This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2021/aug/24/coronavirus-live-news-hawaii-governor-wants-to-curb-travel-israel-boosters-beating-delta

The article has changed 36 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Coronavirus live news: Hawaii governor wants to curb travel; Israel boosters ‘beating Delta’ Coronavirus live news: Hawaii governor wants to curb travel; Israel boosters ‘beating Delta’
(32 minutes later)
US state asks people to reduce movement to tackle spread of Delta strain; Israeli sees cases dip in wake of third shots; New Zealand heads for record outbreakUS state asks people to reduce movement to tackle spread of Delta strain; Israeli sees cases dip in wake of third shots; New Zealand heads for record outbreak
Northern Ireland has the highest rate of Covid-19 infection in the UK, at 579.5 per 100,000 people, figures have shown.
It is the highest infection rate in the region since 8 January.
The district of Fermanagh and Omagh has the highest rate of any local authority in the UK, with a total of 1,003.9 cases per 100,000 people recorded in the seven days to 18 August.
Nine further deaths of patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 were reported in Northern Ireland on Monday, along with another 1,320 confirmed cases of the virus
Stormont health minister Robin Swann appeared to rule out another lockdown being agreed at the next meeting of the Stormont executive, or cabinet, in September.
He told the BBC:
It came during an initiative to boost numbers of those vaccinated called the Big Jab Weekend.
Following the closure of the large-scale vaccination centre at the SSE Arena in Belfast, the next phase of the programme is set to focus on localised pop-up walk-in clinics, PA reports, both in high footfall locations and in areas where accessibility issues and other barriers may have impacted on take-up.
In the Indian state of West Bengal, an order issued by the local government means people no longer have to book in advance for their vaccine, as the country anticipates a third wave of Covid-19 starting in September or October.
On Friday, India approved the world’s first DNA coronavirus vaccine, despite a lack of transparency around the jab’s long-term effectiveness from manufacturer Zydus Cadila
As the number of recorded coronavirus infections in the UK rises again, The Guardian spoke to three people about their experiences of catching Covid despite having been fully vaccinated, and how it affected their daily lives.
This opinion piece on anti-vaxx athletes by Jonathan Liew is absolutely fascinating, about how he’s seen sportsmen be especially susceptible to misinformation and how not every person who falls for it fits the stereotype of a village idiot or a political extremist.This opinion piece on anti-vaxx athletes by Jonathan Liew is absolutely fascinating, about how he’s seen sportsmen be especially susceptible to misinformation and how not every person who falls for it fits the stereotype of a village idiot or a political extremist.
Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan has been posting entertaining videos from his hotel quarantine in Australia, including one minute of back-to-back Aussie slang.Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan has been posting entertaining videos from his hotel quarantine in Australia, including one minute of back-to-back Aussie slang.
Nearly 40% of 16 and 17-year-olds in Scotland have now had one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, BBC News is reporting. Two weeks after the vaccine was rolled out to that age group, 44,000 16 and 17-year-olds have had one jab.Nearly 40% of 16 and 17-year-olds in Scotland have now had one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, BBC News is reporting. Two weeks after the vaccine was rolled out to that age group, 44,000 16 and 17-year-olds have had one jab.
This is a bit of light relief from Alyx Gorman in Australia, featuring readers’ terrible lockdown purchases.This is a bit of light relief from Alyx Gorman in Australia, featuring readers’ terrible lockdown purchases.
In case you missed it yesterday, here’s the footage of anti-vaccine protestors occupying the headquarters of ITV News and Channel 4 News in London.In case you missed it yesterday, here’s the footage of anti-vaccine protestors occupying the headquarters of ITV News and Channel 4 News in London.
After marching from King’s Cross station to ITN’s headquarters on Gray’s Inn Road, protesters were met by two uniformed police officers guarding the building’s revolving doors. However, they were immediately let in through an emergency exit, apparently by a supporter who was already inside the building.After marching from King’s Cross station to ITN’s headquarters on Gray’s Inn Road, protesters were met by two uniformed police officers guarding the building’s revolving doors. However, they were immediately let in through an emergency exit, apparently by a supporter who was already inside the building.
The newly elected Iranian government led by President Ebrahim Raisi is facing demands to broaden its sources of vaccines as the country becomes engulfed by its fifth and most deadly wave of Covid-19.The newly elected Iranian government led by President Ebrahim Raisi is facing demands to broaden its sources of vaccines as the country becomes engulfed by its fifth and most deadly wave of Covid-19.
