Category: Covid-19

FORT MYERS

More vaccines could be on the way to those who served our country. The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill by Congressman Vern Buchanan to give all veterans access to the COVID-19 vaccine.

Many veterans in Southwest Florida were asking questions about when theyll receive the vaccine. And, hopefully, those efforts will come to fruition soon.

For some veterans, getting the COVID-19 vaccine feels like winning the lottery. Demand is high and supply is low. And, there are too many questions to count.

Kevin Boyd is the commander of American Legion Post 38. I think a lot of it is due to misinformation and not being aware of whats available for you, Boyd said. And thats probably a problem for veterans organizations. We need to get that information out to these people.

That is what Post 38 did Wednesday morning. Joseph Scotchlas is the associate director for the Bay Pines VA, and he led a nearly hour-long question and answer session. He stressed that time is of the essence.

We have a lot of veterans who are interested in the vaccine, but we dont want to start in April or May to start talking about the vaccine hesitancy, Scotchlas said.

The first priority is that people are able to go through the VA to make their appointments. Veterans who are eligible and enrolled in VA care must express they are interested.

So its really important if a veteran is currently interested in getting the vaccine and havent put an interest note to contact their primary care office, Scotchlas said.

Many veterans are worried their spouses wont be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine through the VA, but that could change very soon.

The House of Representatives passed a bill co-sponsored by Congressman Vern Buchanan of Florida that would provide veterans and their caregivers with the COVID-19 vaccine.

But, until that goes into effect, Post 38 will continue working to get shots for 100 veterans in the next month.

Ill be in line with them too to get the shot, so if need be, Ill be the first one to get the shot to show everybody, yeah, its safe; take it, Boyd said.

They are doing their part to remove doubt so that veterans can roll up their sleeves and get their shots.

The VA is following CDC guidelines, not those imposed by Governor DeSantis, to decide who is eligible for the host. For now, that includes anyone over 65, people under 65 with underlying health conditions and frontline workers.

Link:

House approves bill giving all veterans access to the COVID-19 vaccine - Wink News

(WKOW/CNN)- Walgreens says it has administered about five million COVID-19 vaccines in stores, clinics, and long-term care facilities so far.

The company says it's also close to completing its long-term care facilities vaccination plan.

Right now, Walgreens is working with the White House and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to get doses for teachers, childcare workers, and others.

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5 million COVID-19 vaccines administered by walgreens - WKOW

More-contagious forms of the virus that causes COVID-19 are making up an increasing percentage of positive tests in Colorado, but the growth isnt as fast as some feared.

State epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy said Tuesday that Colorado has confirmed 265 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant, a version of the novel coronavirus that spreads more easily and appears to be more deadly. Colorado was the first state to find that variant, which overwhelmed hospitals in the United Kingdom last fall.

The B.1.1.7 variant accounts for between 3% and 6% of the COVID-19 samples the state is sequencing at random, indicating its not growing as fast as it did in the U.K., Herlihy said. Public health experts have warned that variant could become the dominant strain in the United States, putting pressure on hospitals again.

We have seen a slow increase, Herlihy said.

A spokesman for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said models have shown the B.1.1.7 variant could account for up to 50% of cases by mid-March if the state followed the U.K.s trajectory.

It may be too early to say that Colorado isnt facing the same path as the U.K., though, said Beth Carlton, an associate professor of environmental and occupational health at the Colorado School of Public Health.

There, the variant grew slowly for a time, before cases exploded, she said. It took about 10 weeks for the variant to cross 5% of cases, then only five more weeks for it to exceed 50%,according to a British report.

Its possible were in that early slow growth phase, she said.

On Sunday, the state announced three cases of the B.1.351 variant, which was first found in South Africa last October but now is in at least 20 states in the U.S. The cases were two employees and an inmate at the Buena Vista Correctional Complex.

None of the three had recently traveled, and none were vaccinated, though one had previously recovered from the virus, Herlihy said.

That particular variant is concerning because it is more contagious, and also has a mutation that allows it to get around some antibodies, Herlihy said. That means people who previously have had the virus are at a higher risk of getting it again; antibody-based drugs may not work well; and vaccines are somewhat less effective, though they still offer substantial protection, she said.

So far, the state health department has found 10 cases of COVID-19 among about 500 people linked to the prison, Herlihy said. They wont know for several days if those cases were also caused by the variant, because sequencing a viruss DNA is a longer process than just determining whether the virus is present in a sample, she said.

It does not appear that there is widespread transmission in the facility, she said.

Gov. Jared Polis said the state would surge vaccines to the Buena Vista prison, and encourage guards who previouslyhad declined the vaccine to take them. They could do the same if other prisons find outbreaks involving the new variants, but will continue to vaccinate prisoners only when they become eligible based on age or medical conditions, he said.

No one can guess ahead of time where (the variants) are going to be, he said.

