More than 120,000 people are being treated by COVID in America’s hospitals on Christmas Eve. This is not just a record, but double the number of patients who were in hospitals at the height of the outbreak in April.
More than 18.7 million cases have been confirmed in the United States and more than 330,000 Americans have died.
With US hospitals already overburdened and concerns about the new, more infectious COVID variant now spreading across the UK, the CDC is cracking down. All passengers must provide written documentation that tested negative in the last 72 hours before leaving the UK and entering the USA
The queen delivered a bleak Christmas message to the confined nation
“Missing friends and family have moved away for safety, when all they really want for Christmas is a simple hug or a handshake, if you are among them, you are not alone,” said Queen Elizabeth.
Some traditions have continued – albeit without the crowds. From the Vatican to the city of Belém.
Only a handful of parishioners were allowed to enter the Christmas mass in Los Angeles, where every 10 minutes someone dies of COVID.
“This is unprecedented,” said Dr. Stephen Patterson. He said that many of his current patients are in their 20s, with no underlying diseases – and are now seriously ill.
Your message to people is “think about the decisions you make. ‘Will I take off my mask here’ or ‘will I decide I would like to leave.’ We have to make everyone aware of it during the holidays and beyond. ”
But the country’s airports have been the busiest since the pandemic began. And there are dire warnings of the increase to come.
Researchers continue to estimate more than 500,000 deaths in the United States until April.
Despite this bleak prediction, there are stories of triumph.
This is Merlin Pambuan, an ICU nurse in Southern California who cared for patients with COVID – so she became one.
Four months on respirator, 8 months fighting the virus inside the same hospital where he has been working for 40 years.
Her message tonight to those who treated her and to those who now fight for their lives: “Don’t lose hope. Just fight. Fight.”
At LAX, up to three nonstop flights still arrive every day from the UK. It is still unclear how effective vaccines are for the new strain and a Boston doctor had what is believed to be the first serious allergic reaction to the Modern vaccine.