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Coronavirus live news: China and WHO criticised by independent Covid panel; US nears 400,000 deaths Coronavirus live news: China builds quarantine centre for 4,000 people; California passes 3m cases
(32 minutes later)
California’s state epidemiologist calls to stop 300,000 vaccinations after possible severe allergic reactions; tens of thousands skip vaccination in India China builds Covid-19 quarantine centre for Shijiazhuang; California cases have left hospitals overwhelmed
A representative of Chinese company Sinovac has denied claims that their vaccine — dubbed CoronaVac — is among the most expensive in the world.
The Philippine Star is reporting prices of Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech’s CoronaVac in different countries ranging from $5 (P240), to $14 (~P672), up to $38 (~P1,826).
On Sunday, Senator Panfilo Lacson tweeted saying, “The difference in prices of Sinovac vaccine at $5, $14 and $38 reminds me of an old story about how corruption is committed in three Southeast Asian countries—UNDER the table, ON the table, and INCLUDING the table.”
“Here, it may cost $38.50 (P1,847.25) per dose but is co­vered by a confidentiality disclosure agreement,” he added.
Sinovac Biotech’s general manager Helen Yang has denied claims that their vaccine is among the most expensive. Last week, varying prices of the different vaccines have been circulating online, which shows that Sinovac is priced at P1,443 to P3,629.50.
In an interview with Pinky Webb on CNN Philippines on Jan. 18, Yang said that they are “definitely not on the (most) expensive,” adding, “it is the mission of Sinovac to provide the vaccine at an affordable price.”
While Yang declined to disclose the amount per dose, she did however say that it is “reasonable.”
China is building a massive Covid-19 quarantine centre on the outskirts of Shijiazhuang city, AFP is reporting, to curb the city’s growing Covid-19 outbreaks.
The facility, which will be ready in a matter of days, will be large enough to move entire villages into if there are any localised resurgences of the virus.
China has largely brought the virus under control but still experiences spates of small, localised outbreaks. The scenes outside Shijiazhuang, northern China, are reminiscent of Beijing’s efforts early last year to build makeshift field hospitals in Wuhan – the central city where Covid-19 cases first emerged – within days of the virus’s appearance.
The quarantine buildings in Shijiazhuang are equipped with bathrooms, wifi and air conditioning and will house close contacts of confirmed virus patients.
State broadcaster CCTV showed workers in hi-vis vests and hard hats assembling the cabin-like structures in the dark, while flags bearing the names of construction teams and Communist party units fluttered from the completed buildings.
The facility is expected to have enough rooms to hold more than 4,000 people once it is completed, CCTV said on Tuesday.
The Times is reporting on a British Airways pilot who has returned home after a record 243 days in hospital with Covid-19.The Times is reporting on a British Airways pilot who has returned home after a record 243 days in hospital with Covid-19.
Nicholas Synnott, 59, was admitted to hospital in Texas in March and released just before Christmas to go home to Betchworth, Surrey. Nicholas Synnott, 59, was admitted to hospital in Texas in March and released just before Christmas to go home to Betchworth, Surrey. He is recuperating with his wife, Nicola, 54, who spent every day at his bedside in the hospital and has been credited with aiding his recovery.
He is recuperating with his wife, Nicola, 54, who spent every day at his bedside in the hospital and has been credited with aiding his recovery. The father-of-two told ABC 30 News after leaving UT Health and Memorial Hermann hospital: “I went through a dark phrase where psychologically there were issues I had to deal with.”
The father-of-two told ABC 30 News after leaving UT Health and Memorial Hermann Hospital: “I went through a dark phrase where psychologically there were issues I had to deal with.”
Doctors said he had gone into respiratory failure, been placed on a ventilator and then on a heart and lung machine before he began to recover.Doctors said he had gone into respiratory failure, been placed on a ventilator and then on a heart and lung machine before he began to recover.
Dr Biswajit Kar, a cardiologist who treated Mr Synnott, said: “Every organ of his body was affected by Covid-19. But yet, because his health was so good as a pilot prior to the illness, he could sustain all this and survive something as serious as this.” Dr Biswajit Kar, a cardiologist who treated Synnott, said: “Every organ of his body was affected by Covid-19. But yet, because his health was so good as a pilot prior to the illness, he could sustain all this and survive something as serious as this.”
Staunch your tears and stay your sorrows - Helen might have departed this ‘ere blog but I, Amelia Hill, am here to walk beside for the next few hours - more like a wise guide, I like to think than that mad pontificator, the Ancient Mariner. But I guess we need to see what the next few hours bring... Staunch your tears and stay your sorrows – Helen might have departed this ‘ere blog but I, Amelia Hill, am here to walk beside for the next few hours – more like a wise guide, I like to think, than that mad pontificator the Ancient Mariner. But I guess we need to see what the next few hours bring …
That’s it from me, Helen Sullivan, for today.That’s it from me, Helen Sullivan, for today.