Screening has found about 161 cases of a variant first identified in California, but its not clear if thats something to worry about, Herlihy said. So far, state health officials havent identified the variant first confirmed in Brazil, a strain that can reinfect people who have recovered, or one spreading in New York, which may or may not be important, she said.

As viruses make copies of themselves in human cells, sometimes they make a mistake, introducing a mutation. Sometimes, the mutation is harmful to the virus, or doesnt do anything significant. Other times, one or more mutations give the virus an advantage, and it out-competes its non-mutant peers.

No one is really sure what to expect from variants, because in the countries that first found them, the mutation winners werent competing against each other, Carlton said. Its possible one will become dominant, or that all three may be equally common which is itself a problem, since all three are more contagious, she said.

About one in every 263 Coloradans is currently contagious with some form of the virus, which is an improvement from recent months but still relatively high, Herlihy said.

Polis also said the state will receive about 17,000 more doses of COVID-19 vaccines than expected next week.

So far in Colorado, at least one vaccine dose has reached:

About 10.6% of Colorado residents have been fully vaccinated, with both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or one shot of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

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COVID-19 variants are growing in Colorado, but not as fast as feared - The Denver Post

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Active cases of COVID-19 are up by 17, as the state announced three new deaths in Wednesdays update.

Active cases are now at 2,114, up from Tuesday (2,097).

South Dakota has 209 new total cases of coronavirus, according to the South Dakota Department of Health.

While the difference in the total case count reported 113,962 and 113,753 equals 209, when you add the PCR, or newly confirmed, cases (172) and antigen, or new probable, cases (38), there were 210 new cases.

The states total case count is at 113,962, up from Tuesday (113,753).

Three new deaths were reported in Wednesdays update from theSouth Dakota Department of Health. The deaths reported were two men and one woman who were listed in the 50-59 (1) and 80+ (2) age ranges.

The death toll increased to 1,904.

Total recovered cases increased to 109,944, up from Tuesday (109,755).

There are 73 current hospitalizations as of Wednesday compared to 71 on Tuesday.

Total hospitalizations are at 6,736, up from Tuesday (6,725).

South Dakota has now had 315,877 persons test negative, up from Tuesday (315,120).

The new persons tested on Wednesday is 966. That is a 21.6% positive rate.

The latest seven-day all test positivity rate reported by the DOH is 7.4%. The DOH calculates that based on the results of the PCR test results but doesnt release total numbers for how many PCR tests are done daily. The latest one-day PCR test positivity rate is 11.1%.

According to the DOH, 135,442 doses of the Pfizer vaccine have been administered, 773 of the Janssen vaccine and 131,528 of the Moderna vaccine have been administered to a total number of 267,743 people.

There have been 44,670 people who have completed two doses of Moderna and 49,476 who have received two doses of Pfizer, according to the DOH. 733 people have completed the Janssen vaccine series.

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COVID-19 in South Dakota: 209 total new cases; Death toll increases to 1,904; Active cases increase to 2,114 - KELOLAND.com

The world marks one year since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. Here are some key moments for the U.S. during the struggle.

Thursday will mark one year since the World Health Organization officially declared the spread of the novel coronavirus a pandemic.

From unprecedented quarantines and lockdowns to an interruption on the global economy not seen in a lifetime, the COVID-19pandemic will be a defining moment of this era. There are signs of an end to the struggle as millions of doses of vaccine are being given daily, but there remains concern as variant, more resistant forms of the disease are spreading.

Here is how the struggle with the coronavirus has played out in the past year.

March 11, 2020

WHO declares the dramatic global spread of COVID-19 as a pandemic

After months of meetings and global attention in the media, the World Health Organization finds enough concrete data to begin characterizing the rapid human to human spread of the novel coronavirus as a pandemic -- a global outbreak. It would become a daily word that many generations hadn't lived with.

On this date, the U.S. had 1,151 confirmed cases of COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins University. Thirty-three people in the U.S. had died.

March 13

Non-US citizens face a travel ban flying from Europe to the United States

President Donald Trump announced that his administration declared COVID-19 as a national emergency. Non-Americans who visited certain European countries faced a travel ban to the United States.

March 17

President Trump asks Congress to rush emergency economic relief to Americans

At this point, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services had expanded telehealth rules during the pandemic to protect older patients from exposure. Experimental therapeutics such as the University of Minnesotas clinical trial for hydroxychloroquine had also started. Then on March 17, Trump asks Congress to rush emergency relief checks as part of an economic assistance package to help Americans who found themselves out of work.

In a matter of six days, the number of confirmed U.S. deaths rose from 33 to 136.

April 2

The WHO alerts the world regarding evidence of asymptomatic spread of COVID-19

The World Health Organization reported that evidence emerged that the novel coronavirus has the ability to transmit between people who show no symptoms, in addition to pre-symptomatic spread and transmission from those showing symptoms. Just two days later, over 1 million cases of COVID-19 were confirmed worldwide.

