Tue 29 December 2020:
Germany’s confirmed cases rise by 12,892 -RKI
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany has increased by 12,892 to 1,664,726, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed.
The reported death toll rose by 852 to 30,978, the tally showed.
US House okays $2,000 coronavirus aid checks
The Democratic-led US House of Representatives has voted 275-134 to meet President Donald Trump’s demand for $2,000 Covid-19 relief checks, sending the measure on to an uncertain future in the Republican-controlled Senate.
But even as Democrats helped secure approval for what the Republican president sought on stimulus payments, they spearheaded a House vote just a short time later to override his veto of a separate $740 billion defence policy bill.
The rebuke, in Trump’s final weeks in office, would be the first veto override of his presidency if seconded by the Senate this week.
Trump last week threatened to block a massive pandemic aid and spending package if Congress did not boost stimulus payments from $600 to $2,000 and cut another spending.
He backed down from his demands on Sunday as a possible government shutdown loomed, brought on by the fight with lawmakers.
But Democratic lawmakers have long wanted $2,000 relief checks and used the rare point of agreement with Trump to advance the proposal – or at least to put Republicans on record against it – in the vote on Monday, less than a month before he leaves office.
South Africa’s Ramaphosa announces new restrictions
President Ramaphosa announced South Africa will move back to level 3 with immediate effect from midnight.
He said that several of the level 3 regulations were being strengthened to further limit the potential transmission of the virus while doing everything possible to keep the economy open.
Recently authorities confirmed a new, faster-spreading variant of the virus had been detected in South Africa.
Ramaphosa said that the restrictions that applied to level 3 had been adjusted based on the lessons learned to date and would be in place until 15 January 2021.
He said gatherings excepts for funerals and a few other limited exceptions would be banned, no-one would be able to leave their homes between 21:00 and 6:00 without a permit, and all shops, bars and other venues would have to close by 20:00.
Vaccine will be available in 5 days. Brazil’s Bolsonaro says
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has said a Covid-19 vaccine would be available in the country within five days of being approved by federal health regulator Anvisa.
The president told journalists the Health Ministry would only buy a vaccine with a strong recommendation from Anvisa and it would be distributed equally among Brazil’s states.
Bolsonaro, who was infected with Covid-19 in July, has sought to downplay the severity of the virus and said he will not agree to be vaccinated.
Sydney on alert after mystery cases but new infections remain low
Australia’s most populous state of New South Wales (NSW) has maintained its downward trend of new infections but authorities have asked people to be on “high alert” after cases were detected outside the current virus cluster.
A cluster detected in Sydney’s northern beachside suburbs in mid-December has now grown to 129 cases and about a quarter of a million residents have been put under lockdown until January 9 as authorities battle to stamp out the virus.
NSW reported three cases, all linked to the Sydney cluster, in the 24 hours to 8 pm on Monday, its lowest daily rise in coronavirus infections in nearly two weeks.
Three cases were detected after the 2000 daily deadline, which are under investigation, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters.
Sydney, Australia’s largest city, has scaled back its New Year’s Eve celebrations by banning large gatherings outdoors to watch its popular fireworks display, and urged people to stay home and watch the event on television.
The country has recorded just over 28,300 cases and 909 deaths since the pandemic began.
Spain to keep registry of people who refuse COVID vaccine
Spain will set up a registry of people who refuse to be vaccinated against the new coronavirus and share it with other European Union member states, although it will not be made public, Health Minister Salvador Illa said Monday.
