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US Still Facing 'Dark Winter' with Coronavirus, Biden Warns

Steve Herman

   WHITE HOUSE - With the coronavirus pandemic entering its worst phase
   yet, U.S. President-elect Joe Biden says the country is "still facing a
   dark winter," warning that 200,000 more people could die of COVID-19
   before a vaccine is widely made available.

   Speaking on Monday after receiving a briefing from his transition
   team's new coronavirus advisory board, Biden, in a speech in
   Wilmington, Delaware, cautioned "the challenge before us right now is
   still immense and growing, and so is the need for bold action to fight
   this pandemic."

   The United States has surpassed 10 million cases of the coronavirus,
   according to Johns Hopkins University, with infection rates,
   hospitalizations and the number of deaths all rising.

   A White House coronavirus task force meeting, led by Vice President
   Mike Pence, is being held later Monday.

   Earlier in the day, one drugmaker announced that an early analysis
   suggests its vaccine is very effective in preventing COVID-19.

   Pfizer said a data monitoring committee found no serious safety
   concerns with its vaccine, which requires two doses. The pharmaceutical
   company and its German partner, BioNTech, intend to apply for emergency
   authorization for the vaccine after the third week of November. It is
   one of four vaccines in the United States in the final stage of
   testing.

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