The U.S. death toll spiked dramatically by this date to 8,166, reaching more than 1,000 per day.

May 23

The U.S. crosses 100,000 COVID-19 deaths.

June 20

A dramatic rise in COVID-19 cases hits states in the southern U.S.

Florida and South Carolina both broke single-day records for virus cases in those states while infection levels in Missouri and the western state of Nevada rose to new high levels. At this point, the U.S. had reported more than 30,000 new COVID-19 infections in a single day, which was the highest since May. States across multiple regions were experiencing new highs, the New York Times reported.

July 6

COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. rise above 130,000

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, warned the country of the quickly rising death toll saying that the U.S. was still "knee-deep in the first wave," as he was quoted in the New York Times. Dr. Fauci noted that at that time the U.S. was seeing more than 50,000 new cases daily several times that week, calling the situation serious and urging the country to address the issue "immediately."

July 7

The U.S. sends a notice of withdrawal from the World Health Organization

The U.S. notified the United Nations that it would be requesting to withdrawal from the WHO and, with that, the global body would see its largest source of aid withdrawn as well.

July 11

President Trump is seen wearing a mask for the first time

During a visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Trump is seen wearing a mask after repeatedly being urged by aides to do so. The images were helpful in urging Americans to wear face coverings after research increasingly showed that masks helped slow the spread of the coronavirus.

August 17

COVID-19 becomes the third-leading cause of death in the U.S.

As the death toll from the coronavirus in the United States hit 170,434, it became the third-leading cause of death in the country behind heart disease and cancer, theAmerican Journal of Managed Care reported. Days later, convalescent plasma was cleared for use by the Food and Drug Administration as a therapeutic while the drug Remdesivir was questioned for its clinical benefits.

Later in August, the FDA granted an Emergency Use Authorization for Abbott's rapid test for COVID-19.

August 28

The first confirmed case of COVID-19 reinfection in the U.S. reported

News surfaces that a 25-year-old male from Nevada was re-infected with COVID-19 in May after having recovered from mild symptoms in April. During the second infection, the man experienced more severe symptoms according to a report published in the Lancet Infectious Disease Journal in October. Researchers said there was enough differences between the two cases that his second bout was not a recurrence of the original infection.

Sept. 14

Pfizer and BioNTech expand vaccine trial phase 3

Pfizer and BioNTech were set to recruit 30,000 trial participants for phase 3 vaccine clinical trials but expanded that to 44,000 participants. The expansion would foster a more diverse group including young people and those with hepatitis C, HIV or hepatitis B. The vaccine would be two shots given three weeks apart, but the vaccine would have to be kept at minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit, which caused worry that distribution would become an issue.

Sept. 23

A more contagious strain of the novel coronavirus is discovered

Reports that the coronavirus had the ability to mutate had surfaced but now a study at Houston Methodist Hospital found that a more contagious strain of COVID-19 had been discovered.

Into the second wave

As some models showed that the U.S. would hit its second wave of infections by mid-September, according to healthdate.org, new infections were still rising at alarming rates. Johns Hopkins University issued guidance on how to prepare for a spike or a second wave. The precautions held consistent, with experts urging Americans to continue to social distance, wear a mask and wash hands frequently.

Sept. 28

COVID-19 deaths worldwide rise above the 1 million mark

Worldwide confirmed deaths from the novel coronavirus surpass 1 million, setting a grim milestone. At this point, cases of COVID-19 have risen higher than that of H.I.V., dysentery, malaria, influenza, cholera and measles, the New York Times reported.

Twenty percent of those deaths were in the U.S. alone as of that date.

Oct. 2

President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump test positive for COVID-19, the president is admitted into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center

Hours after a report indicated that close Trump adviser Hope Hicks had tested positive for COVID-19, it was learned President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump also had he disease.

Trump was said to be experiencing mild symptoms as doctors admitted him into Walter Reed out of "an abundance of caution," White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement.

Oct. 5

President Trump is discharged from Walter Reed

Trump left Walter Reed in a dramatic return to the White House full of photo ops and with the world's media watching as a crowd of supporters remained gathered in front of the medical center. The president would continue to receive leading treatments, not usually available to the general public, to control his symptoms and to make sure his oxygen levels remained normal, according to his team of doctors.

But concerns about whether he was still infectious ultimately led to the cancellation of his second debate with Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden.

Oct. 8

A COVID-19 outbreak at the White House increases to at least 34 confirmed cases

After a September Rose Garden ceremony for then-Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, at least 34 confirmed COVID-19 cases were contract traced and found to be connected to that event. As the Washington Post reported, White House staffers were included on that list.

Nov. 18

Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccines are reportedly found to be up to 95% effective

With the results of the expanded phase 3 trial in, and after nearly 44,000 trial participants have completed their participation in the trial, reports surfaced that the vaccines are found to be 95% effective. This would put the vaccine in line with the efficacy levels of those for shingles and measles, the American Journal of Managed Care reported. The next step would be to seek FDA approval immediately so that distribution can begin to take place.

