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Covid live: Brazil health minister who shook hands with maskless Boris Johnson at UN tests positive Covid live: Brazil health minister who shook hands with maskless Boris Johnson at UN tests positive
(32 minutes later)
Marcelo Quiroga tests positive at UN general assembly in New York; Australia tourism minister says on track to reopen borders ‘by Christmas’Marcelo Quiroga tests positive at UN general assembly in New York; Australia tourism minister says on track to reopen borders ‘by Christmas’
Hello, I’m Tom Ambrose and will be keeping you updated on the day’s breaking Covid headlines throughout the afternoon.
We start with the news that the president of the United States Joe Biden is reportedly set to announce that the US is doubling its purchase of Pfizer’s coronavirus shots.
It is to share with the world up to 1 billion doses as he works towards vaccinating 70% of the global population within the next year. The Associated Press reports:
At least 160 million shots supplied by the U.S. have been distributed to more than 100 countries, representing more donations than the rest of the world combined.
The UK has announced plans for a “vaccine swap” with South Korea. The UK will send over 1m doses of its Pfizer/BioNTech stockpile to South Korea in the coming weeks as the country attempts to fully vaccinate 70% of its population by the end of October.The UK has announced plans for a “vaccine swap” with South Korea. The UK will send over 1m doses of its Pfizer/BioNTech stockpile to South Korea in the coming weeks as the country attempts to fully vaccinate 70% of its population by the end of October.
Brazil’s health minister Marcelo Queiroga shook hands with maskless British prime minister Boris Johnson at the UN before testing positive for Covid. Marcelo Queiroga, who sat close to Johnson and the UK foreign secretary Liz Truss on Monday during their meeting with Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro, confirmed his positive test on Twitter alongside a picture of himself wearing a mask. He was also filmed shaking hands with Johnson.Brazil’s health minister Marcelo Queiroga shook hands with maskless British prime minister Boris Johnson at the UN before testing positive for Covid. Marcelo Queiroga, who sat close to Johnson and the UK foreign secretary Liz Truss on Monday during their meeting with Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro, confirmed his positive test on Twitter alongside a picture of himself wearing a mask. He was also filmed shaking hands with Johnson.
A no-fly zone has been declared over Melbourne, Australia’s second-largest city, amid a third day of anti-lockdown protests. Police asked the aviation authority to declare the no-fly zone for operational and safety reasons.A no-fly zone has been declared over Melbourne, Australia’s second-largest city, amid a third day of anti-lockdown protests. Police asked the aviation authority to declare the no-fly zone for operational and safety reasons.
Australia’s tourism minister said the country is on track to reopen its borders “by Christmas at the latest”. Dan Tehan said on Wednesday during a National Press Club of Australia talk: “I do empathise with the Australians who have been denied the opportunity to travel overseas this year.”Australia’s tourism minister said the country is on track to reopen its borders “by Christmas at the latest”. Dan Tehan said on Wednesday during a National Press Club of Australia talk: “I do empathise with the Australians who have been denied the opportunity to travel overseas this year.”
The UK environment secretary George Eustice says the UK will pay “tens of millions” to support a CO2 producer as the country struggles with the ongoing energy crisis. He said it is going to cost the UK “many millions, possibly tens of millions” over the next three weeks.The UK environment secretary George Eustice says the UK will pay “tens of millions” to support a CO2 producer as the country struggles with the ongoing energy crisis. He said it is going to cost the UK “many millions, possibly tens of millions” over the next three weeks.
That’s it from me for today. Handing over now to my colleague Tom Ambrose. Thanks for reading!That’s it from me for today. Handing over now to my colleague Tom Ambrose. Thanks for reading!
With little work for taxi drivers in Thailand amid the pandemic, a Bangkok cab company has transformed its cars into mini vegetable gardens to provide food for workers.With little work for taxi drivers in Thailand amid the pandemic, a Bangkok cab company has transformed its cars into mini vegetable gardens to provide food for workers.
The Ratchapruek Taxi Cooperative has been forced to take hundreds of cars off the road in the last year as a result of Covid, reports Reuters, leaving many drivers without enough money to pay for the lease on their vehicles.The Ratchapruek Taxi Cooperative has been forced to take hundreds of cars off the road in the last year as a result of Covid, reports Reuters, leaving many drivers without enough money to pay for the lease on their vehicles.
