Thanksgiving testing crunch foreshadows strain in December
Nationally, Saturday saw a record with 1.98 million tests performed, according to Covid Tracking Project data.
By Bloomberg | Posted by Kanishka Sarkar
PUBLISHED ON NOV 28, 2020 12:58 AM IST
Americans flocked to coronavirus testing sites in the week leading up to Thanksgiving in search of a clean bill of health for travel, which drove up wait times and strained capacity.
Nationally, Saturday saw a record with 1.98 million tests performed, according to Covid Tracking Project data. California set its own new mark Tuesday. New York state reported a record high of 217,721 tests this week; its statewide positive test rate was 3.18%, up from a seven-day average of 2.89%.
Daily Covid-19 cases climbed throughout November, and communal gatherings over the holiday could expedite the spread, pushing cases to new heights and requiring thousands of added tests. The constraints also foreshadow another round of difficulties in December, when Americans will travel again for the holidays.
Brett Giroir, the Department of Health and Human Services official who leads the administration’s Covid-19 diagnostic testing efforts, said he expects screening to return to earlier levels after Thanksgiving. “People are going to get a test just to see if they’re negative before going on travel,” he said in a briefing this week. “I do believe we’ll be back to a baseline area for those type of tests.”
The U.S. reported an additional 125,082 virus cases Thursday, according to Covid Tracking Project data, though data can stream in slowly over holidays. There have been more than 263,000 deaths cumulatively, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Xi Jinping, PM Modi expected for 'virtual' Davos in era of pandemic
AP, Geneva
PUBLISHED ON JAN 18, 2021 11:49 PM IST
Borge Brende, the forum president, said Xi and Modi will be joined also by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and South Korean President Moon Jae-in for the event, and such leaders will consider “the role that Asia will play in the recovery.”
Biden names Rohit Chopra as director of consumer protection bureau
By HT Correspondent, edited by Vinod Janardhanan
PUBLISHED ON JAN 18, 2021 10:58 PM IST
Chopra is currently serving as a commissioner at the Federal Trade commission, which protects consumers from unfair trade and business practices in the marketplace.
Pak EC suspends membership of 154 lawmakers over failure to submit asset details
ANI
PUBLISHED ON JAN 18, 2021 10:48 PM IST
As per the country's laws, lawmakers are required to submit their financial statements, along with those of their spouses and children, by December end each year.
FBI probes tip that woman stole laptop from Pelosi’s office to sell to Russia
By hindustantimes.com | Edited by Kunal Gaurav
PUBLISHED ON JAN 18, 2021 10:41 PM IST
A witness, described as a former romantic partner of the woman, dialled FBI’s telephone tip line, claiming that he spotted her in video footage taken from inside the US Capitol building.
Pandemic response probe team says WHO, China could have acted faster
AFP, Geneva
PUBLISHED ON JAN 18, 2021 10:33 PM IST
- The panel also criticised WHO for dragging its feet at the start of the crisis, pointing out that the UN health agency had not convened its emergency committee until January 22, 2020.
China calls Pompeo 'Mr. Liar'; dismisses charge against Wuhan’s bio-lab
PTI
PUBLISHED ON JAN 18, 2021 10:26 PM IST
The state department document also alleged that "for many years the United States has publicly raised concerns about China’s past biological weapons work, which Beijing has neither documented nor demonstrably eliminated.
US Capitol lockdown lifted after fire in homeless camp brought under control
Reuters
UPDATED ON JAN 18, 2021 10:41 PM IST
- The Capitol Police in a statement said the lockdown was lifted and the fire nearby was contained.
Trump to issue 100 pardons, to leave for Florida before Biden inauguration
By Yashwant Raj , edited by Vinod Janardhanan
PUBLISHED ON JAN 18, 2021 10:11 PM IST
Trump reviewed the pardons with his son-in-law Jared Kushner, daughter Ivanka Trump, both senior White House aides, and other officials for most of the day on Sunday, the Washington Post reported citing sources. Announcements are expected on Monday or Tuesday.
Pak PM Imran pitches for border markets with Afghanistan, Iran
PTI
PUBLISHED ON JAN 18, 2021 10:08 PM IST
Khan chaired a review meeting here to discuss the establishment of such markets to provide job opportunities to local people and to control smuggling, according to his office.
Biden aims for unifying speech at daunting moment for US
PTI
PUBLISHED ON JAN 18, 2021 09:41 PM IST
With the coronavirus raging, unemployment claims soaring and partisan divisions sharpening, Biden faces a fraught moment as he prepares to deliver a speech that aides say he wants to use to “call Americans to unity.”
Bhutan to receive Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine from India
ANI
PUBLISHED ON JAN 18, 2021 09:41 PM IST
This comes after the Nepal Government approved the emergency use of the 'Covishield' vaccine last week, which is being manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII).
US Capitol lockdown lifted after fire in homeless camp prompts security concerns
AP
UPDATED ON JAN 18, 2021 09:45 PM IST
Four law enforcement officials said that there had been a blaze several blocks over and the rehearsal was evacuated in an abundance of caution.
Inauguration rehearsal evacuated after fire in homeless camp
AP
UPDATED ON JAN 18, 2021 10:01 PM IST
- Law enforcement officials said there was no threat to the public and the fire was not believed to be a threat to the inauguration.
Fear of Covid-19 spread forces Sri Lanka to reduce its Parliament sessions
PTI
PUBLISHED ON JAN 18, 2021 09:36 PM IST
The Committee on Parliamentary Business has decided that Parliament will meet on Tuesday and Wednesday only, following the Covid-19 cases reported last week, the official said.
PDM announces new round of anti-government rallies across Pakistan
ANI
PUBLISHED ON JAN 18, 2021 09:29 PM IST
Accusing Imran Khan of seeking the biggest National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) in the foreign funding case, the PDM chief said "Foreign funding case is the biggest scandal in the country's history and Imran Khan is the main accused in the case."