Ovidiu Dugulan/iStockBy MORGAN WINSOR and ERIN SCHUMAKER, ABC News
(NEW YORK) — A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now infected more than 86.1 million people worldwide and killed over 1.8 million of them, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
Here’s how the news is developing Wednesday. All times Eastern:
Jan 06, 7:44 am
EU medical agency recommends emergency use authorization for Moderna vaccine
The European Medicines Agency has recommended granting a conditional marketing authorization for Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for people who are at least 18 years old.
This is the second vaccine the EMA has recommended for authorization. The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was approved by the EU in December.
The EMA cited a large clinical trial, involving around 30,000 people, that showed a 94.1% efficacy rate.
“This vaccine provides us with another tool to overcome the current emergency,” said Emer Cooke, executive director of EMA. “It is a testament to the efforts and commitment of all involved that we have this second positive vaccine recommendation just short of a year since the pandemic was declared by WHO.”
The European Commission must give final approval of the conditional marketing authorization in order for the vaccine to be distributed, but that appears to be a formality.
Jan 06, 7:24 am
US sees record death total Tuesday
The U.S. recorded it’s deadliest day since the start of the pandemic on Tuesday, according to the latest data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
There were 3,775 deaths reported — the previous record was on Dec. 30 when 3,744 deaths were reported.
It should be noted that the holidays have impacted data being reported and are expected to continue to be skewed over the coming days.
The U.S. now has 375,385 deaths related to COVID-19.
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