Corona virus – a situation in Israel and around the world
09:10 – Germany: 1,188 corona patients died in the last day
Authorities in Germany reported that 31,849 people had been diagnosed with Corona in the last day, and 1,188 died as a result of virus complications. 1,866,887 people in Germany contracted corona from the outbreak of the plague, of which 38,795 died.
08:15 – New preliminary study suggests: Pfizer vaccine effective against mutations from UK and South Africa
Pfizer’s corona vaccine provides protection from both the British and South African mutations. This emerges from a new study published this morning, about half a day after Israel decided to move to isolated hotels from four countries in Africa – South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Soto.
Pfizer’s vaccine Photo: Bloomberg
These varieties of corona caused great concern around the world and were also one of the reasons that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu counted as the entrance to the tight closure from tonight. Both have mutations called N501Y, a small change in the location of the “spike” protein that envelops the virus. It is estimated that this change causes the virus mutations to spread so easily.
Most vaccines train the body to recognize and fight the spike protein. Pfizer together with researchers from a university in Texas examined whether the mutations affect the vaccine’s ability to do so. They took blood tests from 20 people who received the Pfizer vaccine.
The antibodies identified in the blood taken from the patients were able to fight the mutation in Petri dishes in the laboratories. The study is still considered preliminary and has not yet been thoroughly reviewed by experts, a key stage in medical research. However, Pfizer’s senior scientist, Dr. Philip Dormitizer, said it was a very reassuring finding, at least when it came to these mutations, and especially the South African. The British mutation, it will be recalled, is also apparently not resistant to the vaccine.
Meanwhile, Brazil has crossed the 200,000 death mark from Corona, after 1,524 verified patients died in the last day. A total of 200,498 corona deaths were diagnosed in Brazil – the highest figure besides the United States. While many provincial states in Brazil have imposed new restrictions, the Brazilian government and President Jair Bolsonero continue to encourage the public not to obey instructions and continue with routine.