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Coronavirus live news: Johnson & Johnson jab 'to get EU approval'; Berlin pupils allowed to repeat school year Coronavirus live news: Johnson & Johnson jab 'to get EU approval'; Berlin pupils allowed to repeat school year
(30 minutes later)
EMA expected to approve vaccine on 11 March; all pupils in German capital to have chance to repeat a year; global deaths pass 2.5mEMA expected to approve vaccine on 11 March; all pupils in German capital to have chance to repeat a year; global deaths pass 2.5m
New York City schools chancellor Richard Carranza said on Friday he was stepping down as leader of the nation’s largest school district to grieve the loss of family members to coronavirus.
Reuters reports:
The US urged vaccine-sceptical Tanzania on Friday to review evidence on the drugs, saying they work and are one of the tools to fight off the pandemic.
Reuters reports:
Greece on Friday extended lockdown restrictions to more areas of the country as the pandemic showed no signs of waning in the country, exactly one year after its first coronavirus infection was detected, health authorities said.Greece on Friday extended lockdown restrictions to more areas of the country as the pandemic showed no signs of waning in the country, exactly one year after its first coronavirus infection was detected, health authorities said.
Reuters reports:Reuters reports:
Countries seeking to procure vaccines for themselves are making deals with drug companies that threaten the supply for the global COVAX programme for poor and middle-income countries, the World Health Organization said on Friday.Countries seeking to procure vaccines for themselves are making deals with drug companies that threaten the supply for the global COVAX programme for poor and middle-income countries, the World Health Organization said on Friday.
“[C]ountries are still pursuing deals that will compromise the COVAX supply,” WHO senior adviser Bruce Aylward told a briefing. “Without a doubt.”“[C]ountries are still pursuing deals that will compromise the COVAX supply,” WHO senior adviser Bruce Aylward told a briefing. “Without a doubt.”
A Johnson & Johnson scientist said on Friday that the company has received preliminary reports of two cases of severe allergic reactions, including one case of anaphylaxis, in people who had received the company’s Covid-19 vaccine.A Johnson & Johnson scientist said on Friday that the company has received preliminary reports of two cases of severe allergic reactions, including one case of anaphylaxis, in people who had received the company’s Covid-19 vaccine.
Dr Macaya Douoguih, head of clinical development and medical affairs at J&J unit Janssen Pharmaceuticals, said the case of anaphylaxis was observed in an ongoing trial of healthcare workers in South Africa.Dr Macaya Douoguih, head of clinical development and medical affairs at J&J unit Janssen Pharmaceuticals, said the case of anaphylaxis was observed in an ongoing trial of healthcare workers in South Africa.
There had not been any previously reported cases of anaphylaxis, Douoguih said. She was speaking to a panel of expert advisers to the US Food and Drug Administration which will vote later on whether to recommend authorization of the vaccine, Reuters reports.There had not been any previously reported cases of anaphylaxis, Douoguih said. She was speaking to a panel of expert advisers to the US Food and Drug Administration which will vote later on whether to recommend authorization of the vaccine, Reuters reports.
Bank of America Corp said on Friday its employees in the US will get paid time off when it is their turn for the coronavirus vaccine, according to a memo.Bank of America Corp said on Friday its employees in the US will get paid time off when it is their turn for the coronavirus vaccine, according to a memo.
Reuters reports:Reuters reports:
Nigeria is expecting its first 4 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines next week from the global COVAX vaccine programme for poor and middle-income countries, the head of the World Health Organization mission in Nigeria said on Friday.Nigeria is expecting its first 4 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines next week from the global COVAX vaccine programme for poor and middle-income countries, the head of the World Health Organization mission in Nigeria said on Friday.
Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, WHO representative in Nigeria, told a briefing by video link that the country was expecting 14 million doses in total.Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, WHO representative in Nigeria, told a briefing by video link that the country was expecting 14 million doses in total.
