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Coronavirus live news: UK aviation industry warns of impact of travel corridor curbs; India begins world's largest vaccination drive Coronavirus live news: UK aviation industry warns of impact of travel corridor curbs; India begins world's largest vaccination drive
(32 minutes later)
Death toll reaches 2 million people; UK shuts travel corridors and requires negative tests to enter; German vaccine officials forced to guess who is eligible from namesDeath toll reaches 2 million people; UK shuts travel corridors and requires negative tests to enter; German vaccine officials forced to guess who is eligible from names
Adverse reactions to the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine may have contributed to the deaths of some frail and elderly patients in Norway, the country’s medicines agency has said.
In a statement published on Friday, the Norwegian medicines agency said it had recorded 23 deaths “associated with Covid-19 vaccination,” adding that “common adverse reactions may have contributed to a severe course in elderly people who are frail.”
Sigurd Hortemo, chief physician at the Norwegian Medicines Agency, said:
The statement pointed out that while trials of the vaccine did not include “patients with unstable or acute illness” and few over the age of 85, the country’s vaccination programme was now focused on the elderly and people in nursing homes with serious underlying conditions, “therefore it is expected that deaths close to vaccination time may occur.”
“We cannot rule out that adverse reactions to the vaccine occurring within the first days following vaccination (such as fever and nausea) may contribute to more serious course and fatal outcome in patients with severe underlying disease,” the statement added.
Police in Wales have fined a woman £500 for organising protests over the death of a young black man hours after he was released from police custody.Police in Wales have fined a woman £500 for organising protests over the death of a young black man hours after he was released from police custody.
The family of Mohamud Hassan allege that he was beaten by South Wales police and had a number of serious injuries at the time of his death. The police have referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.The family of Mohamud Hassan allege that he was beaten by South Wales police and had a number of serious injuries at the time of his death. The police have referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Protests took place outside Cardiff Bay police station for three days after Hassan’s death.Protests took place outside Cardiff Bay police station for three days after Hassan’s death.
Regarding the fine, South Wales police said:Regarding the fine, South Wales police said:
The medicines regulator in Switzerland is set to approve AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine this month, according to a local media report.The medicines regulator in Switzerland is set to approve AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine this month, according to a local media report.
The NZZ newspaper on Saturday cited two unnamed sources as saying that the watchdog, Swissmedic, will hold a meeting at the end of the month to confirm its approval of the vaccine.The NZZ newspaper on Saturday cited two unnamed sources as saying that the watchdog, Swissmedic, will hold a meeting at the end of the month to confirm its approval of the vaccine.
The Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus vaccines, which both use a novel mRNA mechanism, are already approved for use in Switzerland.The Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus vaccines, which both use a novel mRNA mechanism, are already approved for use in Switzerland.
“If everything proceeds in an exemplary manner and we get the necessary data soon, the next approval decision can come very quickly,” the paper cited a Swissmedic spokesman as saying without giving a date, according to Reuters.“If everything proceeds in an exemplary manner and we get the necessary data soon, the next approval decision can come very quickly,” the paper cited a Swissmedic spokesman as saying without giving a date, according to Reuters.
The Swiss government has told the country’s 8.6m residents that everybody can be vaccinated for free by the middle of the year. The Swiss government has told the country’s 8.6 million residents that everybody can be vaccinated for free by the middle of the year.
From today people in mainland Scotland may not leave or remain outside their homes for any other than essential purposes, as toughened lockdown restrictions came into force. From today people in mainland Scotland may not leave or remain outside their homes for any other than essential purposes, as toughened lockdown restrictions come into force.
Working from home is the default position for all businesses through statutory guidance and services, with only those unable to do so allowed to continue going to their workplaces. Guidance previously issued to only allow essential work to be undertaken inside people’s homes has also been placed into law.Working from home is the default position for all businesses through statutory guidance and services, with only those unable to do so allowed to continue going to their workplaces. Guidance previously issued to only allow essential work to be undertaken inside people’s homes has also been placed into law.
Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, confirmed that police can challenge people for doing something considered not to be essential after they have left the house.Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, confirmed that police can challenge people for doing something considered not to be essential after they have left the house.
Entering businesses to purchase takeaway food and drinks has also been banned. Now, premises will need to operate using a hatch or counter at the door.Entering businesses to purchase takeaway food and drinks has also been banned. Now, premises will need to operate using a hatch or counter at the door.
Drinking alcohol in public outdoors has also been banned.Drinking alcohol in public outdoors has also been banned.
India has begun one of the world’s biggest Covid-19 vaccination programmes, the first major developing country to roll out the vaccine and marking the beginning of an effort to immunise more than 1.3 billion people, writes Hannah Ellis-Petersen, the Guardian’s south Asia correspondent.India has begun one of the world’s biggest Covid-19 vaccination programmes, the first major developing country to roll out the vaccine and marking the beginning of an effort to immunise more than 1.3 billion people, writes Hannah Ellis-Petersen, the Guardian’s south Asia correspondent.
