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Coronavirus live news: Russia reports record 799 deaths; Thailand set for nasal spray vaccine trial Coronavirus live news: Russia reports record 799 deaths; Thailand set for nasal spray vaccine trial
(about 1 hour later)
Russia reports record-breaking daily deaths for fourth time in a month; two jabs being developed in Thailand to be trialled from end of yearRussia reports record-breaking daily deaths for fourth time in a month; two jabs being developed in Thailand to be trialled from end of year
Here’s the full story on the Thai government being forced by a court injunction to rescind an order banning news that “causes public fear”, as it faces growing protests over its handling of the Covid pandemic, from my colleagues Rebecca Ratcliffe and Navaon Siradapuvadol.
China’s drug regulator has approved the country’s first mixed-vaccine trial, a company involved in the study has said, amid concern about the efficacy of domestically produced jabs.
AFP reports that the trial will test the efficacy of combining an “inactivated” vaccine made by China’s Sinovac with a DNA-based one developed by US pharmaceutical company Inovio, Advaccine Biopharmaceuticals Suzhou, Inovio’s trial partner in China said.
Preclinical work has found that “two different vaccine applications … produce an even stronger and more balanced immune response”, Advaccine chairman Wang Bin said in the statement.
There are several types of Covid vaccines, including those using an inactivated or weakened virus to generate an immune response, and RNA- or DNA-based jabs that use engineered versions of the coronavirus’ genetic code to create a protein that safely prompts an immune response. Five out of the seven vaccines approved in China are two-shot inactivated vaccines.
The World Health Organization has said there is still not enough data to say whether using two different vaccines together is safe or can boost immunity.
Inovio has not published any efficacy data from its global clinical trials. It is the first DNA-based vaccine to be trialled in China, and it comes as the country battles its worst coronavirus outbreak in months, with officials saying many of those infected had already been vaccinated.
This has added to calls for China’s two biggest vaccine producers – state-run Sinopharm and privately owned Sinovac – to provide data proving their jabs work against the Delta variant, AFP reports. Beijing is yet to approve any foreign vaccines for domestic use.
Hello and greetings to everyone reading, wherever you are the in the world. Mattha Busby here to take you through the next few hours of global Covid developments. Thanks to my colleague Miranda Bryant for covering the blog up until now. Please feel free to drop me a line on Twitter or message me via email (mattha.busby.freelance@guardian.co.uk) with any tips or thoughts on our coverage.
French president Emmanuel Macron said that France’s overseas territories, especially the Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe, are being badly hit by the pandemic. “The situation is dramatic,” he said in opening comments at a virtual meeting with senior cabinet ministers.
Russia reported 799 Covid deaths on Wednesday – hitting an all-time high for the fourth time in the last month. Meanwhile, there were 21,571 new coronavirus cases, which are gradually declining after peaking last month.
The Philippines health ministry has reported 12,021 coronavirus cases on Wednesday – the largest single-day increase in four months – and 154 new deaths. Total confirmed cases have grown to more than 1.68 million and the death toll is 29,374.
Two coronavirus vaccines being developed in Thailand that are administered by nasal spray are to begin human trials by the end of the year. The government said the decision follows promising results from trials with mice.
From today, Australian citizens and permanent residents who live outside of the country will no longer be automatically exempt from outward travel restrictions and must apply for an exemption. They will have to apply and provide supporting evidence such as a foreign driver’s licence, foreign residency card or utility bills.
Facebook has said that it has removed hundreds of accounts from Russia that were linked to a marketing firm that tried to recruit social media influencers to push anti-vaccine disinformation about coronavirus. The social media company said on Tuesday that it had banned accounts connected to Fazze, a subsidiary of UK-registered company AdNow, for violating its policy against foreign interference.
A UK government scientific adviser has said it is unlikely coronavirus will be eradicated entirely and that it is likely to become a seasonal infection. Prof Andrew Hayward, of University College London’s Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, and the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group, also said the virus would probably continue to mutate which would make herd immunity unlikely.
