Enough. The uk approving the astrazeneca vaccine just as theres a suspected case in colorado of the uks variant case. Lets go to colorado. Stephanie, what are you learning about this new variant . Its interesting, i think at some point we expected to see this new variant on u. S. Soil. Whats worth noting is where we are, a very rural county here in colorado springs. What we do know is the one confirmed case is 28yearold male and we know this suspected case is another male. And they traced back to this location here. They were working at a Skilled Nursing facility in nonclinical roles. They were both here because there had been a recent covid19 outbreak here at the facility so they were pitching out, working here in the facility, and thats where they contracted the virus. What we do know at this point is neither of them are in this county and theyre isolating elsewhere. And we also know the county sent in officials to come and do Rapid Testing of the about 25 residents that do live here
One of yesterdays victims, luke letlow, newly elected house member. He was only 41 years old. He was supposed to be sworn in to his congressional seat sunday. Another grieving family, that of 18yearold sarah simental. She was supposed to graduate from her Illinois High School in a few months. Instead her family is planning her funeral. I know she fought because one of the last times that i was able to talk to her on the phone because i couldnt be up at the hospital at that point and they were taking her from her regular room to icu, and she said, im going to be okay, mom. And that was the last thing no parent should ever have to watch their child go through that. Nobody. Just heartbreaking. Colorado has just discovered the first known u. S. Case of the covid19 variant first identified in the u. K. The patient in his 20s had not traveled suggesting this is already spreading in the community. The variant is not known to be more deadly but key here, it is believed to be more contagious wh
348,000 deaths due to covid and has surpassed 20 million cases more than 125,000 people are beginning this year in the hospital now. Adding to the concern that new variant of covid19, which experts say is transmitted much easier. First seen in the uk, the strain has now been detected in california, colorado and florida. Meanwhile, the vaccine rollout continues to lag. More than 12 million doses have been delivered to the United States, but fewer than 3 million vaccinations have actually been administered, far fewer than the initial goal of 20 million by the end of december in the u. S. So weve got a team covering all of the angles, Polo Sandoval in new york, Dianne Gallagher in florida for us. Lets go to Dianne Gallagher in florida, where that states vaccination plan for seniors has led to long lines, a lot of chaos. What is the situation . Reporter lets call it confusion and congestion. Thats kind of been the theme that weve seen with this vaccine rollout here in the state of florida.
Been Community Spread. Reporter good morning, jim. Thats right. And this is really the last thing this country needs. Colorado officials announcing they found the first known case of this uk variant which we know according to uk scientists is significantly more contagious than the already contagious virus weve been dealing with all this time, found in a man in his 20s in elbert county, colorado. As you mentioned there is now a suspected second case also this variant. Both men were working at assistive living facility. They were only there to fill in, to help out due to staffing shortages after an earlier outbreak at that facility two and a half weeks ago that killed at least two people. The state Health Department has dispatched a Rapid Response team to the facility to test the residents and staff, they are also in touch with the cdc. We understand as you mentioned the first man had no known travel history which certainly suggests that this virus had already been circulating undetected
Better than quinton tar jan takeno. Hollywoods night to shine. A live look at the red carpet as stars get ready for the oscars. Good morning to you and welcome to Al Jazeera America. Im Morgan Radford live in new york city. The center stage of ukraines crisis moved from kiev to crimea. Russia is preparing for a military intervention and ukraines interim government has started to mobilise troops and has called up reservists. Diplomats met for a special session on saturday. The u. S. Is calling on the u. N. To send observers. President obama called the Russian Vladimir Putin asking him to pull back the troops but russia is not bundling. Jennifer glasse has more of that storey from crimea. Jubilation, the russians are coming. As moscow endorsed the use of force, ethnic russians took to the streets, like ena and her family. Supporting the russian flag. They are her protectors. They are just here to guarantee safety. Beneath the statue of communist leader lenin russian and soviet military f