The news comes as scientists and doctors brace for an expected surge due to people traveling to visit loved ones for Thanksgiving.

The U.S. death toll was at more than 252,000.

Dec. 14

As the U.S. surpasses 300,000 deaths from COVID-19, the nation's historic vaccination campaign begins

As the feared holiday surge came to fruition (daily cases were around 200,000 and daily deaths around 3,000), the nation watched live on television as some of the first non-trial recipients of the newly approved COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer received their first doses in the U.S. First responders, including critical care nurses, were the first to be vaccinated.

Dec. 18

The U.S. added a second COVID-19 vaccine to its arsenal, boosting efforts to beat back an outbreak so dire that the nation is regularly recording more than 3,000 deaths a day.

Much-needed doses are set to arrive Monday after the FDA authorized an emergency rollout of the vaccine developed by Moderna Inc. and the National Institutes of Health.

As critical care workers and those in high need areas were receiving the vaccine, the rest of the country, including the incarcerated population, waited to be vaccinated. There were hopes on Wall Street and Capitol Hill that the pandemic would be over in 2021 and some possible much needed economic assistance would come out of Washington.

Jan. 1, 2021

The country entered 2021 having just crossed 20 million confirmed cases and more than 350,000 deaths as it continued to struggle with the the post-Christmas surge and struggles with the initial vaccine rollout.

Jan. 20

A new administration, a new path forward

Joe Biden takes office as the 46th President of the United Sates. The inauguration was drastically muted and restricted, in part, out of fears of a virus that was still thriving during the pandemic but also out of security concerns.

One of the top priorities for the next administration was to get COVID-19 under control, get vaccines out to communities, and get economic help out to Americans to offer much needed monetary help for individuals and businesses. Among the promises -- another round of stimulus checks, extended jobless benefits, money to distribute vaccines, aid to local governments and funds to get schools back open.

Feb. 25

The U.S. marked 50 million doses of vaccine given out in Biden's first 37 days in office, well ahead of the goal he set of 100 million vaccinations in 100 days.

Feb. 27

The FDA announced that it had given the go-ahead to Johnson & Johnson to produce its single dose COVID-19 vaccine for the public. It would be the first single dose COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S.

As the nation had now experienced over 511,000 deaths from the coronavirus, the news was welcomed as the Biden administration worked with partners to ramp up production.

March 2

Biden announced that pharmaceutical rivals Merck and Johnson & Johnson would work around the clock to try and get out enough vaccine doses for every adult in America by the end of May. The ambitious estimate tried to reassure the country that the pandemic could possibly be under some real control by summer in the United States.

March 8

To the delight of many, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said people who have been fully vaccinated could gather indoors and without masks with others who have been fully vaccinated, or with people considered at low-risk for severe disease. But it was still recommended they wear masks and social distance while in public.

March 10

Congress was poised to pass Biden's $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, sending it to the president for his signature. The cornerstone piece: $1,400 direct payments to most Americans. But just as important -- more money medical supplies, testing and vaccinations to get America past the pandemic.

The U.S. had more than 29 million total cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic and more than 527,000 deaths.

Travis Pittman contributed to this report.

The rest is here:

Key moments that defined the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic - ABC10.com KXTV

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Michael Duffy had some reservations when his wife Lisa decided to go public a year ago after they became the second and third Westmoreland County residents to test positive for covid-19.

The Duffys, of Hempfield, contracted the virus during a Caribbean cruise in March 2020, when the world was just awakening to the highly contagious coronavirus.

A year later, they are glad they shared their story.

Michael was worried, but I said to him, we just had to talk about it. There were so many people in utter panic. I just thought, if I can calm down a couple of people, its worth it, Lisa Duffy said.

Her instincts proved sound.

So few people knew anything about the virus that was sweeping the world that hearing from a survivor was reassuring. Lisa Duffy said people reached out to thank her for sharing her story.

The Duffys shes 52, hes 54 are among the nearly 1 million Pennsylvanians who have tested positive for the virus over the past year. And while Pennsylvania is approaching 25,000 covid-related deaths, not all news related to the pandemic is bad. Most people who contracted the virus recovered, state figures show.

Of the nearly 80,000 people in Allegheny who tested positive for covid-19 over the past year, 1,755 of them died. Westmoreland has seen more than 27,000 cases, with 683 deaths, data shows.

Statewide, the recovery rate stands at 91% this week.

And new cases and deaths being reported now are at levels not seen since early November, when the state and region were in the midst of a dramatic spike.

A year ago, however, doctors knew very little about the virus.

Why some of the infected exhibit no symptoms while others are left to fight for their lives and still others succumb to covid-19 still leaves many questions.

