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Covid live: UK records 217 deaths and 41,299 new infections; US to begin vaccinating children aged 5-11 Covid live: UK records 217 deaths and 41,299 new infections; US to begin vaccinating children aged 5-11
(33 minutes later)
UK reports latest Covid data; US to begin giving Pfizer vaccines to children aged five to 11UK reports latest Covid data; US to begin giving Pfizer vaccines to children aged five to 11
That’s it from me, Samantha Lock, for today.
Stay tuned in to all the latest Covid developments here.
And join us later when we launch our next live blog in a few hours time.
Germany is enveloped in a “massive” pandemic of the unvaccinated, health minister says. Jens Spahn has warned: “The pandemic is far from over. We are currently experiencing a pandemic of the unvaccinated, which is massive. There would be fewer coronavirus patients on intensive care units if more people would let themselves be vaccinated.”
The Covid pandemic has caused the loss of 28m years of life, according to the largest-ever survey to assess the scale of the impact of the pandemic. The enormous toll was revealed in research, led by the University of Oxford, which calculated the years of life lost (YLL) in 37 countries.
Latvia declares three month state of emergency starting from Monday following a surge in Covid-19 infections to record levels as its vaccination rate remains one of the lowest in the EU. The number of daily infections is now well over 1,000 in the Baltic country of 1.9 million people, overtaking the peak infection rate seen during the pandemic earlier this year.
Turkey will begin administering booster shots to people who have received two doses of the Pfizer Inc/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, its health minister Fahrettin Koca said.
France reports highest daily cases since mid-September. Health authorities reported 10,050 daily new Covid-19 infections on Wednesday, the first time the tally has topped 10,000 since September 14.
The UK recorded another 41,299 Covid cases, and a further 217 deaths within 28 days of a positive test, in the latest 24-hour period. This is compared to 293 deaths and 33,865 positive infections reported a day prior.
UK launches trial of drug to tackle fatigue in long Covid patients. The first trial of a drug, called AXA1125, is set to target the fatigue and muscle weakness experienced by more than half of people with long Covid/ The drug targets cellular power plants called mitochondria, which it is thought could be dysfunctional in the subset of long Covid patients with severe fatigue.
The US is set to begin giving Covid vaccines to children aged five to 11, with roughly 28 million school-age kids eligible for the shots that provide protection against the illness.
A new study suggests that Covid-19 does not infect human brain cells, raising hopes that Covid-related damage to sense of smell may be more superficial than previously feared.A new study suggests that Covid-19 does not infect human brain cells, raising hopes that Covid-related damage to sense of smell may be more superficial than previously feared.
The study, published in the journal Cell, contradicts earlier research that suggested the virus infects neurons in the membrane that lines the upper recesses of the nose.The study, published in the journal Cell, contradicts earlier research that suggested the virus infects neurons in the membrane that lines the upper recesses of the nose.
This membrane, called the olfactory mucosa, is where the virus first lands when it is inhaled. Within it are olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs), which are responsible for initiating smell sensations. They are tightly entwined with a kind of support cell called sustentacular cells.This membrane, called the olfactory mucosa, is where the virus first lands when it is inhaled. Within it are olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs), which are responsible for initiating smell sensations. They are tightly entwined with a kind of support cell called sustentacular cells.
Read the full story here.Read the full story here.
Hi I’m Samantha Lock and I’ll be taking over from my colleague Nadeem Badshah for the next short while.Hi I’m Samantha Lock and I’ll be taking over from my colleague Nadeem Badshah for the next short while.
It’s a rainy morning over here in Sydney, Australia, where I’ll be reporting to bring you all the leading Covid headlines.It’s a rainy morning over here in Sydney, Australia, where I’ll be reporting to bring you all the leading Covid headlines.
Covid has caused the loss of 28m years of life, according to the largest-ever survey to assess the scale of the impact of the pandemic.Covid has caused the loss of 28m years of life, according to the largest-ever survey to assess the scale of the impact of the pandemic.
The enormous toll was revealed in research, led by the University of Oxford, which calculated the years of life lost (YLL) in 37 countries. The study measured the number of deaths and the age at which they occurred, making it the most detailed assessment yet of the impact of Covid-19.The enormous toll was revealed in research, led by the University of Oxford, which calculated the years of life lost (YLL) in 37 countries. The study measured the number of deaths and the age at which they occurred, making it the most detailed assessment yet of the impact of Covid-19.