Two-thirds of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine doses delivered to Belgium have yet to be distributed to vaccination centres, officials have admitted, as the country became the latest in Europe to report a sharp rise in coronavirus infections.Two-thirds of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine doses delivered to Belgium have yet to be distributed to vaccination centres, officials have admitted, as the country became the latest in Europe to report a sharp rise in coronavirus infections.
Belgium’s infections were up 24% compared with the previous week, at a daily average of 2,300. All age groups were affected except for over-80s, who have been prioritised for the jabs.Belgium’s infections were up 24% compared with the previous week, at a daily average of 2,300. All age groups were affected except for over-80s, who have been prioritised for the jabs.
The development appears to be part of a worrying trend for health authorities across the EU, with the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) reporting that as of last Sunday 13 countries had seen a week-on-week rise in infection rates.The development appears to be part of a worrying trend for health authorities across the EU, with the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) reporting that as of last Sunday 13 countries had seen a week-on-week rise in infection rates.
Angela Merkel said this week that Germany was heading into a third wave.Angela Merkel said this week that Germany was heading into a third wave.
My colleague Daniel Boffey has more:My colleague Daniel Boffey has more:
The head of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday that a recent decline in Covid-19 cases may be stalling, and that Covid-19 cases have been increasing for the past three days compared to last week.The head of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday that a recent decline in Covid-19 cases may be stalling, and that Covid-19 cases have been increasing for the past three days compared to last week.
Dr Rochelle Walensky told reporters the development was concerning while urging that restrictions to fight the virus remain in place, adding the CDC was watching the data closely.Dr Rochelle Walensky told reporters the development was concerning while urging that restrictions to fight the virus remain in place, adding the CDC was watching the data closely.
Walensky said:Walensky said:
The White House on Friday also urged companies to join efforts to help fight the pandemic by requiring mask wearing by employees and educating customers, Reuters reports.The White House on Friday also urged companies to join efforts to help fight the pandemic by requiring mask wearing by employees and educating customers, Reuters reports.
Italy reported 253 coronavirus-related deaths on Friday against 308 the day before, the health ministry said, while the daily tally of new infections rose to 20,499 from 19,886 the day before.Italy reported 253 coronavirus-related deaths on Friday against 308 the day before, the health ministry said, while the daily tally of new infections rose to 20,499 from 19,886 the day before.
A week ago, the country recorded 15,470 new infections. Overall, Italy has reported 2.9 million cases to date.A week ago, the country recorded 15,470 new infections. Overall, Italy has reported 2.9 million cases to date.
Some 325,404 tests for Covid-19 were carried out in the past day, compared with 443,704 previously, the ministry said.Some 325,404 tests for Covid-19 were carried out in the past day, compared with 443,704 previously, the ministry said.
Italy has registered 97,227 deaths from the virus since the pandemic started, the second-highest toll in Europe after the UK and the seventh-highest in the world.Italy has registered 97,227 deaths from the virus since the pandemic started, the second-highest toll in Europe after the UK and the seventh-highest in the world.
Patients in hospital with Covid-19, excluding those in intensive care, stood at 18,292 on Friday, increasing from 18,257 a day earlier.Patients in hospital with Covid-19, excluding those in intensive care, stood at 18,292 on Friday, increasing from 18,257 a day earlier.
There were 188 new admissions to intensive care units, up from 178 on Thursday. The total number of intensive care patients rose to 2,194 from a previous 2,168.There were 188 new admissions to intensive care units, up from 178 on Thursday. The total number of intensive care patients rose to 2,194 from a previous 2,168.
When Italy’s second wave of the epidemic was accelerating quickly in the first half of November, hospital admissions were rising by about 1,000 per day, while intensive care occupancy was increasing by about 100 per day, Reuters reports.When Italy’s second wave of the epidemic was accelerating quickly in the first half of November, hospital admissions were rising by about 1,000 per day, while intensive care occupancy was increasing by about 100 per day, Reuters reports.
