12.14.20 (Wired.com)
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| Vaccine rollout begins in the US, a bipartisan group of legislators plans to release coronavirus relief package, and Germany announces holiday restrictions. Here’s what you should know: The US begins its rollout of Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine This morning Sandra Lindsay, an ICU nurse in Queens, became the first New Yorker, and one of the first Americans, to receive a coronavirus vaccine outside of clinical trials. After it was granted emergency use authorization on Friday, the first 2.9 million doses of Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine were shipped out on Sunday, 11 months after the first Covid-19 infections were detected in the US. Bipartisan group to release its $908 billion coronavirus relief plan A bipartisan group of congressional leaders plans to release a $908 billion relief package today in the hopes of getting pandemic aid approved before government funding lapses next weekend. The group plans to introduce two separate bills, one for some of the more divisive provisions like a legal immunity plan for small businesses, and the other for everything else. The package would extend unemployment benefits that are set to expire the day after Christmas but would not include another direct payment program. Germany institutes new restrictions ahead of the winter holidays Germany is introducing new and stricter lockdown measures to keep Covid-19 case numbers from rising further over the winter holidays. Beginning this Wednesday until January 10, schools will be closed or go remote, non-food stores must close, and no more than five people can gather indoors, except on Christmas. Religious services will be permitted if distanced and masked, but public singing is not allowed, nor are fireworks or outdoor gatherings for New Year’s. |