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Coronavirus live: expanded crowd size for Euro 2020 matches at Wembley ‘recipe for disaster’, say MEPs | Coronavirus live: expanded crowd size for Euro 2020 matches at Wembley ‘recipe for disaster’, say MEPs |
(32 minutes later) | |
Uefa and the British government urged to reconsider decision to allow 60,000 fans at Euro semis and final; WHO: 10-week decline in Covid cases in Europe has come to an end | Uefa and the British government urged to reconsider decision to allow 60,000 fans at Euro semis and final; WHO: 10-week decline in Covid cases in Europe has come to an end |
German interior minister Horst Seehofer has described as “absolutely irresponsible” Uefa’s decision to hold the Euro 2020 semifinals and finals in the UK due to the prevalence of the Delta variant. | |
“I suspect that once again it’s all about commercial [interests],” Horst Seehofer told reporters in Berlin, according to the FT. “But commercial interests should not override the need to protect people from infections.” | |
The position taken by Uefa, European football’s governing body is, “absolutely irresponsible, because we are in a pandemic and precisely in countries like Great Britain we’re seeing a sharp increase in infections”, he added. | |
“[In such a situation], it is imperative to avoid contact and adhere to hygiene regulations if we are to stop infections [spreading].” | |
For the Euro 2020 matches held in Munich, he said authorities had enforced strict rules and only allowed 14,000 fans into a stadium that has a capacity of 80,000, the FT reports. | |
Italy’s justice minister Marta Cartabia has ordered a report into conditions in the country’s prisons after the release of video footage showing guards brutally beating inmates at a jail near Naples who had demanded better coronavirus protections. | |
The African Union’s head of vaccine procurement has said “not a single” Covid jab has so far left the EU for Africa, hitting out at the bloc for hoarding supply. | |
Strive Masiyiwa criticised the global effort meant to distribute vaccines to less developed countries, accusing Covax of withholding crucial information including that key donors had not met funding pledges – with “not one dose, not one vial, [having] left a European factory for Africa.” | |
He stressed that Africa has purchased 400 million vaccine doses and can buy more, but according to the AP he challenged donors: “Pay up your money ... We will no longer measure pledges, we will measure vaccines arriving at our airports.” | |
The entrepreneur and tech billionaire said Covax had promised to deliver 700 million vaccine doses to Africa by December. But at mid-year, Africa has received just 65 million doses overall. Less than 50 million doses via Covax have arrived. | |
“It became pretty clear by December that the hope that we would all as a global community buy vaccines together through Covax was not being adhered to, particularly by the rich and powerful nations,” he said. | |
He added that Covax’s decision to procure vaccines primarily from just one facility, the Serum Institute of India, was risky, Quartz reports. Covax aimed to provide 20% of Africa’s vaccine needs, with African nations stepping up for the rest, he said. But “it really doesn’t matter how much money your country has, they couldn’t buy vaccines ... I never saw presidents try so hard, calling chief executives.” | |
The vaccines have been hard to source as countries such as the US with manufacturing capabilities imposed controls on export sales in the interest of vaccinating their own citizens first, the AP reports. | |
Criticising the EU, he said: “When we go to talk to their manufacturers, they tell us they’re completely maxed out meeting the needs of Europe, we’re referred to India.” But the EU now imposes public health restrictions on people vaccinated with Covishield, the Indian-produced version of the EU-accepted AstraZeneca vaccine. | |
“So how do we get to the situation where they give money to Covax, who go to India to purchase vaccines, and then they tell us those vaccines are not valid?” | |
Some countries engage in so-called vaccine diplomacy and those bilateral donations are welcome, Masiyiwa said, but they’re not enough to “move the needle.” | |
Spokespeople for Covax did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the AP on matters raised. But it warned in a statement against turning away people “protected by a subset of WHO-approved vaccines,” saying it would “effectively create a two-tier system, further widening the global vaccine divide.” | |
The European Commission is being urged to reject a coronavirus recovery plan for Hungary over concerns about fraud, corruption and the country’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights. | The European Commission is being urged to reject a coronavirus recovery plan for Hungary over concerns about fraud, corruption and the country’s stance on LGBTQ+ rights. |
A cross-party group of left and liberal MEPs have written to the commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, demanding she send the Hungarian government back to the drawing board over its spending plans for a €7.2bn (£6.19bn) coronavirus recovery grant. | A cross-party group of left and liberal MEPs have written to the commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, demanding she send the Hungarian government back to the drawing board over its spending plans for a €7.2bn (£6.19bn) coronavirus recovery grant. |
Hungary has requested €7.2bn in grants under the scheme, which it is thought would be the largest single transfer of EU funds since it joined the union in 2004. | Hungary has requested €7.2bn in grants under the scheme, which it is thought would be the largest single transfer of EU funds since it joined the union in 2004. |
