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Coronavirus live news: Johnson & Johnson jab to get EU approval next month, report says Coronavirus live news: Johnson & Johnson jab 'to get EU approval'; Berlin pupils allowed to repeat school year
(32 minutes later)
EMA expected to approve vaccine on 11 March; French PM says worrying spread in 20 areas; global deaths pass 2.5m EMA expected to approve vaccine on 11 March; all pupils in German capital to have chance to repeat a year; global deaths pass 2.5m
Vaccinating people in order of age is the quickest way to reduce coronavirus deaths in the next phase of the roll-out, according to experts advising the UK government. India has said it will let people choose their coronavirus vaccination centres when the campaign expands next week, unlike now.
The country, which has the world’s highest tally of infections after the U.S, will halt vaccinations this weekend to upgrade software used to coordinate its campaign.
It is preparing to widen coverage beyond the 11.5m health and front-line workers immunised since 16 January, according to Reuters.
The inoculation campaign has progressed slower than expected due to a reluctance of health and frontline workers to take the home-grown COVAXIN shot that was approved without late-stage efficacy data.
India wants to vaccinate 300m of its 1.35bn population by August, and officials believe that giving people a choice of vaccines could speed up the roll-out.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said:
Berlin school pupils are to be given the opportunity to repeat the current school year, in recognition of the disruption they have faced after months of home schooling.
MPs for Berlin, one of Germany’s 16 states, voted in favour of a change to the law to allow all pupils in the German capital the chance to apply to repeat a year, or what’s known in German as ‘sitzenbleiben’, literally ‘staying sitting’.
Up until now, ‘sitzenbleiben’ has not been something that pupils or their parents can decide upon themselves. It has often tended to be interpreted as a negative reflection of a child’s performance, carrying a degree of stigma with it.
The regulation will apply to children in years one to ten, who are aged between six and 15-16.
Parents who want their children to repeat, will be required to submit a written application to school heads, and will have to have a meeting with a school representative, to establish what is in the best interests of the child.
But the decision is not without controversy. In a recent joint declaration, a conglomerate of school heads protested against the plans, saying they feared an “organisational catastrophe”, including over-populated classrooms, a lack of teaching staff and a lack of classroom space.Some of Germany’s other 15 states are considering similar action.
Vaccinating people in order of age is the quickest way to reduce coronavirus deaths in the next phase of the rollout, according to experts advising the UK government.
People in their 40s will be next in line, followed by those aged 30-39, as priority based on jobs would be “more complex” and could slow down the programme, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation said.People in their 40s will be next in line, followed by those aged 30-39, as priority based on jobs would be “more complex” and could slow down the programme, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation said.
Europe’s medicines regulator has said an antibody drug combination developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals can be used to treat Covid patients who do not require oxygen support and are at high risk of progressing to severe illness, Reuters reports.Europe’s medicines regulator has said an antibody drug combination developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals can be used to treat Covid patients who do not require oxygen support and are at high risk of progressing to severe illness, Reuters reports.
The recommendation can now be used for guidance in individual European nations on the possible use of the combination of casirivimab and imdevimab before a marketing authorisation is issued, the European Medicines Agency said.The recommendation can now be used for guidance in individual European nations on the possible use of the combination of casirivimab and imdevimab before a marketing authorisation is issued, the European Medicines Agency said.
Poland will raise the upper age limit for people being given the AstraZeneca vaccine from 65 to 69, and will take Covid patients from neighbouring Slovakia, a health ministry spokesman has confirmed.Poland will raise the upper age limit for people being given the AstraZeneca vaccine from 65 to 69, and will take Covid patients from neighbouring Slovakia, a health ministry spokesman has confirmed.
Wojciech Andrusiewicz told a news conference:Wojciech Andrusiewicz told a news conference:
A number of countries have set upper age limits for the AstraZeneca vaccine, citing a lack of research into its effect on older age groups.A number of countries have set upper age limits for the AstraZeneca vaccine, citing a lack of research into its effect on older age groups.
Andrusiewicz added that Poland would take in 10 Covid patients from neighbouring Slovakia, and stood ready to help the Czech Republic if necessary, according to Reuters.Andrusiewicz added that Poland would take in 10 Covid patients from neighbouring Slovakia, and stood ready to help the Czech Republic if necessary, according to Reuters.
Hello everyone, this is Yohannes Lowe. I’ll be taking over the live blog now so please feel free to drop me a message on Twitter if you have any coverage suggestions.Hello everyone, this is Yohannes Lowe. I’ll be taking over the live blog now so please feel free to drop me a message on Twitter if you have any coverage suggestions.
