Just what the doctor ordered 💉
Another vaccine candidate has proven extremely effective against COVID-19. A Category 5 hurricane is taking aim at Central America. And despite us ~wanting~ the election to be old news, it's not over just yet.
It's Ashley with the news you heard about but didn't have time to read (yet).
But first, breaking news: Nearly 90,000 have filed sexual abuse claims against the Boy Scouts – the largest-ever child sex abuse case involving a single national organization.
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A COVID-19 vaccine candidate that appears to be 94.5% effective? Sign me up.
The results are preliminary, but they are encouraging: Moderna's candidate COVID-19 vaccine looks to be 94.5% effective for those who get it, early results announced Monday show (*screams internally*). That means there are now two promising vaccines for coronavirus that appear to protect more than 90% of those who get the shots. The other vaccine candidate, developed by Pfizer, showed early results this month that it protected more than 90% of those who received it. Though both results are preliminary, the news is certainly hopeful and final results are expected in as soon as a few weeks. Here's what else we know about the two vaccine candidates.
In California, things aren't going well: More than 94 percent of California's residents are now under the state's most restrictive COVID-19 guidelines. Gov. Gavin Newsom said he is “sounding the alarm” due to “the fastest increase California has seen" since the pandemic began, with COVID-19 cases doubling in the last 10 days.
What vaccine volunteers have to say: I volunteered for Moderna's COVID vaccine trial. Here's why I think I got the vaccine, not placebo.
COVID-19 infections are soaring. Lockdowns could be coming. A list of restrictions in your state.
Biden won, but the election's not over
Although President-elect Joe Biden has won the election and is currently sitting at 290 electoral votes, the election technically isn't over. States still have to finish counting votes and certifying the results before their state-chosen deadline. Once states have certified their votes, state electors have to cast their Electoral College votes before sending them to Congress to be counted. Despite President Donald Trump having yet to accept the outcome of the election, the timeline for state electors to meet and send in their votes will remain the same (Constitution rules, not mine). If the several states Trump is contesting results in do conduct a recount, they have to be certified by the "Safe Harbor" deadline in order to count. As states finish counting their votes and some states go through recounts, we've gathered a list of important dates to keep in mind.
What everyone’s talking about
Review: In "The Crown" Season 4, as in real life, Diana takes the spotlight from the queen.
A first with the incoming second gentleman: Will he make a difference in workplace gender dynamics?
Trump hinted at a primary challenge for Ohio Gov. DeWine, who acknowledged Biden as president-elect.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees suffered multiple rib fractures and a collapsed lung, a report says.
Shooting stars will make an appearance late tonight with the peak of the Leonid meteor shower.
Hurricane Iota — a Category 5 storm — is taking aim at Central America
Hurricane Iota strengthened to a Category 5 storm on Monday as it took aim at the same Central American countries still reeling from Hurricane Eta's devastating landfall that killed more than 120 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless less than two weeks ago. The hurricane is "forecast to bring catastrophic winds, life-threatening storm surge and torrential rainfall to Central America." Evacuations were being conducted in Nicaragua and Honduras near their shared border, which appeared to be Iota's likely landfall. Iota is the first Category 5 hurricane of the season and the strongest hurricane this late in the calendar year ever recorded, experts say. These hurricanes are brutal: A Category 5 is the most destructive hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale, generating winds of 157 mph or higher.
When will this relentless Atlantic hurricane season finally end?
LSU mishandled sexual misconduct complaints against students, including top athletes
For more than a year, Louisiana State University officials fielded complaints about star running back Derrius Guice. Federal law and school policies required that the allegations of sexual misconduct be taken seriously and investigated. Yet at every turn, LSU either doubted the women's stories, didn’t investigate, or didn’t call the police. The school’s failure to adequately address sexual misconduct goes beyond Guice. Officials in LSU’s athletic department and broader administration have repeatedly ignored complaints against abusers, denied victims' requests for protections and subjected them to further harm by known perpetrators, a USA TODAY investigation has found.
Real quick
Archaeologists in Egypt have discovered ancient mummies and statues buried more than 2,500 years ago.
Florida python hunters didn't miss a beat during the pandemic – they're breaking records.
The Trump administration is moving to lease the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, an area Biden has said he would move to protect from oil and gas drilling.
Who is the president of Peru? The answer to that question early Monday was no one.
Wolfgang Van Halen, the son of late guitar legend Eddie Van Halen, released a new song dedicated to his dad.
Want to gather with family for Thanksgiving? Better start your quarantine *checks watch* NOW.
The holiday season is upon us and so is another surge of the coronavirus pandemic. So what's a family to do? While some state and city officials have advised against large family gatherings, folks may still be trying to find a way to spend time with loved ones. Dr. Adam Jarrett, the chief medical officer at Holy Name Medical Center, says the safest way to try to gather would be to get tested and then “truly self-quarantine for 10 days to two weeks.” With Thanksgiving falling on Nov. 26, that means your quarantine should have begun ... four days ago.
Is it safe to travel for the holidays? This COVID-19 risk assessment map can help you decide.
A break from the news
🐦 Try not to fall in love with the world’s fattest parrot: The seriously adorable Kākāpō was just named New Zealand’s Bird of the Year. The green fluffer is critically endangered — there are only 209 alive today.
📱 So you want a new iPhone? Apple's got 7. How to choose the right one for you.
💰 Lose money in the stock market loss in 2020? Don't worry, losses can reduce your taxes.
💵 Black Friday: Home Depot, Walmart and more great sales happening now.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID-19 vaccine, Moderna, Hurricane Iota: Monday's news
