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Coronavirus live: Italy may take legal action over Pfizer vaccine delivery delays; China finds two cases resemble UK strain Coronavirus live: Italy may take legal action over Pfizer vaccine delivery delays; China finds two cases resemble UK strain
(32 minutes later)
French health officials warn against wearing home-made fabric masks; Two cases in China considered to be highly similar to UK variant; Dutch curfew set to be introduced between 8.30pm and 4.30amFrench health officials warn against wearing home-made fabric masks; Two cases in China considered to be highly similar to UK variant; Dutch curfew set to be introduced between 8.30pm and 4.30am
Health authorities in Madrid have started mass testing hundreds of young people for Covid-19 at universities in a bid to detect asymptomatic carriers.
With the country in the grip of a third wave of infection, authorities called on young people to attend makeshift medical centres at nine university campuses to take a rapid antigen test, Reuters reports.
Spain’s nationwide incidence of the virus as measured over the past 14 days reached a new high of 736 cases per 100,000 people on Wednesday and hit 790 in the capital.
That figure rose to over 1,100 cases per 100,000 people between the ages of 15 and 24.
Argentina has approved use of Russia’s Sputnik Covid vaccination for the over-60s, its government announced in a statement on Wednesday.
The National Administration of Medicines, Food and Medical Technology, Argentina’s regulatory body, said the jab “is within an acceptable margin of safety and efficacy for the age group over 60 years,” according to Reuters.
Medical-grade face masks rather than cloth coverings could become mandatory in a number of European countries to help contain the rapid spread of highly contagious Covid variants first identified in the UK and South Africa.Medical-grade face masks rather than cloth coverings could become mandatory in a number of European countries to help contain the rapid spread of highly contagious Covid variants first identified in the UK and South Africa.
Angela Merkel and the leaders of Germany’s 16 states agreed on Tuesday that either single-use surgical FFP1 masks or more protective FFP2 filtering facepiece respirators should be worn in the workplace, on public transport and in shops.Angela Merkel and the leaders of Germany’s 16 states agreed on Tuesday that either single-use surgical FFP1 masks or more protective FFP2 filtering facepiece respirators should be worn in the workplace, on public transport and in shops.
The French government is considering whether to adopt formal advice from its health advisory committee to make so-called clinical masks mandatory, because even multi-layer fabric masks do not offer enough protection against the new strains.The French government is considering whether to adopt formal advice from its health advisory committee to make so-called clinical masks mandatory, because even multi-layer fabric masks do not offer enough protection against the new strains.
Merkel said the threat of the B117 coronavirus variant first discovered in Britain was a key factor behind the German government’s decision to extend and tighten lockdown measures, saying the country faced “British conditions” if it failed to stop its spread. Schools and nurseries as well as non-essential shops and hairdressers will remain closed in Germany until at least 14 February.Merkel said the threat of the B117 coronavirus variant first discovered in Britain was a key factor behind the German government’s decision to extend and tighten lockdown measures, saying the country faced “British conditions” if it failed to stop its spread. Schools and nurseries as well as non-essential shops and hairdressers will remain closed in Germany until at least 14 February.
Read more here:Read more here:
Students have protested across France over their conditions during the restrictions, saying they were being pushed to the brink of despair by solitude and financial uncertainty, AFP reports.Students have protested across France over their conditions during the restrictions, saying they were being pushed to the brink of despair by solitude and financial uncertainty, AFP reports.
With President Emmanuel Macron due to speak with worried university students on Thursday, they demanded a return to full face-to-face teaching suspended due to the pandemic. With president Emmanuel Macron due to speak with worried university students on Thursday, they demanded a return to full face-to-face teaching suspended due to the pandemic.
For the time being, only first-year students will be permitted to attend classroom tutorials, from January 25 but in half-groups.For the time being, only first-year students will be permitted to attend classroom tutorials, from January 25 but in half-groups.