Alongside significant falls in life expectancy in most countries, the number of years lost from premature deaths soared. Researchers said the true toll was likely to be even higher as they did not include most countries from Asia, Africa and Latin America in the study, due to a lack of data.Alongside significant falls in life expectancy in most countries, the number of years lost from premature deaths soared. Researchers said the true toll was likely to be even higher as they did not include most countries from Asia, Africa and Latin America in the study, due to a lack of data.
The US administered 425,272,828 doses of Covid-19 vaccines in the country as of Wednesday morning and distributed 525,071,855 doses, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.The US administered 425,272,828 doses of Covid-19 vaccines in the country as of Wednesday morning and distributed 525,071,855 doses, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
Those figures are up from the 423,942,794 vaccine doses the CDC said had gone into arms by Nov. 2 out of 521,502,845 doses delivered.Those figures are up from the 423,942,794 vaccine doses the CDC said had gone into arms by Nov. 2 out of 521,502,845 doses delivered.
The agency said 222,268,786 people had received at least one dose while 192,931,486 people were fully vaccinated as of 6:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday., Reuters reports.The agency said 222,268,786 people had received at least one dose while 192,931,486 people were fully vaccinated as of 6:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday., Reuters reports.
Chilean presidential candidate Gabriel Boric, has tested positive for Covid-19, less than three weeks before the Andean country votes.Chilean presidential candidate Gabriel Boric, has tested positive for Covid-19, less than three weeks before the Andean country votes.
In a post on Twitter, center-left former student leader Boric, 35, said he had just received the positive test and called on his contacts to follow pandemic protocols.In a post on Twitter, center-left former student leader Boric, 35, said he had just received the positive test and called on his contacts to follow pandemic protocols.
The leader of the broad leftist Frente Amplio coalition, which includes the country’s Communist Party, had gone into preventive isolation earlier in the week when he posted that he had a fever, a challenge for his team ahead of the November 21 vote.The leader of the broad leftist Frente Amplio coalition, which includes the country’s Communist Party, had gone into preventive isolation earlier in the week when he posted that he had a fever, a challenge for his team ahead of the November 21 vote.
Boric is seen just behind ultra-conservative candidate Jos Antonio Kast in election polls, with many surveys showing the leftist winning a likely second-round run-off in December.Boric is seen just behind ultra-conservative candidate Jos Antonio Kast in election polls, with many surveys showing the leftist winning a likely second-round run-off in December.
Denmark’s prime minister Mette Frederiksen, facing a probe over the slaughter of the country’s entire mink herd last year, has denied that she knew then that the government did not have legal authority to order the move.Denmark’s prime minister Mette Frederiksen, facing a probe over the slaughter of the country’s entire mink herd last year, has denied that she knew then that the government did not have legal authority to order the move.
Responding to the rising spread of coronavirus from mink to people, including a new mutated strain, Frederiksen’s Social Democratic government in November 2021 ordered all of the country’s 17 million minks killed, Reuters reports.Responding to the rising spread of coronavirus from mink to people, including a new mutated strain, Frederiksen’s Social Democratic government in November 2021 ordered all of the country’s 17 million minks killed, Reuters reports.
The government later admitted it did not have the legal authority to kill healthy mink herds, only those infected with coronavirus, leading to the exit of the minister of agriculture.The government later admitted it did not have the legal authority to kill healthy mink herds, only those infected with coronavirus, leading to the exit of the minister of agriculture.
Parliament launched a probe in December into whether other ministers including Frederiksen knew of but ignored the faulty legal basis for the order.Parliament launched a probe in December into whether other ministers including Frederiksen knew of but ignored the faulty legal basis for the order.
“What motive should the government have had for not disclosing the lack of legal basis? Let me make it very clear: I did not know,” Frederiksen told a press briefing.“What motive should the government have had for not disclosing the lack of legal basis? Let me make it very clear: I did not know,” Frederiksen told a press briefing.
