Another bleak milestone for the US as Covid cases top 10 million

As scientists around the world cautiously welcome the positive news about the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, data from worldometers.info reveals that Covid-19 cases in the US have now topped the 10 million case mark. The latest figures on Worldometers show that the US has now recorded 10,421,956 cases of the virus and 244,448 deaths, both counts being the highest in the world.

Data from www.worldometers.info

However, many are seeing the latest vaccine news as a glimmer of hope at the end of a long, dark tunnel. Research data appears to show the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is 90% effective, with patients protected 7 days after receiving their second dose, and 28 days after the first.

The development was described as, “great news” by outgoing president, Donald Trump, who had been pushing for a vaccine to be made available prior to the US presidential election. Leading medical expert Anthony Fauci also hailed the breakthrough, describing it as, “extraordinary”.

Meanwhile, US President-elect Joe Biden has welcomed the news, but sounded a note of caution as he urged Americans to wear masks. Biden has pleaded with US citizens to see the face mask not as a political statement, but as, “the most potent weapon” against the spread of Covid-19. The president-elect has announced a scientific task force that will lead his administration’s efforts in defeating the virus once he takes office.

“We’re still facing a very dark winter. The bottom line: I will spare no effort to turn this pandemic around once we’re sworn in on January 20.”

SOURCE: Bangkok Post