The policing of the Sarah Everard vigil in London and “kill the bill” demonstrations in Bristol breached fundamental rights to protest and involved unnecessary and disproportionate use of force, a parliamentary inquiry has found. | The policing of the Sarah Everard vigil in London and “kill the bill” demonstrations in Bristol breached fundamental rights to protest and involved unnecessary and disproportionate use of force, a parliamentary inquiry has found. |
Multiple failings were committed by the Metropolitan police service (MPS) and Avon and Somerset constabulary (A&SC), including wrongly applying the lockdown regulations and failing to understand their legal duty to facilitate peaceful protest, the all-party parliamentary group on democracy and the constitution (APPGDC) found. | Multiple failings were committed by the Metropolitan police service (MPS) and Avon and Somerset constabulary (A&SC), including wrongly applying the lockdown regulations and failing to understand their legal duty to facilitate peaceful protest, the all-party parliamentary group on democracy and the constitution (APPGDC) found. |
CureVac is to pursue European approval for its coronavirus vaccine candidate, despite disappointing overall efficacy results. | CureVac is to pursue European approval for its coronavirus vaccine candidate, despite disappointing overall efficacy results. |
It announced preliminary data on 16 June from a 40,000-person trial, which showed that its two-dose vaccine was just 47% effective at preventing disease. But it argues that final analysis of its late-stage trial shows 53% protection against mild disease, 77% protection against severe disease and full protection against hospitalisation and death, the Financial Times reported. | It announced preliminary data on 16 June from a 40,000-person trial, which showed that its two-dose vaccine was just 47% effective at preventing disease. But it argues that final analysis of its late-stage trial shows 53% protection against mild disease, 77% protection against severe disease and full protection against hospitalisation and death, the Financial Times reported. |
The company said that the higher efficacy against severe disease meant it still had a pathway for approval from the European Medicines Agency. | The company said that the higher efficacy against severe disease meant it still had a pathway for approval from the European Medicines Agency. |
“In this final analysis, CVnCoV demonstrates a strong public health value in fully protecting study participants in the age group of 18 to 60 against hospitalisation and death and 77% against moderate and severe disease – an efficacy profile, which we believe will be an important contribution to help manage the Covid-19 pandemic and the dynamic variant spread,” Franz-Werner Haas, chief executive, said. | “In this final analysis, CVnCoV demonstrates a strong public health value in fully protecting study participants in the age group of 18 to 60 against hospitalisation and death and 77% against moderate and severe disease – an efficacy profile, which we believe will be an important contribution to help manage the Covid-19 pandemic and the dynamic variant spread,” Franz-Werner Haas, chief executive, said. |
The FT said that CureVac has argued that performance of its mRNA vaccine, which it is producing with the pharmaceutical giant Bayer, was lower because it dealt with 15 different virus variants. | The FT said that CureVac has argued that performance of its mRNA vaccine, which it is producing with the pharmaceutical giant Bayer, was lower because it dealt with 15 different virus variants. |
Greece will start vaccinating teenagers once it gets the go-ahead from experts, a government spokesperson has said, after Athens earlier this week offered those aged 18-25 cash and phone data in exchange for getting a shot. | Greece will start vaccinating teenagers once it gets the go-ahead from experts, a government spokesperson has said, after Athens earlier this week offered those aged 18-25 cash and phone data in exchange for getting a shot. |
Some 44% of Greeks aged over 18 have been vaccinated and the country has been easing restrictions as infections fall. But with concerns about the spread of the more contagious Delta variant rising, the government has introduced extra incentives to boost vaccination rates in the build-up to the holidays, Reuters reports. | Some 44% of Greeks aged over 18 have been vaccinated and the country has been easing restrictions as infections fall. But with concerns about the spread of the more contagious Delta variant rising, the government has introduced extra incentives to boost vaccination rates in the build-up to the holidays, Reuters reports. |
A member of the country’s vaccinations committee said they were considering advising the government to target youngsters aged 15 to 17. | A member of the country’s vaccinations committee said they were considering advising the government to target youngsters aged 15 to 17. |
Tourists with a negative Covid test or a vaccination certificate can travel to the country without the need to quarantine. | Tourists with a negative Covid test or a vaccination certificate can travel to the country without the need to quarantine. |
Industry officials have said that the average occupancy rate at hotels across the country is 35% to 45% but bookings have frozen, and how the summer holiday season progresses will depend much on whether Britain will decide to allow its citizens to come without the need to isolate on their return. | Industry officials have said that the average occupancy rate at hotels across the country is 35% to 45% but bookings have frozen, and how the summer holiday season progresses will depend much on whether Britain will decide to allow its citizens to come without the need to isolate on their return. |