The supply of vaccines is said to be close to exhausted in Isfahan and Tabriz, as well as provinces including Gilan, Khuzestan and Mazandaran.The supply of vaccines is said to be close to exhausted in Isfahan and Tabriz, as well as provinces including Gilan, Khuzestan and Mazandaran.
Bahram Einollahi, the proposed minister of health in the Raisi administration, said he did not expect Iran to be fully vaccinated until next February, a slower timetable than once predicted by Raisi. He told the confirmation hearings in front of the Iranian parliament that this would require 120 million doses of vaccine.Bahram Einollahi, the proposed minister of health in the Raisi administration, said he did not expect Iran to be fully vaccinated until next February, a slower timetable than once predicted by Raisi. He told the confirmation hearings in front of the Iranian parliament that this would require 120 million doses of vaccine.
Equities and oil prices rose again in Asia today, extending a global rally fuelled by renewed optimism over the recovery outlook after Washington gave full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine and an increase in US Covid infections appeared to be peaking.Equities and oil prices rose again in Asia today, extending a global rally fuelled by renewed optimism over the recovery outlook after Washington gave full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine and an increase in US Covid infections appeared to be peaking.
Markets have enjoyed a strong start to the week, further helped by bargain-hunting following a recent sell-off caused by worries including the fast-spreading Delta variant and expectations the Fed will soon begin tapering financial support.Markets have enjoyed a strong start to the week, further helped by bargain-hunting following a recent sell-off caused by worries including the fast-spreading Delta variant and expectations the Fed will soon begin tapering financial support.
New York’s three main indexes shot higher Monday – with the Nasdaq hitting a new record – as traders cheered news that the Food and Drug Administration had fully approved the Pfizer-BioNTech shot, which is expected to help push up vaccinations.New York’s three main indexes shot higher Monday – with the Nasdaq hitting a new record – as traders cheered news that the Food and Drug Administration had fully approved the Pfizer-BioNTech shot, which is expected to help push up vaccinations.
About 52% of the population has been double-jabbed but the rate has slowed owing to hesitancy among many people.About 52% of the population has been double-jabbed but the rate has slowed owing to hesitancy among many people.
The FDA move “now paves the way for many companies and government agencies to enforce vaccine mandates”, said OANDA’s Edward Moya, adding that making them mandatory “could move the needle here in getting the US closer to herd immunity”.The FDA move “now paves the way for many companies and government agencies to enforce vaccine mandates”, said OANDA’s Edward Moya, adding that making them mandatory “could move the needle here in getting the US closer to herd immunity”.
Analysts said data suggesting that a recent spike in infections in the United States was tailing off was also lifting spirits as figures dropped in the original hotspots and new cases slowed in Florida and Louisiana.Analysts said data suggesting that a recent spike in infections in the United States was tailing off was also lifting spirits as figures dropped in the original hotspots and new cases slowed in Florida and Louisiana.
Max Rashbrooke makes a fabulous case here for the strict lockdown measures chosen by the “mysterious socialist hermit kingdom” of New Zealand. Twenty-six people in New Zealand have died of Covid-19, which is striking when compared with the UK’s 130,000.Max Rashbrooke makes a fabulous case here for the strict lockdown measures chosen by the “mysterious socialist hermit kingdom” of New Zealand. Twenty-six people in New Zealand have died of Covid-19, which is striking when compared with the UK’s 130,000.
Samsung Group will invest 240tn won ($206bn) in the next three years to expand its footprint in biopharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence, semiconductors and robotics in the post-pandemic era, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said.Samsung Group will invest 240tn won ($206bn) in the next three years to expand its footprint in biopharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence, semiconductors and robotics in the post-pandemic era, Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said.
The jewel of South Korea’s biggest conglomerate said the investment through 2023 will help strengthen the group’s global standing in key industries such as chip-making, while allowing it to seek growth opportunities in new areas such as robotics and next-generation telecommunications, reports Reuters.The jewel of South Korea’s biggest conglomerate said the investment through 2023 will help strengthen the group’s global standing in key industries such as chip-making, while allowing it to seek growth opportunities in new areas such as robotics and next-generation telecommunications, reports Reuters.
Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest memory chip maker, said the group plans to solidify technology and market leadership through mergers and acquisitions. It did not provide a breakdown of the investment figures.Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest memory chip maker, said the group plans to solidify technology and market leadership through mergers and acquisitions. It did not provide a breakdown of the investment figures.
The firm did not say whether the latest investment figure includes the $17bn it was reportedly spending on a new US chip contract chip factory.The firm did not say whether the latest investment figure includes the $17bn it was reportedly spending on a new US chip contract chip factory.
A comprehensive study into overcoming vaccine hesitancy in Australia has found a large proportion of the undecided could be swayed with the use of financial incentives, with take-up almost 12 times more likely if a $500 payment is on offer.
But the findings, contained in a research paper from Community and Patient Preference Research (Cappre), also show the use of social restrictions for the unvaccinated – such as the inability to travel or attend major events – would be enough for many to change their minds without any need for financial incentives.
Cuba will supply large quantities of its home-grown Covid-19 vaccine, Abdala, to Vietnam and also transfer the production technology to the south-east Asian country by the end of the year, the Vietnamese health ministry said.
After successfully containing the disease for much of the pandemic, Vietnam has been struggling to control its worst outbreak to date, Reuters reports, with a spike in infections and deaths ramping up pressure on authorities to speed up vaccinations.
“Cuba will send a large number of Covid doses and a team to Vietnam to support technology transfer by the end of this year,” the health ministry said in a statement, without specifying the number of doses.
Cuba has said its three-shot Abdala vaccine was 92.28% effective against the coronavirus in last-stage clinical trials in June.
Vietnam has so far signed deals for recombinant DNA protein and mRNA vaccine technology transfer and is also in talk with the US company Pfizer about locating a vaccine plant in the country.
The country has secured more than 23m doses of Covid-19 vaccines and expects to receive at least 50m doses in the fourth quarter, the health ministry said.
Vietnam’s inoculation programme, which started in March, is still at an early stage with only 1.9% of the country’s 98 million people fully vaccinated – one of the lowest rates in the region.
Almost 5,000 Covid-19 cases in the UK have been linked to the music and surfing festival Boardmasters, which took place in Cornwall this month.
Health officials said 4,700 people who have tested positive for coronavirus confirmed they had attended the festival in Newquay or had connections to it. About three-quarters of them are aged 16-21 and about 800 live in the county.
At a factory in Sri Lanka’s Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia city, workers use staples and glue to assemble long cardboard boxes, which will be used as coffins for some of the country’s coronavirus victims.
The coffin is made out of recycled paper and costs a sixth of the cheapest wooden casket, according to 51-year old Priyantha Sahabandu, the local government official who came up with the idea.
As Sri Lanka’s death toll from Covid-19 surges, some people are opting for these cardboard coffins when they cremate their loved ones. The country recorded its highest daily death toll of 198 on Friday, with total fatalities reaching 7,560.
About 400 people die every day on average in Sri Lanka of various causes, including Covid-19, said Sahabandu, a member of the municipal council for Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, a city in Colombo district.
Each coffin costs about 4,500 Sri Lankan rupees ($22.56), compared with 30,000 rupees for a cheap wooden coffin, Sahabandu said. It can hold up to 100 kilograms.
The coffins were initially used mostly for Covid-19 victims, but have become more popular among those concerned about the environment. Some 350 cardboard coffins have been delivered since early 2020, and the factory is working on another 150 ordered by the council.
“The majority of the people in the country support this. The issue today is supplying it. We are working on that,” Sahabandu said.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa announced a total lockdown on Friday for ten days to curb a renewed surge in Covid-19 cases driven by the spread of the highly transmissible Delta variant.
There have been similar fun and games with cultural references in Australia where the prime minister, Scott Morrison, has likened the country’s Covid escape plan to the cartoon film The Croods.
Morrison, who is under pressure to find a way to lift the lengthy lockdowns affecting the most populous states of New South Wales and Victoria, explained the exit strategy thus:
In the real world, NSW recorded another 753 cases on Tuesday but passed 6m vaccination doses to open up the prospect of some lifting of restrictions for people who have been doubled-jabbed. The state is in its ninth week of lockdown, while Victoria is under lockdown until the end of the month.
New Zealand is bracing for its worst outbreak of the virus after it added a further 41 cases, taking the total to 148 since it started spreading last week.