Has anyone seen this missing raven?Has anyone seen this missing raven?
Here are the key developments from the last few hours:Here are the key developments from the last few hours:
Coronavirus deaths are rising in nearly two-thirds of American states as a winter surge pushes the overall toll toward 400,000 amid warnings that a new, highly contagious variant is taking hold.Coronavirus deaths are rising in nearly two-thirds of American states as a winter surge pushes the overall toll toward 400,000 amid warnings that a new, highly contagious variant is taking hold.
California has become the first US state to record more than 3 million known infections, as it grapples with an unprecedented surge of cases that has left hospitals overwhelmed.California has become the first US state to record more than 3 million known infections, as it grapples with an unprecedented surge of cases that has left hospitals overwhelmed.
Germany mulls tighter shutdown as virus variants fuel fears. Chancellor Angela Merkel and leaders of Germany’s 16 states are expected Tuesday to extend and tighten a partial lockdown beyond January, as fears grow over virus variant strains believed to be more contagious.Germany mulls tighter shutdown as virus variants fuel fears. Chancellor Angela Merkel and leaders of Germany’s 16 states are expected Tuesday to extend and tighten a partial lockdown beyond January, as fears grow over virus variant strains believed to be more contagious.
China reported more than 100 new Covid-19 cases for a seventh day on Tuesday in the worst domestic outbreak since March last year, with one northeastern province seeing a record daily increase. Mainland China posted 118 new cases on Jan. 18, up from 109 a day earlier, the national health authority said in a statement.China reported more than 100 new Covid-19 cases for a seventh day on Tuesday in the worst domestic outbreak since March last year, with one northeastern province seeing a record daily increase. Mainland China posted 118 new cases on Jan. 18, up from 109 a day earlier, the national health authority said in a statement.
China and WHO made mistakes in containing Covid outbreak, says panel. An independent panel has said that Chinese officials could have applied public health measures more forcefully in January 2020 to curb the initial Covid-19 outbreak, and criticised the World Health Organization (WHO) for not declaring an international emergency until 30 January.China and WHO made mistakes in containing Covid outbreak, says panel. An independent panel has said that Chinese officials could have applied public health measures more forcefully in January 2020 to curb the initial Covid-19 outbreak, and criticised the World Health Organization (WHO) for not declaring an international emergency until 30 January.
In Hong Kong, chief executive Carrie Lam has telegraphed an extension of Covid-19 social distancing measures which were due to expire on Thursday. At a regular press briefing on Tuesday, Lam said she would leave the announcement of details to the secretary of health but “in light of the latest Covid-19 pandemic situation it is quite obvious there is no room yet for us to relax to social distancing measures put in place.”In Hong Kong, chief executive Carrie Lam has telegraphed an extension of Covid-19 social distancing measures which were due to expire on Thursday. At a regular press briefing on Tuesday, Lam said she would leave the announcement of details to the secretary of health but “in light of the latest Covid-19 pandemic situation it is quite obvious there is no room yet for us to relax to social distancing measures put in place.”
The US called on China to grant greater access to the WHO team of investigators in China. The United States said China should allow the WHO team to interview “care givers, former patients and lab workers” in the central city of Wuhan. The team of WHO-led independent experts is holding teleconferences with Chinese counterparts during a two-week quarantine before starting work on the ground.The US called on China to grant greater access to the WHO team of investigators in China. The United States said China should allow the WHO team to interview “care givers, former patients and lab workers” in the central city of Wuhan. The team of WHO-led independent experts is holding teleconferences with Chinese counterparts during a two-week quarantine before starting work on the ground.
A political row is brewing after Donald Trump announced he would rescind Covid travel bans bans on most non-US citizens arriving from Brazil and much of Europe, including the UK, effective 26 January. A spokesperson for Joe Biden, who will be inaugurated as the new US president on Wednesday, said the new administration “does not intend to lift these restrictions on 1/26”. “In fact,” wrote Jen Psaki on Twitter, “we plan to strengthen public health measures around international travel in order to further mitigate the spread of Covid-19.”A political row is brewing after Donald Trump announced he would rescind Covid travel bans bans on most non-US citizens arriving from Brazil and much of Europe, including the UK, effective 26 January. A spokesperson for Joe Biden, who will be inaugurated as the new US president on Wednesday, said the new administration “does not intend to lift these restrictions on 1/26”. “In fact,” wrote Jen Psaki on Twitter, “we plan to strengthen public health measures around international travel in order to further mitigate the spread of Covid-19.”