The northern region of Emilia-Romagna saw a new surge in infections, with 2,575 new cases detected over 24 hours, with 40,148 swabs. The average age of those infected is 42.7 years.The northern region of Emilia-Romagna saw a new surge in infections, with 2,575 new cases detected over 24 hours, with 40,148 swabs. The average age of those infected is 42.7 years.
The last time cases rose this sharply was on 1 January, La Repubblica reports, when there was a peak of new positives of 2,629. A similar surge in infections previously only occured in November.The last time cases rose this sharply was on 1 January, La Repubblica reports, when there was a peak of new positives of 2,629. A similar surge in infections previously only occured in November.
Mexican economy minister Tatiana Clouthier told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a virtual meeting on Friday that Mexico sees the United States-Mexico-Canada regional trade deal (USMCA) as an important tool for post-Covid economic recovery.Mexican economy minister Tatiana Clouthier told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a virtual meeting on Friday that Mexico sees the United States-Mexico-Canada regional trade deal (USMCA) as an important tool for post-Covid economic recovery.
Clouthier added that Mexico is available to help US president Joe Biden review problems of supply chain interruptions that were triggered by the pandemic, Reuters reports.Clouthier added that Mexico is available to help US president Joe Biden review problems of supply chain interruptions that were triggered by the pandemic, Reuters reports.
I’m Jedidajah Otte and will be bringing you the latest news on all things pandemic for the next few hours.I’m Jedidajah Otte and will be bringing you the latest news on all things pandemic for the next few hours.
As always, feel free to get in touch with tips, updates and comments, you can reach me on Twitter @JedySays or via email.As always, feel free to get in touch with tips, updates and comments, you can reach me on Twitter @JedySays or via email.
Here is a quick re-cap of some of the main Covid related events from around the world:
Spain will give a single vaccine dose to under 55-year-olds who have already been infected with Covid-19, the health ministry has announced.
India, which wants to vaccinate 300m of its 1.35bn population by August, has said it will let people choose their coronavirus vaccination centres when the campaign expands next week.
Berlin school pupils will be allowed to repeat the current school year, in recognition of the disruption they have faced following months of home schooling. The regulation will apply to children in years one to ten, who are aged between six and 15-16.
The European Medicines Agency, the EU’s medicines regulator, is reportedly poised to recommend Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine early next month.
The UK government has said a further 345 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Friday, bringing the UK total to 122,415.
The UK also recorded 8,523 more cases, according to the government’s dashboard.
The world’s financial leaders have met today, and are expected to agree to continue support measures for the global economy.
It is also expected that they will increase resources to the International Monetary Fund’s to enable it to help poorer countries fight off the effects of the pandemic.
Reuters reports:
Finance ministers and central bank governors of the world’s top 20 economies, called the G20, held a video-conference on Friday. The global response to the economic havoc wreaked by the coronavirus was at top of the agenda.
In the first comments by a participating policymaker, the European Union’s economics commissioner, Paolo Gentiloni, said the meeting had been “good”, with consensus on the need for a common effort on global Covid vaccinations.
“Avoid premature withdrawal of supportive fiscal policy” and “progress towards agreement on digital and minimal taxation” he said in a Tweet, signalling other areas of apparent accord.
A news conference by Italy, which holds the annual G20 presidency, is expected imminently.
My colleague Rory Carroll has written about the global scramble for the Coronavirus vaccine.
He writes:
Vaccines against Covid-19 may represent a peak of human ingenuity and achievement – but that still leaves a sticky problem of etiquette: how should you behave during a global scramble for the jab?
When someone jumps the queue and gets vaccinated, do you condemn their selfishness, admire their chutzpah, ask for tips? When a friend or relative is way ahead of you in the queue, are you happy for them or resentful? Is yearning for vaccines a legitimate existential response or is it just a symptom of Vomo – fear of missing out on a vaccine?
