June 2 coronavirus news

It is premature to lift mask mandates in areas with high levels of Covid-19 spread, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Wednesday.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers a county to have “high” transmission if there have been 100 or more cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 residents or a test positivity rate of 10% or higher in the past seven days. The CDC says that significant mitigation strategies may be needed in areas where there is large scale, community transmission, including in communal settings, like schools and workplaces.

After the CDC said it is safe for people who are vaccinated against Covid-19 to stop wearing masks in most cases, multiple states have lifted or announced plans to lift mask mandates and other pandemic precautions.

After months of deliberations, President Biden has finalized his plan to distribute millions of coronavirus vaccines worldwide. 

Secretary of State Antony Blinken hinted earlier that an announcement was imminent, and according to multiple sources familiar with the plans, officials could reveal it as soon as Thursday or potentially Friday. 

This week, officials will detail which specific countries are getting vaccines while cautioning that this is expected to be a lengthy, complicated process, according to a person familiar with the deliberations. 

For months, administration aides and federal health officials have deliberated over the best way to share additional vaccines doses. The US has come under intense pressure to help other nations, and several of Biden’s top aides have fielded requests from allies to help, including the President himself. Jeff Zients, whom Biden recently tapped to lead efforts to address the pandemic globally, has worked in close coordination with national security adviser Jake Sullivan, sources say. 

Administration officials are expected to lay out the criteria they’ve agreed on to determine which countries get doses. It remains to be seen whether the US will unilaterally decide which countries get which vaccines, or whether the international vaccine initiative known as COVAX will play a major role in deciding who gets them. It could also be a combination of both, officials say.  

One of the most complicated part of the decision-making process has centered on the enormous operational undertaking that sharing vaccines will require. Zients and Sullivan have worked with multiple federal agencies, including the Defense Department and State Department, to coordinate this, in addition to diplomatic counterparts. 

Two big factors that will matter are quality control and a country’s public health infrastructure. 

Right now, only doses of vaccines made by Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson will be distributed, an official told CNN. 

Biden said in May the US would send 60 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses to other countries by July Fourth. But, as of Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. ET, those doses have not cleared a federal safety and efficacy review conducted by the US Food and Drug Administration, another official said. 

It’s an effort to expand access to coronavirus vaccines: provide shots at the barber shop. 

As part of a White House initiative, the National Association of County and City Health Officials is planning to help train Black-owned barber shops and hair salons to provide accurate vaccination information and even provide vaccines where possible, Lori Tremmel Freeman, chief executive officer of NACCHO, told CNN on Wednesday.

The Biden administration said Wednesday it is teaming up with several organizations — the Black Coalition Against COVID, the University of Maryland Center for Health Equity and the SheaMoisture company — to launch an initiative called “Shots at the Shop.” It will engage Black-owned barber shops and beauty salons nationwide in efforts to promote vaccine education and outreach on a local level. 

The White House said throughout June, each participating shop will share information about vaccines with customers, display educational materials, and some will even host on-site vaccination events in partnership with local providers.

“The role that NACCHO’s going to play is trying to match barber shops and beauty shops with local health departments, so that we can forge a relationship there and figure out if any of these business locations can also become vaccination sites or what it would take for that to happen. In partnership, health departments may be able to work with these groups to provide health education to customers around vaccination or even supply a public health nurse,” Freeman said.

“Local health departments stand ready to work in partnership to leverage these critical trusted community members to address vaccine education, talk about any hesitancy or lack of information, and help facilitate getting vaccinations or clinics to these businesses.” 

Several studies — published in the New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA Internal Medicine, and other journals — have found that partnerships with barber shops can benefit public health initiatives as well as the patients they are trying to reach, such as with screening for diabetes, monitoring high blood pressure and raising awareness around mental health.

People enjoy their time in an outside sitting area of a restaurant in Chicago's Navy Pier on Friday, May 14. 

Restaurants and bars in Illinois can give away a free drink to customers who have been vaccinated, according to a new law signed Wednesday by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

According to a news release from the governor’s office, the incentive is meant to boost vaccination numbers and bring patrons back to restaurants and bars.  

The new law will run from now until July 20, the release noted.

Under the new law, “Cocktails-to-go” will continue to be allowed for both pick-up and delivery. This service has helped businesses make ends meet during the pandemic, the release said.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced Wednesday that the state’s second round of HOPE program checks for rental and utility assistance are on their way to help families struggling during the pandemic.  