The majority of those infected are Samoan, and are linked to a sub-cluster who assembled at the Assembly of God church in Mangere, Auckland before the lockdown.
A nationwide, level 4 lockdown – the highest setting – has been extended until at least the end of the week, as the country battles to contain the outbreak of the Delta variant.
New Zealand has been mocked for going into hard lockdown over relatively few cases, but our columnist Max Rashbrooke explains why he’s happy to live in “Jacinda Ardern’s mysterious socialist hobbit kingdom”.
Bright sunshine and fast evaporation have been linked with falling rates of coronavirus, while cloudy skies and slow evaporation appear to aid the spread of the virus.
A study into whether seasons affect the spread of Covid – as happens with flu – has been published in the journal GeoHealth.
It reveals that there were two variables – ultraviolet levels and air-drying capacity – that consistently correlated with Covid-19 levels in all countries.
Read more on this here:
Israeli officials and scientists have reported seeing infections fall after people began receiving a third vaccine shot.
After one of the world’s most successful vaccine rollouts, Israel saw a sharp increase in cases fuelled by the fast-spreading Delta variant. It began a program to deliver a third shot at the end of July, starting with the over-60s.
On Thursday, it expanded eligibility to 40-year-olds and up whose second dose was given at least five months prior, saying the age may drop further.
In the past 10 days, the pandemic is abating among the first age group, more than a million of whom have received a third vaccine dose, according to Israeli health ministry data and scientists interviewed by Reuters.
The rate of disease spread among vaccinated people age 60 and over - known as the reproduction rate - began falling steadily around 13 August and has dipped below 1, indicating that each infected person is transmitting the virus to fewer than one other person. A reproduction rate of less than 1 means an outbreak is subsiding.
Hawaii’s governor has asked that visitors and residents reduce travel to the islands while the state struggles to control the spread of the Delta variant.
David Ige said on Monday local time that he wants to curtail travel to Hawaii through to the end of October.
“It is a risky time to be traveling right now,” he said.
He said restaurant capacity has been restricted by staff shortages and there was limited access to rental cars.
Ige stopped short of the kind of mandate he introduced last year, saying that he did not want a repeat of measures that shut down Hawaii’s tourism industry.
Good morning/afternoon/evening wherever you are and welcome to our rolling updates on the coronavirus pandemic.
Hawaii’s governor wants to curtail travel to the state until the end of October while the state struggles to control the Delta strain. David Ige said late on Monday: “It is a risky time to be traveling right now.”
And Israeli scientists say the country’s vaccine booster drive is driving down a resurgence of infections driven the fast-spreading Delta variant. Cases are already abating among over-60s, the first group to have the third shot, Reuters reports.
More on these stories shortly. In the meantime, here are the key recent developments:
US regulators have given full approval to the Pfizer vaccine in a decision likely to trigger a wave of formal vaccine requirements from government departments, businesses, schools and the military. Pfizer shares were up around 2.5% following the announcement.
Deaths from Covid-19 are now averaging 100 a day across the UK, and there are warnings that case rates will jump again when millions of pupils return to schools next week. The country racked up more than 31,000 new cases on Monday.
Almost 5,000 UK Covid-19 cases are linked to a music and surfing festival – Boardmasters – which took place in Cornwall this month.
New South Wales recorded another 753 cases on Tuesday but the Australian state has passed 6m vaccinations and will announce some relaxation of the tight lockdown curbs this week for people who have received two doses.
New Zealand is bracing for its biggest coronavirus outbreak yet as cases rose by another 41 on Tuesday. The majority of people are Samoan and are linked to a cluster at a church.
Vietnam has deployed soldiers to enforce a lockdown in Ho Chi Minh City, after authorities claimed enforcement of recent curbs has not been sufficiently strict – with people from today people from today generally prohibited from leaving their homes.
The WHO director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that Covid-19 booster shots should be delayed as priority ought be given to raising vaccination rates in countries where only 2% of the population has been inoculated.
A Spanish court rejected a renewed request, following a prior denial last week, by the regional government of Catalonia to reimpose a virus curfew in Barcelona and dozens of other cities, arguing the measure was “disproportionate” as infections have fallen.
Berlin nightclubs are set to reopen after a court repealed a blanket ban on dance events in closed rooms in the German capital, but only for the vaccinated or those who have recently recovered from Covid.