[ad_1]
There were 904 confirmed cases in the past 24 hours, along with 101 deaths, authorities said.
The total number of confirmed infections since the start of the pandemic is 115,471, with 3,003 deaths.
Despite a significant drop in cases over the past week, authorities have extended the blockade across the country until December 14, but have allowed certain stores, including those selling Christmas-related products, to open starting of Monday.
The number of patients on ventilators, 600, was still near record highs, depleting the capacity of the national health system.
WASHINGTON – The head of the US vaccine development effort said Sunday that he believes the COVID-19 vaccine could have a lasting effect once distributed.
Dr. Moncef Slaoui told CNN’s “State of the Union” that only time will tell for sure, but that in his opinion, the vaccine’s effectiveness could last “many, many years,” and that older people and other more vulnerable people require a booster every three to five years.
He said that one of the hallmarks of the immune system is memory, so the body’s response to the coronavirus will be much faster once vaccinated.
Still, Slaoui said it is not known whether vaccinated people could transmit the virus to others even if they protected themselves. He said there may be an initial indication on that sometime in February or March.
