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Added on the 10/12/2018 12:31:08 - Copyright : Wochit
French actor Tahar Rahim launches the holiday season in Paris as the Christmas lights are turned on on the Champs-Élysées. This year's lights will go out a week earlier than usual as the country faces an energy crisis. IMAGES
16 states across the US broke a grim record on Friday, reporting their highest total of people hospitalized for COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Business Insider reports that since last fall, cases of COVID-19 have surged nationwide, particularly following the end of the holiday season. Alabama, Arkansas, Maryland, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia were hit hardest. Record hospitalizations were also seen this week in Arizona, California, Delaware, and Maine. The US Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for two COVID-19 vaccines at the end of 2020. However, a slow rollout means it will be many months before all who want a vaccination are immunized.
Residents of Washington DC line up to get tested for Covid-19 after the Christmas holiday. The United States surged past 19 million confirmed coronavirus infections on Sunday, adding a million cases in less than a week. IMAGES
People line up at a food pantry in Queens, New York, where they collect childrens toys and other gifts two days before Christmas. IMAGES
If you're a last minute holiday shopper, Business Insider has news for you. Amazon, Target, and Walmart have launched last-minute delivery and pickup offerings. From extended hours and expanded return policies, the retailers are sharing lots of incentives to help boost consumer spending and the change in shopping habits due to the pandemic. Walmart and Target now have extended holiday pickup and delivery deadlines and Amazon extended its delivery window for holiday Prime orders. Walmart is enabling paid 2-hour delivery for orders made by 1pm on December 24, and free next-day delivery for orders made until December 21 at 2pm. Target extended their in-store pick up and curbside orders until 5pm December 24. They also added 150,000 Shipt workers to make same-day deliveries. Amazon Prime members can opt into one-day delivery for eligible orders made until December 23, and in some locations, customers can get same-day delivery until December 24 for orders of $35 or more.