Latvia has declared a three-month state of emergency starting from Monday following a surge in Covid-19 infections to record levels as its vaccination rate remains one of the lowest in the EU. The number of daily infections is now well over 1,000 in the Baltic country of 1.9 million people, overtaking the peak infection rate seen during the pandemic earlier this year, AFP reports. Under the new rules, masks are now obligatory in all buildings accessible by the general public and anyone employed in government must have a vaccine by November 15 at the latest. Unvaccinated people will only be allowed to shop for food and other essential items in designated stores and only shops considered essential will be allowed to open at weekends. All Latvians are being encouraged to work from home where possible.Latvia has declared a three-month state of emergency starting from Monday following a surge in Covid-19 infections to record levels as its vaccination rate remains one of the lowest in the EU. The number of daily infections is now well over 1,000 in the Baltic country of 1.9 million people, overtaking the peak infection rate seen during the pandemic earlier this year, AFP reports. Under the new rules, masks are now obligatory in all buildings accessible by the general public and anyone employed in government must have a vaccine by November 15 at the latest. Unvaccinated people will only be allowed to shop for food and other essential items in designated stores and only shops considered essential will be allowed to open at weekends. All Latvians are being encouraged to work from home where possible.
Turkey will begin administering boosters to people who have received two doses of the Pfizer Inc/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, its health minister Fahrettin Koca said.Turkey will begin administering boosters to people who have received two doses of the Pfizer Inc/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, its health minister Fahrettin Koca said.
Turkey has already administered a third dose to more than 11.2 million people who received two doses of the vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac, whose efficacy rate officials believe falls faster.Turkey has already administered a third dose to more than 11.2 million people who received two doses of the vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac, whose efficacy rate officials believe falls faster.
Koca said the booster shots for Pfizer/BioNTech recipients would begin on Thursday with the elderly, those with chronic illnesses, health workers and those in other high-risk jobs, Reuters reports.Koca said the booster shots for Pfizer/BioNTech recipients would begin on Thursday with the elderly, those with chronic illnesses, health workers and those in other high-risk jobs, Reuters reports.
He said 59% of the population had so far received two vaccines doses, adding: “That rate needs to get over 70% to achieve herd immunity.”He said 59% of the population had so far received two vaccines doses, adding: “That rate needs to get over 70% to achieve herd immunity.”
Brazil registered 164 Covid-19 deaths on Wednesday and 14,661 further cases, according to data released by the country’s health ministry.Brazil registered 164 Covid-19 deaths on Wednesday and 14,661 further cases, according to data released by the country’s health ministry.
The South American country has now registered a total of 608,235 coronavirus deaths and 21,835,785 total confirmed cases, Reuters reports.The South American country has now registered a total of 608,235 coronavirus deaths and 21,835,785 total confirmed cases, Reuters reports.
U.S. president Joe Biden said there will be enough Covid-19 vaccines by next week for children and these shots will be available at about 20,000 locations around the country.U.S. president Joe Biden said there will be enough Covid-19 vaccines by next week for children and these shots will be available at about 20,000 locations around the country.
The US has started administering the vaccine to children ages 5 to 11, the latest group to become eligible for the shots that provide protection against the illness, Reuters reports.The US has started administering the vaccine to children ages 5 to 11, the latest group to become eligible for the shots that provide protection against the illness, Reuters reports.
Canadian employers are firing or putting on unpaid leave thousands of workers who refused to get Covid-19 jabs, Reuters reports.Canadian employers are firing or putting on unpaid leave thousands of workers who refused to get Covid-19 jabs, Reuters reports.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised vaccine mandates as a central part of his successful campaign for re-election in September, setting a precedent that has spread from the public to the private sector.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised vaccine mandates as a central part of his successful campaign for re-election in September, setting a precedent that has spread from the public to the private sector.
The mandate for federal workers is one of the world’s strictest, and the government has extended it to federally regulated spaces, which include airports, and to air and rail travelers.The mandate for federal workers is one of the world’s strictest, and the government has extended it to federally regulated spaces, which include airports, and to air and rail travelers.
Across Canada, hospitals, banks, insurers, school boards, police and some provincial administrations are now implementing similar policies for current and future hires.Across Canada, hospitals, banks, insurers, school boards, police and some provincial administrations are now implementing similar policies for current and future hires.
Unvaccinated workers whose livelihoods are on the line - in a country where more than 83% of the eligible population over 12 years old have had their jabs- are flooding labour lawyers with calls.Unvaccinated workers whose livelihoods are on the line - in a country where more than 83% of the eligible population over 12 years old have had their jabs- are flooding labour lawyers with calls.
The latest Covid developments in Australia and elsewhere:The latest Covid developments in Australia and elsewhere: