COVID-19 UPDATE: UK PREPARES TO VACCINATE OVER-70S, ISRAEL PRISON SERVICE TO VACCINATE PALESTINIAN INMATES

Mon 18 January 2021:

COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

Last updated: January 18, 2021, 08:17 GMT

Ghana president warns of health system overload as Covid cases soar

Ghana’s virus infection rates are skyrocketing and include new strains of the virus not before seen in the country, filling treatment centres and threatening to overwhelm the health system, President Nana Akufo-Addo said.

Since January 5, the number of active cases has risen to 1,924 from about 900, Akufo-Addo said in a speech. There are now 120 severe cases, up from 18 a week ago.

Ghana is not yet close to a peak seen during the first wave of infections in the middle of last year, but could quickly reach that level if cases keep rising at the current rate.

Mexico’s virus death toll rises to 140,704

Mexico reported 11,170 new confirmed virus cases and 463 more fatalities, according to the Health Ministry, bringing its total to 1,641,428 infections and 140,704 deaths.

The real number of infected people and deaths is likely significantly higher than the official count, the ministry has said, because of a lack of widespread testing.

UK prepares to vaccinate over-70s.

 Coronavirus vaccines will be offered to millions of over-70s and the clinically extremely vulnerable from this week as the government expands the rollout amid a border crackdown to keep out new strains.

More than 3.8 million people in the UK – including over-80s, care home residents, and NHS and social care staff – have already received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, but from Monday it will be rolled out to the next two priority groups.

Boris Johnson has pledged to offer vaccinations to the first four priority groups by the middle of next month, while Dominic Raab said on Sunday that all adults would be offered a first dose by September.
The expanded rollout arrives as a ban on quarantine-free travel into the UK came into force at 4am in a bid to keep out new coronavirus strains – such as those which have been discovered in Brazil and South Africa.

South Africa: DA eyes legal action over Govt’s Covid-19 vaccine plan

The Democratic Alliance (DA) intends taking legal action over government’s COVID-19 vaccine plan.

Party leader John Steenhuisen will on Monday outline the court challenge.

Government’s come in for criticism over its procurement and rollout strategy, which has also been met with scepticism.

The president has repeatedly assured the country that the programme is on track.

The first batch of inoculations is expected to reach us by late this month, with more doses to be rolled out next month and over the first quarter of the year.

India reports 447 cases of virus vaccine side effects

India has reported 447 adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines as 224,301 people received the first dose of vaccines in the country, the Health Ministry confirmed on Sunday.

“Of the 447 Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFIs), three had to be hospitalized, while two of them have now been discharged after 24 hours, one continues to be under observation,” said Manohar Agnani, joint secretary at the Health Ministry.

Following the reports of adverse events, Anadolu Agency spoke with Anant Bhan, a global health and bioethics researcher, who recently co-drafted the World Health Organization’s policy brief on “ethical considerations for current and future COVID-19 vaccine trials”.

“Given the large number of individuals receiving the vaccination, it is not unexpected to see adverse events. However, for indigenously produced Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, they [authorities] could have waited for the efficacy data prior to including it in the response,” said Bhan.

Australia unlikely to fully open borders this year

Australia may not fully reopen its international borders this year even if most of the population is vaccinated against coronavirus, the head of its health department said as the country recorded zero local Covid-19 cases.

Australian authorities are also looking at potential adverse effects of the Pfizer vaccine after Norway reported a small number of deaths in old people who received the shot.

“Even if we have a lot of the population vaccinated, we don’t know whether that will prevent transmission of the virus,” Brendan Murphy told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

 UAE lowers age requirement for COVID-19 vaccines to 16

The United Arab Emirates has lowered the minimum age requirement to receive a COVID-19 vaccination to 16, from 18 previously, the ministry of health said on Sunday.

The UAE, made of up seven emirates, is offering all residents and citizens free of charge a vaccine manufactured by Chinese state-backed pharmaceutical giant Sinopharm.

Israel Prison Service to vaccinate Palestinian inmates

The Israel Prison Service said Sunday it will begin vaccinating all incarcerated people against Covid-19, including Palestinians, following calls from right groups, Palestinian officials and Israel’s attorney general.

Jewish state faced harsh criticism when Public Security Minister Amir Ohana said Palestinian prisoners would be the last to get innoculated.

Israeli and global rights groups, including Amnesty International, as well as the Palestine Liberation Organization have also issued public calls for Israel to vaccinate the estimated 4,400 Palestinians held in its jails.

According to the Palestinian Prisoner’s Club, about 250 Palestinians in Israeli prisons have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

Israel and Palestine director for HRW, Omar Shakir, particularly criticised the practice of vaccinating Jewish settlers in the West Bank, but not their Palestinian neighbours.

“Nothing can justify today’s reality in parts of the West Bank, where people on one side of the street are receiving vaccines, while those on the other do not, based on whether they’re Jewish or Palestinian,” Shakir said.

Chinese health authorities identify ‘superspreader’ case

Chinese health authorities say they have traced 102 infections to a “superspreader” case, a 45-year-old man who traveled around the northeast of the country giving lectures on health.

Jilin, which borders North Korea, reported 10 locally transmitted cases on Saturday, and 63 asymptomatic cases, which are counted separately.

The Jilin health commission said all but one of the 63 asymptomatic cases were linked to the 45-year-old tutor who traveled on trains in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang province, and the Jilin cities of Changchun, Tonghua, and Gongzhuling.

Japan PM vows to press ahead with Olympics

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has vowed to forge ahead with preparations to hold the Tokyo Olympics this summer, in the face of growing public opposition as Japan battles a surge in coronavirus infections.

Suga faces heightened scrutiny after Taro Kono, his administrative and reform minister, told Reuters last week the Games may not go ahead as planned, becoming the first cabinet member to voice doubt over their staging.

Kono’s comments added fuel to the fire after recent media polls showed close to 80 percent of Japanese believe the Olympics, already postponed by a year because of the pandemic, should be delayed again or cancelled entirely.

“We will press ahead with preparations, with the determination of building watertight anti-infection measures and holding an event that can bring hope and courage to the world,” Suga said in a policy speech at the start of a regular parliament session.

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