• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2026 ABC News
ABC News

People over 75, front-line essential workers should get vaccine next, CDC panel says

FILE PHOTO: Robert Redfield, director, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, testifies during a U.S. Senate Senate Committee Hearing to examine COVID-19, focusing on an update on the federal response at in Washington, D.C.
7:31
Pool/Reuters
Why are people hesitant to trust a COVID-19 vaccine?
By Morgan Winsor, Emily Shapiro, Erin Schumaker, Ivan Pereira, Meredith Deliso, Rosa Sanchez
Last Updated: December 21, 2020, 1:50 AM

A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now infected more than 75.5 million people worldwide and killed over 1.6 million of them, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.

Latest headlines:

  • Congress reaches deal on COVID relief package
  • CDC committee: People over 75, front-line essential workers should get vaccine next
  • McKesson begins distributing Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine
  • First Moderna vaccinations likely Monday, Azar says
  • New London lockdown announced in face of more virulent COVID-19 strain
  • US sees record-high number of coronavirus cases, hospitalizations, deaths
Here's how the news is developing today. All times Eastern.

Dec 21, 2020 1:50 AM

Canada suspends flights from UK for next 72 hours

The Canadian government announced it will suspend all commercial and private flights from the United Kingdom after a new strain of the virus was discovered.

The suspension goes into effect at midnight.

"Passengers who arrived in Canada today from the United Kingdom are now subject to secondary screening and enhanced measures, including increased scrutiny of quarantine plans. Passengers who arrived recently from the United Kingdom will also receive additional direction from the Government of Canada," the government said in a news release.

Several other nations, including Saudi Arabia and Switzerland, announced U.K. flight suspensions Sunday.


Dec 21, 2020 1:53 AM

Tennessee governor says state is 'ground zero' for COVID surge

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee gave a passionate plea to his constituents to avoid holiday gatherings as the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise.

The state has around 10,000 Tennesseans getting sick every day, which was three times the numbers at the end of October, the governor said during a news conference Sunday. More than 100 people are dying from the virus daily, Lee said.

"Tennessee is ground zero for a surge in sickness," he said.

Lee warned that the next few weeks will be crucial and urged families to stick to their households during Christmas and New Year's.

“We’ve seen firsthand that Thanksgiving gatherings and extended time indoors have been the leading driver in spreading COVID-19 like wildfire," he said.

Lee signed an order that limited indoor gatherings to 10 people maximum and limited attendance at indoor sporting events.

The governor urged residents to wear masks to stop the spread, however, he did not issue a state wide mask mandate.

-ABC News' Matt Foster contributed to this report.


Dec 21, 2020 1:25 AM

Congress reaches deal on COVID relief package

Hours before the government was set to shutdown, congressional leaders announced they came to an agreement over a $900 billion COVID-19 relief bill.

A final vote on the spending bill and COVID-19 relief bill will be on Monday in the House, before it heads to the Senate.

Lawmakers agreed to a $300 boost in weekly unemployment benefits, $600 relief checks for individuals, more than $300 billion for small business aid and huge pots of money for schools, hospitals and vaccine distribution.

-ABC News' Mariam Khan and Allison Pecorin contributed to this report.



Dec 21, 2020 12:18 AM

4 more countries suspend flights from UK

Four more countries announced they will suspend flights from the United Kingdom after a new strain of the coronavirus was discovered in the country.

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior announced it would suspend all international flights, except in "exceptional cases" for at least one week.

Turkish Health Minister Dr. Fahrettin Koca tweeted his country would temporarily ban all fights from U.K., Denmark, Netherlands and South Africa.

In Switzerland, the Swiss Civil Aviation Authority announced flights from the U.K. and South Africa would be suspended starting at midnight "until further notice."

Latvian Prime Minister Arturs Krišjānis Kariņš tweeted that flights to and from the U.K. would be suspended from midnight to at least Jan. 1

-ABC News' Dragana Jovanovic and Aicha El Hammar Castano contributed to this report


GMA Newsletters

Sign up for our newsletters to get GMA delivered to your inbox every morning!

Up Next in wellness

PHOTO: Stock photo

What to know about viral menopause treatment trend, according to a doctor

April 28, 2026
PHOTO: Caption for main: Hanna has a rare metabolic disease called cystinosis.

9-year-old with rare disease spreads joy with viral videos

April 27, 2026
PHOTO: Stock photo of a doctor holding the hands of a young patient.

Adolescent and young adult cancers increase risk of developing future cancers

April 13, 2026

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2026 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2026 ABC News