News Roundup 12/19/20
In California, wealthy patients are offering top dollar to be prioritized for a COVID-19 vaccine
With the United States continuing to struggle with its relentless battle against COVID-19, wealthy patients in Southern California are offering top dollar to cut the line and be one of the firsts in to receive a vaccine when it becomes available. Doctors have said they have received many phone calls from their affluent patients saying they would give a big financial contribution to the hospital or charity in exchange for access to the extremely limited supply of the vaccine, with one patient offering to donate as much as $25,000.
Source: CNN
Meeting in the Oval Office turned heated
President Donald Trump called a meeting within the Oval Office on Friday, including lawyer Sidney Powell and her client, former national security adviser Michael Flynn. The meeting began as an impromptu gathering of the group, however, it eventually broke out into screaming matches. Some of President Trump’s aides pushed back on Powell and Flynn’s suggestions on how to overturn the election, which included the possibility of Trump invoking martial law. It was not clear whether it was Trump that thought of this, but others in the meeting pushed back and shot the idea down. As more ideas were brought up and shut down, Powell and Flynn accused others of abandoning Trump as he works towards overturning the results of the election, which he lost to President-Elect Joe Biden fair and square.
Source: CNN
Contact tracers connect those exposed to COVID-19 to social services
Even as the COVID-19 vaccines provided Americans with a light at the end of the very long tunnel, experts say it could still take months for the country to reach containment. As contract tracers are struggling to keep up the astronomical number of COVID-19 cases in the United States, they are fielding more calls from people turning towards social services for their needs such as food and childcare. By guiding those who have been exposed to the proper resources, these contact tracers are providing them with an incentive to self-isolate and not spread the virus to others.
Source: NBC News
MLB payrolls drop nearly $2.5 billion in pandemic
Major League Baseball payrolls went from $4.22 billion down to $1.75 billion during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Los Angeles Dodgers led everyone with $98.6 million, according to information sent from Major League Baseball to teams on Friday night. Base salaries were reduced by 60/162 due to the shortened schedule of the 2020 season. The season’s start was delayed from March 26 to July 23, and each team’s schedule went from 162 games down to 60. This speaks volumes as to how much money not only Major League Baseball but sports leagues around the country, lost.
Source: ABC News
Congress on brink of deal on $900 billion relief package after resolving a key dispute
A deal that would provide very much needed aid to Americans that have been struggling for months has become suddenly within reach after a major breakthrough on Saturday. The breakthrough involved the role of the Federal Reserve to intervene in the U.S. economy. The recent days of negotiations have been tense and have possibly left Americans if and when they were going to get some relief during these difficult times. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Pennsylvania Republican reached a deal, and the two sides will draft the legislative language to ensure it reflects the outlines of the deal.
Source: CNN