COVID-19 - Wednesday 12/30/2020

"Senate remains at a standstill over increased COVID relief checks" PBS NewsHour 12/30/2020

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SUMMARY:  The struggle to provide additional COVID relief continues in the U.S. Senate.  The passage of $2,000 relief checks is stalled despite President Trump's repeated demands for larger direct payments.  Anna Palmer, senior Washington correspondent for POLITICO, joins Amna Nawaz to discuss.

 

 

"Arizona health care workers face ‘catastrophic’ conditions amid surge in COVID cases" PBS NewsHour 12/30/2020

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SUMMARY:  With the number of COVID cases and hospitalizations surging in many parts of the country, health care systems and their staff are becoming further strained, including many areas in Arizona.  In Phoenix, six hospitals are now diverting incoming emergency patients to other facilities.  Dr. Quinn Snyder, an emergency physician in Mesa, Arizona, joins Amna Nawaz to discuss his view from the frontline.

 

 

"U.S. struggles to distribute vaccinations, falling far short of projections" PBS NewsHour 12/30/2020

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SUMMARY:  In the first two weeks of America's vaccination campaign, just 2 million people have received the first of the two required doses for their vaccinations -- far short of the Trump administration's projections of 20 million vaccinations by the end of this year.  William Brangham spoke to Dr. Carlos del Rio, a professor of global health at Emory University School of Medicine, to discuss.

 

 

"COVID-19 cases drop in rural Missouri, but vaccinations are still weeks away" PBS NewsHour 12/30/2020

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SUMMARY:  As the pandemic continues spiraling out of control in much of the U.S., the number of infections have declined in recent weeks in Scotland County, Missouri.  But despite that good news, medical professionals there may not receive any doses of the coronavirus vaccine until the end of January, and they fear their community could soon have another surge.  Special correspondent James Fox reports.