The early days of the pandemic saw health professionals urge people to wear masks, wash hands and stay away from others. People frantically searched for personal protective equipment, like face masks and gloves both of which were in short supply. Store shelves were largely barren of hand sanitizer and antibacterial soap.

Then testing proved problematic at first, with far more demand than supply. A similar situation presented itself with the arrival of the first vaccine in December.

Even as Pennsylvania struggles to get through its first wave of people deemed eligible to be vaccinated, the news is improving. Nearly 3 million vaccine doses have been administered statewide, including nearly 1 million of Pennsylvanias 12.8 million residents being fully vaccinated. That includes 91,000 people in Allegheny County being fully vaccinated and another 25,000 in Westmoreland where state officials have admitted fewer doses have been allotted and have promised to rectify that in coming weeks.

Road to recovery

The Duffys were scheduled to fly home to Hempfield when their cruise ship docked in Port Canaveral, Fla., on March 14. Suddenly, Lisa developed a fever and body aches that she suspected signaled the onset of covid-19.

We just couldnt take this on an airplane, she said. If someone got sick, I wouldnt be able to live with myself.

They rented a car and began the long drive home as Lisa began what would be a draining three-week battle with the virus. Michael, who also tested positive for the virus, had only a mild fever that subsided overnight.

Back home, the uncertainty grew when Lisa consulted her family doctor about the virus that, by then, had left her bedridden.

Not even our doctor could tell me what to do, she said.

Her physicians only advice: head to the emergency room should your blood oxygen rate fall below 92%.

She was very sick, but she always had her wits about her, Michael Duffy said.

A friend who is a nurse suggested Lisa take guaifenesin an over-the-counter drug designed to thin mucus and try inhaling steam several times a day to clear her lungs.

She heeded the advice.

I coughed until it felt like my lungs were coming out, but I recovered, she said.

Today, shes back at work with Cross Your Paws, the animal rescue organization. Michael Duffy is busy with his company, Advance Gas Engine Solutions.

Early scare

As they were recovering, the virus was cutting a broad swath across the nation and the region.

Concerns peaked early in the Alle-Kiski Valley when dozens of high school students from the New Kensington-Arnold School District were unknowingly exposed to a viral hotspot during a band trip to New York City.

On March 7, 2020, a day before the group returned home, New York declared a state of emergency and began to shut down.

New Ken-Arnold acting Superintendent Jon Banko said school officials werent sure what to do when the group returned.

What were we going to do, tell the kids to stay home for two weeks? We didnt have any information. So, we let everyone come back to school, Bank recalled. We didnt have any guidance on it at that point.

The students remained in class for one week until March 13, when Gov. Tom Wolf closed all Pennsylvania public schools. By that time, two adults who had accompanied the band tested positive for the virus. Like the Duffys, they recovered.

Seeing a light

The slow rollout of vaccines, with the promise of one for all Americans who want one by the end of May, has provided a glimmer of hope for many that covid-19, and the illnesses and deaths it has brought, will be a thing of the past.

Lisa Duffy would like to think thats the case. Although she, her husband and, more recently, his 80 year-old mother survived covid-19, Lisa would like to think others wont have to battle the virus.

She tested positive for antibodies after her bout with the virus, so she said she is content to wait in line for the vaccine.

I think I must still must have the antibodies. But I believe wholeheartedly in vaccines, she said. They are like the light at the end of this tunnel.

Deb Erdley is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Deb at 724-850-1209, derdley@triblive.com or via Twitter .

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Hempfield couple, among the 1st to get covid-19, glad they shared their recovery story - TribLIVE

Rep. Chellie Pingree said the American Rescue Plan is "one of the most important pieces of legislation Congress will ever pass"

MAINE, USA Congress's final approval of the landmark $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill on Wednesday sparked immediate reactions from various Maine politicians, leaders, and groups who welcomed the news.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills

Federal support continues to be critical in Maines fight against the pandemic. This relief bill will bolster Maines efforts to keep people healthy, get shots into arms, strengthen our economy, get back people back to work, and build a much stronger, better state.

This influx of funding will be a boon to Maine, to our health care institutions, to our unemployed, to education, and to Maine families generally. As we continue to digest the final language, we also look forward to receiving guidance from the Federal government on how these funds may be spent. Ultimately, I expect my Administration will present to the Legislature a biennial budget change package and a Back to Work bond proposal that take into consideration these new funds and that focus our efforts on protecting public health, strengthening our economy, and getting people back to work. I look forward to working with the Legislature to make the wisest choices on using these one-time funds to do the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people who have been affected by this pandemic.

The Governor's Office said in a release that the Mills administration is reviewing the final language of the bill and is expecting additional guidance from the U.S. Treasury Department and various other federal agencies on "the acceptable use of funds."