Hundreds protested in Paris, brandishing slogans including “incompetent politicians, students in agony”.Hundreds protested in Paris, brandishing slogans including “incompetent politicians, students in agony”.
Melanie Luce, president of France’s national student union UNEF, said classes should be opened for “all students” even if reduced numbers meant doing classes twice over and recruiting more teachers.Melanie Luce, president of France’s national student union UNEF, said classes should be opened for “all students” even if reduced numbers meant doing classes twice over and recruiting more teachers.
“We think the government does not understand the magnitude of the situation,” she added, saying the protests aimed to “defend the life conditions and studies of the students”.
Some 250 took to the streets in the western city of Rennes, where Josselin, 21, said he was “in despair at the solitude”.
“I am all alone with myself. Today I received my first lesson in PDF and was told ‘get by with that’. There are teachers who no longer even make the effort to make video conferences”.
For the second day in a row a record number of deaths has been recorded in the UK.For the second day in a row a record number of deaths has been recorded in the UK.
Our UK live blog has more details and reaction.Our UK live blog has more details and reaction.
Portugal’s number of daily coronavirus cases rose from 10,455 to 14,647 on as hospitals struggle to cope with a surge in infections and deaths, Reuters reports.Portugal’s number of daily coronavirus cases rose from 10,455 to 14,647 on as hospitals struggle to cope with a surge in infections and deaths, Reuters reports.
The country also hit a record of 219 new deaths one more than Tuesday’s total, the health authority DGS said.The country also hit a record of 219 new deaths one more than Tuesday’s total, the health authority DGS said.
Around 45% of new cases, which brought the total of infections to 581,605, were concentrated in the Lisbon region, where hospitals are quickly running out of beds for coronavirus patients.Around 45% of new cases, which brought the total of infections to 581,605, were concentrated in the Lisbon region, where hospitals are quickly running out of beds for coronavirus patients.
Currently 681 coronavirus patients are in intensive care units, above the 672 maximum allocation of ICU beds out of a total of just over 1,000, health authorities said.Currently 681 coronavirus patients are in intensive care units, above the 672 maximum allocation of ICU beds out of a total of just over 1,000, health authorities said.
João Gouveia, head of the association representing Portuguese intensive care workers, said:João Gouveia, head of the association representing Portuguese intensive care workers, said:
As part of the new lockdown imposed on Friday, all non-essential services shut and people were urged to stay home. But the government decided to keep schools open despite heavy criticism from all sides.As part of the new lockdown imposed on Friday, all non-essential services shut and people were urged to stay home. But the government decided to keep schools open despite heavy criticism from all sides.
India’s vaccine drive has been hampered by turnout as low as 22% in some states, as fears over the safety of the vaccine and the spread of misinformation has fuelled widespread hesitancy.India’s vaccine drive has been hampered by turnout as low as 22% in some states, as fears over the safety of the vaccine and the spread of misinformation has fuelled widespread hesitancy.
On Saturday, India launched the world’s largest vaccination programme as it began the massive task of vaccinating its 1.3 billion citizens against coronavirus.On Saturday, India launched the world’s largest vaccination programme as it began the massive task of vaccinating its 1.3 billion citizens against coronavirus.
On the first day of India’s vaccine drive on Saturday, more than 200,000 vaccinations were given – the highest one-day total of any country – but nonetheless fell short of the nationwide government targets by over 100,000. By Tuesday evening, the government said 631,417 people had been vaccinated, far below the expected figure.On the first day of India’s vaccine drive on Saturday, more than 200,000 vaccinations were given – the highest one-day total of any country – but nonetheless fell short of the nationwide government targets by over 100,000. By Tuesday evening, the government said 631,417 people had been vaccinated, far below the expected figure.
Read more here:Read more here:
Members of the military are to be brought in to assist medical staff in Northern Ireland in the battle against Covid-19, BBC News NI reports.Members of the military are to be brought in to assist medical staff in Northern Ireland in the battle against Covid-19, BBC News NI reports.
