June 20, 2021, Covid-19 news | CNN

June 20, 2021, Covid-19 news

Fernando Alfonso III
By Fernando Alfonso III, CNN
Updated 3:03 PM EDT, Sun June 20, 2021
coronavirus vaccine young population trump sot gupta newday vpx _00011721.png
Video Ad Feedback
Dr. Gupta discusses Trump's questions on vaccinating children
02:11 - Source: CNN

What we're covering here

  • The US is still trying to reach President Biden’s goal of at least partially vaccinating 70% of the adult population by July 4.
  • The US CDC has designated the Delta variant as a “variant of concern,” which scientists believe is more transmissible or can cause more severe disease.
  • The European Union’s governing body has recommended lifting restrictions on nonessential travel from 14 countries, including the US. 

Our live coverage has ended for the day.

4 Posts

16 states have fully vaccinated more than half their residents against Covid-19

From CNN's Naomi Thomas

So far, 45.1% of the US population has been fully vaccinated against Covid-19; that represents 149,667,646 million people.

Here’s current data on vaccination efforts in the United States.

  • 16 states have fully vaccinated more than half of their residents: Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington, as well as Washington, D.C.
  • 16 states have reached Biden’s goal to vaccinate 70% of adults with at least one dose. Virginia became the most recent state to join this list, which includes: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, as well as Washington, D.C.
  • Current pace of vaccinations: 820,918 new people fully vaccinated per day, 1.2 million doses per day

China passes 1 billion Covid-19 vaccine doses administered

From CNN’s Yong Xiong

China on Saturday passed one billion Covid-19 vaccine doses administered, according to its National Health Commission.

A total of 1,010,489,000 doses have been given in China as of Saturday, according to a short statement on Sunday.

Antiviral medications could be a "game-changer" for Covid-19, former FDA commissioner says

From CNN's Naomi Thomas
Then FDA Commissioner-designate Dr. Scott Gottlieb testifies at a hearing in Washington, DC, on April 5, 2017.
Then FDA Commissioner-designate Dr. Scott Gottlieb testifies at a hearing in Washington, DC, on April 5, 2017.
Zach Gibson/Getty Images

Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration, said on CBS that getting antiviral medicines for Covid-19 could be a game-changer and that we will be able to develop these drugs.

The Biden administration on Thursday announced that it would invest more than $3 billion from the American Rescue Plan to accelerate the discovery, development and manufacturing of Covid-19 antiviral medicines.

He mentioned that Pfizer, which he sits on the board of, as well as Merck and a number of other companies are working on these drugs.

“I think we will get a drug that inhibits viral replication, that can be taken on an outpatient basis and is basically like a Tamiflu for coronavirus that you could take when you first have symptoms, when you first have a diagnosis, to prevent the progression to disease,” he said. 

South Korea to relax Covid-19 social distancing measures starting July 1

From Gawon Bae
People cook and eat at the Waikiki Market restaurant in Seoul, South Korea, on May 22, 2021.
People cook and eat at the Waikiki Market restaurant in Seoul, South Korea, on May 22, 2021.
SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg/Getty Images

South Korea will relax Covid-19 social distancing measures starting July 1, the country’s Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol said in a briefing on Sunday.

The current five-tier social distancing measures will be replaced by reformed, four-tier levels accompanied by clearer guidelines for each, Kwon said. 

Currently, gatherings are limited to four people throughout the nation, but under revised measures, limits on gatherings will vary by level.

Entertainment facilities, restaurants and cafes can open until 12 a.m. under revised level 2, compared to 10 p.m. under current level 2 measures.

By the numbers: As of June 20, a total of 15,012,455 people have received the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine and 4,046,611 have received the second dose, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said in a press release on Sunday.

South Korea reported 380 locally transmitted and 49 imported Covid-19 cases as of midnight on Saturday, KDCA said in a press release. 

READ MORE
Delta variant will likely become dominant Covid-19 strain in US, CDC chief says
Travel to Mexico during Covid-19: What you need to know before you go
Biden administration to invest $3 billion for Covid-19 antiviral medicines
Traveling to France during Covid-19: What you need to know before you go
The struggle to mandate Covid-19 vaccines for health care workers

READ MORE
Delta variant will likely become dominant Covid-19 strain in US, CDC chief says
Travel to Mexico during Covid-19: What you need to know before you go
Biden administration to invest $3 billion for Covid-19 antiviral medicines
Traveling to France during Covid-19: What you need to know before you go
The struggle to mandate Covid-19 vaccines for health care workers