7 Dec

Figures by Johns Hopkins University show that the number of new coronavirus infection cases in the first five days of December is about 1.04 million in the US.

The country has been averaging more than 2,000 deaths each day.

Most of the US state of California will be under a stay-at-home order as the country experiences another surge of coronavirus infection following the Thanksgiving holiday.

California reported more than 30,000 new cases on Sunday.

The state government is imposing stricter rules beginning Sunday night in the areas where hospital ICU capacity has fallen below 15 percent.

In areas including Los Angeles, residents must stay at home except for essential travel at least for the next three weeks.

Retailers can operate at only 20 percent occupancy and restaurants are allowed to open only for takeout and delivery services.

Across the country in the northeastern state of Massachusetts, a field hospital that can house about 220 patients has opened to handle the growing number of COVID-19 patients.

US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in an ABC television program on Sunday that the Food and Drug Administration could authorize a new coronavirus vaccine within days.

NHK