That’s it from me for now. Handing over to my colleague Mattha Busby. Thanks for reading!
Ambulance teams in Senegal are struggling with a wave of Covid cases, reports the Associated Press:Ambulance teams in Senegal are struggling with a wave of Covid cases, reports the Associated Press:
French president Emmanuel Macron has said that France’s overseas territories, especially the Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe, are being badly hit by the pandemic.French president Emmanuel Macron has said that France’s overseas territories, especially the Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe, are being badly hit by the pandemic.
“The situation is dramatic,” he said in opening comments at a virtual meeting with senior cabinet ministers.“The situation is dramatic,” he said in opening comments at a virtual meeting with senior cabinet ministers.
Authorities in Myanmar do not plan to include minority Rohingya Muslims living in closely packed camps in Rakhine State in their vaccination plan, reports Reuters.Authorities in Myanmar do not plan to include minority Rohingya Muslims living in closely packed camps in Rakhine State in their vaccination plan, reports Reuters.
The Junta-appointed local administrator Kyaw Lwin told the news agency that the rollout of 10,000 vaccinations for priority groups including elderly and healthcare workers had started in Sittwe township but that there were no plans to vaccinate Muslims living in camps in the state.The Junta-appointed local administrator Kyaw Lwin told the news agency that the rollout of 10,000 vaccinations for priority groups including elderly and healthcare workers had started in Sittwe township but that there were no plans to vaccinate Muslims living in camps in the state.
“We are only following orders,” he said. “It all depends on how many vaccines we receive and the instructions we get. So far we haven’t received any instructions regarding that.“We are only following orders,” he said. “It all depends on how many vaccines we receive and the instructions we get. So far we haven’t received any instructions regarding that.
Workers returning to offices in the UK are struggling to cope with noise, according to a study.Workers returning to offices in the UK are struggling to cope with noise, according to a study.
Research by the Institute of Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management, which spoke to 2,000 adults, were frustrated by the return to office life – including by background noise and inadequate video conferencing facilities.Research by the Institute of Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management, which spoke to 2,000 adults, were frustrated by the return to office life – including by background noise and inadequate video conferencing facilities.
It found that half believed they were more productive working from home, especially younger workers.It found that half believed they were more productive working from home, especially younger workers.
Nearly one in three said they no longer felt comfortable sharing a desk with another person.Nearly one in three said they no longer felt comfortable sharing a desk with another person.
Linda Hausmanis, the organisation’s chief executive, said:Linda Hausmanis, the organisation’s chief executive, said:
Russia reported 799 Covid deaths on Wednesday – hitting an all-time high for the fourth time in the last month.Russia reported 799 Covid deaths on Wednesday – hitting an all-time high for the fourth time in the last month.
Meanwhile, there were 21,571 new coronavirus cases, which are gradually declining after peaking last month, reports Reuters.Meanwhile, there were 21,571 new coronavirus cases, which are gradually declining after peaking last month, reports Reuters.
Authorities have blamed the surge in infections on the Delta variant.Authorities have blamed the surge in infections on the Delta variant.
The Philippines health ministry has reported 12,021 coronavirus cases on Wednesday – the largest single-day increase in four months – and 154 new deaths.The Philippines health ministry has reported 12,021 coronavirus cases on Wednesday – the largest single-day increase in four months – and 154 new deaths.
Total confirmed cases have grown to more than 1.68 million and the death toll is 29,374.Total confirmed cases have grown to more than 1.68 million and the death toll is 29,374.
Here’s a report from Rebecca Ratcliffe, the Guardian’s south-east Asia correspondent, from Monday on Manila’s lockdown:Here’s a report from Rebecca Ratcliffe, the Guardian’s south-east Asia correspondent, from Monday on Manila’s lockdown:
Two coronavirus vaccines being developed in Thailand that are administered by nasal spray are to begin human trials by the end of the year.Two coronavirus vaccines being developed in Thailand that are administered by nasal spray are to begin human trials by the end of the year.