The European Union’s medicines regulator is set to recommend Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine early next month, reports Bloomberg news.The European Union’s medicines regulator is set to recommend Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine early next month, reports Bloomberg news.
Approval from the European Medicines Agency is expected on 11 March, an EU official was reported to have told the news wire service.Approval from the European Medicines Agency is expected on 11 March, an EU official was reported to have told the news wire service.
The move would pave the way for authorisation of a fourth Covid-19 vaccine, alongside those from Moderna, AstraZeneca and a partnership of Pfizer and BioNTech.The move would pave the way for authorisation of a fourth Covid-19 vaccine, alongside those from Moderna, AstraZeneca and a partnership of Pfizer and BioNTech.
Ivory Coast was due to receive a shipment of Covid-19 vaccines from the sharing facility Covax today, becoming the second country to benefit from a programme meant to ensure fairer distribution amid a global scramble.Ivory Coast was due to receive a shipment of Covid-19 vaccines from the sharing facility Covax today, becoming the second country to benefit from a programme meant to ensure fairer distribution amid a global scramble.
A plane carrying 504,000 doses was expected to touch down in the commercial capital Abidjan from 10am local time, according to the GAVI vaccines alliance, the World Health Organization and other partners in the scheme.A plane carrying 504,000 doses was expected to touch down in the commercial capital Abidjan from 10am local time, according to the GAVI vaccines alliance, the World Health Organization and other partners in the scheme.
By the end of this year, Covax plans to deliver nearly 2bn doses to over 90 low and middle-income countries, hoping to even a playing field that has seen wealthier nations vaccinate millions while comparatively few have received shots in poorer parts of the world.By the end of this year, Covax plans to deliver nearly 2bn doses to over 90 low and middle-income countries, hoping to even a playing field that has seen wealthier nations vaccinate millions while comparatively few have received shots in poorer parts of the world.
Mark Machin, the head of Canada’s largest pension fund, received a Covid-19 vaccine shot in the United Arab Emirates ahead of millions of Canadians, according to the Wall Street Journal, as sources in the Canadian government described it as “troubling.”Mark Machin, the head of Canada’s largest pension fund, received a Covid-19 vaccine shot in the United Arab Emirates ahead of millions of Canadians, according to the Wall Street Journal, as sources in the Canadian government described it as “troubling.”
The chief executive of the $379bn Canada Pension Plan Investment Board arrived earlier this month in the UAE with his partner and received the first dose of a vaccine while Canada continues to have one of the developed world’s slowest rollouts, the WSJ added.The chief executive of the $379bn Canada Pension Plan Investment Board arrived earlier this month in the UAE with his partner and received the first dose of a vaccine while Canada continues to have one of the developed world’s slowest rollouts, the WSJ added.
It reported “people familiar with the matter” had said that the 54-year-old received the Pfizer vaccine.It reported “people familiar with the matter” had said that the 54-year-old received the Pfizer vaccine.
The same sources added that he has told contacts he used local connections to obtain the vaccines, and he has remained in the UAE where he is due to receive his second dose in coming weeks.The same sources added that he has told contacts he used local connections to obtain the vaccines, and he has remained in the UAE where he is due to receive his second dose in coming weeks.
The Toronto Star and other outlets have updates.The Toronto Star and other outlets have updates.
The circumstances in which the Dutch government introduced a Covid-19 curfew have been endorsed in the latest court ruling following a series of legal wrangles.The circumstances in which the Dutch government introduced a Covid-19 curfew have been endorsed in the latest court ruling following a series of legal wrangles.
In a clear victory for the government over a group called Viruswaarheid – virus truth – that opposes the lockdown, the appeals court also said that the 9pm-4:30am curfew introduced on 23 January was a proportional measure to tackle the Covid-19 crisis.In a clear victory for the government over a group called Viruswaarheid – virus truth – that opposes the lockdown, the appeals court also said that the 9pm-4:30am curfew introduced on 23 January was a proportional measure to tackle the Covid-19 crisis.
The outcome will have little effect on the government’s attempts to rein in the virus as it rushed fresh legislation through parliament to empower the curfew after a judge banned the measure, which sparked rioting when it was initially introduced.The outcome will have little effect on the government’s attempts to rein in the virus as it rushed fresh legislation through parliament to empower the curfew after a judge banned the measure, which sparked rioting when it was initially introduced.
The Hague court of appeal said in a statement announcing Friday’s decision that the curfew’s limitation of constitutional freedoms “is justified” to tackle the Covid-19 crisis.The Hague court of appeal said in a statement announcing Friday’s decision that the curfew’s limitation of constitutional freedoms “is justified” to tackle the Covid-19 crisis.
