The COVID-19 pandemic will shorten life expectancy for Americans by more than 1 year to 77.48 years, researchers at USC and Princeton are projecting.
The declines in life expectancy are likely even starker among Black and Latino communities, according to the study published Thursday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
For Blacks, the researchers project their life expectancy would shorten by more than 2 years to 72.78 years, and by about 3 years for Latinos to 78.77 years.
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Starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, 4,309 coronavirus vaccination appointments will become available to residents of Wards 1, 4, 5, 7, and 8 who are aged 65 and older or who work in a health care setting, D.C. Health announced Friday.
When appointments open, only residents who live in the listed wards will be able to make an appointment to get the vaccine through the vaccinate.dc.gov portal or by calling D.C.'s COVID-19 call center (1-855-363-0333).
Virginia residents age 65 and older can schedule to receive a vaccine, Gov. Ralph Northam announced at a news conference Thursday. Officials expanded state vaccination Phase 1b, which previously included residents age 75 and older. Also new: Anyone who has a chronic health condition is eligible.
Appointment availability will likely vary based on residents' health district, and some areas may not be ready to offer more appointments. Northam said he hopes “everyone in Virginia will be there by the end of the month.”
Virginia is giving vaccines to people in Phase 1a and Phase 1b. Phase 1a is comprised of health care personnel and residents of long-term care facilities. Phase 1b is composed of front-line essential workers including police officers and grocery store workers; people age 65 and older; and people living in correctional facilities, homeless shelters and migrant labor camps.
Virginia has distributed about 950,000 vaccine shots but will need about 17 million doses in order to give each person the two shots they need.
Also starting Thursday, Fairfax County Public School teachers, bus drivers, custodial workers and other staff became eligible to register to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
The first round of vaccinations for this group will begin Saturday and all staff members will get their first dose within the next three weeks, officials say.
The vaccine will be administered through the INOVA Health System.
The University of Maryland Medical System will hold a free virtual townhall on Monday to address people's questions and concerns about the COVID vaccine.
You can find several ways to participate, including on Zoom and by phone, online here.
Maryland is moving into Phase 1B of vaccinations starting Monday.
Marylanders age 75 and older, all residents at long-term care facilities, and teachers and education staff will be eligible, Gov. Larry Hogan announced at a press conference Thursday.
Anyone of any age living in assisted-living or independent-living facilities, behavioral health group homes, or homes centered on developmental disabilities will be eligible.
Phase 1B also includes all K-12 teachers, education staff and childcare providers, the governor said.
The governor also announced that the state would be accelerating its vaccination rollout – enabling Phase 1C to begin on Monday, Jan. 25.
Phase 1C will be expanded to all adults between the ages of 65 and 74, anywhere in the state.
A new online portal with a list of vaccination sites and vaccinator contact information launched Thursday at covidvax.maryland.gov.
Across the country, more than 9.3 million vaccine doses have been administered, out of a total 27.6 million doses distributed as of Thursday, according to the latest data from the CDC.
Vaccination Portals by County
As vaccinations in our region ramp up, here's a look at local portals residents can use to sign up for vaccination appointments or sign up to receive alerts.
- Washington, D.C. signups– vaccinate.dc.gov
- Maryland signups – www.marylandvax.org/ and covidvax.maryland.gov
- Virginia information – www.vdh.virginia.gov/covid-19-vaccine/
- Montgomery County – www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/vaccine/
- Prince George's County – www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/3730/COVID-19-Vaccination
- Howard County – www.howardcountymd.gov/Departments/Health/MM-Alerts-and-Recalls/COVID-19-Vaccine
- Anne Arundel County – aahealth.org/covid-19-vaccine-faq/
- Fairfax County – www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/novel-coronavirus/vaccine
- City of Alexandria – www.alexandriava.gov/health/info/default.aspx?id=119270
- Loudoun County – www.loudoun.gov/covid19vaccine
- Prince William County – coronavirus.pwcgov.org/vaccine-information/ & VDH
To get a better idea of when you'll be eligible to receive a vaccine, use our tool below.