New Zealand has imposed a blanket testing regime for all flights arriving internationally, with passengers now required to return a negative Covid test result before departure.New Zealand has imposed a blanket testing regime for all flights arriving internationally, with passengers now required to return a negative Covid test result before departure.
One in four UK young people have felt ‘unable to cope’ in pandemic. Young people are in danger of giving up on their futures and on themselves, with a quarter saying they feel unable to cope with life, one of the UK’s leading charities has said.The Prince’s Trust long-running annual survey of young people’s happiness and confidence returned the worst findings in its 12-year history.One in four UK young people have felt ‘unable to cope’ in pandemic. Young people are in danger of giving up on their futures and on themselves, with a quarter saying they feel unable to cope with life, one of the UK’s leading charities has said.The Prince’s Trust long-running annual survey of young people’s happiness and confidence returned the worst findings in its 12-year history.
Colombia’s capital Bogota will impose nightly curfews for almost two weeks, Mayor Claudia Lopez said on Monday, while the whole city will enter yet another full quarantine this weekend. Nightly curfews first started last week and continued until Sunday. However, they will begin again from Tuesday and will run until 28 January. During this time citizens must remain in their homes from 8pm until 4am, Lopez said.Colombia’s capital Bogota will impose nightly curfews for almost two weeks, Mayor Claudia Lopez said on Monday, while the whole city will enter yet another full quarantine this weekend. Nightly curfews first started last week and continued until Sunday. However, they will begin again from Tuesday and will run until 28 January. During this time citizens must remain in their homes from 8pm until 4am, Lopez said.
Kazakhstan plans to vaccinate about 6 million people, or almost a third of its population, against the coronavirus this year, healthcare minister Alexei Tsoy said on Tuesday. Vaccinations will begin on 1 February, with the Russian Sputnik V vaccine being offered to medical workers, he told a government meeting. Kazakhstan also aims to produce Sputnik V at home.Kazakhstan plans to vaccinate about 6 million people, or almost a third of its population, against the coronavirus this year, healthcare minister Alexei Tsoy said on Tuesday. Vaccinations will begin on 1 February, with the Russian Sputnik V vaccine being offered to medical workers, he told a government meeting. Kazakhstan also aims to produce Sputnik V at home.
While the UK is under lockdown, travel for work and other exemptions is still allowed. We take a look at how to stay safer when cooped up together, whether in a taxi or a private car:While the UK is under lockdown, travel for work and other exemptions is still allowed. We take a look at how to stay safer when cooped up together, whether in a taxi or a private car:
Holiday companies have reported an increase in bookings as the UK’s coronavirus vaccine rollout gives people hope that they will soon be able to travel overseas again.Holiday companies have reported an increase in bookings as the UK’s coronavirus vaccine rollout gives people hope that they will soon be able to travel overseas again.
Despite a series of negative travel announcements in recent days, including the closure of air corridors and words of caution from ministers over foreign holidays, there are signs that those among the first in line for the vaccinations are starting to plan trips, and that consumers are hopeful about taking a break later this year.Despite a series of negative travel announcements in recent days, including the closure of air corridors and words of caution from ministers over foreign holidays, there are signs that those among the first in line for the vaccinations are starting to plan trips, and that consumers are hopeful about taking a break later this year.
The travel association Abta said it was hearing from members that the over-50s represented a much higher proportion of early bookers than normal:The travel association Abta said it was hearing from members that the over-50s represented a much higher proportion of early bookers than normal:
California has become the first state to record more than 3 million known coronavirus infections, as the embattled state grapples with an unprecedented surge of cases that has left hospitals overwhelmed.California has become the first state to record more than 3 million known coronavirus infections, as the embattled state grapples with an unprecedented surge of cases that has left hospitals overwhelmed.
That remarkable figure, which comes from Johns Hopkins University, was not entirely unexpected for the nation’s most populous state – but the speed at which it arrived has been stunning.That remarkable figure, which comes from Johns Hopkins University, was not entirely unexpected for the nation’s most populous state – but the speed at which it arrived has been stunning.