The first dose was administered to a health worker at All India Institute of Medical Sciences in the capital, New Delhi, after the prime minister, Narendra Modi, kickstarted the campaign with a nationally televised speech.The first dose was administered to a health worker at All India Institute of Medical Sciences in the capital, New Delhi, after the prime minister, Narendra Modi, kickstarted the campaign with a nationally televised speech.
“We are launching the world’s biggest vaccination drive and it shows the world our capability,” Modi said. He implored citizens to keep their guard up and not to believe any “rumours about the safety of the vaccines”.“We are launching the world’s biggest vaccination drive and it shows the world our capability,” Modi said. He implored citizens to keep their guard up and not to believe any “rumours about the safety of the vaccines”.
It is not clear if Modi, 70, has taken the vaccine himself, like other world leaders, as an example of the shot’s safety. His government has said politicians will not be considered priority groups in the first phase of the rollout.It is not clear if Modi, 70, has taken the vaccine himself, like other world leaders, as an example of the shot’s safety. His government has said politicians will not be considered priority groups in the first phase of the rollout.
Cafes and restaurants will reopen in Azerbaijan from the beginning of February, but other coronavirus restrictions will be extended until April, the government has said.Cafes and restaurants will reopen in Azerbaijan from the beginning of February, but other coronavirus restrictions will be extended until April, the government has said.
According to Reuters, Azerbaijan’s coronavirus measures were introduced in late March and have been extended several times, with borders closed as the number of new cases keeps rising.According to Reuters, Azerbaijan’s coronavirus measures were introduced in late March and have been extended several times, with borders closed as the number of new cases keeps rising.
Shopping malls will stay closed and the metro service in the capital Baku will remain suspended. Shopping malls will stay closed and the metro service in the capital, Baku, will remain suspended.
As of Saturday, the country of about 10 million people in the South Caucasus had registered 226,549 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus and 2,983 deaths. As of Saturday, the country of about 10 million people in the south Caucasus had registered 226,549 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 2,983 deaths.
A leading British epidemiologist has warned against the lifting of coronavirus restrictions in the UK at the end of February, warning it would be a “disaster” that would put “enormous pressure” on the NHS.A leading British epidemiologist has warned against the lifting of coronavirus restrictions in the UK at the end of February, warning it would be a “disaster” that would put “enormous pressure” on the NHS.
Prof John Edmunds, who works on the Government’s coronavirus response as part of the scientific advisory group for emergencies (Sage), told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:Prof John Edmunds, who works on the Government’s coronavirus response as part of the scientific advisory group for emergencies (Sage), told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:
The UK airport industry has warned of devastating consequences from the country’s drastic tightening of border controls.The UK airport industry has warned of devastating consequences from the country’s drastic tightening of border controls.
Responding to the announcement that all travel corridors will be suspended, Karen Dee, Airport Operators Association chief executive, said:Responding to the announcement that all travel corridors will be suspended, Karen Dee, Airport Operators Association chief executive, said:
This morning the same coronavirus-related story is leading nearly all the UK national papers this morning.This morning the same coronavirus-related story is leading nearly all the UK national papers this morning.
The Saturday print editions of the Guardian, the Times and the Telegraph all lead with the news of the UK drastically tightening its border controls. As Peter Walker, one of our political correspondents, writes:The Saturday print editions of the Guardian, the Times and the Telegraph all lead with the news of the UK drastically tightening its border controls. As Peter Walker, one of our political correspondents, writes:
The same story also leads the Express, but its mid-market rival the Daily Mail leads with something about the royal family.The same story also leads the Express, but its mid-market rival the Daily Mail leads with something about the royal family.
India today began one of the world’s biggest Covid-19 vaccination programmes, the first major developing country to roll out the vaccine and marking the beginning of an effort to immunise over 1.3bn people.India today began one of the world’s biggest Covid-19 vaccination programmes, the first major developing country to roll out the vaccine and marking the beginning of an effort to immunise over 1.3bn people.
The first dose was administered to a health worker at All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences in the capital New Delhi, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi kickstarted the campaign with a nationally televised speech.The first dose was administered to a health worker at All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences in the capital New Delhi, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi kickstarted the campaign with a nationally televised speech.
“We are launching the world’s biggest vaccination drive and it shows the world our capability,” Modi said.“We are launching the world’s biggest vaccination drive and it shows the world our capability,” Modi said.
India has registered over 10.5 million cases, the second highest in the world and 151,000 deaths. The government has been preparing for the vaccine rollout for weeks and over the past few days vaccine shipments were sent to over 3,000 sites set up for injections.India has registered over 10.5 million cases, the second highest in the world and 151,000 deaths. The government has been preparing for the vaccine rollout for weeks and over the past few days vaccine shipments were sent to over 3,000 sites set up for injections.
Russia on Saturday reported 24,092 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, including 4,674 in Moscow, Reuters reports.Russia on Saturday reported 24,092 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, including 4,674 in Moscow, Reuters reports.
The latest update takes the country’s national tally to 3,544,623, the world’s fourth largest.The latest update takes the country’s national tally to 3,544,623, the world’s fourth largest.
Authorities also confirmed 590 deaths in the last 24 hours, pushing the official death toll to 65,085.Authorities also confirmed 590 deaths in the last 24 hours, pushing the official death toll to 65,085.