COVID-19 UPDATE: WIDESPREAD CRITICISM OF INDIA’S APPROVAL OF LOCAL VACCINE, RUSSIA REPORTS 24,217 NEW CASES

Wed 06 January 2021:

The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed more than 1.83 million lives in 191 countries and regions since it originated in China in December 2019.

Over 84.76 million cases have been reported worldwide, with more than 47.70 million recoveries, according to figures compiled by the US’ Johns Hopkins University. The US, India, and Brazil remain the worst-hit countries in terms of cases.

Russia reports 24,217 new cases

Russia has reported 24,217 new cases over the past 24 hours, including 5,142 in Moscow, taking the national tally to 3,308,601.

Authorities said 445 people had died, taking Russia’s official death toll to 59,951.

Canada won’t extend a ban on flights from Britain

Canada will not extend a ban on flights from Britain when it expires later on Wednesday because new measures to fight the coronavirus have made it unnecessary, transport minister Marc Garneau told reporters.

The initial 72-hour Canadian ban – first imposed late last month after a new variant of the virus emerged in Britain – was later extended to 6 January.

Indonesia reports biggest daily rise in infections

Indonesia recorded its biggest daily rise in infections with 8,854 new cases, bringing the total number to 788,402, according to data from the country’s Covid-19 task force.

It also reported 187 new deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 23,296. Indonesia has reported the highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths in Southeast Asia.

France has reported 25,379 new confirmed Covid-19 cases on Wednesday

Up from 20,489 on Tuesday but down from 26,457 last Wednesday, while the seven-day moving average also fell slightly.

The health ministry also reported 283 new virus deaths in hospitals, from 345 on Tuesday, while the number of people in hospital with the disease fell again.

Ireland is tightening its lockdown

Hospitals in Ireland treat a record number of patients with Covid-19, with many suffering the variant first detected in England.

From Friday non-essential construction is to stop, from Saturday passengers arriving from Britain and South Africa must have a negative PCR test for Covid-19 and schools are to remain shut at least until the end of January.

There is exception for leaving cert students – the equivalent of A-levels – who can attend school three days per week.

Israel to receive Moderna coronavirus vaccines on Thursday

Israel expects to receive its first shipment of Moderna coronavirus vaccines on Thursday and will administer them to people confined to homes or otherwise unable to go to clinics, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

His statement, issued late on Wednesday, did not detail the size of the shipment. Moderna said on Monday that Israel had approved the vaccine, securing 6m doses.

Bolsonaro accused syringe makers of pushing up their prices

After the government failed to buy hundreds of millions of syringes via auction for its Covid-19 vaccination drive, leading it to requisition surplus supplies.

“Prices soared after the health ministry expressed an interest in buying syringes,” Bolsonaro wrote on social media, adding the government had suspended buying until prices return to normal.

Brazil’s three main syringe manufacturers met with Bolsonaro on Tuesday and agreed each would supply 10m, along with needles to cover the initial stages of the country’s planned vaccinations.

Moderna is expected to effective against the new variant

The Covid-19 vaccine developed by Moderna is expected to also be effective against the new variant of coronavirus detected in Britain, the Dutch national drugs authority CBG said.

The CBG said the European Commission was expected to give the final stamp of approval to the Moderna jab on Wednesday, after the European Medicines Authority gave its approval earlier.

Corornavirus casts shadow on Cannes film festival

The Cannes Film Festival, the world’s biggest, may be pushed back to the summer this year from its usual May date because of the COVID-19 crisis, organizers said Wednesday.

The festival, scheduled for May 11 to 22, “will certainly take place in 2021”, a spokeswoman told AFP, but could be postponed to a time between the end of June and the end of July.

The festival was cancelled last year, while rival European events in Berlin and Venice went ahead under strict health restrictions.

Widespread criticism of India’s approval of local coronavirus vaccine

Criticism of India’s approval of a local COVID-19 vaccine without proof of its efficacy grew on Wednesday after news that a regulatory panel approved the shot just one day after asking the vaccine maker for more evidence it would work.

The recommendations of the Indian drugs regulator’s subject expert committee (SEC) released on Tuesday show that the panel asked Bharat Biotech International Ltd to present more efficacy data for its COVID-19 shot before it could consider approving the treatment.

SAB is taking South Africa’s latest alcohol ban to court

South African Breweries is set to challenge the legality of the government’s latest alcohol ban.

In a statement earlier today, SAB said while it supports all lawful measures that curb the spread of the pandemic, the ban was disproportional and unlawful.

“After much consideration, SAB has decided to approach the courts to challenge the constitutionality of the decision taken and process followed by the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) to re-ban the sale of alcohol. This legal action is the last resort available to SAB in order to protect our employees, suppliers, customers, consumers and all the livelihoods we support,” SAB said.

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