The BBC added that it had approached the Department of Health for comment.The BBC added that it had approached the Department of Health for comment.
Kenya has identified two cases of the new Covid variant first seen in South Africa in two men who have since left the country, a senior health ministry official said on Wednesday.Kenya has identified two cases of the new Covid variant first seen in South Africa in two men who have since left the country, a senior health ministry official said on Wednesday.
Patrick Amoth, acting director general of health at the Ministry of Health, did not confirm where the infected men were tested or if they had been notified, Reuters reports.Patrick Amoth, acting director general of health at the Ministry of Health, did not confirm where the infected men were tested or if they had been notified, Reuters reports.
“This was picked (up) because of our heightened surveillance system. These two gentlemen have since gone back to their country. At the point of picking them, they were all asymptomatic,” he told a news conference.“This was picked (up) because of our heightened surveillance system. These two gentlemen have since gone back to their country. At the point of picking them, they were all asymptomatic,” he told a news conference.
Italy is preparing to take legal action against Pfizer over delays in delivery of pre-ordered Covid-19 vaccines.Italy is preparing to take legal action against Pfizer over delays in delivery of pre-ordered Covid-19 vaccines.
Italy received 48,000 vaccines for this week, out of an allocated 397,000, and was also left short by 165,000 last week.Italy received 48,000 vaccines for this week, out of an allocated 397,000, and was also left short by 165,000 last week.
The US pharmaceutical company angered several EU countries last week after announcing temporary delays in shipments due to a production upgrade aimed at boosting output.The US pharmaceutical company angered several EU countries last week after announcing temporary delays in shipments due to a production upgrade aimed at boosting output.
Domenico Arcuri, Italy’s Covid-19 emergency commissioner, said he had the support of the country’s regional leaders to take legal action in the coming days.Domenico Arcuri, Italy’s Covid-19 emergency commissioner, said he had the support of the country’s regional leaders to take legal action in the coming days.
“Protecting the health of Italian citizens is not a negotiable issue,” Arcuri said. “The vaccination programme cannot be slowed down, let alone for the many of Italians who have already received the first dose.”“Protecting the health of Italian citizens is not a negotiable issue,” Arcuri said. “The vaccination programme cannot be slowed down, let alone for the many of Italians who have already received the first dose.”
Italy has so far administered over 1.2m Covid vaccine shots.Italy has so far administered over 1.2m Covid vaccine shots.
When contacted by Reuters, a spokesman for Pfizer refused to comment.When contacted by Reuters, a spokesman for Pfizer refused to comment.
The Dutch parliament will be asked to agree to a night-time curfew running from 8.30pm to 4.30am from this weekend, the country’s prime minister, Mark Rutte, has said, as he laid out the latest measures to stop the spread of the new Covid variants.The Dutch parliament will be asked to agree to a night-time curfew running from 8.30pm to 4.30am from this weekend, the country’s prime minister, Mark Rutte, has said, as he laid out the latest measures to stop the spread of the new Covid variants.
The curfew will run until at least 9 February with flights from Britain, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela also banned from Saturday.The curfew will run until at least 9 February with flights from Britain, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela also banned from Saturday.
Rutte, whose government resigned last week over a scandal over child benefits in which more than 20,000 families were wrongly accused of fraud, said he would ask parliament to back the plan. Rutte is currently acting in a care-taker capacity.Rutte, whose government resigned last week over a scandal over child benefits in which more than 20,000 families were wrongly accused of fraud, said he would ask parliament to back the plan. Rutte is currently acting in a care-taker capacity.
He told a press conference on Wednesday:He told a press conference on Wednesday:
Under the curfew, one of the most stringent seen in Europe during the pandemic, people will not be allowed on to the streets unless they can prove it is for childcare or if they are able to provide a document from an employer proving the necessity of their movement.Under the curfew, one of the most stringent seen in Europe during the pandemic, people will not be allowed on to the streets unless they can prove it is for childcare or if they are able to provide a document from an employer proving the necessity of their movement.
