers should be next in line for COVID-19 shots, while a second vaccine began rolling out to hospitals as the nation works to get the coronavirus pandemic under control.
The two developments came amid a vaccination program that began only in the last week and has given initial shots to about 556,000 Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc. and Germany’s BioNTech already is being distributed, and regulators last week gave approval to the one from Moderna Inc. that began shipping Sunday.
Earlier this month, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices said health care workers and nursing home residents — about 24 million people — should be at the very front of the line for the vaccines.
Sunday’s vote by the panel was who should be next in line, and by a vote of 13-1, it decided that it should be people 75 and older, who number about 20 million, as well as certain front-line workers, who total about 30 million.
The essential workers include firefighters and police; teachers and school staff; those working in food, agricultural and manufacturing sectors; corrections workers; U.S. Postal Service employees; public transit workers; and grocery store workers. They are considered at very high risk of infection because their jobs are critical and require them to be in regular contact with other people.
It’s not clear how long it will take to vaccinate those groups. Vaccine doses have come out slower than earlier projections. But at the same time, some experts noted that not everyone who is recommended to get vaccinated may choose to get a shot.
The committee also voted that behind those groups should be people aged 65 to 74, numbering about 30 million; those aged 16 to 64 with medical conditions like obesity and cancer who are at higher risk if they get COVID-19, numbering as many as 110 million; and a tier of other essential workers. This group of as many as 57 million includes a wide category of food service and utility workers but also those in legal and financial jobs and the media.
The expert panel’s recommendation next goes to the CDC director and to states as guidance to put together vaccination programs. CDC directors have almost always signed off on committee recommendations. No matter what the CDC says, there will be differences from state to state, because various health departments have different ideas about who should be closer to the front of the line.
Federal officials expect that vaccine doses will be limited for several months. CDC officials say up to 20 million are projected to start getting shots this month, another 30 million next month, and 50 million in February. That’s 100 million out of a population of more than 330 million.
Pfizer’s shots were first shipped out a week ago and started being used the next day, kicking off the nation’s biggest vaccination drive.
Public health experts say the shots — and others in the pipeline — are the only way to stop a virus that has been spreading wildly. Nationwide, more than 219,000 people per day on average test positive for the virus, which has killed over 316,000 in the U.S. and nearly 1.7 million worldwide.
Earlier Sunday, trucks left the Olive Branch, Mississippi, factory, near Memphis, Tennessee, with the vaccine developed by Moderna and the National Institutes of Health. The much-needed shots are expected to be given starting Monday, just three days after the Food and Drug Administration authorized their emergency rollout.
In Louisville, Kentucky, UPS driver Todd Elble said his vaccine shipment was the “most important load that I’ve hauled” in a 37-year career. His parents contracted COVID-19 in November, and his 78-year-old father died. He said the family speculates that his father got infected while traveling on a hunting trip with four other relatives to Wyoming, and some are still sick.
“I’m going to take the vaccine myself. I’m going to be first in line for my father — I’ll tell you that much — and any others that should follow,” he said. “I feel in my heart that everybody should, to help get this stopped.”
He added: “To bring this back, I feel Dad was in the truck with me today.”
Dr. Moncef Slaoui, the chief science adviser to the federal government’s vaccine distribution effort, said on CNN’s “State of the Union” that nearly 8 million doses will be distributed Monday, about 5.9 million of the Moderna vaccine and 2 million of the Pfizer vaccine.
Slaoui also predicted the U.S. will experience “a continuing surge,” with larger numbers of coronavirus cases possible from gatherings for Christmas.
“I think, unfortunately, it will get worse,” he said.
There won’t be enough shots for the general population until spring, so doses will be rationed at least for the next several months. President-elect Joe Biden pledged earlier this month to have 100 million doses distributed in his first 100 days in office, and his surgeon general nominee said Sunday that it’s still a realistic goal.
But Vivek Murthy told NBC’s “Meet the Press” it’s more realistic to think it may be midsummer or early fall before vaccines are available to the general public, rather than late spring. Murthy said Biden’s team is working toward having the shots available to lower-risk individuals by late spring but doing so requires “everything to go exactly on schedule.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s surgeon general, Jerome Adams, defended the administration’s handling of the Pfizer vaccine Sunday, a day after the Army general charge of getting COVID-19 vaccines across the U.S. apologized Saturday for “miscommunication” with states over the number of doses to be delivered in the early stages of distribution. At least a dozen states reported they would receive a smaller second shipment of the Pfizer vaccine than they had been told previously.
Gen. Gustave Perna told reporters in a telephone briefing that he made mistakes by citing numbers of doses that he believed would be ready. Slaoui said the mistake was assuming vaccines that had been produced were ready for shipment when there was a two-day delay.
“And unless it’s perfectly right, we will not release vaccine doses for usage,” he said. “And, sometimes, there could be small hiccups. There have been none, actually, in manufacturing now. The hiccup was more into the planning.”
But Adams told CBS’ “Face the Nation” that “the numbers are going to go up and down.”
“It absolutely was not poor planning,” he said. “There’s what we plan. There’s what we actually allocate. There’s what’s delivered, and then there’s what’s actually put in people’s arms.”
Adams, who is Black, said he understands that mistrust of the medical community and the vaccine among Blacks “comes from a real place,” the mistreatment of communities of color. He cited the decades-long Tuskegee experiment in Alabama, where Black men with syphilis were not treated so the disease could be studied.
He also said immigrants in the U.S. illegally should not be denied the vaccine because of their legal status because “it’s not ethically right to deny those individuals.”
“I want to reassure people that your information when collected to get your second shot, if you get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, will not be used in any way, shape or form to harm you legally,” Adams said. “That is something that I have been assured of.”
Both the Moderna vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech shot require two doses several weeks apart. The second dose must be from the same company as the first. Both vaccines appeared safe and strongly protective in large, still unfinished studies.
—-
Hanna reported from Topeka, Kansas. Also contributing was AP Radio correspondent Julie Walker in New York.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-20--Congress Reaches Deal On Major COVID Relief Package

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Top Capitol Hill negotiators sealed a deal Sunday on an almost $ 1 trillion COVID-19 economic relief package , finally delivering long-overdue help to businesses and individuals and providing money to deliver vaccines to a nation eager for them .
The agreement , announced by Senate leaders , would establish a temporary $ 300 per week supplemental jobless benefits and $ 600 direct stimulus payments to most Americans , along with a new round of subsidies for hard-hit businesses and money for schools , health care providers and renters facing eviction .
The House was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday , said a spokeswoman for House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer , D-Md .
The House would pass a one-day stopgap spending bill to avert a government shutdown at midnight Sunday .
The Senate was likely to vote on Monday , too .
Lawmakers were eager to leave Washington and close out a tumultuous year .
“ There will be another major rescue package for the American people , ” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , said in announcing the agreement for a relief bill that would total almost $ 900 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ targeted policies to help struggling Americans who have already waited too long.
” A breakthrough came late Saturday in a fight over Federal Reserve emergency powers that was resolved by the Senate ’ s top Democrat , Chuck Schumer of New York , and conservative Republican Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania .
That led to a final round of negotiations .
The final agreement is the largest spending measure yet .
It combines COVID-19 relief with a $ 1.4 trillion government-wide funding plan and lots of other unrelated measures on taxes , health , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as coronavirus cases and deaths spike and evidence piles up that the economy is struggling .
Late-breaking decisions would limit the $ 300 per week bonus jobless benefits — one half the supplemental federal unemployment benefit provided under the CARES Act in March — to 10 weeks instead of 16 weeks as before .
The direct $ 600 stimulus payment to most people is also half the March payment , subject to the same income limits in which an individual ’ s payment begins to phase out after $ 75,000 .
President Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ push for providing more direct payments .
“ GET IT DONE , ” he said in a tweet late Saturday .
It would be the first significant legislative response to the pandemic since the $ 1.8 trillion CARES Act passed virtually unanimously in March .
The legislation was held up by months of dysfunction , posturing and bad faith .
But talks turned serious last week as lawmakers on both sides finally faced the deadline of acting before leaving Washington for Christmas .
Lawmakers had hoped to pass the bill this weekend and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill , but progress slowed Saturday as Toomey pressed for the inclusion of a provision to close down the Fed ’ s lending facilities .
Democrats and the White House said it was too broadly worded and would have tied the hands of the incoming Biden administration , but Republicans rallied to Toomey ’ s position .
The Fed ’ s emergency programs provided loans to small and mid-size businesses and bought state and local government bonds .
Those bond purchases made it easier for those governments to borrow , at a time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job losses and health costs stemming from the pandemic .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said last month that those programs , along with two that purchased corporate bonds , would close at the end of the year , prompting an initial objection by the Fed .
Under the Dodd-Frank financial overhaul law passed after the Great Recession , the Fed can only set up emergency programs with the support of the treasury secretary .
Toomey said the emergency powers were designed to stabilize capital markets at the height of the pandemic this spring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the month anyway .
Democrats said that Toomey was trying to limit the Fed ’ s ability to boost the economy , just as President-elect Joe Biden prepared to take office .
The agreement on virus aid would deliver more than $ 300 billion in aid to businesses as well as the extra $ 300-per-week for the jobless and renewal of state benefits that would otherwise expire right after Christmas .
It included $ 600 direct payments to individuals ; vaccine distribution funds ; and money for renters , schools , the Postal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The governmentwide appropriations bill would fund agencies through next September .
That measure was likely to provide a last $ 1.4 billion installment for Trump ’ s U.S.-Mexico border wall as a condition of winning his signature .

