- This daily collection gives you a selection of the latest news and updates about COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, as well as tips and tools to help you stay informed and protected.
- Key stories: Early data on the AstraZeneca vaccine and the South African variant; The UK says there seems to be an increase and annual vaccination; Bangladesh launches national vaccination campaign.
1. How COVID-19 affects the universe
Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have now surpassed 106.1 million worldwide, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. The number of confirmed deaths stands at more than 2.31 million.
China has not reported new COVID-19 cases on the mainland for the first time in nearly two months, according to official data.
Japanese bank deposits increased at an annualized pace higher than last month, a sign that companies and households continue to hold funds to protect against prolonged damage from the pandemic.
It is too early to lift Germany ‘s lock, Bavarian top governor Markus Soeder said yesterday. Chancellor Angela Merkel and the leaders of Germany’s 16 federal states are expected to meet almost Wednesday to discuss whether to lower the restrictions from February 15 or extend a lockout that began in mid-December.
France reported a drop in new COVID-19 infections yesterday – the fourth day in a row. 19,175 new cases were reported yesterday.
Australia did not report new COVID-19 local issues on Sunday, as tennis players prepared for the first Grand Slam of the year, which begins today.
Bangladesh has launched a COVID-19 vaccination campaign across the country. He hopes to include 3.5 million in the first month.
The COVID Response Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship is a consortium of 82 global leaders, hosted by the World Economic Forum with support from the GHR Foundation and Porticus. Its mission: To come together to support social entrepreneurs everywhere as critical first responders to the pandemic and as pioneers in a green, inclusive economic climate.
Its COVID Social Enterprise Action Agenda, sets out 25 hard recommendations for key stakeholder groups, including funders and philanthropists, investors, government institutions, support agencies, and corporations . These corporations are being called upon to stand with social entrepreneurs within their supply chains and the wider ecosystem, to fulfill their agreements and to expand their support for a more inclusive and sustainable economy. to build and:
- Respect existing relationships by upholding existing supplier commitments and extending lines of credit to suppliers / partners of social entrepreneurs
- Create new partnerships using a variety of financial and non-financial supports for social entrepreneurs and their constituents
- Help capital ties enable social entrepreneurs to re-emerge and rebuild after the pandemic
- Invest in capacity building through individual or multi-company low pro-bono / bono programs
- Discover and expand physical footprinting by committing to sustainable storage practices and building local ecosystems that are “shock-resistant”
For more information see the impact story here.
2. Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine less effective against South African variety
AstraZeneca has reported that its vaccine, developed by Oxford University, appears to offer only limited protection against mild disease caused by the South African version of COVID-19, based on data early from test.
A spokesman for the company said in a small phase I / II test, early data show “limited efficacy against mild disease especially as a result of the South African B.1.351 version”.
“However, we have not been able to properly identify its impact on serious illness and hospitalization as the subjects were mainly healthy young adults,” said the spokesperson.
The company said it believes its vaccine could protect against a serious disease, but has begun changing the vaccine against the variant.
3. The UK says it is possible to increase and annual vaccinations
The rise of COVID-19 vaccines in the autumn and then annual vaccinations is very similar, British vaccine use minister Nadhim Zahawi told the BBC’s Andrew Marr show yesterday.
We are very likely to see an annual increase or increase in the autumn and then a year (vaccination), as we do with flu vaccines where you look at the amount of virus that is spread. spread all over the world, ”he said.
The spread of the vaccine continues worldwide.
Image: Our World in Data
It comes as the UK confirmed that it had introduced more than 12 million first doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
The minister also said Britain was not considering introducing a vaccine passport.