1 CDC To Consider Shorter COVID-19 Quarantine Period As Vaccine Plans Emerge

The recommended quarantine period for COVID-19 may be shortened. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is considering shortening the recommended isolation period from two weeks to between seven and ten days. The Wall Street Journal reports the move is being considered to encourage quarantine compliance. The new recommendations would also likely include a test to ensure a person is negative for the virus. Meanwhile, the country is on track to distribute 40-million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the year. Operation Warp Speed General Gustave Perna says an initial shipment of six-point-eight-million doses could be delivered to states as early as December 12th. However, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar says most Americans won't have access to a vaccine until sometime between April and June of next year. That's because to first responders and high-risk patients taking priority.

2 Dow Jones Industrial Average Tops 30,000 For First Time

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is trading above 30-thousand for the first time. The news of the peaceful transition of power is officially underway helped stocks climb. Apparently, investors are also welcoming reports that former Fed Chair Janet Yellen is the choice to be the first woman to lead the Treasury Department. The record high comes during a holiday week when the markets are traditionally subdued. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 are both trading higher as well on Wall Street. Speaking at a press conference, President Trump touted his administration work on the subject. He called 30 thousand a "very sacred number" and claimed it’s the 48th time that his Administration has broken stock market records. Trump's statement was very brief and he took no questions from reporters.

3 OxyContin Maker Pleads Guilty in Criminal Opioid Case

The manufacturer of the drug OxyContin is admitting to playing a role in the country's opioid crisis. Purdue Pharma Chairman Steve Miller pled guilty on behalf of his company today to three criminal charges. They include providing incentives to doctors for writing more opioid prescriptions. Although the plea agreement reached last month called for eight-point-three-billion-dollars in penalties, the federal judge overseeing the hearing is holding the company liable for only 225-million dollars. The CDC estimates 450-thousand people died from opioid overdoses from 1999 to 2018.

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