Fri 01 January 2021:
The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed more than 1.82 million lives in 191 countries and regions since it originated in China last December.
Over 83.68 million cases have been reported worldwide, with more than 47.19 million recoveries, according to figures compiled by the US’ Johns Hopkins University.
UK reactivates emergency hospitals as cases surge
British health officials have reactivated emergency hospitals that were built at the start of the pandemic to handle a surge in cases that is putting existing wards under extreme pressure, particularly in London.
The UK recorded a further 53,285 cases, the fourth day running that it has topped 50,000, and 613 deaths, official data showed.
The rise in cases compares with the 55,892 that were reported on Thursday, while the death tally marks a fall from the 964 reported the day before.
Medics have warned they are struggling to cope, especially when so many colleagues are off sick or having to self isolate, and paramedics and nurses have had to treat patients in ambulances because of a shortage of available beds.
S. African President paid tribute to the health care staff
President Cyril Ramaphosa paid tribute to the nation’s health care staff during a special ceremony in Khayelitsha on Thursday night.
It was a gesture of thanks from President Ramaphosa at the end of 2020, which he described as a year from hell.
Ramaphosa acknowledged government had failed health workers at times from delays in the provision of adequate PPEs to insufficient recognition for those who saved lives and risked exposure themselves.
The ceremony came on the same night South Africa recorded another fresh high of new infections, with 18,000 recorded in 24 hours.
“We’re in a dark valley of coronavirus destructions.”
But Ramaphosa said the doctors, nurses and other staff working round the clock represented the nation’s best hope.
Singapore to block entry to visitors from South Africa
Singapore will stop allowing entry to visitors with a recent travel history to South Africa, its health ministry said, citing reports of a potentially more contagious strain of the novel coronavirus circulating in the country.
The new border restrictions for travellers from South Africa will effectively be in place from January 4.
AstraZeneca vaccine set to become first to get approval in India
India’s drug regulator is set to approve a coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University for emergency use, three sources with knowledge of the matter said.
The decision would pave the way for the vaccine’s rollout in the world’s second-most populous country which, after the United States, has the highest number of Covid-19 infections in the world.
Britain and Argentina have already authorised the vaccine for urgent public use.
India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organization, whose experts were meeting for the second time this week, could also approve a vaccine locally developed by Bharat Biotech, two of the sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
France tightens virus curfew in several regions
The French government has announced that it was bringing forward by two hours a the nighttime curfew in 15 regions to help combat high infections.
The 15 of France’s 101 departments affected by the switch to a curfew beginning at 1700GMT rather than 1900GMT include the Les Alpes-Maritimes department where the Mediterranean city of Nice is located.
The other areas are concentrated in the east of the country and Paris has, for now, been spared the additional restriction.
“The virus is continuing to spread in France… but with a disparity between regions,” said government spokesman Gabriel Attal as he announced the move.
Turkey reports first cases of mutated Covid-19 strain
Turkey has detected 15 cases of mutated virus strain brought in by UK travellers, and suspended further entry from the UK, says Health Minister Fahrettin Koca.
Koca said widespread contact screening has been done and the contact circles of the infected people have been quarantined, adding that the situation was under control.