The cooperative has been trying to help drivers by growing vegetables on the roofs and bonnets of 300 of its unused cabs to help feed drivers and their families.The cooperative has been trying to help drivers by growing vegetables on the roofs and bonnets of 300 of its unused cabs to help feed drivers and their families.
“We discussed among each other and decided to grow vegetables to eat because there is no use for these taxis,” said Thapakorn Asawalertkul, a business consultant for the company. “They have become just metal as they’ve been parking for over a year now.”“We discussed among each other and decided to grow vegetables to eat because there is no use for these taxis,” said Thapakorn Asawalertkul, a business consultant for the company. “They have become just metal as they’ve been parking for over a year now.”
Thailand has recorded over 1.5m Covid cases and 15,600 deaths, 99% of which have been since April 2021. Only 21% of people are vaccinated.Thailand has recorded over 1.5m Covid cases and 15,600 deaths, 99% of which have been since April 2021. Only 21% of people are vaccinated.
The UK government has said it is working as “quickly as possible” to remove the requirement for PCR testing for international travellers.The UK government has said it is working as “quickly as possible” to remove the requirement for PCR testing for international travellers.
The transport secretary, Grant Shapps, told a transport committee hearing today that while he did not have a precise date for when it would be lifted he said his colleagues at the department of health are “aware of half term” when families might want to go on holiday.The transport secretary, Grant Shapps, told a transport committee hearing today that while he did not have a precise date for when it would be lifted he said his colleagues at the department of health are “aware of half term” when families might want to go on holiday.
He said:He said:
He added:He added:
For UK politics news, please follow Andrew Sparrow’s live blog which is now up and running:For UK politics news, please follow Andrew Sparrow’s live blog which is now up and running:
The UK government has announced plans for a “vaccine swap” with South Korea.The UK government has announced plans for a “vaccine swap” with South Korea.
The UK will send over 1m doses of its Pfizer/BioNTech stockpile to South Korea in the coming weeks as the country attempts to fully vaccinate 70% of its population by the end of October.The UK will send over 1m doses of its Pfizer/BioNTech stockpile to South Korea in the coming weeks as the country attempts to fully vaccinate 70% of its population by the end of October.
South Korea will then return the same volume of doses back to the UK by the end of this year.South Korea will then return the same volume of doses back to the UK by the end of this year.
The UK has previously announced a similar deal with Australia.The UK has previously announced a similar deal with Australia.
The health secretary, Sajid Javid, said:The health secretary, Sajid Javid, said:
Marcelo Queiroga was reportedly staying at the same New York hotel as Joe Biden. And after shaking hands with the Brazilian health minister maskless on Monday, the British prime minister Boris Johnson went to the White House on Tuesday to meet the US president.Marcelo Queiroga was reportedly staying at the same New York hotel as Joe Biden. And after shaking hands with the Brazilian health minister maskless on Monday, the British prime minister Boris Johnson went to the White House on Tuesday to meet the US president.
More pictures from the meeting including Brazil’s health minister Marcelo Queiroga, who has tested positive for coronavirus, and the maskless UK prime minister Boris Johnson:More pictures from the meeting including Brazil’s health minister Marcelo Queiroga, who has tested positive for coronavirus, and the maskless UK prime minister Boris Johnson:
Russia has recorded 817 deaths and 19,706 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, reports Reuters.Russia has recorded 817 deaths and 19,706 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, reports Reuters.
The UK’s refusal to recognise Covishield, the Indian-made version of the AstraZeneca vaccine (see 06:47), has prompted outrage in India, reports the BBC.The UK’s refusal to recognise Covishield, the Indian-made version of the AstraZeneca vaccine (see 06:47), has prompted outrage in India, reports the BBC.
More than 721m doses of the vaccine have been administered so far, making it India’s most used vaccine.More than 721m doses of the vaccine have been administered so far, making it India’s most used vaccine.
The UK recently announced new rules - to come into force on 4 October - that allow fully vaccinated travellers from some countries not to self-isolate. But it did not include India.The UK recently announced new rules - to come into force on 4 October - that allow fully vaccinated travellers from some countries not to self-isolate. But it did not include India.
