January has been hard hit by the COVID-19 crisis. California has been hit hardest, on January 21, 2021 the state recorded 736 COVID-19 deaths in a single day, the highest since the start of the pandemic. Of nearly 36,000 cumulative COVID-19 deaths statewide, more than 10,000 have been reported since New Year’s Eve, including more than 4,500 in L.A. County. The state’s most populous county, which has tallied more than 14,600 deaths, accounts for roughly 41% of California’s cumulative COVID-19 deaths, despite being home to only a quarter of the state’s population.
Florida is also experiencing a Winter Surge. On January 10, 2021 the Florida Department of Health reported 108 more resident deaths linked to COVID-19 on Sunday along with 12,313 new positive cases.
The January 3, 2021 White House COVID-19 Task Force report categorized Florida in full pandemic status for all categories: test positivity and high levels of community transmission in nearly 90% of the counties. Weekly figures of closely monitored pandemic data continue to rise and trend closer in similarity to what was seen statewide during the summer spike, considered to be the height of the pandemic in Florida.
The former administration had literally no plan for distributing the vaccine and hopefully Joe Biden the president elect will treat the ongoing COVID crisis with advice from scientists and experts. He plans to “manage the hell” out of the pandemic. His detailed strategy, pledged a genuine “wartime” effort to expand vaccine distribution, supplies and testing. He mandated masks on federal lands and in inter-state train, bus and air travel. He plans new vaccination sites across the country and to activate pharmacies in every neighborhood. There is hope now that the White House is taking the virus seriously. Dr. Anthony Fauci is almost giddy being able to state facts with no fear of presidential reprisals. “The idea that you can get up here and talk about what you know, what the evidence, what the science is — let the science speak, it is somewhat of a liberating feeling,” Fauci said.
Rep. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) said, “In terms of potential deaths and the impact on our economy, the crisis we face from coronavirus is on the scale of a major war, and we must act accordingly. We must begin thinking on a scale comparable to the threat, and make sure that we are protecting working people, low-income people, and the most vulnerable communities, not just giant corporations and Wall Street.