November 30 coronavirus news

By Helen Regan, Brett McKeehan, Emma Reynolds, Ed Upright, Jo Shelley, Melissa Macaya, Mike Hayes and Meg Wagner, CNN

Updated 12:04 AM ET, Tue December 1, 2020
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4:55 p.m. ET, November 30, 2020

All Americans who want to be vaccinated will be by June, Operation Warp Speed official says

From CNNs Ben Tinker

From MSNBC
From MSNBC

Asked about his expectations regarding how many Americans will be vaccinated against Covid-19 by June, Lt. Gen. Paul Ostrowski, director of supply, production and distribution for Operation Warp Speed, said, “A hundred percent of Americans that want the vaccine will have had the vaccine by that point in time.”

“We will have over 300 million doses available to the American public well before then,” Ostrowski told MSNBC’s Yasmin Vossoughian on MSNBC Monday afternoon.

About the vaccines: Pharmaceutical company Moderna intends to apply Monday to the US Food and Drug Administration for authorization of its Covid-19 vaccine.

Moderna will become the second company to apply to the FDA for emergency use authorization for a coronavirus vaccine. Pfizer applied on Nov. 20 with data showing similarly high efficacy.

The FDA is scheduled to meet with its Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee on Dec. 10 to review Pfizer's application and on Dec. 17 to review Moderna's application.

4:31 p.m. ET, November 30, 2020

McConnell calls for coronavirus relief before the end of the year

From Ali Main and Ted Barrett 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks on the Senate floor in Washington, DC, on November 30.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks on the Senate floor in Washington, DC, on November 30. Senate TV

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urged Congress to pass another round of coronavirus relief before the end of the year and accused his Democratic colleagues of stonewalling and playing a losing game of politics with the desperately needed aid.

In his first floor speech after the Thanksgiving recess, the Kentucky Republican said that while passing legislation to fund the government beyond the December 11 deadline, authorizing defense spending and confirming federal judges remain priorities for the Republican-led chamber, "there's no reason, none, why we should not deliver another major pandemic relief package to help the American people through what seems poised to be the last chapters of this battle." 

In light of positive vaccine development news, McConnell expressed optimism that "victory over this pandemic is not far off," but adding "a huge amount of work remains before us." 

He said Congress will need to continue to ensure that the federal government has the funds needed to distribute vaccines nationwide, and he noted that some part of the CARES Act have "run dry" since March, with others due to expire in the coming weeks. 

"We Republicans have spent months trying to renew important help and provide even more," McConnell said, citing the Senate Republican package that was blocked by Democrats earlier in the fall.

McConnell accused House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of playing politics with Covid-19 relief and engaging in "all or nothing obstruction." But he said this backfired when Democrats lost several House seats in the November election.

"Now it's abundantly clear to everyone that the Speaker will not be getting to fundamentally transform American society in a socialist direction in exchange for more bipartisan relief. The hostage taking was never going to work," McConnell said.

McConnell noted that some Democrats have been anxious to pass further relief and framed his party's own proposal as an ideal template for further relief that could pass on a bipartisan basis. 

McConnell also cited Obama administration economic advisor Austan Goolsbee, who told CNN's Manu Raju on Sunday that congressional Democrats should accept a “half loaf” for now if they can’t get Republicans to go along with a bigger package because the stimulus is needed badly and Democrats could pass the other half early next year.

"Let's hope our colleagues at the top of the Democratic Party can finally hear their own members and stop blocking the common sense, multi-hundred billion dollar measures that Republicans have been ready to deliver for months," he said.

4:02 p.m. ET, November 30, 2020

Oklahoma City Thunder says it will start NBA season without fans

From CNN's Kevin Dotson

A general view of the court is seen before a game at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City on May 28, 2016.
A general view of the court is seen before a game at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City on May 28, 2016. Kevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced Monday that the team will begin the 2020-21 NBA season without fans in attendance at home games due to rising Covid-19 numbers in Oklahoma. 

The news comes after the Thunder announced earlier this month that “a limited number of fans and guests” would be allowed to attend games and other events at Chesapeake Energy Arena. 

“For months, we have worked in close collaboration with Chesapeake Energy Arena, the City of Oklahoma City, local health officials, and the NBA to put into place thorough health and safety measures to allow for reduced seating capacity,” the Thunder said in a statement. “However, as we review ongoing and concerning trends in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Oklahoma, we want to exercise an abundance of caution to help control the spread of the virus in our community. Therefore, the Thunder has made the decision to begin the season without fans in the arena.”

The team said it will continue to monitor the situation to determine when fans may be able to begin attending Thunder home games.

The Thunder’s announcement follows a similar decision from the Charlotte Hornets, who announced earlier on Monday that they would begin the NBA season without fans in attendance for homes games.

3:53 p.m. ET, November 30, 2020

Nearly 1 in 4 people hospitalized for Covid-19 in Wisconsin are in ICU 

From CNN's Kay Jones

Nearly 1 in 4 people hospitalized in Wisconsin due to Covid-19 are in intensive care units (ICU), the state's health department said on Monday.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported that 16% of the state's staffed hospital beds are currently available, as over 1,800 patients are in the hospital due to the virus.   

The state reported 2,534 new cases since Sunday's report, bringing the total number of cases to 387,235. At least six new deaths were reported Monday, bringing the total statewide to 3,313.

