The Washington Post - Coronavirus Updates: It’s out of control, Americans say

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Today is President Trump’s final day in office. His administration will end without having brought the coronavirus pandemic to heel. Ask Americans, and most — 9 in 10, according to a new nationwide Washington Post-ABC poll — will tell you the outbreak is not under control.

One statistic shows the grimmest consequence of a rampant pandemic: 400,000 deaths. The death toll was on track to reach that new height Tuesday, a number on par with the population of Tampa or Tulsa. The count has been rising faster; the United States hit 300,000 deaths less than five weeks ago.

News organizations, including The Post, sued the Small Business Administration to find out which companies benefited from the federal Paycheck Protection Program. Data from that lawsuit led to a startling discovery: Five groups known to spread anti-vaccine misinformation received $850,000. 

California officials said Sunday that a variant, first identified in Denmark early last year, was linked to large December and January outbreaks in Santa Clara county. Variants are not necessarily more contagious or dangerous, and a California epidemiologist said it was too soon to tell whether this one spreads more easily. 

And, finally, there is light. Nurses, doctors and other hospital staff say the vaccine jab also delivers a welcome emotion — hope. Health-care workers have cried with relief after getting their shots. Levity and newfound energy suffuses hospital corridors, they told reporter Karin Brulliard, and you can read to feel some, too. 

Other important news 

Here are a doctor's suggestions to reduce stress in this tremendously stressful time.

Clinical trials are underway to test additional coronavirus vaccines. But some older participants are dropping out to get the already authorized shots instead.

It was found there first. But the more contagious strain spreading around the world would no longer be called the “U.K. variant” if Britons had their way. In the Philippines, people cover their arms to hide where they’ve been injected — because, without legal vaccines, a black market has boomed.

Guide to the pandemic Track confirmed cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the U.S. U.S. vaccine distribution and delivery, tracked by state. Your questions, answered “As the military enters D.C. to protect it during the inauguration this week, how many of the troops have been vaccinated?” — Cheryl in Illinois This is a good (and timely) question, with around 21,000 National Guard members descending on or already in Washington for the inauguration tomorrow. The short answer is that we don't know exactly how many service members have been vaccinated, but the Department of Defense released a vaccine plan in December. As of Dec. 31, the DOD said it received around 160,000 doses. There are about 450,000 National Guard members in total (by 2017 estimates). Even if the Pentagon wanted to vaccinate all of them immediately, it wouldn't be possible with the amount of vaccine on hand.  The DOD also has a tier system for vaccine allocation, just like states do. It is prioritizing “health care providers, support personnel, residents and staff of DoD long-term care facilities, and other essential workers and high-risk beneficiaries.” The National Guard is included in the first phase of the rollout, but there are only so many shots to go around. The DOD has probably received more doses since the end of December, but it would have to be a significant delivery to get through all of Phase 1. The other piece that complicates this answer is that the Pentagon has said the vaccine is voluntary for Defense personnel. “Voluntary for everyone,” Army Lt. Gen. Ronald Place, chief of the Defense Health Agency, said in December. “No ifs, ands or buts about it. Voluntary for everyone.”   Today’s top reads Find more stories, analysis and op-eds about the outbreak on our coronavirus page, including: Florida police were after a covid-19 data scientist. She turned herself in — and tested positive. WHO chief warns of ‘catastrophic moral failure’ as rich countries dominate vaccine supplies China rushes to build coronavirus quarantine center for 4,000 as it battles local outbreaks   400,000: The invisible deaths of covid-19 By Marc Fisher, Lori Rozsa, Mark Kreidler and Annie Gowen ●  Read more »   D.C. opened vaccine appointments to people 65 and older. Here’s what some seniors went through to get the shot. By Lola Fadulu, Jenna Portnoy and Tara Bahrampour ●  Read more »   A lab in Italy reported a cluster of the U.K. coronavirus variant. But that wasn’t enough to stop the spread. By Chico Harlan and Stefano Pitrelli ●  Read more »   A man tried to save a United passenger who died of covid-19. The airline offered him $200. By Hannah Sampson ●  Read more »   India launches what could be the world’s largest vaccination campaign. But it’s unclear if one of the vaccines works. By Joanna Slater and Niha Masih ●  Read more »