The government said the decision follows promising results from trials with mice.The government said the decision follows promising results from trials with mice.
Developed by the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, the vaccines are based on the adenovirus and influenza, reports Reuters.Developed by the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, the vaccines are based on the adenovirus and influenza, reports Reuters.
If human trials, which will also test protection against Delta, are successful, production for wider use could could begin in mid-2022.If human trials, which will also test protection against Delta, are successful, production for wider use could could begin in mid-2022.
From today, Australian citizens and permanent residents who live outside of the country will no longer be automatically exempt from outward travel restrictions and must apply for an exemption.From today, Australian citizens and permanent residents who live outside of the country will no longer be automatically exempt from outward travel restrictions and must apply for an exemption.
They will have to apply and provide supporting evidence such as a foreign driver’s licence, foreign residency card or utility bills.They will have to apply and provide supporting evidence such as a foreign driver’s licence, foreign residency card or utility bills.
There will be a transitional period until 7 September when travellers who arrive without an exemption will be allowed to travel “if their status as ordinarily resident overseas can be confirmed by an ABF officer at departure”.There will be a transitional period until 7 September when travellers who arrive without an exemption will be allowed to travel “if their status as ordinarily resident overseas can be confirmed by an ABF officer at departure”.
A British GP, Dr David Lloyd, has advised people with serious non-Covid health issues to seek medical help now, saying there is a “brief window of opportunity” before a “very difficult winter”.
The doctor, from Harrow in London, told Sky News that rates of infection there are “pretty high”, at 550 per 100,000, with unvaccinated patients ending up in hospital with serious complications.
He said: “Things are pretty all right at the moment, but come the winter I don’t know what’s going to happen, it’s going to be quite interesting.”
Facebook has said that it has removed hundreds of accounts from Russia that were linked to a marketing firm that tried to recruit social media influencers to push anti-vaccine disinformation about coronavirus.
The social media company said on Tuesday that it had banned accounts connected to Fazze, a subsidiary of UK-registered company AdNow, for violating its policy against foreign interference.
Facebook said the campaign, which investigators called a “disinformation laundromat”, targeted audiences largely in India, Latin America and the US.
It said it created misleading articles and petitions on forums like Reddit, Medium and Change.org and used fake accounts on Facebook and Instagram to promote them.
A UK government scientific adviser has said it is unlikely that coronavirus will be eradicated entirely and that it is likely to become a seasonal infection.
Prof Andrew Hayward, of University College London’s Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, and the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group, also said that the virus would probably continue to mutate which would make herd immunity unlikely.
He BBC Radio 4’s Today:
He added:
Sri Lanka reported 2,904 new coronavirus cases and 118 deaths on Tuesday, reports the Colombo Page.
Citing Epidemiology Unit figures, it said that so far 11,260,795 people have had a first dose of the vaccine and 2,249,678 have had a second.
It came as Sri Lanka’s government on Tuesday rejected calls for a lockdown to tackle a Covid “bomb”.
Government spokesman and media minister, Keheliya Rambukwella, said the country had not reached a critical stage, reported AFP.
“Curfews or a lockdown is the last resort, but we are not there yet,” he said. “Our target is to get everyone over the age of 18 vaccinated by September and thereafter it is in the hands of the gods.”
But the Sri Lanka Medical Association issued a “final warning” to the government to implement a lockdown for at least two weeks or face a bigger crisis.
Russia’s health minister, Mikhail Murashko, has said the Sputnik V vaccine is “around 83%” effective against the Delta variant – less than was previously thought.
In June, vaccine developers said it was about 90% effective against Delta.
Russia has recorded nearly 6.5 million infections since the beginning of the pandemic, reports Reuters.
A UK government scientific adviser has said a third jab will be “quite likely” for people with a weak immune system, but it’s still uncertain that over-50s will be offered one.
Prof Adam Finn, who is on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advising the government on vaccination, said he expects people who are immunosuppressed to be offered a third dose. But, he said, plans for a “broader booster programme is still uncertain”.