WASHINGTON (AP) — Top Capitol Hill negotiators sealed a deal Sunday on an almost $1 trillion COVID-19 economic relief package, finally delivering long-overdue help to businesses and individuals and providing money to deliver vaccines to a nation eager for them.
The agreement, announced by Senate leaders, would establish a temporary $300 per week supplemental jobless benefits and $600 direct stimulus payments to most Americans, along with a new round of subsidies for hard-hit businesses and money for schools, health care providers and renters facing eviction.
The House was expected to vote on the legislation on Monday, said a spokeswoman for House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md. The House would pass a one-day stopgap spending bill to avert a government shutdown at midnight Sunday. The Senate was likely to vote on Monday, too. Lawmakers were eager to leave Washington and close out a tumultuous year.
“There will be another major rescue package for the American people,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in announcing the agreement for a relief bill that would total almost $900 billion. “It is packed with targeted policies to help struggling Americans who have already waited too long.”
A breakthrough came late Saturday in a fight over Federal Reserve emergency powers that was resolved by the Senate’s top Democrat, Chuck Schumer of New York, and conservative Republican Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania. That led to a final round of negotiations.
The final agreement is the largest spending measure yet. It combines COVID-19 relief with a $1.4 trillion government-wide funding plan and lots of other unrelated measures on taxes, health, infrastructure and education.
Passage is nearing as coronavirus cases and deaths spike and evidence piles up that the economy is struggling.
Late-breaking decisions would limit the $300 per week bonus jobless benefits — one half the supplemental federal unemployment benefit provided under the CARES Act in March — to 10 weeks instead of 16 weeks as before. The direct $600 stimulus payment to most people is also half the March payment, subject to the same income limits in which an individual’s payment begins to phase out after $75,000.
President Donald Trump is supportive, particularly of the push for providing more direct payments. “GET IT DONE,” he said in a tweet late Saturday.
It would be the first significant legislative response to the pandemic since the $1.8 trillion CARES Act passed virtually unanimously in March.
The legislation was held up by months of dysfunction, posturing and bad faith. But talks turned serious last week as lawmakers on both sides finally faced the deadline of acting before leaving Washington for Christmas.
Lawmakers had hoped to pass the bill this weekend and avoid the need for a stopgap spending bill, but progress slowed Saturday as Toomey pressed for the inclusion of a provision to close down the Fed’s lending facilities. Democrats and the White House said it was too broadly worded and would have tied the hands of the incoming Biden administration, but Republicans rallied to Toomey’s position.
The Fed’s emergency programs provided loans to small and mid-size businesses and bought state and local government bonds. Those bond purchases made it easier for those governments to borrow, at a time when their finances were under pressure from job losses and health costs stemming from the pandemic.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said last month that those programs, along with two that purchased corporate bonds, would close at the end of the year, prompting an initial objection by the Fed. Under the Dodd-Frank financial overhaul law passed after the Great Recession, the Fed can only set up emergency programs with the support of the treasury secretary.
Toomey said the emergency powers were designed to stabilize capital markets at the height of the pandemic this spring and were expiring at the end of the month anyway. Democrats said that Toomey was trying to limit the Fed’s ability to boost the economy, just as President-elect Joe Biden prepared to take office.
The agreement on virus aid would deliver more than $300 billion in aid to businesses as well as the extra $300-per-week for the jobless and renewal of state benefits that would otherwise expire right after Christmas. It included $600 direct payments to individuals; vaccine distribution funds; and money for renters, schools, the Postal Service and people needing food aid.
The governmentwide appropriations bill would fund agencies through next September. That measure was likely to provide a last $1.4 billion installment for Trump’s U.S.-Mexico border wall as a condition of winning his signature.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-20--Biden Health Aide Pours Cold Water On Trump Admin’s Rosy COVID Vaccine Timeline

It ’ s going to be a while .
Dr. Vivek Murthy , President-elect Joe Biden ’ s pick for surgeon general , poured some cold water on the Trump administration ’ s rosy vaccine distribution timeline on Sunday .
“ I think it ’ s more realistic to assume that it may be closer to mid-summer or early fall when this vaccine makes its way to the general population .
So we want to be optimistic , but we want to be cautious as well , ” Murthy , who served as surgeon general under President Obama , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine doses began arriving across the U.S. last week , HHS Secretary Alex Azar predicted on Monday that healthy Americans could begin to get vaccinated in the coming months .
But an official with the administration ’ s Operation Warp Speed vaccine effort contradicted Azar on Thursday , saying the vaccine could be more widely available in the late spring or summer .
Murthy ’ s timeline puts the date for widespread vaccinations even later .
“ If everything goes well , then we may see a circumstance where by late spring , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower-risk categories can get this vaccine , but that would really require everything to go exactly on schedule , ” Murthy said .
The vaccine distribution has hit some early snags , as states last week reported that the federal government slashed their allocation of doses .
Meanwhile , Pfizer said it has millions of doses waiting on warehouse shelves .
Medical supply chain experts expressed bewilderment at the situation .
“ When vaccines get produced and they remain in the warehouse , that means something went wrong with the supply chain .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ CUNY Professor Bruce Y. Lee told TPM .
An Army general coordinating the vaccine rollout took responsibility for the confusion on Saturday .
“ I want to take personal responsibility for the miscommunication , ” Gen. Gustave Perna said .
“ I know that ’ s not done much these days .
But I am responsible.
” The FDA on Friday approved a second COVID-19 vaccine , from Moderna , which is set to arrive to medical facilities early this week .
About 6 million doses were set to be shipped out over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ despite some early snags , coordination with the Trump administration has been getting better .
“ You know , we , we still have more information that we need to gather , many more conversations that we need to have , ” Murthy said .
“ But I ’ m glad that those are finally happening .
”

It’s going to be a while.
Dr. Vivek Murthy, President-elect Joe Biden’s pick for surgeon general, poured some cold water on the Trump administration’s rosy vaccine distribution timeline on Sunday.
“I think it’s more realistic to assume that it may be closer to mid-summer or early fall when this vaccine makes its way to the general population. So we want to be optimistic, but we want to be cautious as well,” Murthy, who served as surgeon general under President Obama, told “Meet the Press.”
Biden Surgeon General nominee Dr. @vivek_murthy says we should be “realistic” about vaccine timeline: “It may be closer to mid-summer or early fall when this vaccine makes its way to the general population.” pic.twitter.com/9xrHAFkCi1 — The Recount (@therecount) December 20, 2020
As Pfizer vaccine doses began arriving across the U.S. last week, HHS Secretary Alex Azar predicted on Monday that healthy Americans could begin to get vaccinated in the coming months. But an official with the administration’s Operation Warp Speed vaccine effort contradicted Azar on Thursday, saying the vaccine could be more widely available in the late spring or summer.
Murthy’s timeline puts the date for widespread vaccinations even later.
“If everything goes well, then we may see a circumstance where by late spring, you know, people who are in lower-risk categories can get this vaccine, but that would really require everything to go exactly on schedule,” Murthy said.
The vaccine distribution has hit some early snags, as states last week reported that the federal government slashed their allocation of doses. Meanwhile, Pfizer said it has millions of doses waiting on warehouse shelves. Medical supply chain experts expressed bewilderment at the situation.
“When vaccines get produced and they remain in the warehouse, that means something went wrong with the supply chain. That it was not coordinated,” CUNY Professor Bruce Y. Lee told TPM.
An Army general coordinating the vaccine rollout took responsibility for the confusion on Saturday.
“I want to take personal responsibility for the miscommunication,” Gen. Gustave Perna said. “I know that’s not done much these days. But I am responsible.”
Army General Gustave Perna, the chief operating officer of Operation Warp Speed, takes full responsibility for vaccine miscommunication https://t.co/vIAcxMBIEZ pic.twitter.com/YQd46N2elH — CBS News (@CBSNews) December 19, 2020
The FDA on Friday approved a second COVID-19 vaccine, from Moderna, which is set to arrive to medical facilities early this week. About 6 million doses were set to be shipped out over the weekend.
Murthy added that, despite some early snags, coordination with the Trump administration has been getting better.
“You know, we, we still have more information that we need to gather, many more conversations that we need to have,” Murthy said. “But I’m glad that those are finally happening.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-20--EU Nations Ban Flights From UK As New Coronavirus Strain Spreads In England

