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| Covid live: UK PM criticised for not wearing mask in hospital; France hospitalisations in highest rise since August | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Boris Johnson was picture without a mask during hospital visit; French authorities said 156 more people in hospital with Covid over past 24 hours | |
| This picture of Boris Johnson “irresponsibly parading” through a hospital without a mask is getting some attention online. | |
| The UK prime minister missed an emergency debate on MPs’ standards in the Commons on Monday (live updates here). According to Downing Street, he was unable to get back to Westminster in time following a long-planned visit to Hexham Hospital in Northumberland. | |
| Labour’s shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth accused him of “irresponsibly parading round a hospital without a mask”. He added: “Patients and NHS staff deserve better than this.” | |
| Photos from the visit show a maskless Johnson walking down a corridor and meeting staff, while in others he is wearing one. | |
| The UK has reported a further 57 deaths within 28 days of a positive test, and another 32,322 Covid cases, according to the latest data on the government’s dashboard. This represents a drop in infections by 16.6% in the past week, while deaths are up by 8.2%. | |
| Ukraine’s Greek Catholic Church has opened a Covid vaccination centre in one of its Kiev cathedrals - the first religious institution to do so in a country where infections have surged. | Ukraine’s Greek Catholic Church has opened a Covid vaccination centre in one of its Kiev cathedrals - the first religious institution to do so in a country where infections have surged. |
| Ukraine recently reported record numbers of daily Covid deaths and cases, while only 25% of its population is fully vaccinated. | Ukraine recently reported record numbers of daily Covid deaths and cases, while only 25% of its population is fully vaccinated. |
| Religious institutions in the country had been cautious to urge people to get vaccinated, let alone allow their premises to be used as vaccination points. | Religious institutions in the country had been cautious to urge people to get vaccinated, let alone allow their premises to be used as vaccination points. |
| But clerics of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the third-largest in the country, on Sunday opened the doors of their main Kiev cathedral to those wanting a jab. | But clerics of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the third-largest in the country, on Sunday opened the doors of their main Kiev cathedral to those wanting a jab. |
| “The church sees no reason to refuse the vaccine,” Father Taras Zheblinsky, head of the Greek Catholic Church’s media department, told AFP. | “The church sees no reason to refuse the vaccine,” Father Taras Zheblinsky, head of the Greek Catholic Church’s media department, told AFP. |
| “Taking the vaccine is a way to save your life and health,” he said, standing inside the large Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in eastern Kiev. | “Taking the vaccine is a way to save your life and health,” he said, standing inside the large Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in eastern Kiev. |
| Ukraine reported a further 793 deaths on Saturday - a record for the country, which has an under-resourced health care system. | Ukraine reported a further 793 deaths on Saturday - a record for the country, which has an under-resourced health care system. |
| New daily cases hit a pandemic record of 27,377 last week and were at more than 13,000 on Monday. | New daily cases hit a pandemic record of 27,377 last week and were at more than 13,000 on Monday. |
| “We are getting vaccinated so that if we get sick, then it will be a mild illness,” Nazar Kozak, one of dozens waiting for a jab told AFP. | “We are getting vaccinated so that if we get sick, then it will be a mild illness,” Nazar Kozak, one of dozens waiting for a jab told AFP. |
| “When trouble comes to a country, any community, including a religious one, should help people,” said the 32-year-old lawyer. | “When trouble comes to a country, any community, including a religious one, should help people,” said the 32-year-old lawyer. |
| Ukrainian authorities initially struggled to source vaccine doses and have since fought to convince vaccine-sceptic Ukrainians to get inoculated. | Ukrainian authorities initially struggled to source vaccine doses and have since fought to convince vaccine-sceptic Ukrainians to get inoculated. |
| But new restrictions requiring vaccinations have seen people across the country flock to vaccine centres, with inoculations now running at about 250,000 people a day. | But new restrictions requiring vaccinations have seen people across the country flock to vaccine centres, with inoculations now running at about 250,000 people a day. |
| Since the start of the pandemic, Ukraine has recorded more than 3 million coronavirus cases and 72,000 deaths. | Since the start of the pandemic, Ukraine has recorded more than 3 million coronavirus cases and 72,000 deaths. |
| French health authorities said on Monday the number of people hospitalised because of Covid went up by 156 over the past 24 hours, the highest daily rise since 23 August, to reach a one-month peak of 6,865. | French health authorities said on Monday the number of people hospitalised because of Covid went up by 156 over the past 24 hours, the highest daily rise since 23 August, to reach a one-month peak of 6,865. |