He said the JCVI has been asked to advise the government on who might be given a booster “if it proves necessary”.
He told BBC Breakfast:
Iran is experiencing its worst coronavirus surge yet, with anger growing as other countries get vaccinated and no longer have to wear face masks.
Here’s the latest from Jon Gambrell at the Associated Press:
Hi, I’m looking after the blog for the next few hours. Please get in touch with any questions or tips: miranda.bryant@guardian.co.uk
The World Health Organization has urged the 20 most powerful world leaders to overturn the “disgraceful” global imbalance in access to Covid-19 vaccines to reverse the tide before October, AFP reports.
The WHO’s Bruce Aylward said the world should be “disgusted” - and asked whether the situation could have been any worse had there been an active effort to block the planet’s poor from getting vaccinated.
The UN health agency has been increasingly infuriated by what it sees as the moral outrage of rich countries hogging vaccine supply while developing nations struggle to immunise their most vulnerable populations.
Aylward, the WHO’s frontman on accessing the tools to fight the coronavirus pandemic, urged people to tell politicians and business tycoons that it was electorally and financially safe to increase vaccine coverage in poorer nations.
South Korea reported more than 2,200 new daily Covid cases, a record since the pandemic began last January, health minister Kwon Deok-cheol said on Wednesday, as the country grapples with its most severe coronavirus outbreak.Despite having distancing measures in place for over a month, infections have spiked due to the spread of the more transmissible Delta variant and a rise in domestic travel over summer, Kwon told a Covid response meeting.He also noted a rise in so-called “silent spreaders” within communities such as workplaces, indoor gyms, churches and nursing homes, leading to an increase in infections of unknown origin.South Korea has been struggling since July to tame sporadic outbreaks of Covid that were at first centred largely on metropolitan Seoul but have since spread nationwide.
Hello and welcome to today’s live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.
South Korea reported more than 2,200 new daily cases, a record since the pandemic began last January, health minister Kwon Deok-cheol said on Wednesday, as the country grapples with its most severe coronavirus outbreak.
The World Health Organization has urged the 20 most powerful world leaders to overturn the “disgraceful” global imbalance in access to Covid-19 vaccines to reverse the tide before October.
The World Health Organization has urged the 20 most powerful world leaders to overturn the “disgraceful” global imbalance in access to Covid-19 vaccines in order to reverse the tide before October.
The UK health secretary, Sajid Javid, said preparations are being made to offer Covid booster jabs in the UK from next month, but a leading expert suggested that such a move would not be supported by the science and that it was likely to be unnecessary.
Reaching herd immunity is “not a possibility” with the current Delta variant, Pollard told MPs, since the vaccines do not stop the spread of Covid. Therefore reaching the threshold for overall immunity in the population is “mythical”, although the existing vaccines are very effective at preventing serious Covid illness and death, he said.
Germany’s leaders are expected to set out new coronavirus regulations for the coming months, including abolishing free testing to incentivise people to get vaccinated. The unvaccinated will be expected to undergo tests which they must pay for themselves as a condition for attending all manner of events, from indoor gatherings to restaurant visits to church services.
Thailand’s government backed down from widely criticised regulations that would enable it to prosecute people for distributing “news that may cause public fear”.
Also in the south-east Asian country today, police fired teargas and rubber bullets at protesters calling for the government to resign over its handing of the pandemic. Lines of police, backed by trucks spraying jets from water cannons, fired teargas and rubber bullets at scores of demonstrators in Bangkok, as they threw rocks and fireworks and set fire to a traffic police booth.
Myanmar’s army has carried out at least 252 attacks and threats against health workers since the February coup, killing at least 25 medics and hampering the response to a resurgent outbreak of Covid-19, rights groups have said.
Donald Trump was “afraid” when he put on a display of bravado at the White House after being treated for a severe coronavirus infection, his estranged niece Mary Trump has claimed.