Maine U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-CD1

The American Rescue Plan is one of the most important pieces of legislation Congress will ever pass. With this vote, 90% of American households will get a stimulus check; schools and local and state governments will receive the funding they so desperately need to fill in the gaps; renters will be able to stay in their homes; families will be able to put food on the table; more vaccine shots will go into arms; and reliable broadband will become more accessible for rural states like Maine. This bill will also cut child poverty in half and create life-changing opportunity for the next generation and their parents. Without significant action, the economic damage caused by COVID-19 will last well beyond the pandemic. As someone who has long believed that government can and should be a force for good in our lives, Im proud to have supported this legislation from the beginning. Maine families will feel lasting relief when this bill is signed into law by President Biden.

Maine U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, D-CD2

Golden was the only Democrat in the House who voted against the bill on Wednesday. A spokesperson for Golden told NEWS CENTER Maine the congressman is "not available for interviews," regarding his vote.

Ahead of the vote, he released the following statement:

I will vote against the coronavirus relief legislation passed by the Senate over the weekend.

While the Senate made modest changes to the legislation, some of those changes undermined parts of the bill I do support, and others were insufficient to address my concerns with the overall size and scope of the bill. Although I support the Senates effort to reduce the number of wealthier households that will receive stimulus checks, they did not go far enough, and other changes like removing the minimum wage increase or providing a lower unemployment benefit undermined policies that I support. I voted for a $15 minimum wage in the last Congress, and given the opportunity, I intend to do so again.

I know there are people who will continue to need assistance getting through the final stages of this pandemic, which is why I have argued that Congress should have addressed their needs with a targeted bill that extends unemployment benefits, funds vaccine distribution, and increases investments in our public health infrastructure.

My vote today should not be construed as an unwillingness to support my constituents and the economy through this pandemic. That very willingness is why I have supported $4 trillion in spending in the last year on food assistance, child care subsidies, relief for renters and homeowners, federal unemployment assistance, and support for small businesses. However, many of these programs are not currently at risk of running out of funding, thanks to the nearly $1 trillion bill we passed in late December, and some of these programs are only just now beginning to be distributed to people in Maine.

When combined with the over $4 trillion we have already spent battling the coronavirus, borrowing and spending hundreds of billions more in excess of meeting the most urgent needs poses a risk to both our economic recovery and the priorities I would like to work with the Biden Administration to achieve, like rebuilding our nations infrastructure and fixing our broken and unaffordable healthcare system.

Maine Independent U.S. Sen. Angus King

King and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., helped negotiate including $10 billion in funding for broadband and $7 billion to close the digital divide for students in the relief package. King said at least $100 million of that funding will be heading to Maine.

As the coronavirus pandemic forced people across the country to reimagine daily life, there was no tool more valuable than an affordable, high-speed broadband connection. Over the last year, a high-speed broadband connection has helped Americans work remotely, engage in distance learning, access telemedicine, and stay connected with family and loved ones. But for too many, slow broadband speeds have blocked them from these essential tools especially in rural communities, low-income households, and on tribal lands.

The pandemic has cost Americans so much already; we cannot allow another casualty of this virus to be the widening of the digital divide harming our rural and underserved communities. Funds for broadband infrastructure and digital equity will create jobs in the short-term to speed Americas economic recovery, and support long-term economic success for rural communities by allowing Americans to pursue economic and educational success, no matter where they live.

Maine Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins

Collins opposed the $1.9 trillion package and voted against it in the Senate this past weekend.

In an interview with NEWS CENTER Maine's Pat Callaghan Wednesday afternoon, Collins said, "There are parts of the package that are clearly good for Maine," but "there are also provisions that have absolutely nothing to dowith the pandemic."

"I wouldn't say it's good for Maine taxpayers in general, however, because unlike our package that I put forth, which was valued at $650 billion, this is$1.9 trillion, so it's going to increase ourdebt, it could cause interest rates to rise,and it has the potential of igniting inflation.If that happens, that will not be good for families in Maine," Collins said.

"But there are many provisions of it that I support. I support directchecks,I support theaid for vaccinations andfor testing.I support the additional funding for the PPP program to help our small businesses.I support additional help for schools,althoughthere's so much money for schools in here that it won't be spent until the year 2028, so that's not exactlyCOVID-related."

"Sothere's some good provisions in here, and there are also provisions that have absolutely nothing to dowith the pandemic."

Watch the full interview here:

Maine Democratic Party Chair Drew Gattine

We are excited about the American Rescue Plan and what it will deliver to the people, communities, towns, and state of Maine.

This legislation includes $1,400 stimulus checks, extends unemployment benefits, provides funding for Maines state and local governments, and funds COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, and contract tracing, among other provisions.

Our Democratic Party strives every day to address the unmet needs of Maine people, especially during this unprecedented pandemic. Some may wish this bill had gone further and others may worry about the implications of certain provisions; our party is not a monolith. We have always been and always will be home to a diverse range of perspectives but unified in our commitment to building a better Maine.

