Biden delivers national address about Covid-19

By Ben Westcott, Meg Wagner, Melissa Macaya, Melissa Mahtani, Veronica Rocha and Fernando Alfonso III, CNN

Updated 9:52 p.m. ET, March 11, 2021
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3:10 p.m. ET, March 11, 2021

Stimulus checks will begin hitting bank accounts this weekend, White House says

From CNN's Allie Malloy

White House press secretary Jen Psaki speaks during a press briefing at the White House on March 11 in Washington, DC.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki speaks during a press briefing at the White House on March 11 in Washington, DC. Andrew Harnik/AP

Americans will start seeing stimulus checks in their bank accounts as early as this weekend, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Thursday.

This moves up the previous timeline from the administration, which was that checks would only begin to go out at the end of the month. 

Psaki said the checks will begin to hit bank accounts this weekend for those who have their direct deposit information on hand at the Treasury Department and the IRS. 

2:44 p.m. ET, March 11, 2021

Moderna expects early efficacy data on Covid-19 vaccine booster by May

From CNN's Samira Said

Vaccine maker Moderna says it hopes to have results on a Covid-19 vaccine booster by May, possibly earlier. 

"We would certainly want to have, by the summer, that early data showing whether or not a variant-specific ... update to the vaccine – a vaccine 2.0, if you will – Covid vaccine 2.0 – provides a better advantage to boosting than other approaches," Moderna President Stephen Hoge said at the Barclays Global Healthcare Conference Thursday. 

Just yesterday Moderna announced that the first participants have received its modified Covid-19 vaccines, designed as potential boosters to address emerging virus variants.  

As part of its Phase 2 study, 60 participants who were already vaccinated with Moderna’s original Covid-19 vaccine will be given a booster dose of the modified vaccines the company is testing.

Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine is currently authorized for emergency use in the US. Though the vaccine was shown to provide protection against virus variants, it did show a six-fold decrease in the antibody response created against the B.1.351 variant, first identified in South Africa.

Moderna says it’s developing a strategy to address these emerging variants out of an abundance of caution.

2:42 p.m. ET, March 11, 2021

"Covid is cruel," says woman whose brother-in-law has been in a medically induced coma for two months

From CNN's Maureen Chowdhury

Samantha Schacher, host of "Daily Blast Live," described the tough situation her family has been in since her 51-year-old brother-in-law, Eric, was put into a medically induced coma after suffering complications from coronavirus as "cruel."

“I never thought that my family would go through this. …He is a surfer, a snowboarder, [has] strong lungs. And Covid is cruel,” she told CNN's Brianna Keilar.

Schacher, of Denver, Colorado, is advocating for her brother-in-law who is in need of a double lung transplant. She said doctors have said Eric's lungs are "no longer compatible with life." Schacher said she feels like she has the responsibility to do so since Eric and her sister advocate for others as health care workers: "Now it's my turn... to help advocate for him."

"Eric no longer has Covid. He cleared his Covid load because he's so strong way back in January, so these are all Covid complications. And now we're in a position where, we've run out of options. And we have a very healthy guy otherwise, who can't come home to his —my sister, his wife and their two babies, because of his lungs," she explained.

And on the one year anniversary of when the pandemic became official, Schacher has this message for people:

"I hope this is a cautionary tale because I know a lot of people are lowering their guard because we have spring break coming up, the vaccine is here, but we're not out of the woods. And I don't want another family to go through this, because it can happen to you. If you don't think it's going to happen to you, it can. Look at me, look at our story. You do not want to go through this. It is excruciating," she said.

2:37 p.m. ET, March 11, 2021

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge pay tribute to teachers as kids go back to school

From CNN's Jennifer Hauser

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, attend a discussion with teachers and mental health professionals during a visit to School 21 in Stratford on March 11 in London.
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, attend a discussion with teachers and mental health professionals during a visit to School 21 in Stratford on March 11 in London. Justin Tallis/WPA Pool/Getty Images

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge tweeted a message of support for both teachers and students as schools and colleges across England reopened on Monday.

They also acknowledged that returning to school won't be easy for everyone, referencing the ongoing mental health effects of the pandemic.

"As schools reopen across the UK, we want to say a big thank you to all the teachers and pupils for the amazing work you've done as you reunite with one another in your classrooms," a tweet from the official account of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Royal Foundation stated Thursday.
"But returning to school won’t be easy for everyone, and for many, the last year will have taken its toll. No one should feel alone and that's why from today all schools across the UK can get free expert information about mental health, courtesy of #MentallyHealthySchools."

Families with primary, secondary and college age children can test themselves twice every week from home as schools return, according to a statement from the UK government. Opening schools is one of the first phases to "cautiously ease restrictions in England," the statement said.

2:18 p.m. ET, March 11, 2021

Go There: CNN's Sanjay Gupta answers your questions as the world marks a year of the Covid-19 pandemic

It has been more than a year since Covid-19 started circulating the globe, and one year to the day that the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global pandemic. Since then, our world has changed in profound ways.

CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta answers viewers' questions about coronavirus and what lies ahead.

Watch:

2:18 p.m. ET, March 11, 2021

Use our calculator to see if you qualify for a US stimulus check

From CNN's Katie Lobosco and Sean O'Key

President Biden just signed the sweeping $1.9 trillion Covid relief package that was approved in the House today. A third round of stimulus payments is expected to be sent to millions of Americans soon.

The checks are worth up to $1,400 per person, including dependents.

