The U.K. is preparing for the world's first COVID-19 human challenge study.

Up to 90 healthy young people will be deliberately exposed to the virus in a controlled environment to help with understanding how the virus affects people.

Volunteers will be 18-30 years old and the study is set to begin next month.

The Gaza Strip has received its first batch of COVID-19 vaccines after the medicine was held for two days pending approval by a parliamentary committee.

Israeli lawmakers suggested the vaccines be used to bargain for the release of captives held by Hamas.

Israel has also faced criticism for excluding many Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza from their vaccination rollout.

The U.S. Biden administration will put $1.6 billion into increasing COVID-19 testing and genome sequencing of the virus.

The money will help expand testing to non-medical sites like schools and homeless centers and the making of more testing supplies.

It will also help the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identify and track new strains of the virus.

U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci says the general public could expect their first COVID-19 shot in mid-to-late May and early June.

It's a little later than previously expected but Fauci says it will take time between when the vaccine is readily available and when an individual is able to be vaccinated.

Even though the U.S. saw an increase in COVID-19 cases and deaths on Tuesday, compared to the day before, cases and deaths are still decreasing overall.

Experts warn, it’s still vital to follow COVID-19 precautions and wearing a mask remains one of the best forms of protection.

Vaccine rollout also continues to be a challenge.

The winter storm pummeling parts of the nation has also disrupted vaccinations in several states.

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