Redcoat Review January 2021 / Issue 2
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Redcoat Review January 2021 / Issue 2 In this issue... Politics, Sports and More COVID-19 Vaccine Provides Hope By Julia Oakes and Emma LaFrance across the country. On December 16th, Redcoat Review Writers there were 636 authorized vaccination sites across the United States. Nursing On Monday, December 14, 2020, the home residents and healthcare work- long-awaited first dosage of the ers are being prioritized as they face the COVID-19 vaccine was administered in highest risk of infection with an estimated the United States to a New York nurse. 2.9 million doses being administered in This vaccine administration came quickly the first week alone. Nonetheless, the after the Food and Drug Administra- majority of Americans will not receive the tion (FDA) authorization on December vaccine until mid-2021, after the at-risk 12th when the vaccine was authorized population has been vaccinated. Photo Credit: Andrew Cuomo via Twitter for emergency use in individuals over 16 According to the COVID-19 years of age. Response Team in Connecticut, the state Nurse Sandra Lindsay was the first person to receive the COVID-19 vaccine dose in the United States on BioNTech is a biotechnology com- is currently in Phase 1a, meaning that the December 14th, 2020. pany who has partnered with Pfizer, a vaccine is available to healthcare work- pharmaceutical company, to work on and ers, long-term care facility residents, and year, that number surged to 39%. Mixed then release a COVID-19 vaccine to the first responders. Subsequent phases will messages spread to the public confused public. The two companies previously include members of the critical workforce, many, leading them to doubt the vaccine’s worked together to develop a flu vac- adults over 65, and high-risk individuals effectiveness. cine. Their past relationship allowed for under 65. Despite the data, the vaccine pro- a quicker development process, allow- While an estimated 40 million doses vides a beam of hope to millions of people ing for a faster vaccine release timeline. were delivered to the US, only 4.73 mil- across the world as the pandemic These companies have been working lion doses were administered as of early approaches its tenth month. Its production together since the beginning of March January 2021. This number is signifi- begins just as the United States surpasses and have since produced millions of cantly lower than the predicted 20 million 300,000 COVID-19 related deaths, COVID-19 vaccines. vaccinations. Both the BioNTech/Pfizer surpassing heart disease as the leading Pfizer and BioNTech conducted vaccine and the Moderna vaccine require cause of death in the US. Infection rates vaccine trials over the course of seven a second dosage weeks later to ensure the rise throughout the US as businesses and months in 2020, testing four different vaccine’s maximum efficacy. During the schools open and people return to their vaccine possibilities. Ultimately, they period between doses, masks must still daily lives. But the return of normality may developed an mRNA-based vaccine be worn and social distancing guidelines come to a halt with what scientists are requiring two doses to be administered must be followed as the vaccine will not calling a new strain of COVID-19, sprout- three weeks apart. A vaccine developed yet be fully effective. ing in the United Kingdom. This new by Moderna was authorized for use in the Surveys show that many Americans strain has already been said to be in the US US as of mid-December with the Oxford are opposed to receiving the vaccine. In and has similar properties to the original University/AstraZeneca vaccine being May of 2020, 27% of Americans, surveyed virus. approved in the UK shortly thereafter. by Pew Research Center, said they would The US leads the world in COVID-19 Sandra Lindsay, the nurse who either “probably” or “definitely” not get cases, a number that can hopefully begin a received the first dosage, initiated a wave a COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes downward trend following the administra- of vaccinations for healthcare workers available. In November of that same tion of the vaccine. CIAC Postpones High School Winter Sports By Nick Spinali COVID numbers within their communi- Berlin High Redcoat Review Writer ties and experience widespread move- School athletes ments to distance learning.” have been forced In November, the Connecticut Inter- The announcement is a major disap- to learn new scholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) pointment for teams and athletes that ways to stay announced that all high school winter had been preparing for a successful win- in shape. “In sports would be postponed until at least ter season. Many athletes had thoroughly normal years, January 19 due to the ongoing corona- practiced the recommended guidelines we would have virus pandemic. The announcement designed to keep athletes and coaches 1-2 weeks off be- includes both games and team practices alike healthy. tween seasons; being postponed until the assigned date. BHS senior Megan Perrotta, a four- we consider this Before the announcement, the winter year varsity athlete and UConn commit week or so a sports season was scheduled to get un- who runs cross country in the fall and ‘rest week.’ Since derway on December 5. follows with indoor track in the winter, our winter sea- Senior Megan Perrotta “CIAC Interscholastic athletics is an explains that it was her responsibility as a son is postponed, education-based experience that main- captain to enforce these guidelines on her we are just trying to stay in shape,” said tains in-person learning and the health runners. “I made sure to remind every- Perrotta. and safety of our school communities as one to maintain 6 feet apart while doing “We’re trying to not lose any of the our top priority,” the CIAC Board of Con- warm ups and runs and to keep masks on endurance we gained from cross country trol said in an official statement. “[This] when not running.” while starting to add speed workouts [to action supports our member schools With the winter sports season post- prepare for the indoor track season. while they continue to manage rising poned and in-person training limited, Continued on Page 7 Redcoat Review • Page 2 Minority Politicians Make History By Lindsey Leary affordable healthcare, criminal justice most effective conservative leaders, and Redcoat Review Writer reform, expanding paid leave, and sup- is expected to spend her time in office porting public school systems. protecting business owners and fighting November 3rd, 2020 and the days Mondaire Jones and Ritchie Tor- to secure individual liberties. following focused largely on the presi- res were both elected Yvette Herrell became the first dential election, with a few battleground to the U.S. House of Cherokee woman elected to the United Senate races given some media attention. Representatives this States Congress when she won her House Many Americans were not informed of the election cycle, making seat in New Mexico this election. Herrell importance of the other races going on as them the first openly previously served four terms in the New well for the U.S. House of Representatives gay African-American Mexico House of Representatives, and is and state legislatures. The 2020 election men in Congress. also a successful entrepreneur, owning introduced several Torres also becomes Mondaire Jones several small businesses. minority groups into the first gay Black Latin Herrell is known to have fairly positions of power for American person ever elected to Con- conservative views the first time ever. gress. Both Jones and Torres are very and plans to take Five politicians, progressive leaders, set to represent New her policy ideas to Sarah McBride, Mon- York’s 17th and 15th districts. Jones’ and Congress to protect daire Jones, Ritchie Torres’ policies focus largely on universal the working class Torres, Stephanie Bice, healthcare, education, and protection for and defend the ideals and Yvette Herrell all the working class. of the Constitution. set new standards for Sarah McBride Stephanie Bice is Ready to work across commonly marginal- the Representative- party lines, Herrell is ized groups. elect for one of Okla- also prepared to work Yvette Herrell Sarah McBride made history this elec- homa’s five Congres- to reduce the cost of tion by being the first openly transgender sional seats, enabling healthcare, and state senator and highest-ranking trans- her to become the first continually put people over politics. gender public servant. Iranian-American to 2020 has been a year like no other: McBride is a Democrat be elected to the Unit- raging wildfires, social and racial in- representing the First justices, a pandemic, and millions of State Senate District in ed States Congress. Stephanie Bice Bice is the daughter Americans in need of unity. America Delaware, which in- was a nation created for opportunity cludes the state’s largest of an Iranian immigrant, and graduated and freedom, and these politicians have city, Wilmington. from Oklahoma State University. Bice proven that it is possible to accomplish Previously, McBride previously served as a member of Okla- homa’s State Senate, spending time as the something never done before. Regard- worked as an advocate Ritchie Torres for LGBTQ rights at the Assistant Majority Floor Leader as well as less of political ideologies or beliefs, it Human Rights Campaign, and is expected the Chair of the Senate Finance Com- seems more possible than ever for there to bring progressive ideas to Delaware’s mittee. Through her work, Bice earned to be new opportunities for America to Senate. Her main policy focuses are the reputation as one of Oklahoma’s become united again. BHS Welcomes National Honor Society Inductees By Nick Spinali house leader “Many students [also tend to] find that Redcoat Review Writer for Upbeat the leadership requirement is the hard- or an officer est to fulfill, but this position can be any On November 19, Berlin High School for clubs form of leadership where the student officially inducted its newest members of and coun- has responsibilities.