Update: Third state identifies more transmissible variant as U.S. cases surpass 20 million

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Fri, 2021-01-01 19:42 — mike kraft

Coronavirus updates: Third state identifies more transmissible variant as U.S. cases surpass 20 million Florida's identification of a case of the coronavirus variant, first detected in the U.K., is a reminder that the pandemic remains strong as a new year begins. Marisa Iati, Reis Thebault Washington Post

Florida on Thursday became the third state to identify a case of the coronavirus variant first detected in the United Kingdom, a reminder that the pandemic remains a formidable foe as infections in the United States cross 20 million.

The latest instance of the variant was found in a man in his 20s with no recent travel history, health officials said. The more transmissible version of the virus has also been reported in California and Colorado, and experts expect it to be identified in additional states.

The number of vaccinations across the United States crossed 3 million Thursday, only about one-seventh of the doses that federal officials had promised to deliver to Americans’ arms by the end of the year. Although authorities insist that lags in reporting mean the official tally is an undercount, the immunization campaign has nevertheless been marred by logistical delays as the nation experiences the most powerful surge of the pandemic so far.

The vaccines’ complicated rollout has relied on coordination between the federal government and beleaguered state and local health-care systems, with communication gaffes and underfunded health departments contributing to the slowdown. Gustave Perna, chief operating officer of the Trump administration’s Operation Warp Speed, on Wednesday said federal officials will “continue to make adjustments” to increase vaccinations.

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah)... on Friday positioned himself as a prominent Republican critic of the Trump administration’s handling of vaccinations.

“That comprehensive vaccination plans have not been developed at the federal level and sent to the states as models is as incomprehensible as it is inexcusable,” he said in a statement.

Among other ideas, Romney proposed enlisting active and retired health-care workers not currently delivering care — such as veterinarians, combat medics and medical students — to administer vaccinations. Within each category of people used to prioritize inoculations, he suggested scheduling vaccinations according to birthdays. ...

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