December 18 coronavirus news

The influential coronavirus model at the University of Washington is projecting 562,000 Americans will have died from Covid-19 by April 1, 2021 -- up significantly from the prediction it made last week, when it forecast 502,000 deaths by that date.

The model from the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) says the increase is due to surges in cases and deaths, with particularly large increases in California. This is putting a huge amount of stress on the hospital system.

“Overall, we expect the national daily death toll to continue increasing to a peak of over 3,750 in mid-January,” the statement reads.

Mitigating factors: The vaccination rollout could save as many as 34,500 lives by April 1, IHME predicts.

The institute again stressed the importance of mask-wearing to keep the numbers down.

IHME analyzed mobility across the US and found that visits to restaurants and bars declined in November following increases over the summer.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was “hoping very much” to avoid another lockdown for England, but did not rule it out.

Two of the UK’s four nations -- Wales and Northern Ireland -- have already announced plans to lock down after Christmas as coronavirus infection numbers continue to rise and medical experts warn that the holidays could worsen the situation. 

Johnson reiterated that the Christmas rules in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland allowing up to three households forming a “Christmas bubble” is “very much a maximum -- that’s not a target people should aim for.”

Earlier, Johnson said on Twitter that starting Friday, anyone forming a “Christmas Bubble” should start minimizing contact with people outside their household. 

CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice just got the first dose of their Covid-19 vaccine. But they're not fully vaccinated yet: They'll need a second dose in the coming weeks.

Rice noted that they'll both receive a vaccine card that can serve as a reminder to get the second dose.

"I think we're going to get this little card, yeah, so we can make it a date," she said.

"It's not the kind of dates that I — lunch would be better, but we'll do the vaccine for now," Gupta joked.

Rice noted that the vaccines are an important step in fighting the pandemic.

"One day, we might be able to have a date without the mask on. We'll bring our spouses," she said.

WATCH:

CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice just got the first dose of their Covid-19 vaccine at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.

Moments before, both doctors admitted they have an aversion to needles, but both said they hardly felt it.

Watch the full moment below:

Later tonight, Gupta will join Dr. Anthony Fauci and Surgeon General Jerome Adams for a CNN town hall about vaccines.

At a time when the pandemic is straining mental health, many people are going without care altogether. Experts in the US say the pandemic is worsening a shortage of mental health care providers that far predates the current crisis. 

Even before the pandemic, one in five Americans had a diagnosable mental health condition, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. More than half received no treatment at all, found a report by the nonprofit Mental Health America. 

A lack of care compounds the consequences of mental illness. With nearly 41% of Americans struggling with mental health issues related to the pandemic, according to a US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey, treatment is an increasingly scarce resource.

Whether you find help at all may depend on where you live, who you are and how much you have to spend.

Even in urban areas where care is theoretically available, finding a provider can be hard, and there can be extra challenges based on race, gender, sexuality and age. 

Read the full story here:

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Pandemic demand for mental health care is overwhelming providers

CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice just got the first dose of their Covid-19 vaccine at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.

After getting the shot, Gupta — who is a practicing surgeon and works in the operation room weekly — said it felt like a "significant" moment.

Rice commented on how easy getting the vaccine was.

“That’s it? Oh, piece of cake," she said.

Spain is set to receive its first doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on December 26, Spanish Health Minister Salvador Illa announced on Friday.

Speaking at a news conference at the prime minister's residence, the Moncloa Palace, Illa said the vaccination campaign would start on December 27, in line with statements made by other European leaders.

The health minister has stressed that the vaccine "is not the end of the pandemic, it is the beginning of the end."

Preparing for vaccine approval: The European Union has yet to authorize use of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. The European Medicines Agency will meet on December 21 and authorization could be granted two days later.

The European Commission has secured more than 2 billion doses of coronavirus vaccines for the bloc since June, and is asking its 27 nations to get ready to work together to roll them out.

CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta is receiving the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine this morning.

You can watch the moment on CNN and in the video player above.

Some American health care workers — including doctors, nurses and hospital staff — began getting the vaccine this week after the US Food and Drug Administration authorized one of the candidates.

Later tonight, Gupta will join Dr. Anthony Fauci and Surgeon General Jerome Adams for a CNN town hall about vaccines.

Europe is struggling to find ways to allow its citizens to celebrate Christmas despite a bruising second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Here are some updated holiday restrictions from Poland and Bulgaria.

BULGARIA  

The Bulgarian government has decided to extend the closure of nightclubs, casinos, restaurants and sport halls until at least January 31.

Initial plans for these venues to reopen on December 21 have been revised, the government said in a statement Thursday.

The ban extends to events, conferences and most shopping malls, with the exception of service-providing businesses such as banks, pharmacies, shops, telecommunications companies. 

From January 1, theaters, museums, galleries and cinemas can reopen, at 30% capacity. Kindergartens, nurseries and classrooms for students from first to fourth grade will open after the holidays on January 4.

Hotel restaurants will have a shift system for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with no more than 50% seating capacity being used and with a closing time of no later than 10 pm.  

On Thursday, the country’s ministry of health reported 1,959 new Covid-19 cases. 

POLAND

Poland will enter a national lockdown from December 28 to January 17, with hotels, ski slopes and shopping malls closing and a New Year’s Eve curfew, Health Minister Adam Niedzielski announced on Thursday. 

On New Year’s Eve, residents are instructed to “stay at home” and avoid gathering with anyone outside of their household. All but essential movement will be prohibited from 7 pm on December 31 until 6 am on January 1.

A 10-day quarantine will be required for those returning to the country by public transportation.

Theaters, cinemas and cultural centers, which have been closed since November 7, will remain closed until January 17. Restaurants remain closed except for takeout and delivery. 

Gatherings are limited to five people and participants must wear face coverings and maintain social distancing. Churches are limited to a maximum of one person per 15 square meters.

Weddings, communions and parties are banned, and gyms remain closed.