Half of the adult population in the US has been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, according to federal data released on Tuesday, marking a major milestone in the country's efforts to beat the virus.
More than 163 million people have received at least one dose of the vaccine and of that number, 129 million have been fully vaccinated.
Everyone over the age of 12 is eligible to be vaccinated in the US, which has a total population of about 330 million.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines fully vaccinated people as those who have reached the two-week mark after their final dose of the two-shot Pfizer or Moderna regimen or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
President Joe Biden has set the goal of having 70 per cent of the US adult population receive at least one dose of vaccine by July 4, the nation's independence day. The CDC says that currently, 61.8 per cent of adults have had at least one dose of vaccine.
States across the country have been using several methods to encourage people to be immunised, including cash lottery entries, sporting event tickets and free food.
The White House says there is now at least one vaccination location within eight kilometres of 90 per cent of the US population.
Coronavirus cases and hospital admissions as well as deaths are on the decline nationwide, making for low numbers not seen since last spring.
The CDC has reported a seven-day average case count of less than 23,000 per day as well as an average of 457 daily deaths.
"I remain cautious but hopeful they will continue to trend downward," CDC chief Dr Rochelle Walensky said.
A new CDC study, published on Tuesday, discussed the efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines.
Researchers tracked 101 million fully vaccinated people in the US from January to April and found that there were 10,300 "breakthrough cases" reported – one infection for every 10,000 fully vaccinated people.
Of those cases, 25 per cent were admitted to hospital and 2 per cent died.
"Even though [Food and Drug Administration]-authorised vaccines are highly effective, breakthrough cases are expected, especially before population immunity reaches sufficient levels to further decrease transmission," the report said.
The nation's vaccine programme is allowing for further flexibility in business and school reopenings as well as for global travel. Schools in Los Angeles and New York City, among the nation's largest educational systems, said they will reopen in-person classes in the autumn.
On Monday, the UAE embassy in Washington said travellers from the US would be allowed to enter the Emirates without requiring a quarantine, though a negative Covid-19 test will still be required.
The US has recorded over 590,000 deaths from Covid-19, according to Johns Hopkins University, and has reported more than 33 million cases.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
NBA FINALS SO FAR
(Toronto lead 3-2 in best-of-seven series)
Game 1 Raptors 118 Warriors 109
Game 2 Raptors 104 Warriors 109
Game 3 Warriors 109 Raptors 123
Game 4 Warriors 92 Raptors 105
Game 5 Raptors 105 Warriors 106
Game 6 Thursday, at Oakland
Game 7 Sunday, at Toronto (if needed)
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Racecard
6pm: The Pointe - Conditions (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m
6.35pm: Palm West Beach - Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (T) 1,800m
7.10pm: The View at the Palm - Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.45pm: Nakeel Graduate Stakes - Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m
8.20pm: Club Vista Mare - Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,900m
8.55pm: The Palm Fountain - Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,200m
9.30pm: The Palm Tower - Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,600m
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
The years Ramadan fell in May
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Aayan%E2%80%99s%20records
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'Brazen'
Director: Monika Mitchell
Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler
Rating: 3/5
PRISCILLA
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Dunki
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Quick%20facts
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More coverage from the Future Forum
The distance learning plan
Spring break will be from March 8 - 19
Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm
Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19
Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning
Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
