COVID-19 hospitalisations stood at 132,051, setting a grim record for the fourth day in a row as of late Wednesday night, a Reuters analysis of public health data showed. Earlier this week, public health officials ordered the suspension of elective surgeries for at least three weeks in more than a dozen southern and central counties. With the strain on stretched healthcare systems increasing across the country, federal and local officials announced steps to speed the sluggish pace of inoculating eligible residents with two authorised coronavirus vaccines. On Wednesday, top health officials announced plans to start distributing COVID-19 vaccines through pharmacies around the country earlier than expected this week as states have struggled to use up the supplies they have been allocated. "It is not necessary to vaccinate all individuals in one phase before moving on to the next phase," Judy Persichilli, the state's health commissioner, said at a news briefing alongside the governor.

Source: bd News24 January 07, 2021 18:00 UTC