More than 156 million US adults have now received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, a senior health official said on Monday, as the highly contagious Delta variant fuels a nationwide spike in cases.
The milestone, announced by White House Covid-19 data director Cyrus Shahpar, comes almost a month after a deadline set by President Joe Biden passed.
He initially sought to hit the 70 per cent partial vaccination level by July 4, but inoculation rates plunged amid widespread hesitancy about using the new vaccines.
Critics say Mr Biden prematurely declared “independence from this virus".
"While we desperately want to be done with this pandemic, Covid-19 clearly is not done for us," Director of the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Rochelle Walensky said during a White House Covid-19 Task Force briefing.
An increase in vaccination numbers may be due to concerns with the surge in Delta variant infections. The strain is infecting not only unvaccinated people -- increasing numbers of "breakthrough" cases are hitting those who are fully vaccinated as well.
Lindsey Graham, a senior Republican senator, said on Twitter that he would quarantine for 10 days after testing positive for the coronavirus even though he is vaccinated.
"Each and every shot matters," White House Covid-19 Response Co-ordinator Jeffrey Zients said on Monday, remarking that there are around 90 million eligible people in the US who remain unvaccinated.
Anyone 12 and older can receive the shot, with three different vaccines available.
A growing number of private companies — including Google and Netflix, healthcare centres and others — are requiring employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Mr Biden on Friday said federal staffers and contractors would need to be vaccinated or consent to regular testing and other measures.
Last week, the US recorded more than 100,000 positive cases in one day, the CDC reported, the first time that has happened since February.
Dr Walensky also said national daily Covid-19 deaths have grown to 300 per day, a 25 per cent rise in the last seven-day average period.
Florida recorded more than 21,000 cases in one day at the weekend and registered the highest level of hospital admissions since the pandemic started, with more than 10,200 people admitted to healthcare centres with Covid-19.
Florida's cases and hospital admissions follow Governor Ron DeSantis's ban on mask mandates and other Covid-19 mitigation measures in the state after the CDC recommended that vaccinated people wear masks in public indoor spaces.
The southern state of Louisiana is the current coronavirus hot spot in the country, with a seven-day average of 511 infections per 100,000 people. Only 37 per cent of the state's population is vaccinated.
"The seven states with the lowest vaccination rates represent just about 8 per cent of the US population, but account for more than 17 per cent of cases," Mr Zients said.
Mr Biden is expected to give remarks on vaccinations in the US and abroad on Tuesday.
More than 613,000 people in the US have died from Covid-19, Johns Hopkins University data show.
Company%20profile
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SM Town Live is on Friday, April 6 at Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai. Tickets are Dh375 at www.platinumlist.net
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Pari
Produced by: Clean Slate Films (Anushka Sharma, Karnesh Sharma) & KriArj Entertainment
Director: Prosit Roy
Starring: Anushka Sharma, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Ritabhari Chakraborty, Rajat Kapoor, Mansi Multani
Three stars
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
Crazy Rich Asians
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeon, Gemma Chan
Four stars
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sreesanth's India bowling career
Tests 27, Wickets 87, Average 37.59, Best 5-40
ODIs 53, Wickets 75, Average 33.44, Best 6-55
T20Is 10, Wickets 7, Average 41.14, Best 2-12
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
MOTHER%20OF%20STRANGERS
%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20Suad%20Amiry%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Pantheon%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPages%3A%20304%3Cbr%3EAvailable%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Hotel Silence
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
Pushkin Press
PAKISTAN v SRI LANKA
Twenty20 International series
Thu Oct 26, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
Fri Oct 27, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
Sun Oct 29, 3rd T20I, Lahore
Tickets are available at www.q-tickets.com
Match info
Bournemouth 0
Liverpool 4 (Salah 25', 48', 76', Cook 68' OG)
Man of the match: Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)
MEYDAN RESULTS
6.30pm Baniyas (PA) Group 2 Dh125,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner ES Ajeeb, Sam Hitchcock (jockey), Ibrahim Aseel (trainer).
7.05pm Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Galaxy Road, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
7.40pm Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Al Modayar, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm Handicap (TB) Dh170,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner Gundogdu, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.50pm Rated Conditions (TB) Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner George Villiers, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
9.25pm Handicap (TB) Dh175,000 (D)1,200m
Winner Lady Parma, Connor Beasley, Satish Seemar
10pm Handicap (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Zaajer, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Sunday's games
Liverpool v West Ham United, 4.30pm (UAE)
Southampton v Burnley, 4.30pm
Arsenal v Manchester City, 7pm
No Shame
Lily Allen
(Parlophone)
