The AstraZeneca Plc-Oxford University vaccine has shown limited efficacy against mild disease caused by the South African variant of Covid-19, according to early data in a small-scale trial.
New issues in the U.S. continued to show a declining trend. While deaths remain high, the average daily increase of infections fell 20% from the previous week. New things fell in Brazil for the third week in a row.
China once again went into a northern flareup, with only one new outbreak in the Jilin region. Australia has expanded trials for quarantine travelers to stop the virus from entering the community. The French industry minister said she was “agnostic” about approving Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine.
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French Minister of Industry ‘Agnostic’ on Russian vaccine (4:45 pm HK)
French Minister of Industry Agnes Pannier-Runacher said she was “agnostic” on the Russian picture saying that any kick is welcome “that’s ready and which reflects the conditions of safety and efficiency in Europe. In an interview on France Info TV on Sunday, Pannier-Runacher also said that virus circulation in France is relatively low compared to other European countries.
“We have a number of issues that are stable, on a plateau, but it’s sustainable, so we’re lucky we don’t have to go into another lock.” France also plans to meet its target of vaccinating the “vulnerable” population by June, representing about 15 million, she said.
Indonesia approves Sinovac vaccine for the elderly (12:50 pm HK)
Indonesia approved the Covid-19 vaccine at Sinovac Biotech Ltd. for use on the elderly and can begin inoculations between March and April, according to the ministry of health.
Indonesia began their massive defense campaign on Jan. 13 with the Sinovac vaccine. More than 777,000 people have had their first sighting and about 137,000 have had a second look, official data showed. The government plans to vaccinate 181.5 million people by March 2022.
Malaysia to migrant workers in hotels (11:45 am HK)
The Malaysian government has embarked on a plan to temporarily detain migrant workers in nearby vacant hotels across the country to address the worsening spread of Covid-19 cases as a result of local gatherings- work.
The program will indirectly help hotel operators injured by the pandemic, the tourism ministry said. Congestion in workers ’bedrooms has been a major source of disease, spewing registration issues and straining Malaysia’s health system. The country has more than 1.5 million registered migrant workers, 91% of whom live in accommodation that does not meet minimum housing standards, according to the Ministry of Human Resources.
Covax Thailand Explained (9:35 am HK)
The Thai government will not receive Covid-19 vaccines through the World Health Organization-backed Covax program for now because the conditions are too harsh. The move could put the country at risk of delaying vaccinations at higher prices.
Under the program, Thailand would be charged extra for booking and there would be restrictions on the producers and delivery time. Covax also needs to buy a minimum of 10% of the country’s population for a fast order with conditions and costs, said Nakorn Premsri, director of Thailand’s National Vaccination Institute.
The Chinese Revolution (8:42 HK)
China reported just one new local issue in the Jilin region as the country controls coronavirus recovery in its northern regions. There were 1,176 cases still in the country yesterday, the National Health Commission said.
Australian State Tightens Quarantine Test (7:48 am HK)
Australia’s largest resident state tightened Covid-19 quarantine test rules in an effort to stop the virus from entering the community. Overseas travelers in New South Wales now have to be tested two days after completing 14-day hotel quarantines, NSW Health said in a statement.
Kentucky passes 4,000 deaths (7:02 am HK)
Kentucky reported 49 new deaths, surpassing 4,000 since the outbreak began. “Despite things falling apart, we are still losing our people at an alarming rate,” Governor Andy Beshear tweeted. “That’s why we knit out and follow the lead. We need protection from the loss of those we love. “Cases and hospitals have been falling steadily in Kentucky over the past month, while deaths have fallen slightly.
Astra vaccine shows less impact against South African variety (5:46 pm NY)
The AstraZeneca Plc Covid-19 vaccine has shown limited efficacy against mild disease caused by the variant first identified in South Africa, according to early data in a small-scale trial.
Efficacy against adverse cases of Covid-19, hospitalization and deaths has not yet been proven, “because the subjects were mostly healthy young adults,” a spokeswoman for AstraZeneca said in a statement.
None of the study participants died or were hospitalized, according to the Financial Times, which first reported the findings of the study.
The UK’s first Vaccine Target can be reached early (5:42 pm NY)
The UK vaccine rollout plan, which aims to include nine priority groups in early May, is going so well that the target could be met by April, the Sunday Telegraph reported, citing sources or -identity of the government.
Ministers are also discussing a plan for mobile teams to go to workplaces to vaccinate people age under 50, the report said. The government is still assessing whether to provide views to those most at risk or to put emergency workers and teachers at the head of the line.
Australians get vaccinated on phones, SMH says (5:24 pm NY)
Australians will have access to their Covid-19 vaccine certificates on their mobile phones, giving them access to high-risk hospitals and areas, and possibly beyond state borders, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
The plans are being discussed with federal cabinet ministers before Australians start receiving shots later this month, the newspaper said.
Brazil weekly affairs, slow deaths (5:20 pm NY)
New Brazilian cases fell for the third week in a row, with 50,630 diseases reported Saturday, Ministry of Health data show. Although the declines show that the second wave in the country is slowing down, things are still as high as they were at the time of last summer. Total cases are close to 9.5 million, the highest after the US and India.
Deaths are at the same level as last summer, although the weekly number declined. A further 978 deaths were reported Saturday, for a total of 231,012, mostly after the U.S.
London Mosque tries to overcome vaccine trust (4:43 pm NY)
A mosque in London has become a vaccination center aimed at overcoming mistrust among Muslims about infiltration, the Media Association said. An official at the London Muslim Center said only three of 200 people recently contacted to receive the vaccine showed up for an AstraZeneca bullet.
“We’re telling people it’s wise to get vaccinated because you’re not only helping yourself but you’re helping the community and beyond,” he said. was the mosque officer, Asad Jaman.
Covid-Year Super Bowl Advice (3:18 pm NY)
The Super Bowl may not be a real holiday but public health experts treat it like others in the past year: a time when Covid-19 could spread, now at a time when diseases are falling again.
“Enjoy the Super Bowl but don’t do it with a large crowd in your house,” Dr Anthony Fauci told MSNBC on Friday. “Having a small superspreader event in your home is a great place to be. Don’t do that. ”
U.S. weekly case speed increases waterfalls 20%; Permanent deaths (8: 18m NY)
The U.S. filed 131,747 new cases on Friday, an increase over the previous day but in line with the overall trend of declining new diseases, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins and Bloomberg Universities. The figure brings the daily average, measured over a week, to 126,283. This is a 20% reduction from the previous week’s average.
The country posted 3,625 new deaths on Friday, a sharp drop from 5,054 the previous day, one of the highest ever recorded. The number is higher than the weekly average of 3,247. Average daily mortality almost changed last week, the data show.