The HOPE program was created last year to aid with rent and utility payments for North Carolina families who were suffering during the pandemic, the governor said at a news conference. The program has already awarded more than $133 million in assistance to over 36,000 families throughout North Carolina. 

Two weeks ago, the state opened a second application period for the program with funds from the American Rescue Plan, Cooper said.

As of Wednesday, a total of 924 checks for a sum of $1.1 million have already been mailed to residents in need of assistance, he said. “This second version of the HOPE program is serving low-income renters in 88 North Carolina counties, 12 additional mostly larger counties, and five tribal governments received money directly from the federal government to operate their own programs,” he said. 

Over 8,000 North Carolinians have applied for assistance in the last two weeks and the state expects more awards to go out each day. All payments will go directly to landlords and utility companies, Cooper said. 

The governor encouraged residents needing assistance to continue to apply for the program. “I strongly encourage landlords and utilities across our state to lend a hand to their communities and to participate in these programs so that we can keep people in their homes with their lights on,” the governor said. 

US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy.

The next phase of the Covid-19 vaccine campaign in the US will be more difficult, but “we’re not giving up,” US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said Wednesday.

President Biden announced a “National Month of Action” Wednesday to try to help meet the administration’s goal of vaccinating 70% of the population by July 4.

“Because we had so much success early on, we are now getting to the part of the campaign which is tougher,” Murthy added. “We’ve got to look further, if you will – convince more people, get to the right information, increase access even further.”

US President Joe Biden, with Vice President Kamala Harris, speaks on Covid-19 response and vaccinations in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, next to the White House, in Washington, DC, on June 2.

The Biden administration could announce how it plans to distribute vaccines to the rest of the world as early as tomorrow, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

Blinken reiterated that the administration would work “significantly” with COVAX on the vaccine distribution, which will be “based on science and need” and “without any political strings attached.”

Some background: Earlier Blinken said he discussed Covid-19 and vaccines in his meeting with the Costa Rican president. He said the US will focus on equity and science.

The CEO of Carnival said Wednesday that the company is in dialogue with the office of Florida Gov. Ron Desantis and waiting for clarifications on the state’s vaccine passport rules.  

Some context: Desantis signed a state law last month prohibiting any business from requiring proof of a Covid-19 vaccination.

The law has made life complicated for cruise lines, which are trying to begin a phased return US waters under strict Centers for Disease Control and Prevention restrictions. Abbott has also issued an executive order prohibiting government-mandated proof of inoculation. Carnival hopes to begin operating sailings from July on three ships from Florida and Texas.

“I think the question here is inclusiveness, that if we are at a state where the community is in great shape in terms of risk of spread of the pandemic, that some people, for whatever reason, choose not to be vaccinated,” Donald said, though he encourages everyone to be vaccinated. “The reason we’re doing vaccinating now is because that’s what we can do. That’s what the CDC has allowed us to do, and so, you know, we are just saying we’re offering itineraries where people if they’re vaccinated can sail. And then we’re looking to eventually open cruises when we can and when it’s okay to do so in the various places we go.”

All limits on indoor gathering in the state of New Jersey will be lifted June 4 as part of the state’s plan to ease Covid-19 restrictions, Gov. Phil Murphy announced.

Now, at least 4,259,893 people statewide are fully vaccinated and a total of 9,083,848 total doses of the vaccine have been administered, according to the state’s Covid-19 dashboard. 

More than 5.3 million people in New Jersey who are 12 and over have received at least their first dose of the vaccine, Murphy said.

New Jersey is also the seventh in the nation to have 70% of all adults receive at least their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, according to the governor.

Murphy also discussed the state’s plans to shift towards more localized vaccination efforts. 

As a result of the transition away from mega sites for vaccines, these locations are scheduling their last doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, which will end towards the end of July. 

“We are localizing it…wherever you live there is a vaccination site near you,” he said, regarding this new transition.  

There are currently 1,800 vaccination sites across the state, Murphy said. 

The seven-day average of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered has slowed to about 1.1 million doses per day, according to data published Wednesday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

This is less than a third of the peak pace of about 3.3 million doses per day in mid-April. But over the past week, an average of more than 615,000 people became fully vaccinated each day and an average of nearly 523,000 additional people got a first shot each day. 

Overall, more than 136 million people – about 41% of the US population – is fully vaccinated, and nearly 169 million people – about 51% of the population – has received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine, according to CDC data. 

About 509,000 more doses were reported administered since Tuesday, for a total of nearly 297 million doses administered since vaccinations began. That’s about 81% of the nearly 367 million total doses delivered. 