Dog owners may also take their pets for a walk but shops will have to close at 8.15pm.Dog owners may also take their pets for a walk but shops will have to close at 8.15pm.
In a letter to parliament, the Dutch health minister Hugo De Jonge, said households would also be asked to further limit visits from others. He wrote: ‘The cabinet urgently advises not to receive more than one guest from the age of 13 per day and to pay a maximum of one visit per day.”In a letter to parliament, the Dutch health minister Hugo De Jonge, said households would also be asked to further limit visits from others. He wrote: ‘The cabinet urgently advises not to receive more than one guest from the age of 13 per day and to pay a maximum of one visit per day.”
Efforts by Chinese authorities to change the narrative around Covid-19’s origins have reignited on social media this week after a government spokesperson revived a conspiracy theory that it came from a US army lab, Helen Davidson reports from Taipei.
Two Daxing cases reported on 17 January were analysed and are considered to be highly similar to the new, more transmissible strain of the virus that began spreading in Britain, Pang Xinghuo, deputy director of Beijing’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention, told a news conference on Wednesday.
The two cases have no genetic association with previous local and imported cases in Beijing, nor to recent local cases in other Chinese regions, Pang said, adding the source of infection was initially determined to be from overseas, according to Reuters.
See earlier posts about China’s health authorities ramping up anti-pandemic measures in response to its ongoing outbreak.
The German government’s decision to introduce the obligatory wearing of high-filtration medical masks, instead of fabric masks as has been the norm since early on in the pandemic, has prompted an inevitable scramble for them, amid fears of escalating prices, their affordability for those on low incomes, and fakes.
So-called FFP1, 2 or 3 masks (FFP stands for filtering face piece) and the thinner, paper masks often donned in operating theatres must now be worn in the workplace, on public transport and in shops, Angela Merkel announced yesterday evening, in response to experts’ advice that cloth face coverings do not offer sufficient protection from the more virulent mutations of the disease.
The decision follows the introduction of a medical mask rule in the southern state of Bavaria on Monday.
The over-60s and those with chronic, pre-existing health conditions are to receive vouchers in the post from their health insurers, towards buying masks in pharmacies. Employees who cannot keep a distance of 1.5 metres from colleagues must be provided with the masks by their employers, the government has said.
Earlier this week, the Robert Koch Institute, the government’s disease control agency, said that 16 cases of the so-called British variant, B117, had so far been detected in Germany.
Most of the cases were of people who had arrived from the UK. But at least three cases have since been detected in Berliners suffering from coronavirus who had not travelled for months, all of whom are being treated in hospital.
These samples were tested on 8 January and lead virologists to believe that the mutation from Britain has been circulating in the city for some time and may be more widespread in Germany than previously thought.
But due to the lack of gene sequencing that has so far been carried out in Germany, it was widely suspected that this mutation and others, such as the so-called South African variant, and one from Brazil, were likely more prevalent.
Gene sequencing was being carried out in Germany on only around one in 900 samples of the virus derived from positive test results until very recently.
But Jens Spahn, the health minister, announced in the past week that sequencing was immediately being increased to be carried out on 5% of positive test results in future, a figure he said might sound low but that if done in a targeted way, was efficient enough to track new mutations and their development.
Israel has included pregnant women among those getting priority access to Covid vaccines, seeing no risk to them or their foetuses, a senior public health official said on Wednesday.
“Today we are recommending that pregnant women, mainly those with high morbidity risk factors, get the vaccine,” Nachman Ash, the national coordinator on the pandemic, told public broadcaster Kan radio. “We have put them on the priority list.”
It came after the hospitalisation this week of several pregnant women with Covid complications amid surging contagions, Reuters reports.
Read my colleague Peter Beaumont’s story on how a surge in infections has dampened optimism over country’s advanced immunisation programme.