BERLIN ( AP ) — Several European Union nations on Sunday banned flights from the U.K. and Germany was considering limiting such flights to make sure that a new strain of coronavirus sweeping across southern England does not establish a strong foothold on the continent .
The Netherlands banned flights from the U.K. for at least the rest of the year while Belgium issued a flight ban for 24 hours starting at midnight and also halted train links to Britain , including the Eurostar .
Austria and Italy said they would halt flights from the U.K. but did not give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Twitter that the government was preparing the measure “ to protect Italians ” from the new coronavirus variant .
About two dozen flights were scheduled to arrive in Italy on Sunday , most in the northern region of Lombardy but also in Veneto and Lazio , which include Venice and Rome respectively .
German officials , meanwhile , were considering “ serious options ” regarding incoming flights from the U.K. , but have not yet taken action .
The Czech Republic , meanwhile , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the U.K .
The EU governments say they are acting in response to tougher measures imposed Saturday in London and its surrounding areas by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson .
He immediately put those regions into a new Tier 4 level of restrictions , saying that a fast-moving new variant of the virus that is 70 % more transmissible than existing strains appears to be driving the rapid spread of new infections in London and southern England .
“ There ’ s no evidence to suggest it is more lethal or causes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or that vaccines will be less effective against it .
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said Sunday said he was issuing the flight ban for 24 hours starting at midnight “ out of precaution.
” “ There are a great many questions about this new mutation and if it is not already on the mainland , ” he said .
He hoped to have more clarity by Tuesday .
The World Health Organization tweeted late Saturday that “ We ’ re in close contact with U.K. officials on the new # @ @ @ @ @ @ @ update governments and the public as more is learned about this variant .
The new strain of coronavirus was identified in southeastern England in September and has been circulating in the area since , a WHO official told the BBC on Sunday .
“ What we understand is that it does have increased transmissibility , in terms of its ability to spread , ” said Maria Van Kerkhove , WHO ’ s technical lead on COVID-19 .
Studies are under way to better understand how fast it spreads and and whether “ it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or a combination of factors with behavior , ” she said .
She said the strain had also been identified in Denmark , the Netherlands and Australia , where there was one case that did not spread further .
“ The longer this virus spreads , the more opportunities it has to change , ” she said .
“ So we really need to do everything we can right now to prevent spread , and minimizing that spread will reduce the chances of it changing.
” Susan Hopkins of Public Health England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circulating since September , it wasn ’ t until this week that officials felt they had enough evidence to declare that it has higher transmissibility than other circulating viruses .
The strain has spread to other parts of the U.K. but in smaller amounts than in London and surrounding areas , she told the BBC .
Germany has not yet spelled out a ban but is considering limiting or halting flights from the U.K. as well , the dpa news agency reported Sunday .
A high-ranking German official told dpa that restrictions on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ option.
” Europe has been walloped this fall by soaring new infections and deaths due to a resurgence of the virus , and many nations have reimposed a series of restrictions to reign in their outbreaks .
Britain has seen over 67,000 deaths in the pandemic , the second-highest confirmed toll in Europe after Italy .
Johnson on Saturday closed all non-essential shops , hairdressers , gyms and pools and told Britons to reorganize their holiday plans .
No mixing of households is now allowed indoors in Tier 4 areas , including London @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into and out of such areas .
In the rest of England , people will be allowed to meet in Christmas bubbles for just one day instead of the five that were planned .
Also Saturday , video emerged showing crowds of people rushing to London train stations , apparently making a dash for places in the U.K. with less stringent coronavirus restrictions before the new rules came into effect .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said “ those scenes were totally irresponsible.
” “ We in government of course have a responsibility , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ The plea that I have is that people will play their part .
Because it is only by acting — all of us — that we can get this under control.
” Raf Casert in Brussels , Sylvia Hui in London and Karel Janicek in Prague contributed reporting .

BERLIN (AP) — Several European Union nations on Sunday banned flights from the U.K. and Germany was considering limiting such flights to make sure that a new strain of coronavirus sweeping across southern England does not establish a strong foothold on the continent.
The Netherlands banned flights from the U.K. for at least the rest of the year while Belgium issued a flight ban for 24 hours starting at midnight and also halted train links to Britain, including the Eurostar. Austria and Italy said they would halt flights from the U.K. but did not give details on any timing of the ban.
Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Twitter that the government was preparing the measure “to protect Italians” from the new coronavirus variant. About two dozen flights were scheduled to arrive in Italy on Sunday, most in the northern region of Lombardy but also in Veneto and Lazio, which include Venice and Rome respectively.
German officials, meanwhile, were considering “serious options” regarding incoming flights from the U.K., but have not yet taken action.
The Czech Republic, meanwhile, imposed stricter quarantine measures from people arriving from the U.K.
The EU governments say they are acting in response to tougher measures imposed Saturday in London and its surrounding areas by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. He immediately put those regions into a new Tier 4 level of restrictions, saying that a fast-moving new variant of the virus that is 70% more transmissible than existing strains appears to be driving the rapid spread of new infections in London and southern England.
“There’s no evidence to suggest it is more lethal or causes more severe illness,” Johnson said, or that vaccines will be less effective against it.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said Sunday said he was issuing the flight ban for 24 hours starting at midnight “out of precaution.”
“There are a great many questions about this new mutation and if it is not already on the mainland,” he said. He hoped to have more clarity by Tuesday.
The World Health Organization tweeted late Saturday that “We’re in close contact with U.K. officials on the new #COVID19 virus variant.” It promised to update governments and the public as more is learned about this variant.
The new strain of coronavirus was identified in southeastern England in September and has been circulating in the area since, a WHO official told the BBC on Sunday.
“What we understand is that it does have increased transmissibility, in terms of its ability to spread,” said Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s technical lead on COVID-19.
Studies are under way to better understand how fast it spreads and and whether “it’s related to the variant itself, or a combination of factors with behavior,” she said.
She said the strain had also been identified in Denmark, the Netherlands and Australia, where there was one case that did not spread further.
“The longer this virus spreads, the more opportunities it has to change,” she said. “So we really need to do everything we can right now to prevent spread, and minimizing that spread will reduce the chances of it changing.”
Susan Hopkins of Public Health England said that while the variant has been circulating since September, it wasn’t until this week that officials felt they had enough evidence to declare that it has higher transmissibility than other circulating viruses. The strain has spread to other parts of the U.K. but in smaller amounts than in London and surrounding areas, she told the BBC.
Germany has not yet spelled out a ban but is considering limiting or halting flights from the U.K. as well, the dpa news agency reported Sunday. A high-ranking German official told dpa that restrictions on flights from Britain are a “serious option.”
Europe has been walloped this fall by soaring new infections and deaths due to a resurgence of the virus, and many nations have reimposed a series of restrictions to reign in their outbreaks.
Britain has seen over 67,000 deaths in the pandemic, the second-highest confirmed toll in Europe after Italy.
Johnson on Saturday closed all non-essential shops, hairdressers, gyms and pools and told Britons to reorganize their holiday plans. No mixing of households is now allowed indoors in Tier 4 areas, including London, and only essential travel is permitted into and out of such areas. In the rest of England, people will be allowed to meet in Christmas bubbles for just one day instead of the five that were planned.
Also Saturday, video emerged showing crowds of people rushing to London train stations, apparently making a dash for places in the U.K. with less stringent coronavirus restrictions before the new rules came into effect. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said “those scenes were totally irresponsible.”
“We in government of course have a responsibility, but so does every single person,” he said. “The plea that I have is that people will play their part. Because it is only by acting — all of us — that we can get this under control.”
___
Raf Casert in Brussels, Sylvia Hui in London and Karel Janicek in Prague contributed reporting.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-20--Lawmakers Reach Deal On Fed Dispute, Clearing Way For COVID Relief Package

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — Top congressional lawmakers struck a late-night agreement on the last major obstacle to a COVID-19 economic relief package costing nearly $ 1 trillion , clearing the way for votes as early as Sunday .
The breakthrough involved a fight over Federal Reserve emergency powers and was resolved by the Senate ’ s top Democrat and a senior conservative Republican .
Congressional aides confirmed the agreement late Saturday , which clears the way for an expected deal Sunday on the aid bill .
The measure is finally nearing passage amid a frightening spike in cases and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is struggling through the pandemic .
“ We ’ re getting very close , very close , ” Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. , as he left the Capitol late Saturday .
Schumer spent much of the day going back and forth with GOP Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania .
Toomey had been pressing a provision to close down Fed lending facilities .
Democrats and the White House said it was too broadly worded and would have tied the hands of the incoming Biden administration .
The compromise , aides said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Fed ’ s existing powers to restart similar facilities in the future .
The COVID-19 legislation has been held up after months of dysfunction , posturing and bad faith .
But talks turned serious last week as lawmakers on both sides finally faced the deadline of acting before leaving Washington for Christmas .
The relief bill , lawmakers and aides say , would establish a temporary $ 300 per week supplemental jobless benefits and $ 600 direct stimulus payments to most Americans .
It would provide a fresh round of subsidies for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health care providers and renters facing eviction .
The measure is being added to a $ 1.4 trillion spending bill and lots of other unfinished work , including previously stalled legislation to extend tax breaks , authorize water projects , and address the problem of surprise sky-high medical bills for out-of-network procedures .
It would be virtually impossible for lawmakers to read and fully understand the measure before a House vote expected Sunday night .
Schumer said he hoped both the House and Senate would vote on the measure Sunday .
That would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ usually muster , but a government shutdown deadline loomed at midnight Sunday and all sides were eager to leave for the holiday .
Toomey defended his provision in a Senate speech , saying the emergency powers were designed to stabilize capital markets at the height of the pandemic this spring and were expiring at the end of the month anyway .
The language he had sought would block the Biden administration from restarting them .
Toomey has a stubborn streak and Democrats held firm as well , but both sides saw the need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s emergency programs provided loans to small and mid-size businesses and bought state and local government bonds .
Those bond purchases made it easier for those governments to borrow , at a time when their finances were under pressure from job losses and health costs stemming from the pandemic .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said last month that those programs , along with two that purchased corporate bonds , would close at the end of the year , prompting an initial objection by the Fed .
Under the Dodd-Frank financial overhaul law passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can only set up emergency programs with the support of the treasury secretary .
Democrats also said that Toomey was trying to limit the Fed ’ s ability to boost the economy , just as Biden prepared to take office .
“ This is about existing authorities that the Fed has had for a very long time , to be able to use in an emergency , ” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren , D-Mass .
“ It ’ s about a lending authority for helping small businesses , state government , local government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Toomey disputed that , saying his proposal “ is emphatically not a broad overhaul of the Federal Reserve ’ s emergency lending authority.
” His office issued a statement early Sunday calling the compromise with Schumer “ an unqualified victory for taxpayers ” that met Toomey ’ s aim of shutting down the emergency facility .
A Senate vote would follow , possibly on Monday .
One more short-term funding bill would be needed to avoid the looming deadline — or a partial shutdown of nonessential agencies would start on Monday .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 300 billion in aid to businesses as well as the extra $ 300-per-week for the jobless and renewal of state benefits that would otherwise expire right after Christmas .
It included $ 600 direct payments to individuals ; vaccine distribution funds ; and money for renters , schools , the Postal Service and people needing food aid .
It would be the first significant legislative response to the pandemic since the landmark CARES Act passed virtually unanimously in March , delivering $ 1.8 trillion in aid , more generous $ 600 per week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payments to individuals .
The governmentwide appropriations bill would fund agencies through next September .
That measure was likely to provide a last $ 1.4 billion installment for President Donald Trump ’ s U.S.-Mexico border wall as a condition of winning his signature .

WASHINGTON (AP) — Top congressional lawmakers struck a late-night agreement on the last major obstacle to a COVID-19 economic relief package costing nearly $1 trillion, clearing the way for votes as early as Sunday.
The breakthrough involved a fight over Federal Reserve emergency powers and was resolved by the Senate’s top Democrat and a senior conservative Republican.
Congressional aides confirmed the agreement late Saturday, which clears the way for an expected deal Sunday on the aid bill. The measure is finally nearing passage amid a frightening spike in cases and deaths and accumulating evidence that the economy is struggling through the pandemic.
“We’re getting very close, very close,” Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., as he left the Capitol late Saturday. Schumer spent much of the day going back and forth with GOP Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania. Toomey had been pressing a provision to close down Fed lending facilities. Democrats and the White House said it was too broadly worded and would have tied the hands of the incoming Biden administration.
The compromise, aides said, preserved Toomey’s goal but retained the Fed’s existing powers to restart similar facilities in the future.
The COVID-19 legislation has been held up after months of dysfunction, posturing and bad faith. But talks turned serious last week as lawmakers on both sides finally faced the deadline of acting before leaving Washington for Christmas.
The relief bill, lawmakers and aides say, would establish a temporary $300 per week supplemental jobless benefits and $600 direct stimulus payments to most Americans. It would provide a fresh round of subsidies for hard-hit businesses and money for schools, health care providers and renters facing eviction.
The measure is being added to a $1.4 trillion spending bill and lots of other unfinished work, including previously stalled legislation to extend tax breaks, authorize water projects, and address the problem of surprise sky-high medical bills for out-of-network procedures.
It would be virtually impossible for lawmakers to read and fully understand the measure before a House vote expected Sunday night.
Schumer said he hoped both the House and Senate would vote on the measure Sunday. That would take more cooperation than the Senate can usually muster, but a government shutdown deadline loomed at midnight Sunday and all sides were eager to leave for the holiday.
Toomey defended his provision in a Senate speech, saying the emergency powers were designed to stabilize capital markets at the height of the pandemic this spring and were expiring at the end of the month anyway. The language he had sought would block the Biden administration from restarting them.
Toomey has a stubborn streak and Democrats held firm as well, but both sides saw the need for a compromise.
The Fed’s emergency programs provided loans to small and mid-size businesses and bought state and local government bonds. Those bond purchases made it easier for those governments to borrow, at a time when their finances were under pressure from job losses and health costs stemming from the pandemic.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said last month that those programs, along with two that purchased corporate bonds, would close at the end of the year, prompting an initial objection by the Fed. Under the Dodd-Frank financial overhaul law passed after the Great Recession, the Fed can only set up emergency programs with the support of the treasury secretary.
Democrats also said that Toomey was trying to limit the Fed’s ability to boost the economy, just as Biden prepared to take office.
“This is about existing authorities that the Fed has had for a very long time, to be able to use in an emergency,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. “It’s about a lending authority for helping small businesses, state government, local government in the middle of a crisis.”
Toomey disputed that, saying his proposal “is emphatically not a broad overhaul of the Federal Reserve’s emergency lending authority.” His office issued a statement early Sunday calling the compromise with Schumer “an unqualified victory for taxpayers” that met Toomey’s aim of shutting down the emergency facility.
A Senate vote would follow, possibly on Monday. One more short-term funding bill would be needed to avoid the looming deadline — or a partial shutdown of nonessential agencies would start on Monday.
The emerging agreement would deliver more than $300 billion in aid to businesses as well as the extra $300-per-week for the jobless and renewal of state benefits that would otherwise expire right after Christmas. It included $600 direct payments to individuals; vaccine distribution funds; and money for renters, schools, the Postal Service and people needing food aid.
It would be the first significant legislative response to the pandemic since the landmark CARES Act passed virtually unanimously in March, delivering $1.8 trillion in aid, more generous $600 per week bonus jobless benefits and $1,200 direct payments to individuals.
The governmentwide appropriations bill would fund agencies through next September. That measure was likely to provide a last $1.4 billion installment for President Donald Trump’s U.S.-Mexico border wall as a condition of winning his signature.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-21--France Closes Border With UK As New COVID Strain Spreads In England

LONDON ( AP ) — Trucks waiting to get in and out of Britain backed up for miles and people were stranded at airports Monday as many countries imposed stringent travel restrictions over concerns about a new strain of the coronavirus that is spreading in southeast England .
Countries across the world have halted air travel to the U.K. while France has banned trucks from entering for a period of 48 hours while the new variant is assessed .
There were rising hopes Monday , however , that France would allow traffic to flow again , with truck drivers having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will chair a meeting of the government ’ s emergency committee later Monday amid mounting concerns over the new restrictions that could lead to shortages of food if they are not reversed soon .
The government has already urged against travel to Kent , the southeastern county where many ports are located .
Most of the perishable goods coming into Britain from France arrive in trucks .
Goods carried by containers on ships , such as manufactured products are not affected by the ban .
Though the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crossing the English Channel into Britain , the confusion over the new regulations was adding to long backups on both sides at a time when traffic was already being snarled by Christmas-related traffic and uncertainty over Britain ’ s future trade relationship with the European Union .
Around 10,000 trucks pass through Britain ’ s Port of Dover every day , accounting for about 20 % of the U.K. ’ s trade in goods .
British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said France ’ s ban was “ slightly surprising ” — but tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority of Britain ’ s trade was not affected .
Shapps insisted that the public won ’ t notice any shortages “ for the most part.
” France ’ s Minister of Transport Jean-Baptiste Djebbari indicated that a solution was coming .
In a tweet , he said that “ in the coming hours , at a European level , we will put a solid health protocol in place so that the flow from the United Kingdom can resume.
” A croaky-voiced French President Emmanuel Macron told a Cabinet meeting by video Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing upon arrival.
” Macron has been working from the Elysee Palace as he recovers from his COVID-19 infection .
Canada , India , Hungary and Switzerland are among the latest countries to halt flights from the U.K. , following the lead of many in Europe .
In the U.S. , the governor of New York state said he wanted a ban on flights from Britain to New York City .
France , Germany , Italy , the Netherlands , Belgium , Poland and Ireland were among those who on Sunday announced widespread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the rail service that links Britain with mainland Europe , has also suspended services .
The moves come in the wake of Johnson ’ s announcement on Saturday that he was placing London and the southeast of England in a new Tier 4 level of restrictions after a warning from its scientific advisers — using what is widely considered to be one of the world ’ s most sophisticated genome sequencing regimes — that it had detected a new variant of the coronavirus that may be more contagious .
Johnson said early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus is 70 % more transmissible and is driving the rapid spread of new infections in the capital and surrounding areas .
Johnson will meet with the COBRA civil contingencies committee later Monday amid warnings of “ significant disruption ” around the ports in the English Channel .
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said Monday that while preliminary analysis in the U.K. suggests the new variant is “ significantly more transmissible , ” there is no indication that infections are more severe .
Experts , however , have stressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not more lethal , it ’ s inevitable that more cases will lead to more hospitalizations and subsequent virus-related deaths .
The Stockholm-based agency said a few cases with the new variant have been reported already by Iceland , Denmark and the Netherlands .
It also cited media reports of cases in Belgium and Italy .
Roman Woelfel , head of the Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology in Munich , said the variants being described by the U.K. have not been seen in patient samples screened in Germany .
However , he noted the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus is particularly good at finding new variants .
In Brussels , experts from EU member countries were meeting to discuss the new variant on Monday .
The chaos at the border comes at a time of huge uncertainty for the U.K. , less than two weeks before the final stage of Britain ’ s exit from the EU .
Though the U.K. left the bloc on Jan. 31 , it is in a transition period that effectively sees it abide by EU rules until the end of this year .
Talks on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and are set to resume on Monday .
Retailers played down fears of food shortages in the short term at least , but warned that there could be problems if the travel bans last for a while and if the U.K. and the EU fail to agree a post-Brexit trade deal .
The British Retail Consortium warned that the closure of France-to-U.K. traffic would create trading “ difficulties ” in the busy Christmas period .
“ Retailers have stocked up on goods ahead of Christmas which should prevent immediate problems , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sustainability at the British Retail Consortium .
“ However , any prolonged closure of the French border would be a problem as the U.K. enters the final weeks before the transition ends.
” Trade association Logistics U.K. has urged people to stay calm and not to rush to supermarkets to stockpile goods .
“ Shoppers should not panic buy , ” said Kevin Green , its director of marketing and communications .
“ If freight gets moving again today , then the overall impact on fresh produce arriving to supermarkets should be fairly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Berlin , Thomas Adamson in Paris and Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed to this report .
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak .

LONDON (AP) — Trucks waiting to get in and out of Britain backed up for miles and people were stranded at airports Monday as many countries imposed stringent travel restrictions over concerns about a new strain of the coronavirus that is spreading in southeast England.
Countries across the world have halted air travel to the U.K. while France has banned trucks from entering for a period of 48 hours while the new variant is assessed. There were rising hopes Monday, however, that France would allow traffic to flow again, with truck drivers having to take rapid coronavirus tests on arrival.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will chair a meeting of the government’s emergency committee later Monday amid mounting concerns over the new restrictions that could lead to shortages of food if they are not reversed soon. The government has already urged against travel to Kent, the southeastern county where many ports are located.
Most of the perishable goods coming into Britain from France arrive in trucks. Goods carried by containers on ships, such as manufactured products are not affected by the ban.
Though the French ban does not prevent goods from crossing the English Channel into Britain, the confusion over the new regulations was adding to long backups on both sides at a time when traffic was already being snarled by Christmas-related traffic and uncertainty over Britain’s future trade relationship with the European Union.
Around 10,000 trucks pass through Britain’s Port of Dover every day, accounting for about 20% of the U.K.’s trade in goods. British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said France’s ban was “slightly surprising” — but tried to calm nerves by noting that the majority of Britain’s trade was not affected.
Shapps insisted that the public won’t notice any shortages “for the most part.”
France’s Minister of Transport Jean-Baptiste Djebbari indicated that a solution was coming. In a tweet, he said that “in the coming hours, at a European level, we will put a solid health protocol in place so that the flow from the United Kingdom can resume.”
A croaky-voiced French President Emmanuel Macron told a Cabinet meeting by video Monday: “We are looking at systematic testing upon arrival.” Macron has been working from the Elysee Palace as he recovers from his COVID-19 infection.
Canada, India, Hungary and Switzerland are among the latest countries to halt flights from the U.K., following the lead of many in Europe. In the U.S., the governor of New York state said he wanted a ban on flights from Britain to New York City. France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland and Ireland were among those who on Sunday announced widespread restrictions on flights from the U.K. Eurotunnel, the rail service that links Britain with mainland Europe, has also suspended services.
The moves come in the wake of Johnson’s announcement on Saturday that he was placing London and the southeast of England in a new Tier 4 level of restrictions after a warning from its scientific advisers — using what is widely considered to be one of the world’s most sophisticated genome sequencing regimes — that it had detected a new variant of the coronavirus that may be more contagious.
Johnson said early indications are that the new variant of the virus is 70% more transmissible and is driving the rapid spread of new infections in the capital and surrounding areas. Johnson will meet with the COBRA civil contingencies committee later Monday amid warnings of “significant disruption” around the ports in the English Channel.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said Monday that while preliminary analysis in the U.K. suggests the new variant is “significantly more transmissible,” there is no indication that infections are more severe. Experts, however, have stressed that even if the new strain is not more lethal, it’s inevitable that more cases will lead to more hospitalizations and subsequent virus-related deaths.
The Stockholm-based agency said a few cases with the new variant have been reported already by Iceland, Denmark and the Netherlands. It also cited media reports of cases in Belgium and Italy.
Roman Woelfel, head of the Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology in Munich, said the variants being described by the U.K. have not been seen in patient samples screened in Germany. However, he noted the U.K.’s consortium for sequencing the virus is particularly good at finding new variants.
In Brussels, experts from EU member countries were meeting to discuss the new variant on Monday.
The chaos at the border comes at a time of huge uncertainty for the U.K., less than two weeks before the final stage of Britain’s exit from the EU.
Though the U.K. left the bloc on Jan. 31, it is in a transition period that effectively sees it abide by EU rules until the end of this year. Talks on a post-Brexit trade relationship are still deadlocked and are set to resume on Monday.
Retailers played down fears of food shortages in the short term at least, but warned that there could be problems if the travel bans last for a while and if the U.K. and the EU fail to agree a post-Brexit trade deal.
The British Retail Consortium warned that the closure of France-to-U.K. traffic would create trading “difficulties” in the busy Christmas period.
“Retailers have stocked up on goods ahead of Christmas which should prevent immediate problems,” said Andrew Opie, Director of Food & Sustainability at the British Retail Consortium.
“However, any prolonged closure of the French border would be a problem as the U.K. enters the final weeks before the transition ends.”
Trade association Logistics U.K. has urged people to stay calm and not to rush to supermarkets to stockpile goods.
“Shoppers should not panic buy,” said Kevin Green, its director of marketing and communications. “If freight gets moving again today, then the overall impact on fresh produce arriving to supermarkets should be fairly minimal.”
___
Associated Press writers Frank Jordans in Berlin, Thomas Adamson in Paris and Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed to this report.
___
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-21--Biden Will Receive COVID-19 Vaccine Today As Moderna Doses Arrive To States

