Health officials hope to speed up COVID-19 vaccine administration at nursing homes; A more contagious coronavirus strain has been found in 8 states and 33 countries. Here's what we know, and other C-Virus Updates

'This is a problem ... across the country': Health officials hope to speed up COVID-19 vaccine administration at nursing homes

Nursing homes have been slow to roll out COVID-19 vaccines, but federal, pharmacy and nursing home officials said they are on track to finish the job before the end of the month.

Only about 16% of vaccines distributed for use in nursing homes have been injected into residents and the staff who care for them, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said those figures underestimate actual vaccinations, because there is a lag between the time shots are given and when they are recorded.

Azar said the pace of vaccination has been slowed by the need to get consent forms from residents or their family members, but he expects vaccination rates to speed up soon. --->READ MORE HERE

A more contagious coronavirus strain has been found in 8 states and 33 countries. Here's what we know:

A more contagious coronavirus variant first identified in the United Kingdom continues to crop up across the U.S. and around the globe, threatening to further strain overburdened health care systems just as vaccines are rolling out worldwide.

At least eight U.S. states and 33 countries have identified the new variant, known as B.1.1.7. Several nations have also identified an additional variant, first identified in South Africa, that also appears to infect people more easily.

"Because the variants spread more rapidly, they could lead to more cases and put even more strain on our heavily burdened health care systems," said Dr. Henry Walke, incident manager for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's COVID-19 response.

"We need to be even more vigilant in our prevention measures to slow the spread of COVID-19."

Here's what we know about B.1.1.7. --->READ MORE HERE

Follow links below to related stories and resources:

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