The American Rescue Plan is the first of what will be many legislative accomplishments for President Biden. Under his strong and compassionate leadership, our country is steadily moving out of this brutal pandemic and into a better, more just future.

President Joe Biden

For weeks now, an overwhelming percentage of Americans Democrats, Independents, and Republicans have made it clear they support the American Rescue Plan. Today, with final passage in the House of Representatives, their voice has been heard.

Now we move forward with the resources needed to vaccinate the nation. To get $1,400 in direct payments to 85% of American households. To expand coverage and help with lowering health care premiums. To give small businesses what they need to stay open. To expand unemployment insurance, provide food and nutrition assistance. To help keep a roof over peoples heads. To cut child poverty in half.

This legislation is about giving the backbone of this nation the essential workers, the working people who built this country, the people who keep this country going a fighting chance.

I want to thank all the members who voted for it, especially Speaker Pelosi, the finest and most capable speaker in the history of our nation. Once again, she has led into law an historic piece of legislation that addresses a major crisis and lifts up millions of Americans.

On Friday, I look forward to signing the American Rescue Plan into law at the White House a peoples law at the peoples house.

Maine AFL-CIO President Cynthia Phinney

This legislation would provide critical relief to workers struggling in the worst economic and public health crisis we've seen in a century. It would also ensure that we more quickly and equitably come out of this economic crisis. We are pleased that Senator Angus King and Congressman Chellie Pingree and her colleagues understand the urgency to pass such a robust stimulus as it has taken nearly a decade for many working people to fully recover from the Great Recession. We are very disappointed that Congressman Jared Golden and Senator Susan Collins chose not to support this pro-worker legislation. It is crystal clear that working people in Maine and across the country will be significantly better off under this new law.

Maine Center for Economic Policy (MECEP) Executive Director Garrett Martin

MECEP thanks Sen. Angus King and Rep. Chellie Pingree for working hard to pass the American Rescue Plan and delivering the relief our state sorely needs. We are equally disappointed that Sen. Susan Collins and Rep. Jared Golden opposed the plan; Had they prevailed, Mainers would have been left in the lurch without crucial relief during this unprecedented crisis.

The American Rescue Plan provides much-needed but temporary relief. As we approach the one-year mark of the COVID-19 public health and economic crisis, it has become increasingly clear that economic recovery isnt going to happen overnight particularly for people of color, who have waited longest in past recessions to see the gains from a rebounding job market. We have more work to do to build a more equitable economy that works for everyone. We look forward to working with Maines congressional delegation to enact permanent policies that will reduce the longstanding inequities that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 public health and economic crisis.

Mainers for Accountable Leadership Director Marie Follayttar

I cannot find a reasonable justification to vote against a bill that provides direct relief to 90% of Mainers, supports our schools and town budgets, funds shots in our arms to inoculate us against a pandemic and is supported by over 70% of the population. Rep. Golden voted against helping the people of Maine. Thank you to Representative Pingree for consistently putting the people of Maine first and for her vote to bring $6 billion in relief to Maine."

Maine Service Employees Association SEIU Local 1989 Vice President Allison Perkins

For years weve been demanding Congress make working families and our communities, not corporations and the wealthy few, the priority. Today our voice was heard with Congress finally passing real and meaningful COVID-19 relief, something weve been demanding ever since this pandemic began over a year ago.

Todays passage of President Bidens American Rescue Plan will provide much-needed funding to our schools and state, local and tribal governments to ensure the quality services people all across our nation have been counting on to get through the pandemic. It will fund coronavirus vaccine distribution and testing. It will extend the expiring $300 weekly Unemployment Insurance boost through Sept. 6. It will provide for direct payments of up to $1,400 to most Americans, and it will expand the child tax credit and rental assistance.

This is exactly the kind of help our state and nation needs to get our economy back on track. The American Rescue Plan will help protect and support Maines working families and unemployed workers so we can all get through this pandemic.

We appreciate Congresswoman Chellie Pingree fighting tooth and nail for the American Rescue Plan. Congresswoman Pingree provided the leadership our nation desperately needed at this critical time.

Congressman Jared Golden and Senator Susan Collins, however, let all of us down with their votes against the American Rescue Plan. The members of MSEA-SEIU Local 1989 are the boots on the ground as essential workers and see unmet needs every day. When the American people needed real COVID relief, Congressman Golden and Senator Collins instead decided to play politics with all of our lives. Maines working families deserve better from Congressman Golden and Senator Collins.

President Biden is expected to sign the American Rescue Plan into law this week. Our fight, however, is not over. To our great disappointment, Congress excluded raising the federal minimum wage to $15 as part of the American Rescue Plan. The minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 since 2009. Thats inexcusable. Every worker in our great nation deserves to earn a living wage, so well keep fighting all the harder for $15.

This story will be updated as more statements are released.

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Maine politicians, leaders react to the final passage of COVID-19 relief bill - NewsCenterMaine.com WCSH-WLBZ

Doctors say more contagious variants have caused hospitalizations to plateau even as vaccinations are increasing.