The Netherlands will ban flights from non-Schengen countries, including Britain and South Africa, from Saturday to curb infections of the new, more infectious coronavirus variants, Dutch news agency ANP reported on Wednesday (see earlier posts).
The flight ban, which the prime minister Mark Rutte said also will apply to all South American countries, will begin on Saturday.
“This is a very tough measure, but we are at a crossroads,” Rutte said in a televised news conference. “The British variant doesn’t leave us with an alternative.”
The UK’s medicine regulator will be ready and able to approve new versions of Covid vaccines designed to counter any future variants that may emerge, Boris Johnson said on Wednesday.
Asked if the government would develop a new rapid pathway to allow approvals of new versions of vaccines to protect against such variants, the prime minister confirmed:
The threat of the B117 coronavirus mutation first discovered in Britain taking hold in Germany was a key factor behind the government decision to increase the length and scale of lockdown measures, Angela Merkel has said.
Following marathon talks between the government and leaders of the 16 Länder yesterday afternoon, the German chancellor said it was imperative to take measures to prevent the spread of mutations that experts say are far more infectious than the previous strain.
She warned that Germany faced “British conditions” if it failed to stop the spread of the B117 mutation in particular, which is known to have been in the country for several weeks.
“If we get British conditions,” she said “we would not be talking about whether schools should open or not, but about ambulances and overcrowded hospitals … but if all the rules are kept, we have a fair chance”, she said in response to a question as to when lockdown conditions might be relaxed.
Despite a light fall in registered coronavirus cases – the figure stood at 16,000 on Wednesday, while 1148 deaths had been registered in the previous 24 hours – a current lockdown in place since before Christmas is to be extended.
Schools and nurseries as well as non-essential shops and hairdressers will remain closed until at least 14 February.
Employers will be obliged to allow their employees to work from home wherever possible, to reduce the number of people on public transport and in work places. Medical masks will be obligatory on public transport, in shops as well as places of worship.
Merkel said that the decision to maintain homeschooling had been the most difficult decision she and the other leaders had made, following 11 hours of consultation, including with eight prominent experts.
“We wrestled for a long time to decide what is necessary regarding children and schools,” Merkel said. “We all know that it is incredibly restrictive for the children and parents affected by this. But there are indications which must be taken very seriously that the mutation B117 spreads more intensely amongst children and young people than was the case with the previous virus and we need to take these indications seriously.”
Merkel has repeatedly said the seven-day incidence rate needs to be brought below 50 cases for every 100,000 inhabitants. Nationwide it currently stands at 124 per 100,000, but with huge regional differences.
French health officials have advised people against wearing home-made fabric masks as they offer less protection against highly contagious new Covid-19 variants.
The scientific committee, which reports back to the French government, says category 2 masks are unlikely to halt the spread of the “English variant” or new coronavirus strains from Brazil and South Africa.
The experts’ advice, presented to ministers on Monday but not published, also suggested France double its social distancing rule from 1m to 2m.
France’s Haut Conseil de Santé Publique (high council for public health – HCSP) decided over the weekend that many cloth masks, often preferred because they can be washed and reused, did not guarantee protection against the new variants.
“Category 2 or material masks only filter 70%, while category 1 masks, like surgical masks, can go as high as 95% if worn properly. As the variant is more easily transmitted, it is logical to use masks with the highest filtering power,” Daniel Camus, of the Pasteur Institute in Lille and a HCSP member told France Info.
“We are not questioning the masks used up to now … but as we have no new weapons against them (new strains) the only thing we can do is to improve the weapons we already have,” Camus added.
Home-made barrier masks made under Europe-wide established specifications are consider category 1. However, even though they are subject to minimum requirements making them more efficient filters, the HSPC said they may not guarantee the correct level of protection.
Didier Lepelletier, the co-president of the committee’s Covid-19 working group, said everyone should now choose category 1 masks adding that home-made masks “have not been tested in terms of their performance”.
A Covid vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech appears to protect against a coronavirus variant spreading rapidly across the UK.
PA Media reports: