"Santa is not going to be spreading any infections to anybody."

Dr. Fauci says that Santa Claus is immune to COVID

Coming to Town

"Santa is exempt from this because Santa, of all the good qualities, has a lot of good innate immunity," infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said.

Dr. Fauci Says That Santa Claus Is Immune to COVID

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/11/20/covid-19-and-christmas-santa-immune-coronavirus-fauci-says/3777871001/">Fauci says Santa Claus has &#8216;innate immunity&#8217;, won&#8217;t be spreading COVID-19 to anyone this Christmas</a> [USA Today]

More on Santa: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/how-kids-meeting-santa-age-coronavirus">Here&#8217;s How Kids Are Meeting Santa in the Age of the Coronavirus</a>

Developments

"The good news is that mask compliance there is pretty good, and the elves are committed to social distancing."

FITTER. BETTER. HAPPIER.

More Americans died of COVID-19 Thursday than any day since May

New Record

On Thursday, the coronavirus death toll in the U.S. climbed higher than it had since May, while also setting records for new cases and hospitalizations.

More Americans Died of COVID-19 Thursday Than Any Day Since May

READ MORE: <a href="https://gizmodo.com/1-971-americans-die-of-covid-19-on-thursday-as-u-s-set-1845722021">1,971 Americans Die of Covid-19 on Thursday as U.S. Sets Record For Daily Cases</a> [Gizmodo]

More on COVID-19: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/visualization-likelihood-covid19-spread-bars-homes-classrooms">Visualization Shows Likelihood of COVID-19 Spread in Bars, Homes, Classrooms</a>

COVID killed 1,791 in the U.S. on Thursday.

Kids visit Santa with face masks, plastic shields

Spreading germs to Saint Nick is solid "naughty list" territory.

Here's how kids are meeting Santa in the age of the coronavirus

Bad Santa

Instead of sitting on Santa's lap this year, families can chat online with an AI Santa or stand behind a giant plexiglass barrier.

Here’s How Kids Are Meeting Santa in the Age of the Coronavirus

READ MORE: <a href="http://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/11/19/2130396/0/en/The-First-Ever-AI-Santa-Claus-is-Coming-to-Town-for-Christmas-2020-Powered-by-StoryFile.html">The First Ever AI Santa Claus is Coming to Town for Christmas 2020, Powered by StoryFile</a> [StoryFile]

More on mall Santas: <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/malls-santa-gimmicks-court-instagram-parents">Mall Santas Are Using Gimmicks to Court Instagram Parents</a>

Mall Santas have never been quite as dystopian as they are in the age of COVID.

Italian Lambo police car covers 300 miles in 2 hours to deliver kidney

Vroom!

Italian police officers covered 300 miles in just two hours while driving a Lamborghini Huracan to deliver  a donor kidney.

Italian Lambo Police Car Covers 300 Miles in 2 Hours to Deliver Kidney

READ MORE: <a href="https://jalopnik.com/italian-police-use-lamborghini-to-transport-donor-kidne-1845674197">Italian Police Use Lamborghini To Transport Donor Kidney 300 Miles In Two Hours</a>

More on Lambo: <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/electric-lamborghini-go-kart">This Electric Lamborghini Go-Kart Looks Fun as Hell</a>

"To save a life you don't need superpowers."

The experiments were deemed "an open secret" at the university where Chinese scientist He Jiankui conducted his experiments, according to this author.

Communist Party secretly supported Chinese gene-edited babies, according to new book

Open Secrets

According to a new book, Chinese scientist He Jiankui had the support of several Communist Party officials while working on his gene-editing experiments.

Communist Party Secretly Supported Chinese Gene-Edited Babies, According to New Book

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-mutant-project-review-an-unsettling-visit-to-the-future-11605653425">‘The Mutant Project’ Review: An Unsettling Visit to the Future</a> [The Wall Street Journal]

More on He: <a href="https://futurism.com/crispr-baby-prevent-hiv-flawed">CRISPR Baby Experiment Meant to Prevent HIV Might Not Even Work</a>

Genetics

The Chinese government later distanced itself from the controversial experiments.

New results: First COVID vaccine even better than scientists thought

More Good News

Pfizer just announced its coronavirus vaccine is 95 percent effective with no serious side effects — even more effective than previously thought.

New Results: First COVID Vaccine Even Better Than Scientists Thought

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/18/health/pfizer-covid-vaccine.html">New Pfizer Results: Coronavirus Vaccine Is Safe and 95% Effective</a> [The New York Times]

More on COVID vaccines: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/moderna-vaccine-highly-effective">Second COVID Vaccine Even More Effective, Trial Results Say</a>

Breakthroughs

Fifty million doses could be ready before the end of the year.

Scientists are still tracking down the source of the coronavirus.

The first known COVID patient was identified exactly one year ago

Grim Anniversary

It's been exactly a year since the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in China, according to a March report by the South China Morning Post.

The First Known COVID Patient Was Identified Exactly One Year Ago

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3074991/coronavirus-chinas-first-confirmed-covid-19-case-traced-back">Coronavirus: China’s first confirmed Covid-19 case traced back to November 17</a> [South China Morning Post]

More on the virus: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/china-covid-vaccines-black-market">In China, COVID Vaccines Are Already Selling on the Black Market</a>

Who was patient zero?

In China, COVID vaccines are already selling on the black market

My Shot

A growing number of people in China are getting injected with one of several COVID-19 vaccines despite none of them having been officially deemed safe.

In China, COVID Vaccines Are Already Selling on the Black Market

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/business/china-coronavirus-vaccine-safety.html">Vaccine Unproven? No Problem in China, Where People Scramble for Shots</a> [The New York Times]

More on vaccines: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/moderna-vaccine-highly-effective">Second COVID Vaccine Even More Effective, Trial Results Say</a>

Vaccine scalpers are charging more than a thousand dollars per injection.

"Addressing mental health and substance use problems in young adults, both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, is an imperative."

Survey: 80% of American young adults depressed during pandemic

*Raises Hand*

New research shows that as many as 80 percent of young adults in America could be facing serious mental health issues due to the pandemic.

Survey: 80% of American Young Adults Depressed During Pandemic

READ MORE: <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201116112918.htm">&#8216;Alarming&#8217; COVID-19 study shows 80 percent of respondents report significant symptoms of depression</a> [Taylor &amp; Francis Group]

More on mental health: <a href="https://futurism.com/neoscope/mental-healthcare-crisis-american-universities">The Mental Healthcare Crisis Coming to American Universities</a>