India has branded the move “discriminatory” and called on the UK to drop the requirement for fully-vaccinated Indians to self-isolate for 10 days.India has branded the move “discriminatory” and called on the UK to drop the requirement for fully-vaccinated Indians to self-isolate for 10 days.
India’s foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla reportedly said the issue has been taken up with UK foreign secretary Liz Truss and warned India might take “reciprocal measures”.India’s foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla reportedly said the issue has been taken up with UK foreign secretary Liz Truss and warned India might take “reciprocal measures”.
Shringla said it is “a discriminatory policy and does impact our citizens travelling to the UK.Shringla said it is “a discriminatory policy and does impact our citizens travelling to the UK.
More on Brazil’s health minister Marcelo Queiroga testing positive for coronavirus in New York (see 06:25) from Tom Phillips, the Guardian’s Latin America correspondent:More on Brazil’s health minister Marcelo Queiroga testing positive for coronavirus in New York (see 06:25) from Tom Phillips, the Guardian’s Latin America correspondent:
Twenty four hours after meeting with a mask-less Boris Johnson in New York, Brazil’s health minister has announced he has tested positive for Covid and gone into isolation.Twenty four hours after meeting with a mask-less Boris Johnson in New York, Brazil’s health minister has announced he has tested positive for Covid and gone into isolation.
Marcelo Queiroga, who sat close to Johnson and the foreign secretary Liz Truss on Monday during their meeting with Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro, confirmed his positive test on Twitter alongside a picture of himself wearing a mask. Queiroga, 55, was filmed shaking hands with Johnson and patting the prime minister on the arm during Monday’s meeting at the consulate general’s house in New York.Marcelo Queiroga, who sat close to Johnson and the foreign secretary Liz Truss on Monday during their meeting with Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro, confirmed his positive test on Twitter alongside a picture of himself wearing a mask. Queiroga, 55, was filmed shaking hands with Johnson and patting the prime minister on the arm during Monday’s meeting at the consulate general’s house in New York.
Despite Bolsonaro publicly claiming not to have been vaccinated against Covid, Johnson and other members of the British delegation were not wearing masks, although Queiroga was.Despite Bolsonaro publicly claiming not to have been vaccinated against Covid, Johnson and other members of the British delegation were not wearing masks, although Queiroga was.
Hours later Queiroga was caught on camera making obscene hand gestures to Brazilian protesters who had taken to the streets to denounce Bolsonaro’s anti-scientific handling of a Covid outbreak that has killed nearly 600,000 Brazilians.Brazil has reportedly cancelled its participation in the UN general assembly after Queiroga’s positive test - the second Covid case detected in the South American country’s delegation in recent days.Hours later Queiroga was caught on camera making obscene hand gestures to Brazilian protesters who had taken to the streets to denounce Bolsonaro’s anti-scientific handling of a Covid outbreak that has killed nearly 600,000 Brazilians.Brazil has reportedly cancelled its participation in the UN general assembly after Queiroga’s positive test - the second Covid case detected in the South American country’s delegation in recent days.
A no-fly zone has been declared over Melbourne, Australia’s second-largest city, amid a third day of anti-lockdown protests.A no-fly zone has been declared over Melbourne, Australia’s second-largest city, amid a third day of anti-lockdown protests.
Police asked the aviation authority to declare the no-fly zone for operational and safety reasons, reports Reuters.Police asked the aviation authority to declare the no-fly zone for operational and safety reasons, reports Reuters.
Groups of protesters roamed the streets and gathered at a city landmark, the Shrine of Remembrance, on Wednesday, despite being urged to remain at home.Groups of protesters roamed the streets and gathered at a city landmark, the Shrine of Remembrance, on Wednesday, despite being urged to remain at home.
“This is a very dynamic situation,” police media official Belinda Batty told the news agency, but did not say how many people had been arrested.“This is a very dynamic situation,” police media official Belinda Batty told the news agency, but did not say how many people had been arrested.
It comes as the city appeared to have escaped widespread damage and with no injuries after being shaken by a magnitude 5.9 earthquake.It comes as the city appeared to have escaped widespread damage and with no injuries after being shaken by a magnitude 5.9 earthquake.