The decision to allow 60,000 fans to attend the Euro 2020 semi-finals and finals at Wembley is “a recipe for disaster”, a committee of MEPs has said, urging a rethink because of the surging number of coronavirus cases in the UK. | The decision to allow 60,000 fans to attend the Euro 2020 semi-finals and finals at Wembley is “a recipe for disaster”, a committee of MEPs has said, urging a rethink because of the surging number of coronavirus cases in the UK. |
The European parliament’s committee on public health wants Uefa and the British government to reconsider their decision to allow Wembley to host the matches at 75% of its 90,000 capacity. | The European parliament’s committee on public health wants Uefa and the British government to reconsider their decision to allow Wembley to host the matches at 75% of its 90,000 capacity. |
Allowing so many fans to watch the three matches, scheduled for 6, 7 and 11 July, is “a health hazard and a clear unnecessary risk” states a letter from the European parliament’s committee on environment and public health, citing the 10-fold increase in UK coronavirus cases since early May. | Allowing so many fans to watch the three matches, scheduled for 6, 7 and 11 July, is “a health hazard and a clear unnecessary risk” states a letter from the European parliament’s committee on environment and public health, citing the 10-fold increase in UK coronavirus cases since early May. |
The UK recorded 26,068 new coronavirus cases on 30 June, the highest total since January. But deaths are going up at a much slower rate, from a very low level. | The UK recorded 26,068 new coronavirus cases on 30 June, the highest total since January. But deaths are going up at a much slower rate, from a very low level. |
The letter calls on the European parliament president, David Sassoli, to urge his fellow EU leaders to take the matter up with Uefa and the UK government. | The letter calls on the European parliament president, David Sassoli, to urge his fellow EU leaders to take the matter up with Uefa and the UK government. |
Citing recent forecasts that show the more transmissible Delta variant is likely to account for 90% of all coronavirus cases in Europe by the end of August, the MEPs say Uefa should reconsider its decision to hold the matches at Wembley, or “at the least that Uefa and the UK authorities reassess health safety measures and the crowd capacity decision”. The MEPs do not propose an alternative number of spectators. | Citing recent forecasts that show the more transmissible Delta variant is likely to account for 90% of all coronavirus cases in Europe by the end of August, the MEPs say Uefa should reconsider its decision to hold the matches at Wembley, or “at the least that Uefa and the UK authorities reassess health safety measures and the crowd capacity decision”. The MEPs do not propose an alternative number of spectators. |
They write: | They write: |
Israel, a world leader in coronavirus vaccinations, has reported its highest daily infection rate in three months as it scrambles to contain the spread of the new Delta variant – though there has been no increase in deaths. | Israel, a world leader in coronavirus vaccinations, has reported its highest daily infection rate in three months as it scrambles to contain the spread of the new Delta variant – though there has been no increase in deaths. |
AP has the story: | AP has the story: |
Australia has weathered the pandemic far better than many nations — recording just a single coronavirus death since last October — but its success means many Australians are not in a rush to get vaccinated and that could delay the country’s return to normalcy, reports the Associated Press. | Australia has weathered the pandemic far better than many nations — recording just a single coronavirus death since last October — but its success means many Australians are not in a rush to get vaccinated and that could delay the country’s return to normalcy, reports the Associated Press. |
Edward Snowden, the whistleblower who revealed the NSA’s mass surveillance programme, writes that “the greatest conspiracies are open and notorious” but they are normalised throughout society. | Edward Snowden, the whistleblower who revealed the NSA’s mass surveillance programme, writes that “the greatest conspiracies are open and notorious” but they are normalised throughout society. |
Turkey is today making people aged over 50, and healthcare workers, eligible for third doses of a Covid vaccine, its health minister announced yesterday. | Turkey is today making people aged over 50, and healthcare workers, eligible for third doses of a Covid vaccine, its health minister announced yesterday. |
Dr Fahrettin Koca tweeted: “Our citizens aged 50 and over who have been vaccinated for two doses, as well as our healthcare professionals, will be able to make an appointment with the vaccine they want and the 3rd dose vaccine starting tomorrow.” | Dr Fahrettin Koca tweeted: “Our citizens aged 50 and over who have been vaccinated for two doses, as well as our healthcare professionals, will be able to make an appointment with the vaccine they want and the 3rd dose vaccine starting tomorrow.” |
Researchers said earlier this week that there was no evidence that booster shots are necessary, especially given shortages in some countries, though an Oxford University study found that a third dose increases antibody and T-cell immune responses. | Researchers said earlier this week that there was no evidence that booster shots are necessary, especially given shortages in some countries, though an Oxford University study found that a third dose increases antibody and T-cell immune responses. |
According to the Daily Sabah, Koca told a virtual press conference, following a meeting with the country’s coronavirus scientific advisory board, that: | According to the Daily Sabah, Koca told a virtual press conference, following a meeting with the country’s coronavirus scientific advisory board, that: |