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — President-elect Joe Biden will receive his first dose of the coronavirus vaccine on live television as part of a growing effort to convince the American public the inoculations are safe .
Monday ’ s event will come the same day that a second vaccine , produced by Moderna , will start arriving in states , joining Pfizer ’ s in the nation ’ s arsenal against the COVID-19 pandemic , which has now killed more than 317,000 people in the United States and upended life around the globe .
“ I don ’ t want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but I want to make sure we demonstrate to the American people that it is safe to take , ” Biden has said of his decision .
Biden and his wife , Jill , will also thank health care workers at the facility where they receive the shots , his incoming press secretary has said .
Top government officials last week joined the first Americans to be inoculated against COVID-19 as part of the largest largest vaccination campaign in the nation ’ s history .
Vice President Mike Pence , House Speaker Nancy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mitch McConnell , R-Ky. , and other lawmakers were given doses Friday .
They chose to publicize their injections as part of a campaign to convince Americans that the vaccines are safe and effective amid skepticism , especially among Republicans .
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband are expected to receive their first shots next week .
But missing from the action has been President Donald Trump , who has spent the last week largely out of sight as he continues to stew about his election loss and floats increasingly outlandish schemes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s an approach that has bewildered some top aides who see his silence as a missed opportunity for the president , who leaves office Jan. 20 , to claim credit for helping oversee the speedy development of the vaccine and to burnish his legacy .
Trump , who in the past has spread misinformation about vaccine risks , has not said when he intends to get the shot .
He tweeted earlier this month that he was “ not scheduled ” to take it , but said he looked “ forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The White House has said he is still discussing timing with his doctors .
Trump was hospitalized with COVID-19 in October and given an experimental monoclonal antibody treatment that he credited for his swift recovery .
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory board has said people who received that treatment should wait at least 90 days to be vaccinated to avoid any potential interference .
“ When the time is right , I ’ m sure he will remain willing to take it , ” White House spokesperson Brian Morgenstern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just something we ’ re working through.
” White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany , however , offered a different explanation for the delay .
She told reporters last week that Trump was holding off , in part , “ to show Americans that our priority are the most vulnerable.
” “ The President wants to send a parallel message , which is , you know , our long-term care facility residents and our frontline workers are paramount in importance , and he wants to set an example in that regard , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has said the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine , which was the first to receive authorization , “ is safe and likely efficacious ” for people who have been infected with COVID-19 and “ should be offered regardless of history of prior symptomatic or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.
” While there is no recommended minimum wait time between infection and vaccination , because reinfection is uncommon in the three months after a person is infected , the committee said people who tested positive in the preceding 90 days “ may delay vaccination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if desired.
” The panel also recommends that those who received Trump ’ s treatment put off vaccination for at least 90 days .
“ Currently , there are no data on the safety and efficacy of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination in persons who received monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma as part of COVID-19 treatment , ” they wrote , recommending that vaccination “ be deferred for at least 90 days , as a precautionary measure until additional information becomes available , to avoid interference of the antibody treatment with vaccine-induced immune responses.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ recommendation on CBS ’ s “ Face the Nation ” on Sunday when asked if Trump planned to receive the shot on camera .
“ From a scientific point of view , I will remind people that the president has had COVID within the last 90 days .
He received the monoclonal antibodies .
And that is actually one scenario where we tell people maybe you should hold off on getting the vaccine , talk to your health provider to find out the right time , ” Adams said .
But others , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s top infectious diseases expert , have recommended that Trump be vaccinated without delay .
“ Even though the president himself was infected , and he has , likely , antibodies that likely would be protective , we ’ re not sure how long that protection lasts .
So , to be doubly sure , I would recommend that he get vaccinated , ” he told ABC News .
The leader of the Trump administration ’ s vaccination program , Moncef Slaoui , told CNN ’ s “ State of the Union @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe for those who have recovered from the virus and offers stronger and potentially longer protection than does the virus itself .
“ We know that infection doesn ’ t induce a very strong immune response and it wanes over time .
So I think , as a clear precaution , it is appropriate to be vaccinated because it ’ s safe , ” he said .
“ I think people should be vaccinated , indeed .
”

NEWARK, Del. (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden receives COVID-19 vaccine, urges Americans to take vaccine as it becomes available to them.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-21--Dems Brace For GOP Ploy To Pin Under-Planned Vaccine Rollout On Biden

President Trump and his top lieutenants would love to have the country believe that the COVID-19 vaccine will be widely available very soon , just a few weeks into the Biden administration .
But there ’ s an inconvenient problem with that estimate : Systematic lack of funding of public health and failures in the Trump administration ’ s planning for vaccine distribution will likely extend the vaccine distribution timeline months beyond the outgoing administration ’ s rosiest predictions .
The Trump administration has a detailed plan to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine , but it only covers the first wave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of six weeks , inoculating frontline health-care workers and nursing home residents , potentially leaving the Biden administration with a surfeit of vaccine but a huge shortfall in planning .
That problem is compounded by the lack of funding from Congress for states and cities to manage distribution — a problem partially alleviated this week , when lawmakers arrived at a plan to appropriate $ 8.75 billion to distribute the shot .
But top Trump officials have tried to create the impression publicly that the vaccine will be widely available to the general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wildly unrealistic estimate that , if taken seriously , could frame the Biden administration for what seems like a conspicuous early failure .
Democrats are beginning to take notice that they ’ re being set up .
“ The administration ’ s lack of support for state and local health departments will undoubtedly slow the rate of vaccination and make it difficult to vaccinate vulnerable and hard to reach populations , ” wrote Rep. Bill Pascrell ( D-NJ ) in a Monday letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar demanding information about the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Azar said last week that Americans should expect the COVID-19 vaccine to be available for the general public by February or March .
Though that estimate has been contradicted by officials working within Operation Warp Speed , it could set the Biden administration up for a situation where it fails to meet an unrealistic deadline floated by Trump officials .
By this point , less than a month before the Biden administration takes over , there isn ’ t time for the Trump administration to spin up a real , thorough vaccine distribution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political will to do so .
“ There is no way that this administration can create an adequate vaccine distribution plan between now and when the Biden team comes in , ” a Democratic aide told TPM .
That has forced the Biden team to begin the work of lowering expectations , loath to watch Republicans rhetorically transform Trump ’ s lack of plan into Biden ’ s administrative failure .
Vivek Murthy , Biden ’ s choice for surgeon-general , told Meet The Press on Sunday that he expects widespread availability of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fall 2021 .
“ We want to be optimistic , but we want to be cautious as well , ” Murthy said .
The President-elect is focusing on a plan to administer 100 million doses in the first 100 days of his administration , vaccinating 50 million Americans , a Biden transition official told TPM in a Friday statement .
“ We will of course follow the guidance of scientists and prioritize vaccines to those most at-risk , ” the official said .
“ Our team continues to meet with Operation Warp Speed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been doing , and we are committed to ensuring safe and effective vaccines are available to all Americans.
” OWS officials have said that they ’ re responsible for coordinating vaccine shipments to the states , who then bear the financial and logistical burden of getting the shots into people ’ s arms .
But the specifics of how OWS operates and the challenges it faces have been murky .
“ The whole Trump administration response has been riddled with a lack of transparency to say the least , ” the same Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largely steered clear of broadcasting estimates for when the vaccine will be widely available , instead saying that final distribution is up to local governments .
“ There are 64 jurisdictions , so there are potentially 64 different ways of how a jurisdiction is going to choose to allocate their vaccines , ” Marion Whicker , deputy chief of supply , production , and distribution for Operation Warp Speed , said in response to a question from TPM last week .
On Saturday , OWS Chief Operating Officer Gen. Gustave Perna said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ where supply will overrun capability and capacity to administer , but we ’ ll manage and we ’ ll work that as we go forward.
” To the extent that OWS has put forward a timeline , officials working on the effort , many of whom are career military on detail to Operation Warp Speed , have said that mid-summer or June is when the general population could begin to expect to have the vaccine become available .
That flies in the face of comments from others in the Trump administration — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adm. Brett Giroir — who have said that vaccines will be available to the general public in a matter of months , by February or March .
Congress is set to appropriate $ 8.75 billion to help in that effort — the amount that the states requested — though local officials say that the money is coming too late to prevent the damage on the ground already created by the months-long congressional delay , during which time public health departments have been stymied in hiring vaccinators , trainers , and people to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. history .
Rep. Lloyd Doggett ( D-TX ) , chairman of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee , told TPM in a statement that the lack of funding to date had been incredibly harmful .
“ Like its deadly failures on testing and PPE , the Trump Administration has failed to advance a comprehensive national plan with detailed guidance as it tries to shift responsibility to the states , ” Doggett said , and accused the President of “ offer [ ing ] one false promise after another to the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It remains unclear how far the lack of preparation will lengthen the vaccination process .
Murthy , in the Meet The Press interview , said that even a perfectly executed plan would mean widespread availability only in late spring .
“ We all want the vaccine to be delivered as quickly , as fairly as possible , ” he said .
“ But we also want to be realistic .
”