Rioting shook the Netherlands last month as protesters rampaged through towns and cities around the country after government introduced a night-time curfew.Rioting shook the Netherlands last month as protesters rampaged through towns and cities around the country after government introduced a night-time curfew.
More than 180 people were arrested on one night in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, where shops were vandalised and looted.More than 180 people were arrested on one night in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, where shops were vandalised and looted.
German army doctors were welcomed in Portugal when they came to help fight the pandemic but the fact that they are working in a clinic owned by a Chinese conglomerate has drawn criticism, reports Deutsche Welle (DW).German army doctors were welcomed in Portugal when they came to help fight the pandemic but the fact that they are working in a clinic owned by a Chinese conglomerate has drawn criticism, reports Deutsche Welle (DW).
The German broadcaster recalls that Germany was one of the first countries to react as pictures of ambulance queues outside Portuguese hospitals went around the world, and the government in Lisbon asked for help.The German broadcaster recalls that Germany was one of the first countries to react as pictures of ambulance queues outside Portuguese hospitals went around the world, and the government in Lisbon asked for help.
Portuguese authorities have said that the medics are also treating patients from the public health care system.Portuguese authorities have said that the medics are also treating patients from the public health care system.
A US Navy warship operating in the Middle East has a dozen cases of the novel coronavirus, while another warship in the region is investigating whether some of its members are also infected.A US Navy warship operating in the Middle East has a dozen cases of the novel coronavirus, while another warship in the region is investigating whether some of its members are also infected.
The USS San Diego, which has the confirmed cases, is at port in Bahrain. It sails with about 600 sailors and Marines onboard.The USS San Diego, which has the confirmed cases, is at port in Bahrain. It sails with about 600 sailors and Marines onboard.
The guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea, which carries 380 sailors, is expected to pull into port for further testing.The guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea, which carries 380 sailors, is expected to pull into port for further testing.
The US 5th Fleet posted a statement on Twitter:The US 5th Fleet posted a statement on Twitter:
A wave of corruption scandals have been exposing how the powerful and well-connected in South America jumped the line to get vaccines early, the New York Times reports.A wave of corruption scandals have been exposing how the powerful and well-connected in South America jumped the line to get vaccines early, the New York Times reports.
Public dismay is turning into anger, with the resignation of two ministers in Peru and another one in Argentina after receiving or giving preferential access to scarce vaccines.Public dismay is turning into anger, with the resignation of two ministers in Peru and another one in Argentina after receiving or giving preferential access to scarce vaccines.
An Ecuadorian minister also faces an investigation over the same issue.An Ecuadorian minister also faces an investigation over the same issue.
The NY Times reports that the scandals mirror similar affairs in Spain, Lebanon, the Philippines and the US but in Latin America the brazen nature of some of the cases has exacerbated the outrage.The NY Times reports that the scandals mirror similar affairs in Spain, Lebanon, the Philippines and the US but in Latin America the brazen nature of some of the cases has exacerbated the outrage.
A British citizen has been sentenced to two weeks in jail and fined 1,000 Singapore dollars ($753) for breaking a coronavirus quarantine order in Singapore.A British citizen has been sentenced to two weeks in jail and fined 1,000 Singapore dollars ($753) for breaking a coronavirus quarantine order in Singapore.
Nigel Skea is the first Briton to be jailed for flouting coronavirus rules in the city-state. A handful had their work passes revoked and paid fines.Nigel Skea is the first Briton to be jailed for flouting coronavirus rules in the city-state. A handful had their work passes revoked and paid fines.
Skea left his room at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore on three occasions last September, according to charge sheets. He was not wearing a mask.Skea left his room at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore on three occasions last September, according to charge sheets. He was not wearing a mask.
On one of the occasions, he climbed an emergency stairwell and entered a room that his Singaporean fiancee had booked. They spent nine hours together.On one of the occasions, he climbed an emergency stairwell and entered a room that his Singaporean fiancee had booked. They spent nine hours together.
Skea, who pleaded guilty to two charges of flouting the rules, arrived at the State Courts on Friday with Agatha Maghesh Eyamalai, whom he has since married.Skea, who pleaded guilty to two charges of flouting the rules, arrived at the State Courts on Friday with Agatha Maghesh Eyamalai, whom he has since married.
Eyamalai pleaded guilty to one charge of aiding Skea. She was sentenced to a week in jail.Eyamalai pleaded guilty to one charge of aiding Skea. She was sentenced to a week in jail.
District judge Jasvender Kaur said the sentences were meant to send a “clear message” that restrictions should be followed.District judge Jasvender Kaur said the sentences were meant to send a “clear message” that restrictions should be followed.