So a couple with two children could receive up to $5,600. Unlike prior rounds, families will now receive the additional money for adult dependents over the age of 17.

The income thresholds will be based on a taxpayer's most recent return. If they've already filed a 2020 return by the time the payment is sent, the IRS will base eligibility on their 2020 adjusted gross income. If not, it will be based on the 2019 return or the information submitted through an online portal set up last year for people who don't usually file tax returns.

Use our calculator below to see what you can expect to get:

2:22 p.m. ET, March 11, 2021

Biden: "This historic legislation is about rebuilding the backbone of this country"

Pool
Pool

President Biden said the $1.9 trillion Covid relief package he signed just moments ago was crucial in "rebuilding the backbone of this country."

"In the weeks that this bill has been discussed and debated, it's clear that an overwhelming percentage of the American people, Democrats, independents, our Republican friends, have made it clear they strongly support the American rescue plan. Yesterday with final passage of the plan in the House of Representatives, their voices were heard, and reflected on everything we have in this bill," Biden said from the Oval Office.

Biden added: "And I believe this is, and most people I think do as well, this historic legislation is about rebuilding the backbone of this country and giving people in this nation, working people, the middle-class folks, people who built the country a fighting chance. That's what the essence of it is."

Watch:

2:18 p.m. ET, March 11, 2021

Biden signs $1.9 trillion Covid relief package into law

From CNN's Clare Foran, Katie Lobosco and Tami Luhby

Pool
Pool

President Biden just signed his sweeping $1.9 trillion Covid relief package into law.

The passage of the bill yesterday marked the first major legislative achievement of the new administration and a Congress that is now under full Democratic control, with narrow majorities in the House and Senate.

Key features of the relief package include:

  • Up to $1,400-per-person stimulus payments that will send money to about 90% of households (Use our calculator to see if you'll qualify for a stimulus check.)
  • $300 federal boost to weekly jobless benefits
  • An expansion of the child tax credit of up to $3,600 per child
  • $350 billion in state and local aid, as well as billions of dollars for K-12 schools to help students return to the classroom, to assist small businesses hard-hit by the pandemic and for vaccine research, development and distribution.
  • Extends a 15% increase in food stamp benefits through September
  • Helps low-income households cover rent

The bill arrived at the White House last night, a White House official said, and Biden decided he wanted to sign it as soon as possible. He was originally expected to sign the bill tomorrow afternoon.

Biden is slated to deliver remarks later today at 8 p.m. ET to commemorate the milestone of one year since Covid-19 shut down much of the US and is expected to discuss the next phase of his pandemic response.

Read more about what is in the bill here.

1:44 p.m. ET, March 11, 2021

Where European countries stand on AstraZeneca's vaccine following reports of blood clots

From CNN's Schams Elwazer

Medical personnel prepares a syringe for vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine at the Region Hovedstaden's vaccine center in Copenhagen, Denmark, on February 11.
Medical personnel prepares a syringe for vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine at the Region Hovedstaden's vaccine center in Copenhagen, Denmark, on February 11. Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP/Getty Images

Some European countries have suspended the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine while the European Union's medicines regulator investigates whether the shot could be linked to a number of reports of blood clots.

Here's a look at where things stand across the continent:

Countries in Europe completely suspending use of AstraZeneca vaccine:

  • Denmark: On Thursday, the country suspended the vaccine's use for 14 days as a “precautionary measure” as it investigates “signs of a possible serious side effect in the form of fatal blood clots” after one Danish person died after inoculation, according to Danish health officials. 
  • Norway: On Thursday, Norway chose to “pause” inoculations with the AstraZeneca vaccine following report of a death in Denmark. A statement from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health also noted that there have been reported cases of blood clots shortly after receiving a Covid-19 vaccination in Norway but “mainly in the elderly where there is often another underlying disease as well.” 
  • Iceland: The country suspended use of the vaccine although there had been no reports of patients developing blood clots in the country. They are waiting for advice from the European Medicines Agency. 

European countries suspending use of specific AstraZeneca vaccine batches: 

  • Austria: Earlier this week, Austria suspended the use of vaccine batch ABV5300. This was after a person was diagnosed with multiple thrombosis and died ten days after vaccination – and another was hospitalized with a pulmonary embolism but has now recovered, according to the EU’s medicines regulator, the EMA. 
  • Lithuania, Estonia, Luxembourg, and Latvia: These countries have also suspended use of batch ABV5300. 
  • Italy: On Thursday, the Italian medicines agency, AIFA, decided to “ban” doses from AstraZeneca vaccine batch ABV2856 following “some serious adverse reactions” in recipients. They did not specify details of the reactions. 

How other European countries are reacting:

  • UK: On Thursday, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said in a statement, “this is a precautionary measure by the Danish authorities. It has not been confirmed that the report of a blood clot was caused by the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine. People should still go and get their COVID-19 vaccine when asked to do so.” 
  • Spain: Health Minister Carolina Darias said the country has not reported any case and called for caution while the matter is being reviewed by the European Medicines Agency. 
  • Netherlands: The Dutch health minister said Thursday that there is no reason to stop using the AstraZeneca vaccine. “Our experts say: There is no cause for concern, we can simply continue vaccinating,” Health Minister Hugo de Jonge told reporters Thursday. “It’s about something that happens after vaccination, not because of vaccination,” de Jonge said.
  • France: Health Minister Olivier Véran said Thursday that were was “no need to suspend the use” of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. Veran pointed out that there was no proven additional risk linked to coagulation.

Read more: