French President Emmanuel Macron has tested positive for the coronavirus after experiencing symptoms, becoming the latest head of state to catch the virus. His diagnosis caused deep concern across Europe considering that he had recently met with several European leaders and other foreign officials including the Prime Ministers of Spain, Portugal and Belgium. Here in the United States the latest government officials to be diagnosed include Interior Secretary David Bernhardt and Republican Congressman Joe Wilson. On Wednesday the U.S. experienced its highest daily death toll yet with 3,600 people dying from COVID-19. The total number of infected people since the pandemic began has surpassed 17 million. ICU beds are rapidly dwindling with reports of long Emergency Room waits and hospital beds being stuffed into hallways. 

And FDA panel is expected to sign off on a second vaccine, this time produced by the company Moderna, using the same mRNA-based technology that Pfizer and BioNTech have used for their vaccine which is currently the only one formally approved by the FDA. The Pfizer vaccine is being rapidly deployed to health workers as well as nursing home staff and residents in all corners of the U.S. as those administering it have now discovered that the vaccine vials actually contain 1 or even 2 extra doses than expected. The discovery means that the supply secured by the U.S. government could help vaccinate more people than previously thought. Vice President Mike Pence and President elect Joe Biden will both receive the vaccine in the next several days and both will take their shots publicly.  

The New York Times reports that two health workers in Alaska had to receive emergency treatment after developing anaphylactic allergic reactions from taking the Pfizer vaccine. One of the two had a more serious reaction and was treated several times with epinephrine shots before recovering. The other worker had milder symptoms. The reactions are similar to what was observed in two recipients of the same vaccine in the UK last week. Meanwhile vaccine skeptics continue to spread lies and misinformation and some local media outlets including progressive ones have unfortunately given a platform to those voices. The social media platform