Note: Data published by the CDC may be delayed, and doses may not have been administered on the day reported. 

President Biden just announced he is launching a month-long push to reach his administration’s goal of getting at least 70% of Americans vaccinated by July 4.

Biden said if people get vaccinated this week, they will be fully vaccinated by the holiday deadline.

Here are some key parts of his “National Month of Action” plan:

Access to vaccinations: Starting next week, vaccination sites will have extended hours during the month of June, including pharmacies keeping their doors open for 24 hours on Friday.

“If you’re too busy at work or school, you can get vaccinated around the clock on any Friday,” he said.

In addition, some companies will start offering free childcare and rideshares Uber and Lyft are providing free rides to and from vaccination sites.

Biden said right now, it is already easy for Americans to get a shot, saying, “90% of you live within five miles of a vaccination site. The vaccinations are free, and most places allow walk-up vaccinations. No appointment needed.”

National vaccination tour: Biden said the administration is launching new education efforts that will be led by Vice President Kamala Harris. She and other White House officials will travel the country to address vaccine hesitancy.

Time off: Small and medium-sized employers will be incentivized to give people paid time off to get a shot, Biden said, adding they will get a tax credit to cover that cost. 

Incentives: Biden pointed out several incentives to encourage people to get a vaccine including Kroger giving away $1 million to people who get a shot, Anheuser-Busch supplying free beer to vaccinated Americans who are 21 years of age and older on July 4, and Major League Baseball giving away tickets to games.

President Biden said he supports shots for shots — free beer for Covid-19 vaccinations, that is.

Anheuser-Busch, the national brewer that produces Budweiser, announced Wednesday it will give away free alcohol if the nation reaches Biden’s goal to have 70% of US adults get at least one vaccine dose by July 4.

He also highlighted other incentives, like Ohio’s Vax-A-Million lottery, free sports tickets for fans and Kroger’s $1 million vaccine giveaway.

Biden said it is incumbent on all Americans to help as many people as possible get vaccinated.

“We’re asking the American people to help. We need you. We need you to get your friends, family and neighbors and co-workers vaccinated. Help them find an appointment, drive them to the site, talk to them about why you made the choice for yourself,” he said.

President Biden announced today that childcare centers around the country will offer free, drop-in childcare while parents are getting vaccinated.

Some more context: Four of the nation’s largest childcare providers will offer free childcare from now until July 4 to Americans who are getting their Covid-19 vaccine or recovering from the shot, the White House announced Wednesday.

KinderCare and Learning Care Group locations across the nation will offer free, drop-in care to support Americans getting vaccinated, and more than 500 YMCAs will offer drop-in care during vaccination appointments. Bright Horizons will also provide free childcare to support more than 10 million workers employed at participating organizations.

President Biden is delivering remarks now on the state of the US vaccination campaign.

He’s expected to issue a rallying cry to get people vaccinated against Covid-19 ahead of his Fourth of July deadline. Nearly 51% of the US population has received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine, and nearly 41% of the population is fully vaccinated, according to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. 

Biden announced in May he wants at least 70% of American adults to have one shot by the Fourth of July.

According to a White House official, Biden will deem June “a national month of action to get more people vaccinated by July 4.”

Biden will detail efforts to get people vaccinated, “including by mobilizing national organizations, community-based and faith-based partners, businesses, social media influencers, celebrities, athletes, colleges, young people, and thousands of volunteers,” the official added. 

The Biden administration on Wednesday announced the rollout of a new program aimed at helping improve access to water, particularly focused on assisting low-income Americans impacted by the pandemic.

Psaki said $1.1 billion in funding will be available through grants, and she noted that $500 million of the program’s funding comes from the American Rescue Plan Covid relief package. She added that $166.6 million of the funding will be immediately available.

The program is being administered by the Department of Health and Human Services through the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Community Services.

HHS noted in a statement that the pandemic “exacerbated existing disparities in access to water and strained people’s ability to pay their home drinking water and wastewater bills,” and that the amount of money that is past due is at a historic high.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki declined to say if the administration considered herd immunity to be a realistic and achievable goal, telling reporters Wednesday that Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, “kind of refuted that as the right definition of how we should look to how we’re going to make progress.” 

“That’s why we have set out a goal of getting 70% of the American population vaccinated by July 4,” Psaki told reporters at Wednesday’s briefing, acknowledging that while there remains “a lot of work to do.”

“It’s really going to be up to local communities and states to see what their vaccination rate is and make determinations about what’s going to work locally it’s, that is how the assessments will need to be made,” she said.