The first coronavirus case in California, home to 40 million people, was confirmed on 25 January 2020. It took 292 days to get to 1 million infections, on 11 November, and then just 44 days to hit 2 million, a milestone reached on 24 December. The state hit 3 million just weeks later:The first coronavirus case in California, home to 40 million people, was confirmed on 25 January 2020. It took 292 days to get to 1 million infections, on 11 November, and then just 44 days to hit 2 million, a milestone reached on 24 December. The state hit 3 million just weeks later:
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was “hopeful” that all adults in Scotland would have been given their first dose of coronavirus vaccine by September.Wales has faced criticism in the past week for vaccinating fewer people in proportion to its population than the other home nations.As of Saturday, 4% of the population in Wales had been vaccinated, compared with 4.1% in Scotland, 5.9% in England and 7.4% in Northern Ireland.First Minister Mark Drakeford dismissed the statistics as “very marginal differences” and insisted Wales was “on track” to vaccinate the top four priority groups by the middle of February, with almost 152,000 having received their first injection.First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was “hopeful” that all adults in Scotland would have been given their first dose of coronavirus vaccine by September.Wales has faced criticism in the past week for vaccinating fewer people in proportion to its population than the other home nations.As of Saturday, 4% of the population in Wales had been vaccinated, compared with 4.1% in Scotland, 5.9% in England and 7.4% in Northern Ireland.First Minister Mark Drakeford dismissed the statistics as “very marginal differences” and insisted Wales was “on track” to vaccinate the top four priority groups by the middle of February, with almost 152,000 having received their first injection.
The UK government says it is on track to vaccinate around 15 million high-priority people across the UK by February 15, including frontline health and social care staff, the over 70s and people in care homes.Once those vaccines have taken effect, around two to three weeks later ministers will consider whether lockdown measures can be eased in England.Despite pressure from Tory MPs to move as quickly as possible, Boris Johnson has warned there will be no “open sesame” moment when restrictions will all be lifted together.Speaking during visit to a manufacturing facility for the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine on Monday, the Prime Minister said the UK was still in a “pretty precarious” position and that any loosening would be gradual.With more than half of the over 80s and half of elderly care home residents having received the jab, ministers have given the go ahead to begin vaccinating the next priority groups - the over 70s and the clinically extremely vulnerable.Mr Hancock acknowledged that some areas of the country had made better progress than others but said they were putting more supplies of the vaccine into those that were falling behind.“What we’re doing now is making sure that whilst they, of course, will be able to move onto the next group, we’re prioritising the supply of the vaccine into those parts of the country that need to complete the over-80s,” he said.“But we don’t want to stop the areas that have effectively done that job already, we want them to carry on, but the priority of the vaccine is according to the JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation) prioritisation list.“The critical thing is to make sure that everybody can get it, that we’re putting more supply into the areas that have got more to do.”The UK government says it is on track to vaccinate around 15 million high-priority people across the UK by February 15, including frontline health and social care staff, the over 70s and people in care homes.Once those vaccines have taken effect, around two to three weeks later ministers will consider whether lockdown measures can be eased in England.Despite pressure from Tory MPs to move as quickly as possible, Boris Johnson has warned there will be no “open sesame” moment when restrictions will all be lifted together.Speaking during visit to a manufacturing facility for the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine on Monday, the Prime Minister said the UK was still in a “pretty precarious” position and that any loosening would be gradual.With more than half of the over 80s and half of elderly care home residents having received the jab, ministers have given the go ahead to begin vaccinating the next priority groups - the over 70s and the clinically extremely vulnerable.Mr Hancock acknowledged that some areas of the country had made better progress than others but said they were putting more supplies of the vaccine into those that were falling behind.“What we’re doing now is making sure that whilst they, of course, will be able to move onto the next group, we’re prioritising the supply of the vaccine into those parts of the country that need to complete the over-80s,” he said.“But we don’t want to stop the areas that have effectively done that job already, we want them to carry on, but the priority of the vaccine is according to the JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation) prioritisation list.“The critical thing is to make sure that everybody can get it, that we’re putting more supply into the areas that have got more to do.”
