Although Americans were warned to avoid holiday travel, the Transportation Security Administration screened nearly 1.2 million people at airport checkpoints in the United States on Wednesday. That volume, officials say, marks the one-day high since the coronavirus pandemic began sweeping across the country in March.
Here are some significant developments:
Coronavirus mutations identified in the United Kingdom and South Africa may be provoking alarm, but infectious-disease experts are optimistic the new variants are still vulnerable to newly authorized vaccines, which could be rapidly reprogrammed to remain effective.
House Republicans blocked an effort by House Democrats to approve $2,000 stimulus payments for millions of Americans — a measure President Trump has demanded be added to an economic relief package before he will sign it.
The Trump administration and Pfizer have reached a deal for the pharmaceutical giant to provide 100 million additional coronavirus vaccine doses during the spring and summer, averting the possibility of a shortfall.
China and Brazil joined dozens of other nations in suspending flights from Britain over a new variant of the coronavirus that health experts say is far more transmissible.
Mexico became the first country in Latin America to start vaccinating people against covid-19.
NORAD, which watches the airspace over the U.S. and Canada, says it’s tracking the movements of “Santa” for the 65th year.