The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness

Pfizer applies for emergency vaccine approval as U.S. cases reach new high

White House coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx on Nov. 19 said that coronavirus cases were rising faster than case surges earlier in the year. (Video: The Washington Post)
By
, 
, 
, 
, 
, 
, 
, 
and 
November 20, 2020 at 11:15 p.m. EST

Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech on Friday became the first companies to seek emergency authorization for a coronavirus vaccine in the United States, a landmark moment and a signal that a powerful tool to help control the pandemic could begin to be available by late December.

Conditions around the country remain dire: The United States reported a record high of more than 196,000 new coronavirus cases on Friday and is likely to cross 12 million cases nationwide on Saturday, six days after surpassing 11 million.

Here are some significant developments:

  • The Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine advisory committee will meet Dec. 10 to consider the Pfizer-BioNTech request, the agency said late Friday.
  • Donald Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son, has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a spokesman.
  • President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team condemned the Trump administration’s decision to end several emergency lending programs.
  • Infection rates dropped in Kansas counties that adopted mask mandates over the summer, while rising sharply in counties that didn’t, according to new research.
  • More than a quarter-million people in the United States have died of covid-19.
Press Enter to skip to end of carousel

Here's what to know:

The Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine advisory committee will meet Dec. 10 to consider the Pfizer-BioNTech request, the agency said late Friday.
Donald Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son, has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a spokesman.
President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team condemned the Trump administration’s decision to end several emergency lending programs.
Infection rates dropped in Kansas counties that adopted mask mandates over the summer, while rising sharply in counties that didn’t, according to new research.
More than a quarter-million people in the United States have died of covid-19.

1/5

End of carousel
Live contributors 9
Press Enter to skip to end of carousel
HannahKnowles
CarolynY. Johnson
DarrenSands
DerekHawkins
AntoniaNoori Farzan
HamzaShaban
RubyMellen
MarisaIati
JacquelineDupree

1/9

End of carousel
Loading...