The usreported a report excessive of greater than 195,000 new day by day instances of COVID-19 Friday, the identical week the nation surpassed 250,000 deaths from the coronavirus, by far the biggest complete on this planet. Consultants say it’ll worsen.

“Circumstances and deaths proceed to extend steadily in most states,” a Thursday Institute for Well being Metrics and Analysis briefing says. “The tempo of improve is quicker than we anticipated, main us to revise upward our forecast of deaths by March 1 to 471,000.”

The influential mannequin’s projections assume 40 states will reinstate social distancing mandates by that point. If they do not, IHME researchers say deaths and instances shall be even greater.

In the meantime, quite a few high-profile political figures together with Donald Trump Jr. have examined constructive for COVID-19 in current days. Florida Sen. Rick Scott introduced Friday he has examined constructive. He’s the second Republican senator, together with Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, to announce constructive exams this week.

And Rudy Giuliani’s son, Andrew, introduced Friday he has examined constructive for COVID-19, a day after he attended a information convention along with his father and different members of President Donald Trump’s authorized workforce alleging baseless claims of widespread election fraud.

In the present day’s numbers: The U.S. has reported greater than 11.9 million instances and greater than 254,000 deaths, in response to Johns Hopkins College knowledge. The worldwide totals: 57.6 million instances and 1.37 million deaths.

Mapping coronavirus: Monitor the U.S. outbreak in your state.

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Texas Nationwide Guard to offer assist to El Paso morgues throughout COVID-19 disaster

The Texas Nationwide Guard shall be offering assist to El Paso morgues because the area continues to be slammed by COVID-19 deaths.

“After finishing an evaluation of the scenario on the bottom in El Paso County this week, the state has mobilized a workforce of 36 Texas Nationwide Guard personnel to offer mortuary affairs help starting at 9 o’clock tomorrow (Saturday) morning,” Seth Christensen, spokesperson for the Texas Division of Emergency Administration, mentioned.

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After the announcement, El Paso County Decide Ricardo Samaniego requested further assist from Gov. Greg Abbott within the type of leeway to impose some restrictions to curb the unfold of COVID-19. Samaniego mentioned in a letter to the governor’s workplace that his earlier order that was ended by an appellate court docket was executed so erroneously and the order was not inconsistent with Abbott’s statewide restrictions.

– El Paso Instances

Donald Trump Jr. exams constructive for COVID-19

President Donald Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., examined constructive for COVID-19 earlier this week, in response to his spokesman.

“Don examined constructive at first of the week and has been quarantining out at his cabin for the reason that outcome. He’s been utterly asymptomatic up to now and is following all medically advisable COVID-19 tips,” his workplace mentioned in a press release.

Trump Jr. is the newest individual near the president to check constructive in current days. Earlier on Friday, Rudy Giuliani’s son, Andrew, introduced he additionally examined constructive a day after attending a press convention held by his father on the Republican Nationwide Committee headquarters.

The White Home has struggled to include at the least three outbreaks of the virus in current months. Trump was hospitalized after he examined constructive, and a number of other aides have since been contaminated.

– David Jackson

Pfizer takes candidate vaccine to FDA for emergency authorization

Pfizer mentioned Friday it’s submitting for emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine, the following step in bringing its candidate vaccine to market. Well being and different frontline staff might get the vaccine as quickly as December however reaching everybody might take as much as a yr.

The transfer follows an announcement from Pfizer Inc. and its German companion BioNTech that its vaccine seems 95% efficient in opposition to the coronavirus. Additionally this week, drug firm Moderna launched constructive information, with its vaccine additionally displaying a excessive price of efficacy. Each candidates, every of which require two photographs, defend greater than 90% of these immunized, self-reported outcomes point out.

The FDA and an impartial advisory board will assessment Pfizer’s utility earlier than the vaccine is ready to get into peoples’ arms.

“If we do get individuals vaccinated to a excessive diploma, then you can begin speaking about this umbrella or blanket of safety on society that might diminish dramatically the chance of an individual being uncovered and even being contaminated,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s prime infectious illness knowledgeable, instructed USA TODAY earlier this week.

– Cara Richardson

Fauci says Santa Claus will not be spreading COVID-19 this Christmas

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s main infectious illness knowledgeable, mentioned Santa Claus is coming to city. And he isn’t bringing COVID-19.

It ought to come as no shock. As kids already know, Santa is superhuman. He flies world wide in a single night time, delivers tens of millions of toys and eats his weight in cookies.

However with tens of millions of People already sick with COVID-19, kids have been apprehensive about Santa, particularly this Christmas Eve when he visits tens of millions of houses. And there isn’t any denying that Santa, as a result of he’s older and chubby, would at first look look like at greater threat of creating extreme illness from COVID-19.

Fauci is telling children to not fear, although. “Santa just isn’t going to be spreading any infections to anyone,” he mentioned.

— Adrianna Rodriguez and Grace Hauck

CDC recommends in opposition to vacation journey

The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention is recommending in opposition to journey for Thanksgiving. Dr. Henry Walke, the CDC’s COVID-19 incident supervisor, mentioned the “tragedy that would occur” is that members of the family might find yourself severely unwell, hospitalized or dying. The CDC’s warning is the newest and most excessive profile concerning the dangers of touring as coronavirus instances rise nationwide. Officers in California, Illinois and different states have urged residents to keep away from nonessential journey whilst airways tout vacation fare offers.

“These instances are robust, it’s been a protracted outbreak, virtually 11 months, and we perceive persons are drained,” Walke mentioned. “However this yr we’re asking them to restrict their journey.”

– Sara M. Moniuszko

COVID-19 assets from USA TODAY

Contributing: The Related Press

This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: COVID information: Donald Trump Jr. constructive; Thanksgiving journey not suggested