530pm ABC Coronavirus Coverage 11.16.2020

Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are up in much of the country, with the U.S. seeing its highest daily case totals since the pandemic began.

But there is a sign of hope in the race for a vaccine.

Reena Roy has the latest.

Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are up in much of the country... with the u-s seeing its highest daily case totals since the pandemic began.

But there is a sign of hope in the race for a vaccine.

Reena roy has the latest.

L3: abc 36 news white covid-19 cases hitting record high in u.s. all 50 states are battling a surge in covid-19 cases.

The u-s averaging nearly 145 thousand new infections daily -- but there is some promising news on the vaccine front.

Sot - stephen hoge, president, moderna vaccines really are on the horizon.

In fact, we now have real data in large phase three trials, showing that they are safe and effective at preventing covid-19.

Moderna, now the second pharmaceutical company to announce its vaccine is more than 90 percent effective.

It can be stored at regular refrigeration temperatures unlike pfizer's -- which could make distribution easier.

New sot-alex azar hhs sec we hope that because of moderna and pfizer's vaccines which we've already been producing to have enough by the end of december to vaccinate 20 million of our most vulnerable citizens.

But health experts say widespread vaccination could take months -- as local authorities scramble to contain the virus.

New sot- health authority from the city of el paso, texas, dr. hector ocaranza i am very concerned.

That we slow down the spread hard hit el paso texas now has inmates wheeling the dead out of the medical examiner's office into mobile morgues.

Bonnie soria najera of texas mourning the loss of 6 family members from the virus, including her parents.

Sot bonnie soria najera "we're going to have empty chairs that will never be filled again."

Meantime the governor of new jersey announcing new restrictions today -- limiting indoor gatherings ahead of the holidays.

New sot gov murphy: we're urging everyone to keep their thanksgiving plans as small as possible because we know that indoor gatherings and homes are particularly dangerous places for covid19 to spread.

New mexico entering a 2 week state-wide lockdown today with hospitals overwhelmed.

Sot dr. rohini mckee, unm health sciences center 130402 our healthcare workers are tired, we are beyond capacity tag: right now nearly 70 thousand people are hospitalized with the virus in the us -- surpassing records set in april -- according to the covid tracking project.

Reena roy abc news new york.

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