Despite a botched rollout, America is nevertheless on pace to vaccinate 75% of its population against Covid-19 this year, as are the U.K. and Israel, the threshold where herd immunity may be triggered. Europe is lagging years behind that pace, and Canada may need close to a decade to reach that level. Bloomberg is now monitoring the race for immunity in our comprehensive Covid-19 tracker. As for which pharmaceutical companies are doing deals with which countries in the global scramble for shots, check our vaccine deals tracker. —David E. Rovella

Bloomberg is mapping the pandemic globally and across America. 

Here are today’s top stories  

Not all U.S. states are created equal when it comes to herd immunity, however. New York, which suffered the greatest loss of life early on, may have to wait until summer 2022. Right now, hospitalizations in the Big Apple are spiking just as Governor Andrew Cuomo, no longer the cult hero, is under fire for his handling of the crisis. He is planning to let people inside restaurants again despite infection rates higher than during earlier waves. In Europe, Portugal’s government said confinement measures are starting to slow infections after a dramatic surge pushed hospital capacity there to the breaking point. Here is the latest on the pandemic.

Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News became the latest target of defamation lawsuits by voting machine vendors. The case is tied to conspiracy theories spread by former President Donald Trump’s allies after his election defeat. The $2.7 billion lawsuit by Smartmatic Corp. accuses the cable outlet and others of executing a coordinated disinformation campaign aimed at convincing the public of election fraud that never happened. Among the other defendants are Trump lawyers Rudolph Giuliani and Sidney Powell, as well as Fox employees Lou Dobbs, Jeanine Pirro and Maria Bartiromo. Giuliani and Powell are already defendants in a similar lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems Inc.

House managers prosecuting Trump’s second impeachment case asked him Thursday if he would testify voluntarily. Trump quickly declined the opportunity to defend himself against charges he incited the Jan. 6 insurrection in Washington. The attack by his supporters claimed five lives, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who succumbed to injuries suffered in the assault. He was honored Feb. 3 in the Capitol Rotunda.

The remains of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick lie in honor in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 3. 

Photographer: Kevin Dietsch/UPI

Initial U.S. unemployment claims fell to the lowest level since the end of November, as 779,000 Americans sought state benefits for the first time last week. There are about 4.6 million continuing unemployment claims, and some 3.6 million continuing claims for Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, which provides extended jobless benefits for those who have exhausted regular state benefits.

There was a rare bit of unity at the United Nations as the U.S., China and other members of the Security Council called Thursday for the “immediate release” of those detained in Myanmar following a military coup there.

An armored vehicle moves through Myitkyina, Myanmar, on Feb. 2.

Photographer: STR/AFP

Consumer DNA-testing company 23andMe has entered into a deal to merge with VG Acquisition, a special purpose acquisition company founded by billionaire Richard Branson. The agreement values the Silicon Valley company at $3.5 billion.

Owner of tech website Gizmodo fired a senior editor because she was involved in union activities, the Writers Guild of America East alleged in a regulatory complaint. The company, G/O Media Inc., was created in 2019 when the private equity firm Great Hill Partners purchased several media brands. 

What you’ll need to know tomorrow 

• When will the pandemic end in your town? 
• Novavax vaccine is now under review in the U.S., U.K. and Europe.
• Bitcoin touched the sky, and then fell back to earth.
• Is South Korea’s short-selling ban artificially propping up its stocks?
• Peleton just can’t keep up with demand. Its shares tanked.
• Robinhood users are bashing the app, but they won’t quit it.
• Black CEO ranks dwindle as Ken Frazier departs Merck.

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What you’ll want to read in Bloomberg Travel

Long-Haul Travel Won’t Be Back Until 2023

As coronavirus vaccines started rolling out late last year, there was a palpable sense of excitement. People began browsing travel websites and airlines grew optimistic about flying again. Ryanair Holdings even launched a “Jab & Go” campaign alongside images of 20-somethings on holiday, drinks in hand. It’s not working out that way.

The Asia Pacific Aircraft Storage Facility near Alice Springs, Australia.

Photographer: David Gray/Bloomberg

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