Good afternoon, this is Brooke Howard with the Daily Beast. It's Monday, November 16th, and these are the top stories the Chi Chi Team is watching right now. As COVID-19 has continued to plague the nation, it took just six days for an additional 1 million Americans to test positive for the coronavirus. Considering that Sunday was the 13th day straight, where more than 100,000 new cases were recorded, unfortunately it does not seem as if infections are going to slow down anytime soon.
The New York Times reports that, as the virus accelerates, thousands of medical practices are shutting down as doctors and nurses seek early retirement or jobs that don't cause such intense stress. But despite the chaos, there is some glimmer of hope. American biotech for a Moderna announced Monday that preliminary analysis shows that its COVID-19 vaccine is nearly 95% effective at preventing the disease. According to the Washington Post, it appears to be especially effective at keeping people from getting severely ill.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said, quote, it's extremely good news. If you look at the data, the numbers speak for themselves. Moderna's development comes on the heels of Pfizer announcing that it has created a vaccine for the coronavirus.
However, unlike Pfizer, Moderna's vaccine does not need ultra cold storage in order to maintain its effectiveness. Instead, it can be kept in a standard refrigerator for up to 30 days. I don't know how many more times they have to say it, but public health experts have reiterated that a key element to slowing the spread of the coronavirus is limiting holiday celebrations to people just within your household. But a new online survey says that just under four in 10 Americans will follow that guideline.
The poll found that 37% of people plan to celebrate Thanksgiving with friends or family who they don't live with was even more alarming is that that number could go even higher since about a quarter of the respondents were not even sure what they were doing it for the holiday season. On the political side of things, the survey did find that just about half of Republicans plan to attend these get-togethers, while less than 30% of Democrats or independents said they would. Making matters even worse, two thirds of people traveling don't plan to get tested before or after their trip. What so ever?
What the hell is this? El Paso, Texas is paying inmates two dollars an hour to know the dead bodies of people who are afflicted with COVID-19. Video of the inmates moving the bodies has sparked outrage and now on top officials said he's asking the National Guard to come in and take over more duty. El Paso County Judge Ricardo San Diego told a local Fox affiliate quote, if there's no personnel, no one to help out, even if they are inmates, then that's what we're left with.
He also said that it's not clear if the military will help out. El Paso County reported more than 1,500 new coronavirus cases in seven deaths on Monday and half the patients in the hospital have COVID-19. The journalist who reported from Wuhan in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic now faces five years in prison. Jean-jang has reportedly been detained in a facility in Shanghai since May and has been formally indicted on charges of spreading false information.
What's her alleged crime, you wonder? Reporting on the coronavirus outbreak from Wuhan, where the pandemic is believed to have started. Jean-jang who is 37 is a former lawyer-turned-citizen journalist. The Chinese human rights defenders, a non-government organization, says James reports from the start of the year include a quote, the detention of other independent reporters and harassment of families of victims seeking accountability from the epicenter of the pandemic.
One of the more iconic moments of the 2020 election was when CNN political commentator Van Jones openly cried on air after the network called the race for Joe Biden that Saturday. Jones, choking up on his own words, said that President Trump's defeat will make it, quote, easier to be a dad. He told Esquire that he found the moment so overwhelming because so many of his friends from immigrant communities reached out to him after Biden was announced as the projected winner. He said a joyous sentiment, quote, really hit me hard.
It cracked open to me my own sense of relief. I think I surprised myself as much as anybody else with what I said and the emotions behind it. I did not realize how much I was sitting on, and I think probably a lot of people around the world felt the same way. It is worth noting, though, that as the Delegies have reported, this guy had a working relationship with Trump and a personal relationship with his family.
But, alright, Van. That's all for today. Check back every weekday morning and afternoon for more than you need to know. Find us where ever you listen to podcasts.