As the number of first doses delivered in the UK passed four million, ministers and officials said it was still too soon to rely on the jab “coming to our rescue”.PA Media: The warning came as the latest official figures showed there was a record 37,475 people in hospital with the disease across the UK.As the pressure continues to mount, the NHS Confederation has said the health service could reach its limit for critical care beds this week.Northern Ireland’s health minister Robin Swann said “real intense pressure” is expected on inpatient and intensive care units in the next seven days.Meanwhile scientists advising the Government have warned there is a danger that people could start relaxing their guard as the vaccine started to become available.The latest minutes of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), released last week, called for close monitoring of the situation with a system of “rapid alerts” if adherence to the rules begins to fall off.“There is a risk that changes in behaviour could offset the benefits of vaccination, particularly in the early months of vaccine rollout,” it said.At a No 10 news conference on Monday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock issued a direct appeal to the public, saying: “Don’t blow it now.”NHS England’s medical director Professor Stephen Powis said that with around 15,000 hospital admissions with coronavirus since Christmas Eve, the pressures on the service would continue for some time to come.“It is absolutely critical that we continue to stick to those social distancing rules that are in place. That we don’t rely yet on vaccines coming to our rescue,” he said.“It will be some time before the effects of the vaccination programme are seen through into reducing pressure on hospitals. We all have a role to play in reducing the risk of transmission.”As the number of first doses delivered in the UK passed four million, ministers and officials said it was still too soon to rely on the jab “coming to our rescue”.PA Media: The warning came as the latest official figures showed there was a record 37,475 people in hospital with the disease across the UK.As the pressure continues to mount, the NHS Confederation has said the health service could reach its limit for critical care beds this week.Northern Ireland’s health minister Robin Swann said “real intense pressure” is expected on inpatient and intensive care units in the next seven days.Meanwhile scientists advising the Government have warned there is a danger that people could start relaxing their guard as the vaccine started to become available.The latest minutes of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), released last week, called for close monitoring of the situation with a system of “rapid alerts” if adherence to the rules begins to fall off.“There is a risk that changes in behaviour could offset the benefits of vaccination, particularly in the early months of vaccine rollout,” it said.At a No 10 news conference on Monday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock issued a direct appeal to the public, saying: “Don’t blow it now.”NHS England’s medical director Professor Stephen Powis said that with around 15,000 hospital admissions with coronavirus since Christmas Eve, the pressures on the service would continue for some time to come.“It is absolutely critical that we continue to stick to those social distancing rules that are in place. That we don’t rely yet on vaccines coming to our rescue,” he said.“It will be some time before the effects of the vaccination programme are seen through into reducing pressure on hospitals. We all have a role to play in reducing the risk of transmission.”
Podcast: how do you tweak a vaccine?Podcast: how do you tweak a vaccine?
The emergence of more infectious variants of Sars-CoV-2 has raised questions about just how long our vaccines will remain effective for. Although there is little evidence that the current vaccines won’t work against the new variants, as the virus continues to mutate scientists are preparing themselves for having to make changes to the vaccines in response. Speaking to Dr Katrina Pollock, science correspondent Linda Geddes asks how we can tweak the vaccines against new variants, and how likely it is we’ll end up in a game of cat and mouse with the virus:The emergence of more infectious variants of Sars-CoV-2 has raised questions about just how long our vaccines will remain effective for. Although there is little evidence that the current vaccines won’t work against the new variants, as the virus continues to mutate scientists are preparing themselves for having to make changes to the vaccines in response. Speaking to Dr Katrina Pollock, science correspondent Linda Geddes asks how we can tweak the vaccines against new variants, and how likely it is we’ll end up in a game of cat and mouse with the virus:
Chancellor Angela Merkel and leaders of Germany’s 16 states are expected Tuesday to extend and tighten a partial lockdown beyond January, as fears grow over virus variant strains believed to be more contagious, AFP reports.Chancellor Angela Merkel and leaders of Germany’s 16 states are expected Tuesday to extend and tighten a partial lockdown beyond January, as fears grow over virus variant strains believed to be more contagious, AFP reports.
Germany shuttered restaurants, leisure and sporting facilities in November, then expanded the shutdown in mid-December to include schools and most shops to halt runaway growth in new coronavirus infections.Germany shuttered restaurants, leisure and sporting facilities in November, then expanded the shutdown in mid-December to include schools and most shops to halt runaway growth in new coronavirus infections.
The measures ordered until the end of January have brought about a “flattening of the infections curve”, said Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert, noting also that the number of patients in intensive care had also fallen slightly.The measures ordered until the end of January have brought about a “flattening of the infections curve”, said Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert, noting also that the number of patients in intensive care had also fallen slightly.
“This trend is cautiously positive and a success of the restrictions of the last weeks,” he said.“This trend is cautiously positive and a success of the restrictions of the last weeks,” he said.
“But it only brings us to the point where we still have a long way to go before we can say we have the infections under control,” he added.“But it only brings us to the point where we still have a long way to go before we can say we have the infections under control,” he added.
Virus variants first seen in Britain and South Africa also posed major risks to whether the falling infections trend could be sustained, added Seibert.Virus variants first seen in Britain and South Africa also posed major risks to whether the falling infections trend could be sustained, added Seibert.
The crisis talks between Merkel and state premiers were brought forward by a week because of the virus variants.The crisis talks between Merkel and state premiers were brought forward by a week because of the virus variants.
“It is a risk that responsible politicians must take into account - sooner rather than later,” he added.“It is a risk that responsible politicians must take into account - sooner rather than later,” he added.