RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Here’s a look at our top headlines before you head out the door.
We’ll be seasonably chilly and dry until Late Friday. Our next rainmaker looks like it brings a wet Saturday.
Today will be sunny and cold with highs in the low 50′s.
British officials authorized a COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use on Wednesday, greenlighting the world’s first shot against the virus that’s backed by rigorous science and taking a major step toward eventually ending the pandemic.
“We now have a vaccine. We’re the first country in the world to have one formally clinically authorized but, between now and then, we’ve got to hold on, we’ve got to hold our resolve,” he said.
Other countries aren’t far behind: Regulators in the United States and the European Union also are vetting the Pfizer shot along with a similar vaccine made by competitor Moderna Inc. British regulators also are considering another shot made by AstraZeneca and Oxford University.
The means of ending the COVID-19 pandemic - which has caused nearly 270,000 deaths across the United States - could just be a few weeks away.
Both Pfizer Biotech and Moderna have submitted emergency use authorizations to the FDA and if approved, the first shipments of Pfizer’s vaccine could go out on Dec. 15. Moderna’s vaccine could be delivered on Dec. 22.
But there are still many who are taking the news of the vaccine going public with a heavy dose of skepticism.
Governor Northam is set to hold his first coronavirus briefing today following the Thanksgiving holiday.
Topics for today’s briefing has not been made public.
Gov. Northam’s briefing will be held on Dec. 2 at 2 p.m.
NBC12 will stream the briefing live on our news app and Facebook page.
The Richmond Health District is hosting on Wednesday a free flu clinic at Huguenot High School.
The Dec. 2 event runs from 1-4 p.m. at 7945 Forest Hill Avenue.
The clinic is for uninsured and underinsured people in Richmond and Henrico, with free flu shots for adults and children over 6 months old.
Call 804-205-3501 to register for the event.
With Chesterfield County Public Schools’ students returning to all-virtual learning, the division is relaunching its free meal service program.
The meal service begins on Dec. 2 and is available to all Chesterfield County children ages 18 and under.
For a full list of locations and times for meal distributions, click here.
Once again this year, NBC12 is teaming up with our radio partners at Entercom for the 36 Hours for Kids radiothon.
This year’s radiothon is happening Wednesday, Dec. 2 and Thursday, Dec. 3.
Listeners were invited to call 804-228-KIDS and make a donation over the phone to support the hospital. Donate today here.
Richmond Public Schools is launching a new initiative to increase diversity among teachers.
RVA Men Teach aims to improve students’ outcomes by recruiting, retaining, and developing men of color to teach.
To kick off this program, RPS will host a virtual town hall this Wednesday, Dec. 2 starting at 6 p.m.
The McRib is making its return to a McDonald’s near you on Dec. 2!
McDonald’s also said it is collaborating with No-Shave November, which is a non-profit that raises money for cancer awareness.
All you have to do is buy a McRib on Dec. 2 and your purchase will help support the company’s donation to the charity.
The Virginia State Capitol Christmas tree lighting will be closed to the public this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The lighting of the tree will take place on Dec. 2 at 5 p.m.
This year’s State Capitol Christmas tree is a 25 foot Norway Spruce donated by Claybrooke Farm in Mineral, Va.
Don’t settle for what life gives you; make life better and build something - Ashton Kutcher
Copyright 2020 WWBT. All rights reserved.