This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for December 23rd, 2020.

The CEO of BioNTech says they’re confident its vaccine does work against the new UK variant, but more studies are needed. Also there is no indication yet the new mutation causes more serious illness.

Still, this new variant is having an impact on other nations. France is letting traffic from the UK back in if drivers have a recent negative test. Three flights from the UK landed in Mumbai yesterday and so far, 15 passengers were found to have the new strain. One nation not imposing screenings for passengers from Britain, the United States.

Last week in the United States, someone died from COVID-19 every 33 seconds. More than 18,000 lives in seven days and up 6.7% from the prior week according to Reuters. And hospitals are preparing for more as people continue to holiday travel; 3.2 million people were screened at U.S. airports Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

There is now no longer any continent in the world that doesn’t have Covid-19. Antarctica has recorded its first case after 36 people tested positive on a Chilean research base.

Here’s what’s not in demand. Monoclonal antibody drugs for treating Covid-19. Federal officials are disappointed the drugs they've distributed across the country aren't being used. The drugs are to prevent those testing positive from getting worse. Hospitals are saying it’s too cumbersome to use these medicines.

Here’s what is increasingly in demand. The vaccine. Americans' willingness to take it is increasingly jumping. A USA TODAY poll showed 46% willing to take it as soon as they can. That's close to double the 26% who said that in late October.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Bent, CO. Alfalfa, OK. Guadalupe, NM. Crowley, CO. Lassen, CA. Culberson, TX. Perry, TN. Dawson, MT. Lawrence, IL. And Perry, IL.

There are now 7,408,707 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, New York, Arizona, Illinois, Virginia, Texas, Missouri, Georgia, and Colorado.  

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Tennessee, Rhode Island, California, Alabama, and Arizona.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in Oklahoma, Maine, New Hampshire, West Virginia, and California. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Alaska, New Jersey, Washington, North Dakota, and Wyoming.

There’ve been a total 322,585 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.79%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 365. Pennsylvania 227. Texas 214. Michigan 189. Missouri 174. New York 154. Arizona 153. Illinois 144. Indiana 143. And Tennessee 133.

Globally, there are 21,514,917 active cases.

There were 552,680 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 748,974 reported on December 11.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 199,080. Brazil 55,799. The U.K. 36,804. Russia 28,776. And India 23,886.

There have now been 1,715,815 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Up 3% over 14 days.  

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