First COVID-19 Vaccination in New York, USA... New York Mayor "Considering Shutdown"

Over 300,000 Cumulative Deaths in the US Raise Concerns of Medical Collapse
First Vaccination Administered in New York, but Insufficient to Curb Spread
Variant Virus Reported in UK... London Lockdown Measures from the 16th

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Although the large-scale administration of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine has begun in the United States, lockdown measures are being implemented one after another in New York and other parts of the world. The cumulative death toll in the U.S. surpassed 300,000 on this day, and in the UK, which started vaccinations earlier than the U.S., health authorities reported the emergence of a variant coronavirus, drawing attention. This is because there is a possibility of the spread of variant viruses with limited vaccine efficacy.

According to foreign media such as CNBC on the 14th (local time), the COVID-19 statistics from Johns Hopkins University recorded a cumulative death toll of 300,586 in the U.S. as of this day, surpassing 300,000 for the first time. In the U.S., after the cumulative death toll exceeded 250,000 on November 19, an additional 50,000 deaths occurred in less than a month, accelerating the increase in deaths. The cumulative confirmed cases were counted at 16,432,408.

As concerns over the collapse of the medical system grow, the possibility of full lockdown measures controlling residents’ movement, similar to last spring, is increasing in several areas including New York City. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio appeared on CNN and said, “We must recognize that a full shutdown may be imposed, and we must prepare for that possibility right now.” He emphasized, “All forms of restrictions are currently being discussed, and if the infection rate is not controlled, a full lockdown at the level imposed last spring will be necessary.” On this day, the New York City Department of Health announced that the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in New York City over the past week was 20,265, exceeding the average of 18,058 cases over the previous four weeks. They also added that the number of hospitalized patients increased to 1,316, raising concerns about a shortage of hospital beds.

While the COVID-19 situation in the U.S. is worsening, the vaccine rollout has also officially begun. According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Sandra Lindsay, a nurse working at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens, New York City, became the first person in the U.S. to receive the Pfizer vaccine on this day. Unlike the UK, which selected a 90-year-old white woman as the first recipient, Lindsay is a Black woman originally from Jamaica, attracting worldwide attention. This is interpreted as a measure to ease vaccine distrust among Black and Hispanic communities in the U.S.

In a media interview after receiving the vaccine, Nurse Lindsay said, “The vaccine is the result of scientific research, and I want to instill confidence in the public that it is safe.” She added, “As a Black woman, I want to inform those who distrust the medical system or have experienced racial discrimination that they should get vaccinated.” The U.S. government began transporting the initial batch of 2.9 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine across the country as part of the Operation Warp Speed vaccine distribution campaign. However, it is expected that less than 1% of the U.S. population of over 330 million will be vaccinated soon, making it insufficient to curb the current spread of COVID-19.

In the UK, which started vaccinations earlier than the U.S., the emergence of a variant virus has been reported, causing global health authorities to be on alert. According to local British media such as the BBC, on this day, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced in a statement to Parliament that “more than 1,000 cases of a new type of virus with a genetic sequence different from the existing coronavirus have been reported in the UK,” and “this variant appears to be spreading faster than the existing virus.” Although current research results indicate that the variant virus is very unlikely to cause more severe disease than COVID-19 or evade vaccine response, the UK has officially raised the risk level.

Secretary Hancock announced, “As the COVID-19 situation becomes very serious, London’s COVID-19 risk level will be raised from level 2 to the highest level 3 starting from the 16th.” Under the level 3 measures, all shops including restaurants and cafes in London are prohibited from selling on-site and can only offer delivery and takeout. Indoor gatherings are completely banned, and outdoor gatherings of more than six people are not allowed.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.