President Trump and his top lieutenants would love to have the country believe that the COVID-19 vaccine will be widely available very soon, just a few weeks into the Biden administration.
But there’s an inconvenient problem with that estimate: Systematic lack of funding of public health and failures in the Trump administration’s planning for vaccine distribution will likely extend the vaccine distribution timeline months beyond the outgoing administration’s rosiest predictions.
The Trump administration has a detailed plan to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine, but it only covers the first wave of doses. It will take all of six weeks, inoculating frontline health-care workers and nursing home residents, potentially leaving the Biden administration with a surfeit of vaccine but a huge shortfall in planning. That problem is compounded by the lack of funding from Congress for states and cities to manage distribution — a problem partially alleviated this week, when lawmakers arrived at a plan to appropriate $8.75 billion to distribute the shot.
But top Trump officials have tried to create the impression publicly that the vaccine will be widely available to the general public as soon as February — a wildly unrealistic estimate that, if taken seriously, could frame the Biden administration for what seems like a conspicuous early failure.
Democrats are beginning to take notice that they’re being set up.
“The administration’s lack of support for state and local health departments will undoubtedly slow the rate of vaccination and make it difficult to vaccinate vulnerable and hard to reach populations,” wrote Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) in a Monday letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar demanding information about the Trump administration’s vaccine distribution plans.
Azar said last week that Americans should expect the COVID-19 vaccine to be available for the general public by February or March. Though that estimate has been contradicted by officials working within Operation Warp Speed, it could set the Biden administration up for a situation where it fails to meet an unrealistic deadline floated by Trump officials.
By this point, less than a month before the Biden administration takes over, there isn’t time for the Trump administration to spin up a real, thorough vaccine distribution plan — even if it had the political will to do so.
“There is no way that this administration can create an adequate vaccine distribution plan between now and when the Biden team comes in,” a Democratic aide told TPM.
That has forced the Biden team to begin the work of lowering expectations, loath to watch Republicans rhetorically transform Trump’s lack of plan into Biden’s administrative failure.
Vivek Murthy, Biden’s choice for surgeon-general, told Meet The Press on Sunday that he expects widespread availability of vaccines to occur in summer or early fall 2021.
“We want to be optimistic, but we want to be cautious as well,” Murthy said.
The President-elect is focusing on a plan to administer 100 million doses in the first 100 days of his administration, vaccinating 50 million Americans, a Biden transition official told TPM in a Friday statement.
“We will of course follow the guidance of scientists and prioritize vaccines to those most at-risk,” the official said. “Our team continues to meet with Operation Warp Speed and better understand the work they have been doing, and we are committed to ensuring safe and effective vaccines are available to all Americans.”
OWS officials have said that they’re responsible for coordinating vaccine shipments to the states, who then bear the financial and logistical burden of getting the shots into people’s arms. But the specifics of how OWS operates and the challenges it faces have been murky.
“The whole Trump administration response has been riddled with a lack of transparency to say the least,” the same Democratic aide said.
Operation Warp Speed has largely steered clear of broadcasting estimates for when the vaccine will be widely available, instead saying that final distribution is up to local governments.
“There are 64 jurisdictions, so there are potentially 64 different ways of how a jurisdiction is going to choose to allocate their vaccines,” Marion Whicker, deputy chief of supply, production, and distribution for Operation Warp Speed, said in response to a question from TPM last week.
On Saturday, OWS Chief Operating Officer Gen. Gustave Perna said that he didn’t anticipate a situation “where supply will overrun capability and capacity to administer, but we’ll manage and we’ll work that as we go forward.”
To the extent that OWS has put forward a timeline, officials working on the effort, many of whom are career military on detail to Operation Warp Speed, have said that mid-summer or June is when the general population could begin to expect to have the vaccine become available.
That flies in the face of comments from others in the Trump administration — including Azar and Assistant Secretary for Health Adm. Brett Giroir — who have said that vaccines will be available to the general public in a matter of months, by February or March.
Congress is set to appropriate $8.75 billion to help in that effort — the amount that the states requested — though local officials say that the money is coming too late to prevent the damage on the ground already created by the months-long congressional delay, during which time public health departments have been stymied in hiring vaccinators, trainers, and people to help plan for the largest inoculation campaign in U.S. history.
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), chairman of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, told TPM in a statement that the lack of funding to date had been incredibly harmful.
“Like its deadly failures on testing and PPE, the Trump Administration has failed to advance a comprehensive national plan with detailed guidance as it tries to shift responsibility to the states,” Doggett said, and accused the President of “offer[ing] one false promise after another to the American people” about the distribution effort.
It remains unclear how far the lack of preparation will lengthen the vaccination process. Murthy, in the Meet The Press interview, said that even a perfectly executed plan would mean widespread availability only in late spring.
“We all want the vaccine to be delivered as quickly, as fairly as possible,” he said. “But we also want to be realistic.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-21--Newsmax Runs Away From Its Election Conspiracy Coverage Like A Scalded Dog

Newsmax on Monday became the second television operation to air a lengthy fact-check-style segment rebutting the conspiracy theories it ’ s aired for weeks about the 2020 election , after a voting machine manufacturer threatened them with legal consequences .
Newsmax , like Fox News , received a letter earlier this month from manufacturer Smartmatic threatening legal action unless the network retracted various “ false and defamatory statements.
” Over the weekend , three shows on Fox News and Fox Business Network aired the same surreal interview with a voting machines expert that contradicted numerous past statements made on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ host of “ Liquid Lunch , ” did the dirty work himself on Monday .
The network would like to clarify it ’ s coverage , Tabacco said — “ and note it has not reported as true certain claims made about these companies.
” What followed was an effective summary of the weeks of conspiracy theories that Newsmax and other fringe outlets have aired as consolation prizes to Trump dead-enders .
In quick succession , Tabacco said there was no evidence to support assertions that Smartmatic or fellow voting machine manufacturer Dominion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 election , and noted that Dominion had denied any relationship to a number of Trumpy boogeymen — including the Feinsteins , Clintons , Pelosis , Chavezes , and George Soros .
Tabacco punctuated each name with a note of resignation : “ Dominion has stated the company has no ownership relationship with the Pelosi family , the Feinstein family , the Clinton family , Hugo Chavez or the government of Venezuela.
” He wasn ’ t done : “ Neither Dominion nor Smartmatic has any relationship with George Soros , ” Tabacco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Smartmatic is a U.S. company and not owned by the Venezuelan government , Hugo Chavez , or any foreign official or entity.
” At the end of his public service announcement , Tabacco referenced an article published Sunday night , “ Facts About Dominion , Smartmatic You Should Know ” that used the same disclaimer Tabacco recited on air : “ Newsmax would like to clarify its news coverage and note it has not reported as true certain claims made about these companies.
” Comments below the piece reflected viewers ’ frustration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ You are caving to a COUP !
!
!
STOP YOURSELVES NOW !
!
!
Courage takes sacrifice… ” one person observed .
“ Hold the Line..Don ’ t become a Commie Newsmax !
We can leave you just as fast as we started to follow you !
!
!
” Smartmatic also demanded retractions from One America News Network , which has also trafficked in wild conspiracy theories about rigged voting machines stealing Trump ’ s second term .
And Dominion sent a similar letter to Sidney Powell , the former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Dominion/Smartmatic theories .
Powell , a frequent guest on Newsmax , told the network in November : “ The math just doesn ’ t add up for anything and we know Dominion has a long history of rigging elections , because that ’ s what it was created to do to begin with.
” “ It was created so Hugo Chavez would never lose another election , and he did not after that software was created , ” Powell added .
“ He won every single election and then they exported it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America , and then they brought it here .
”

