People over 75, front-line essential workers should get vaccine next, CDC panel says

Those groups would cover teachers and critical workers in high-risk settings.

Last Updated: December 21, 2020, 3:00 PM EST

A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now infected more than 75.5 million people worldwide and killed over 1.6 million of them, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

Dec 20, 2020, 12:19 PM EST

Moderna vaccine now being shipped in the US

The second COVID-19 vaccine to be authorized by the FDA is now being rolled out.

The first cases of the Moderna vaccine were seen being rolled out from a facility in Olive Branch, Mississippi, to be shipped to the FedEx hub in Memphis, Tennessee, for nationwide distribution on Sunday morning. The shipment was escorted by U.S. Marshalls.

The doses were packed into insulated coolers with specialized cold packs and a temperature monitor, according to pharmaceutical distribution compant McKesson.

The initial vaccine orders will be delivered to administration sites on Monday.

ABC News’ Gio Benitez and Ahmad Hemingway contributed to this report.

Dec 20, 2020, 7:45 AM EST

McKesson begins distributing Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine

Health care company McKesson Corporation has begun distributing Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine and the ancillary supply kits needed to administer it, they said in a statement Sunday. 

Brian Tyler, the CEO of McKesson, said, “We are honored to be a partner with the U.S. government and other private-sector companies such as Moderna to support in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and the ancillary supply kits."

Their vaccine distribution plan, they said, is part of Operation Warp Speed's effort to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to all Americans, and under the direction of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"In March, our world seemed to change overnight," Tyler added. "But with a renewed sense of commitment and intensified focus, we’ve come together across industries and forged public and private partnerships to help restore and protect the health and wellbeing of people around the world. With our exceptional group of employees managing the effort, we stand ready as a company to meet this historical moment.”

Dec 20, 2020, 6:18 AM EST

College Football Playoff semifinal moved to Texas from California

The 2021 college football semifinal game scheduled to take place Jan. 1 at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California, has been moved to AT&T Stadium in Dallas because of COVID-19 concerns.

The decision "was not an easy one," said David Eads, Tournament of Roses CEO and executive director. "While we remain confident that a game could have been played at the Rose Bowl Stadium, as evident in the other collegiate and professional games taking place in the region, the projection of COVID-19 cases in the region has continued on an upward trend."

Sporting events in California since March haven't allowed fans or the families of participants to attend. The Pasadena Tournament of Roses in November and again in December appealed this decision. Both appeals were denied.

-ABC News' Matt Foster contributed to this report

Dec 19, 2020, 5:44 PM EST

Apple temporarily closing all California stores

Apple is temporarily closing all California stores amid the state's COVID-19 surge. 

Stores are currently open for pickup of existing online orders, Genius Bar appointments or one-on-one shopping sessions made through Dec. 22, the company's website said.

Holiday lights and decorations are seen at the Apple Store on Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, Calif., Dec. 18, 2020.
Jb Lacroix/Getty Images

Apple, which has over 50 stores in the state, had initially started temporarily closing all Los Angeles-area locations on Friday. 

California reported 43,608 new COVID-19 cases and 272 deaths on Saturday. Four regions -- San Joaquin Valley, Southern California, Greater Sacramento and the Bay Area -- are under a regional stay-at-home order based on intensive care unit capacity.

-ABC News' Matthew Fuhrman contributed to this report

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