| The number of patients in intensive care units (ICUs) for the disease increased by 40 to 1,141, a ninth rise in 10 days. | The number of patients in intensive care units (ICUs) for the disease increased by 40 to 1,141, a ninth rise in 10 days. |
| The French president Emmanuel Macron will speak to the nation on Tuesday about the resurgence of Covid infections as well as his economic reform programme, the government said last week. | The French president Emmanuel Macron will speak to the nation on Tuesday about the resurgence of Covid infections as well as his economic reform programme, the government said last week. |
| France also registered 55 new deaths in hospital from the epidemic, the highest daily increase since 5 October, taking the total to 91,053. | France also registered 55 new deaths in hospital from the epidemic, the highest daily increase since 5 October, taking the total to 91,053. |
| Including nursing homes fatalities, the French Covid death toll is close to 118,000. | Including nursing homes fatalities, the French Covid death toll is close to 118,000. |
| The European Union’s medicines regulator said on Monday it will give region-wide recommendations for the Covid antiviral pill jointly developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics in the “shortest possible” time-frame. | The European Union’s medicines regulator said on Monday it will give region-wide recommendations for the Covid antiviral pill jointly developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics in the “shortest possible” time-frame. |
| The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said it was reviewing the available data as the watchdog seeks to help member states before possible approval, Reuters reports. | The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said it was reviewing the available data as the watchdog seeks to help member states before possible approval, Reuters reports. |
| Denmark’s government aims to reinstate the use of digital certificates known as “corona passports”, to verify that the holder is vaccinated or has tested negative for the coronavirus, broadcaster TV 2 reported on Monday citing sources. | Denmark’s government aims to reinstate the use of digital certificates known as “corona passports”, to verify that the holder is vaccinated or has tested negative for the coronavirus, broadcaster TV 2 reported on Monday citing sources. |
| The number of daily infections in the country has risen steadily to more than 2,000 in recent days from a low of just over 200 in mid-September. | The number of daily infections in the country has risen steadily to more than 2,000 in recent days from a low of just over 200 in mid-September. |
| This is from the American Academy of Pediatrics, encouraging parents in the US to vaccination their children aged 5-11 against Covid | This is from the American Academy of Pediatrics, encouraging parents in the US to vaccination their children aged 5-11 against Covid |
| The European Union is negotiating with Merck & Co and Pfizer over possible contracts to supply their experimental Covid drugs, an EU official told Reuters, adding that talks with Merck were more advanced. | The European Union is negotiating with Merck & Co and Pfizer over possible contracts to supply their experimental Covid drugs, an EU official told Reuters, adding that talks with Merck were more advanced. |
| Both US drugmakers have developed antiviral pills that have shown promising efficacy in trials of adults with Covid who are at high risk of serious illness, with Pfizer’s at 89% and Merck’s around 50%. | Both US drugmakers have developed antiviral pills that have shown promising efficacy in trials of adults with Covid who are at high risk of serious illness, with Pfizer’s at 89% and Merck’s around 50%. |
| “Contacts are ongoing with both,” the EU official familiar with the discussions said on Monday, asking not to be named as the negotiations are confidential. | “Contacts are ongoing with both,” the EU official familiar with the discussions said on Monday, asking not to be named as the negotiations are confidential. |
| Talks with Merck were more advanced because it has already begun submitting data to the European Union’s drugs regulator, the official added. | Talks with Merck were more advanced because it has already begun submitting data to the European Union’s drugs regulator, the official added. |
| Pfizer has yet to submit any data because preliminary results of its trials were published only last week, a month after Merck’s first results. | Pfizer has yet to submit any data because preliminary results of its trials were published only last week, a month after Merck’s first results. |
| A spokesperson for the European Commission, which coordinates talks with drugmakers on behalf of EU states, declined to comment on negotiations. | A spokesperson for the European Commission, which coordinates talks with drugmakers on behalf of EU states, declined to comment on negotiations. |
| Merck was not immediately available for comment. Pfizer declined to comment. | Merck was not immediately available for comment. Pfizer declined to comment. |
| EU officials discussed procuring Covid drugs at a meeting last week, the EU source said, stressing the bloc of 27 member states wanted to move as fast as possible to buy new treatments, but wanted to have further guarantees on their safety. | EU officials discussed procuring Covid drugs at a meeting last week, the EU source said, stressing the bloc of 27 member states wanted to move as fast as possible to buy new treatments, but wanted to have further guarantees on their safety. |
| So far, the only approval is for Merck’s drug in the UK. | So far, the only approval is for Merck’s drug in the UK. |