Some more context: Previously, Fauci has estimated that herd immunity could be reached if 70-85% of American are immune— however, vaccine resistance among certain communities could allow for the continued spread of Covid-19, experts have said. 

Psaki pointed to the White House’s newly announced National Month of Action to mobilize Americans to get vaccinated, adding that vaccinated Americans can participate in a number of normal activities like baseball games, concerts and kids’ soccer games.  

Central America is reporting the highest number of coronavirus deaths to date, Dr. Carissa Etienne, the director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), said on Wednesday, adding, “today one-third of hospitalized patients are in ICUs.”

“Covid-19 infections are accelerating in Panama, Belize and El Salvador where new cases have doubled in the last seven days,” Etienne said.

She said that over the last week there were 1.1 million new cases of Covid-19 and over 25,000 Covid-19 related deaths in the Americas. After weeks of figures plateauing and even decreasing, Etienne said infections are back on the rise in all sub-regions except North America, where the US, Canada and Mexico are reporting overall reductions in cases and deaths, though hotspots are being reported in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Mexican states of Quintana Roo and Baja California.

Colombia is reporting the highest rate of infections in South America, where new cases “have nearly tripled in certain regions,” the PAHO director said, adding Brazil is also seeing a rise in new infections and hospitalizations. 

Etienne said she was “particularly concerned” about the situation in Haiti, where sources are reporting a “sharp rise” in cases, hospitalizations and deaths in recent weeks. She said public health measures were being largely ignored and two variants of concern have been identified.

The PAHO director said mobility data from across the region shows more movement within and between countries now than at any other point during the pandemic.

“When you combine this mobility with the premature relaxing of public health measures, what you get is the perfect environment for this virus– and its variants – to spread,” she said.

An online global vaccines summit hosted by Gavi and the government of Japan Wednesday has raised $2.4 billion, enabling the purchase of 1.8 billion vaccine doses for lower income countries participating in the COVAX initiative. 

Gavi alongside the Vaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the WHO have coordinated the COVAX scheme which aims to ensure that all countries have equal access to Covid-19 vaccines.

The total was made up of donations from more than 40 donor governments, the private sector, and foundations “exceeding the funding target and bringing the total pledged to the COVAX AMC to US$ 9.6 billion to date,” according to a news release from Gavi.

The vaccines which are set to be delivered in 2021 and early 2022, “will enable COVAX to protect almost 30% of the adult population in 91 AMC economies.”

The funds raised on Wednesday will “also support COVAX to diversify its vaccine portfolio in times of supply uncertainty and new variant emergence,” the release said.  

One notable donor was Japan who committed $800 million at the summit raising their total contribution to $1 billion. 

European countries such as Austria and Spain were also among those to increase their commitment to donate vaccines at the summit. 

Spain is going to send 15 million more vaccines, bringing the total to 22.5 million by the end of 2021, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said at the summit.

“In addition, we are going to provide an additional 50 million euros to Gavi,” he added.

Austria will donate another 2.6 million euros, bringing its total contribution to 5 million euros, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said at the summit.

José Manuel Barroso, Chair of the Gavi Board, thanked all of the donors for helping to increase “our chances further of bringing the pandemic under control.”

President Joe Biden receives his second dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine on January 11 in Newark, Delaware.

As CNN’s Kaitlan Collins and Jeremy Diamond reported earlier this morning, the White House has now officially announced a “National Month of Action” to mobilize an “all of America sprint” to get to their goal of 70% of adult Americans to have received one shot of the Covid-19 vaccine by July Fourth.

The fact sheet announces several partnerships and initiatives with national businesses and organizations to make it easier for Americans to get vaccinated and to encourage and incentivize them to do so. 

Here’s what the Biden administration is doing:

What the numbers look like: As of Wednesday morning, 133.5 million American adults are fully vaccinated and 62.8% of the US adult population have received at least one Covid-19 shot, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The European Union’s digital Covid-19 certificate for travel can be opened to non-EU international travelers, including those from the United States, subject to individual member states’ appreciation of proof of vaccine or test or infection recovery, a EU Commission spokesperson told CNN on Wednesday.

 However, he cautioned that such decision would rest with each individual member states.

The spokesperson said the EU Commission was in talks with the United States on a US Covid-19 certificate which EU states could accept as equivalent.

On Tuesday, the EU Commission announced that seven European countries – Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Croatia and Poland – had started issuing EU digital Covid certificates for travel within the bloc.

The system will be fully enforced from July 1, but member states can now start using it on a voluntarily basis, the Commission added.