These and other questions came to the fore this week as stories emerged of subterfuge, queue-jumping and tension along humanity’s new faultline, the jabbed and not-jabbed.
“You’ve stolen a vaccine from somebody that needs it more than you,” an Orange County sheriff’s deputy in Florida told two women, aged 33 and 44, who had put on bonnets, gloves and fake glasses to try to appear older and dupe their way to a second vaccine dose.
Spain will give a single vaccine dose to under 55-year-olds who have already been infected with Covid-19, the health ministry announced on Friday in the latest update of its national inoculation strategy.
Reuters reports:
The strategy update reads:
France announced a similar policy earlier this month while Italian politicians are debating whether to follow that path.
Spain had already advised that people within that bracket who do not have major health complications wait six months from their diagnosis before taking a vaccine.
As of Thursday, 2.2 million people from priority groups such as nursing home residents and staff, people over 80 and frontline medics had received an injection. Some 1.2 million of those had received a full course of two shots.
Just over 2% of Spaniards offered a vaccination have refused, including people who declined for medical reasons.
After an intense third wave of infection, Spain’s two-week incidence of the virus fell to 206 cases per 100,000 people on Thursday, down from almost 900 cases at the end of January.
The infection tally rose by 9,568 cases on Thursday to 3.18 million, while the death toll climbed by 345 to 68,468.
(Reporting by Nathan Allen; Additional reporting by Alistair Smout; Editing by Inti Landauro and Jonathan Oatis)
World Bank president David Malpass on Friday urged countries to enter contracts for Covid-19 vaccines now so they could get delivery schedules, saying it was vital to get started in more countries and work through more channels, Reuters reports.
In remarks to Group of 20 finance officials, Malpass also hammered his push for greater transparency in the contracts signed by buyers, manufacturers and intermediaries to accelerate global vaccination efforts critical to contain the pandemic.
Malpass also underscored the importance of the G20’s climate agenda, noting that the World Bank was launching new country climate and development reviews to integrate climate into all its country diagnostics and strategies. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal)
In England, key behavioural scientists have criticised the government’s decision to use dates in its proposed roadmap out of the country, saying it is a “dangerous strategy” that risks undermining adherence to Covid-19 rules.
The prime minister’s message that government policy around reopening would be guided by “data, not dates” could be overshadowed by the use of dates in the roadmap, said Stephen Reicher, a professor of social psychology at the University of St Andrews and a member of SPI-B, the behavioural science subgroup of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage).
“Data not dates has turned into dates not data,” said Reicher, who added that the choice of Midsummer Day for a possible return to normality was “incredibly powerful symbolic messaging”.
He said:
The full story here:
Recreational venues in Finland’s capital region will be closed for two weeks to curb a rise in Covid infections in Helsinki and eight surrounding municipalities, it has been announced.
The Regional State Administrative Agency has ordered public and private gyms, indoor sports venues, saunas and swimming pools as well as other recreational areas to close from 1 March, according to Reuters.
Update: Moldova has not yet registered Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine against Covid-19, president Maia Sandu’s press secretary has said.
Sorina Stefirta told journalists that the Sputnik V vaccine would only be approved in Moldova after it had been registered by the World Health Organization, Reuters reports.
The Russian Direct Investment Fund and former Moldovan president Igor Dodon earlier said the shot had been approved (see this post).
The Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, on Friday signed into law a bill that gives indemnity to vaccine makers if their Covid shots cause adverse side-effects, days before the country starts its lagging inoculation programme.
Despite having one of the highest number of coronavirus infections in Asia, the Philippines will be the last south-east Asian nation to receive its initial set of vaccines.
Covid vaccine manufacturers would be immune from lawsuits for claims arising from the administration of the shots, according to Reuters.
In a statement, the presidential office said the law would fast-track the purchase and administration of vaccines.