HOUSTON With three COVID-19 vaccinesnow being administered in Houston, leaders in the Texas Medical Centersay were poised to hit herd immunity by this summer.

Just in the last month, weve gone from 90,000 vaccinations a week. Now were over 232,000, said Bill McKeon, CEO of the Texas Medical Center.

McKeon, Harris Health System CEO Dr. Esmaeil Porsa, Houston Health Department Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Persse, and Baylor College of Medicine CEO Dr. Paul Klotman held a webinar to go over COVID-19 trends Wednesday.

They say the influx of the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine is a game changer.

All three vaccines are very, very effective in keeping you from getting sick enough to require hospitalization and keeping you alive, Persse said.

However, doctors say it isnt time to celebrate. Vaccinations are going up, but hospitalizations arent going down.

Unfortunately for the last two and a half or three weeks, the numbers are staying the same. Theyre more than twice what they were before the last surge occurred, so this is a really scary situation, Porsa said.

He says the spread of more contagious variants is a big reason why. Health officials are watching COVID-19 numbers closely as Texas ends its statewide mask mandate.

If we can continue to be rigorous in mask wearing, public health measures, and physical distancing when appropriate well be ok. If not, well see a surge. Remember, every surge is larger than the previous one, because the base is bigger, said Klotman.

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TMC leaders warn about another COVID-19 surge ahead of Spring Break - KHOU.com

The $1.9-trillion COVID-19 stimulus bill will benefit Californians at local, state and federal levels. The bill includes $1,400 checks, expanded unemployment benefits, the biggest-ever expansion of Obamacare, and new tax credits for people with children. Heres what to expect and how it will affect you personally.

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COVID-19 stimulus relief bill in California: What to know - Los Angeles Times

Parents will have the option to get the monthly payments or take a lump sum when they file their taxes next year.

The $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill, of which the Senate amendment passed Congress Wednesday, then headed to President Joe Biden's desk for him to sign it into law. The massive bill includes a re-imagining of the annual child tax credit which could put money from the IRS in the hands of parents, on a monthly basis.

Here are some of the details. Keep in mind that some of this is likely to change as the IRS works out how to roll the money out to households.

What is changing with the child tax credit?

Under current law, most taxpayers can reduce their federal income tax bill by up to $2,000 per child. The bill would increase the tax break to $3,000 for every child age 6 to 17 ($250 per month) and $3,600 for every child under the age of 6 ($300 per month).

Families would get the full credit regardless of how little they make in a year. The money is also fully refundable, meaning families without income will also receive it.

The maximum benefit would go to individuals making up to $75,000 and couples filing jointly making up to $150,000. After that, the money starts to be phased out at intervals of $50 per every $1,000 of adjusted gross income.

Those making up to $200,000 individually and $400,000 as a couple would still be eligible for the $2,000 tax credit that existed before the passage of the COVID relief bill.

When will I receive the money under the child tax credit?

That's not clear. The goal is to divide the payments into monthly installments, but the Treasury Department may determine that's not possible. It could be quarterly or whatever method is as frequent as possible. But the earliest it's expected to start is in July.

Elaine Maag, a principal research associate in the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, said monthly payments could begin as soon as July but if the government opts for quarterly payments it could take until the fall.

Taxpayers will be able to opt-out of the monthly payments and get a lump sum at tax time like they do now.

How long will the new child tax credit last?

This is only good through 2021. After that, Congress would have to vote to renew it.

Will I get all the child tax credit money in 2021?

No, but you will get all the money eventually. The monthly payments are an advance.

Let's say you've already filed your 2020 tax return this season. If you are expecting a child tax credit, you'll get that money based on your 2020 taxes.

Under the expanded tax credit, you will be getting your 2021 money during the year, not in 2022 when you file your taxes. Since the payments will start in July at the earliest, that means only six months of payments will go out, not 12 months. So, half of the credit money will come during the year and the other half will come when you file your 2021 taxes next spring.

The bill calls on the Treasury to create an online portal where parents can choose whether to get the monthly payments or opt-out and get one lump payment next year when they file their tax returns.

What if I have a child this year?

The monthly payments will be based on the 2019 or 2020 tax return. But the bill instructs that an online portal will be created so parents can add the birth of a child in 2021, change their marital status or record a change in their income during the year.

If it works properly, that means parents who welcome a child this year can start getting the monthly payments.

Why is the child tax credit being changed?

The aim is to deliver the money in smaller monthly payments instead of one larger lump sum which usually comes following tax season. That would give low-income parents in particular the child tax credit money as they need it throughout the year to help pay for basics.

Add in the $1,400 direct payment checks and other items in the bill, and the legislation would reduce the number of children living in poverty by more than half, according to the Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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When will the monthly child tax credit payments in the COVID-19 relief bill start? - KARE11.com