| Both drugs treatments are given for five days. Pfizer’s regimen is for three pills taken in the morning and three at night. Merck’s is four pills in the morning and four at night. | Both drugs treatments are given for five days. Pfizer’s regimen is for three pills taken in the morning and three at night. Merck’s is four pills in the morning and four at night. |
| Asked whether the higher efficacy shown by Pfizer’s treatment could affect talks with Merck, the EU official said they could not be compared for now and more data was needed. | Asked whether the higher efficacy shown by Pfizer’s treatment could affect talks with Merck, the EU official said they could not be compared for now and more data was needed. |
| A rush to secure the initial, limited courses of both pills is under way. The UK has procured 480,000 courses of Merck’s pill and 250,000 courses of Pfizer’s. | A rush to secure the initial, limited courses of both pills is under way. The UK has procured 480,000 courses of Merck’s pill and 250,000 courses of Pfizer’s. |
| Meanwhile, Joe Biden said last week that the US had secured “millions” of courses of the Pfizer treatment, and has also bought 1.7 million courses of Merck’s. | Meanwhile, Joe Biden said last week that the US had secured “millions” of courses of the Pfizer treatment, and has also bought 1.7 million courses of Merck’s. |
| Australia and several Asian countries have also secured courses of the new drugs or are in the process of doing so. | Australia and several Asian countries have also secured courses of the new drugs or are in the process of doing so. |
| Indonesia’s drug regulator said on Monday that it was reviewing Merck’s pill, ahead of a possible purchase of up to 1 million courses of it next month. | Indonesia’s drug regulator said on Monday that it was reviewing Merck’s pill, ahead of a possible purchase of up to 1 million courses of it next month. |
| Thailand, which has been in talks with Merck to buy 200,000 treatments since October, is also in negotiations with Pfizer for its pill, a medical adviser told Reuters. | Thailand, which has been in talks with Merck to buy 200,000 treatments since October, is also in negotiations with Pfizer for its pill, a medical adviser told Reuters. |
| Pfizer expects to produce more than 180,000 courses of its therapy by the end of 2021, whereas Merck plans output of 10 million courses. Both plan to ramp up production in 2022. | Pfizer expects to produce more than 180,000 courses of its therapy by the end of 2021, whereas Merck plans output of 10 million courses. Both plan to ramp up production in 2022. |
| One in ten people in the UK have expressed their regret over buying items ranging from hot tubs to DIY tools during the pandemic, according to a survey conducted by insurer Aviva. | One in ten people in the UK have expressed their regret over buying items ranging from hot tubs to DIY tools during the pandemic, according to a survey conducted by insurer Aviva. |
| During lockdowns, some people used money which would normally have been spent on commuting, holidays and socialising, to treat themselves to items for the home or garden, or to get fit or start new hobbies. | During lockdowns, some people used money which would normally have been spent on commuting, holidays and socialising, to treat themselves to items for the home or garden, or to get fit or start new hobbies. |
| A survey of 4,000 people found some are now experiencing buyers’ remorse, with many expensive items now either sold, given away or gathering dust, Aviva said. | A survey of 4,000 people found some are now experiencing buyers’ remorse, with many expensive items now either sold, given away or gathering dust, Aviva said. |
| Gaming equipment, DIY tools, home gym equipment, bikes, clothing and jewellery, musical instruments, kitchen appliances such as bread makers, garden furniture, pizza ovens and hot tubs all appeared on the regret list. | Gaming equipment, DIY tools, home gym equipment, bikes, clothing and jewellery, musical instruments, kitchen appliances such as bread makers, garden furniture, pizza ovens and hot tubs all appeared on the regret list. |
| The BBC has the story. | The BBC has the story. |
| *I regret buying Nintendogs, I’m sure my poor puppies ran away and left me circa lockdown 2.0. | *I regret buying Nintendogs, I’m sure my poor puppies ran away and left me circa lockdown 2.0. |
| Pfizer and BioNTech are expected to seek authorisation for their Covid vaccine booster shot for people aged 18 and above as soon as this week, the Washington Post reported on Monday, citing officials familiar with the situation. | Pfizer and BioNTech are expected to seek authorisation for their Covid vaccine booster shot for people aged 18 and above as soon as this week, the Washington Post reported on Monday, citing officials familiar with the situation. |
| The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September authorised the extra shot for those aged 65 and above, people at high risk of severe disease, and others regularly exposed to the virus. | The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September authorised the extra shot for those aged 65 and above, people at high risk of severe disease, and others regularly exposed to the virus. |
| Pfizer and US health officials have argued that the boosters prevent hospitalisations and deaths and that emerging data indicates they can slow mild infections as well. | Pfizer and US health officials have argued that the boosters prevent hospitalisations and deaths and that emerging data indicates they can slow mild infections as well. |
| Pfizer did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment. | Pfizer did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment. |