Note: These numbers were released by the state's public health agency and may not line up exactly in real time with CNN’s database drawn from Johns Hopkins University and the Covid Tracking Project.

3:35 p.m. ET, November 30, 2020

More than 267,000 people have died from coronavirus in the US

From CNN’s Virginia Langmaid

Medical staff members tends to a deceased COVID-19 patient's body in the coronavirus intensive care unit at the United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, on November 25.
Medical staff members tends to a deceased COVID-19 patient's body in the coronavirus intensive care unit at the United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, on November 25. Go Nakamura/Getty Images

There have been at least 13,457,294 cases of coronavirus in the US, and at least 267,438 people have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

So far today, Johns Hopkins has reported 73,974 new cases and 565 reported deaths.

The totals include cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as repatriated cases. 

Here's a look at how United States' figures compare to other countries:

3:19 p.m. ET, November 30, 2020

More than 5,000 people are hospitalized in Ohio with Covid-19 

From CNN’s Andy Rose

A COVID-19 patient is being treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Van Wert County Hospital in Van Wert, Ohio, on November 20.
A COVID-19 patient is being treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Van Wert County Hospital in Van Wert, Ohio, on November 20. Megan Jelinger/AFP via Getty Images

The number of people hospitalized for Covid-19 topped 5,000 in Ohio for the first time Monday. The state's Department of Health says there are 5,060 coronavirus patients in the hospital, with 1,180 in intensive care. 

Ohio officials say 71% of all hospital beds are occupied, and 76% of intensive care unit beds. The state has averaged nearly 8,000 new cases per day over the past three weeks. The seven-day rolling average for Covid-19 tests coming back positive is 14.5%, nearly three times the figure recommended by the World Health Organization for reopening the economy.

Even Monday’s alarming numbers may not be telling the full story. The state says thousands of reports are still pending review due to “unprecedented volume.”

Note: These numbers were released by the Ohio Department of Health and may not line up exactly in real time with CNN’s database drawn from Johns Hopkins University and the Covid Tracking Project.

 

2:53 p.m. ET, November 30, 2020

Florida governor doubles down on no statewide mask mandate

From CNN’s Rosa Flores and Denise Royal

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis throws a hat to supporters during a rally for President Donald Trump on October 23, in Pensacola, Florida.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis throws a hat to supporters during a rally for President Donald Trump on October 23, in Pensacola, Florida. Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis doubled down on not issuing a statewide mask mandate in the Sunshine State Monday during a press conference.

When a reporter asked DeSantis if he had reconsidered a statewide mask mandate, the governor got testy with the reporter and answered with a series of his own questions.

“How has that worked in states that have done it? Has that stopped an outbreak in Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan? What about New Jersey? What about all these states where you have explosion in cases?” DeSantis said. “I’m opposed to mandates, period. I don’t think they work.”

As Covid-19 cases in Florida are inching closer to the one million mark, DeSantis touted that the increase in cases in other states are “way, way more.” DeSantis said that shutting down has not worked to stop the spread of the virus in other places.

1:59 p.m. ET, November 30, 2020

New England Patriots fined for violations of NFL's Covid-19 protocols

From CNN's Kevin Dotson

A New England Patriots logo during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals on December 2019, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.
A New England Patriots logo during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals on December 2019, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The New England Patriots were fined $350,000 by the NFL for violations of the league’s Covid-19 protocols in early October. A league source confirmed the fine to CNN Sports. 

The fine comes after the NFL determined that the Patriots violated the league’s policy that all team personnel must wear masks while at team facilities. 

After the team’s quarterback Cam Newton tested positive for Covid-19 on October 2, the NFL postponed the Patriots’ game against the Kansas City Chiefs from October 4 to October 5.

1:43 p.m. ET, November 30, 2020

San Francisco 49ers will play next two home games in Arizona as county restrictions tighten

From CNN's David Close

The San Francisco 49ers logo is seen at the 50 yard marker at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on September 13.
The San Francisco 49ers logo is seen at the 50 yard marker at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on September 13. MSA/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The NFL's San Francisco 49ers will play their next two home games in Arizona. The team was forced to find an alternative site after Santa Clara County, California, banned contact sports for the next three weeks.

The 49ers are now set to host the Buffalo Bills next Monday night at the Arizona Cardinals’ home ground, State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The team will utilize the stadium again the following Sunday to play the Washington Football Team on Dec. 13. 

The 49ers will play three of their next four games at State Farm Stadium as the team was previously scheduled to play the Cardinals in Glendale the day after Christmas. 

The team has yet to announce plans on where it will hold practices. 

“The Cardinals organization, State Farm Stadium and League officials have been supportive and accommodating as we work through the many logistical issues involved in relocating NFL games," the 49ers said in a statement.

Some background: The restrictive measures was prompted by an “exponential” growth in Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations in the county, according to County Counsel James Williams.

Other measures include modifying capacity for businesses, limiting social gatherings.

"The 49ers are, I think, the most nationally obvious example, but there is no family in our community that is untouched by this pandemic,” Williams told CNN on Monday, noting that the pandemic has complicated everyone’s lives and communities. Hospitalizations have doubled in the last 14 days, he said, and capacity is a priority. 

“Our ICU beds are filling up, hospitals are filling up, we are trying to take every possible measure locally to rein that in,” said Williams.