Newsmax on Monday became the second television operation to air a lengthy fact-check-style segment rebutting the conspiracy theories it’s aired for weeks about the 2020 election, after a voting machine manufacturer threatened them with legal consequences.
Newsmax, like Fox News, received a letter earlier this month from manufacturer Smartmatic threatening legal action unless the network retracted various “false and defamatory statements.”
Over the weekend, three shows on Fox News and Fox Business Network aired the same surreal interview with a voting machines expert that contradicted numerous past statements made on the shows.
Newsmax host John Tabacco, host of “Liquid Lunch,” did the dirty work himself on Monday.
The network would like to clarify it’s coverage, Tabacco said — “and note it has not reported as true certain claims made about these companies.”
What followed was an effective summary of the weeks of conspiracy theories that Newsmax and other fringe outlets have aired as consolation prizes to Trump dead-enders.
In quick succession, Tabacco said there was no evidence to support assertions that Smartmatic or fellow voting machine manufacturer Dominion were used to flip votes in the 2020 election, and noted that Dominion had denied any relationship to a number of Trumpy boogeymen — including the Feinsteins, Clintons, Pelosis, Chavezes, and George Soros.
Tabacco punctuated each name with a note of resignation: “Dominion has stated the company has no ownership relationship with the Pelosi family, the Feinstein family, the Clinton family, Hugo Chavez or the government of Venezuela.”
He wasn’t done: “Neither Dominion nor Smartmatic has any relationship with George Soros,” Tabacco said.
Tabacco wound up again: “Smartmatic is a U.S. company and not owned by the Venezuelan government, Hugo Chavez, or any foreign official or entity.”
Newsmax just aired this note to "clarify" its coverage of Smartmatic and Dominion. pic.twitter.com/I5XZ7CQpAk — John Whitehouse (@existentialfish) December 21, 2020
At the end of his public service announcement, Tabacco referenced an article published Sunday night, “Facts About Dominion, Smartmatic You Should Know” that used the same disclaimer Tabacco recited on air: “Newsmax would like to clarify its news coverage and note it has not reported as true certain claims made about these companies.”
Comments below the piece reflected viewers’ frustration at the sudden change in tone.
“You are caving to a COUP!!! STOP YOURSELVES NOW !!! Courage takes sacrifice…” one person observed. “Hold the Line..Don’t become a Commie Newsmax! We can leave you just as fast as we started to follow you!!!”
Smartmatic also demanded retractions from One America News Network, which has also trafficked in wild conspiracy theories about rigged voting machines stealing Trump’s second term. And Dominion sent a similar letter to Sidney Powell, the former Trump campaign lawyer who popularized many of the Dominion/Smartmatic theories.
Powell, a frequent guest on Newsmax, told the network in November: “The math just doesn’t add up for anything and we know Dominion has a long history of rigging elections, because that’s what it was created to do to begin with.”
“It was created so Hugo Chavez would never lose another election, and he did not after that software was created,” Powell added. “He won every single election and then they exported it to Argentina and other countries in South America, and then they brought it here.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-12-21--Harris Imbues Georgia Stump Speech With Reminders Of A Single Senator’s Power

“ I saw the power of one senator when John McCain took to that floor and said ‘ no you don ’ t. ’ He said ‘ no you don ’ t . '
” Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris hit the phrase harder and slower the second time , giving space for the sparse crowd to cheer , buoyed by car horns on a sunny Monday in Columbus , Georgia .
She described the late Sen. John McCain ’ s ( R-AZ ) famous thumbs down , when he cast the final vote to sink his party ’ s attempt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The power of just one individual , ” Harris marveled .
“ And Georgia — Columbus — you have the power to send two !
” Rather than give a conventional rundown of the candidates ’ merits , Harris drew on her own experience as a senator to convey the power the chamber and administration would have if they can work in lockstep — if Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff beat Sens .
David Perdue ( R-GA ) and Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) in the runoffs , giving Harris the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She launched into a legislative wishlist for Georgia , measures she and President-elect Joe Biden want to get done , but likely can ’ t without Senate control .
She named tripling Title I funding , establishing a tax credit for first-time homebuyers , increasing access to capital for small businesses — especially minority-owned small businesses — and locking in a national standard for use of force by police .
When she alluded to the Georgia Republicans in her brief remarks — she had to hurry back to Washington , DC , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she homed in on the legal attacks that have inundated the state ’ s courts at all levels .
“ Why are so many powerful people trying to make it so difficult for us to vote ?
” she asked , answering later : “ Because they know our power.
” A whole host of Republican groups including committees for the senators , the Republican National Committee and the state party have lodged challenge after challenge , trying to get some legal spaghetti to stick and gum up the works of various parts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three defeats in two days last week , as three federal judges summarily dismissed the various attempts to get rid of drop boxes , enforce stricter signature matching requirements and lay the groundwork to get ballots from new registrants investigated and possibly tossed .
An appeals court drove a stake through the heart of one of those challenges on Monday , though the lopped-off hydra head was replaced by a highly mockable Lin Wood lawsuit filed over the weekend .
“ We knew the kind of games they would play , to suppress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to discourage us , ” Harris said of the general election .
“ The same challenge exists today.
” So far , judges of all stripes have briskly swatted down the challenges , many expressing their discomfort in being asked to change the rules of an election in which over a million Georgians have already voted .
So the voting continues in a race that what few polls there are capture as essentially tied .
Harris implored the crowd to think of the wide-rippling effects their votes could have .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what ’ s in your best interest , ” she said .
“ I ’ m here to say the decision you make , the work you put into it , will impact people you may never meet .
”

“I saw the power of one senator when John McCain took to that floor and said ‘no you don’t.’ He said ‘no you don’t.'”
Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris hit the phrase harder and slower the second time, giving space for the sparse crowd to cheer, buoyed by car horns on a sunny Monday in Columbus, Georgia.
She described the late Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) famous thumbs down, when he cast the final vote to sink his party’s attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
“The power of just one individual,” Harris marveled. “And Georgia — Columbus — you have the power to send two!”
Rather than give a conventional rundown of the candidates’ merits, Harris drew on her own experience as a senator to convey the power the chamber and administration would have if they can work in lockstep — if Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff beat Sens. David Perdue (R-GA) and Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) in the runoffs, giving Harris the tie-breaking vote in a 50-50 Senate.
She launched into a legislative wishlist for Georgia, measures she and President-elect Joe Biden want to get done, but likely can’t without Senate control.
She named tripling Title I funding, establishing a tax credit for first-time homebuyers, increasing access to capital for small businesses — especially minority-owned small businesses — and locking in a national standard for use of force by police.
When she alluded to the Georgia Republicans in her brief remarks — she had to hurry back to Washington, DC, to vote on the COVID-19 relief bill — she homed in on the legal attacks that have inundated the state’s courts at all levels.
“Why are so many powerful people trying to make it so difficult for us to vote?” she asked, answering later: “Because they know our power.”
A whole host of Republican groups including committees for the senators, the Republican National Committee and the state party have lodged challenge after challenge, trying to get some legal spaghetti to stick and gum up the works of various parts of the election system.
They saw three defeats in two days last week, as three federal judges summarily dismissed the various attempts to get rid of drop boxes, enforce stricter signature matching requirements and lay the groundwork to get ballots from new registrants investigated and possibly tossed.
An appeals court drove a stake through the heart of one of those challenges on Monday, though the lopped-off hydra head was replaced by a highly mockable Lin Wood lawsuit filed over the weekend.
“We knew the kind of games they would play, to suppress our vote, to make it confusing, to discourage us,” Harris said of the general election. “The same challenge exists today.”
So far, judges of all stripes have briskly swatted down the challenges, many expressing their discomfort in being asked to change the rules of an election in which over a million Georgians have already voted.
So the voting continues in a race that what few polls there are capture as essentially tied.
Harris implored the crowd to think of the wide-rippling effects their votes could have.
“I’m not here to tell you what’s in your best interest,” she said. “I’m here to say the decision you make, the work you put into it, will impact people you may never meet.”