Johnson & Johnson's one-dose coronavirus vaccine is safe and appears to be effective in both young and elderly volunteers, according to early-to-mid stage trial data published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Most of the volunteers produced detectable antibodies after 28 days, according to the trial data.
The most common side effects were fever, fatigue, headache, muscle aches and pain at the injection site, according to the trial data.
What the Data Shows
D.C. reported 320 new cases of COVID-19 and no new deaths.
Maryland recorded 2,924 new infections and 45 deaths Friday.
In Virginia, 3,613 new cases were recorded as well as 30 lives lost to the coronavirus.
The seven-day rolling average declined for the third consecutive day in D.C. (currently at 290) and Maryland (currently at 3,019). Average cases in Virginia also dropped significantly – from 3,740 on Thursday to 3,678 on Friday.
Hospitalizations have also reached a balancing point, after record highs were reported earlier in the week.
D.C. is reporting 285 hospitalizations, Maryland has 1,484 hospitalized patients and Virginia currently has 2,805 hospitalized patients with confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Local Coronavirus Headlines
- Three members of the House have announced that they have tested positive for COVID-19, including Rep. Brad Schneider, of Illinois, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, of New Jersey, and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, of Washington – all Democrats.
- Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's proposed economic relief package would provide $750 for qualifying families if approved by state legislators.
- Maryland reported its first two confirmed cases of the U.K. variant of COVID-19.
- D.C. residents age 65 and older, teachers and several categories of essential workers will be able to make appointments this month to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, officials say.
- More than 1,400 long-term care facilities in Virginia are expected to receive doses of the coronavirus vaccine in the coming weeks.
- Two D.C. friends got a lucky break while in Giant Food in Washington, D.C.,: When someone didn't show up for their vaccination appointment, the pharmacist asked him and his friend if they wanted to get the Moderna shot.
- Virginia reported another record day for new coronavirus infections, and that surge is putting even more pressure on hospitals in the commonwealth already pushed to the brink.
- Among the industries hit hardest by the pandemic has been performance venues like theaters and nightclubs, but help is on the way after President Donald Trump signed the new relief bill.
- New figures from the Virginia Department of Corrections show that two inmates and one staff member who tested positive for the coronavirus have died in recent days.
- The high level of coronavirus cases is putting stress on Northern Virginia hospitals — and the health care professionals who work there.
- The stress of the pandemic is a grind. A data analysis from the American Dental Association shows a surge in cases of teeth grinding, clenching and cracking during the COVID-19 crisis. The increases are striking and potentially costly and painful for sufferers.
- A professor is using the trust Black Americans have in barbers to make them more comfortable with taking the COVID-19 vaccine.
- A rapid antigen test might seem like a great idea when you're in a hurry and don't have time to wait a few days for results, but those tests are really designed for people with COVID-19 symptoms and in asymptomatic patients can deliver false positive results.
- Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced measures to boost the number of available health care workers and plan for more hospital beds.
- COVID-19 numbers continue to paint a dire picture for Black Americans, and there is an ongoing effort in the Black community to increase testing.
Reopening Tracker
- A judge upheld Montgomery County, Maryland's ban on indoor dining.
- D.C. has suspended indoor dining until 5 a.m. on Jan. 15, Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a press release.
- Virginia instituted a curfew and a stricter mask mandate.
- Maryland tightened restrictions on businesses, bars and restaurants.
- All Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo are closed because of rising COVID-19 cases.
- Hours before some Fairfax County students were set to return to in-person learning, the school district said that they needed to delay the plan.
- Courts throughout Maryland remain partially shut down due to the pandemic.
- Prince George's County tightened restrictions and required masks to be worn outdoors.
How to Stay Safe
Anyone can get COVID-19. Here are three simple ways the CDC says you can lower your risk:
- Wear a snug-fitting mask that covers your nose and mouth.
- Avoid being indoors with people who are not members of your household. The more people you are in contact with, the more likely you are to be exposed to COVID-19. If you are indoors with people you don’t live with, stay at least six feet apart and keep your mask on.
- Wash your hands often, especially after you have been in a public place.