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Scientists say vaccines are the only way out of the pandemic, but inoculation programs have started slowly
China on Thursday recorded its first death from COVID-19 in eight months, as experts huddled to discuss the worrying new strains of the coronavirus that are spreading rapidly around the world.
The Geneva meeting of the World Health Organization’s emergency committee comes as colleagues land in Wuhan for a long-delayed mission to find the origin of the virus.
More than 91 million people have been infected, and nearly two million of them have died, according to figures that are believed to be underestimated.
Much of the planet is engulfed in a second or third wave of disease, and populations rage under painful and economically damaging constraints.
China, where the virus first appeared, has once again locked up millions as it struggles to control a new outbreak that has now claimed its first victim, causing distress on social media.
The hashtag “New virus death in Hebei” quickly rose to 100 million views on the Twitter-like Weibo platform.
“I haven’t seen the words ‘virus death’ in so long, it’s a bit shocking! I hope the epidemic passes soon,” wrote one user.
The death comes as a politically sensitive investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic finally got under way with the arrival of a 10-person team in Wuhan, where the virus emerged in late 2019.
Family members attend the funeral of a Covid-19 victim in Brazil, one of the most affected countries in the world
Mission leader Peter Ben Embarek said the group would begin a two-week quarantine in a hotel before the investigation begins in earnest.
But, he warned, “it could be a very long journey before we fully understand what happened.”
Beijing has argued that Wuhan might not be the place where the virus originated, only where it was first identified.
“I don’t think we will have clear answers after this initial mission, but we will be on our way,” Embarek added.
Disneyland
Regardless of the origin of the virus, scientists say that large-scale vaccination is the only way to escape its ravages.
The programs have come to life in several countries, although progress is slower than many expect.
In the United States, where more than 4,000 people die each day from the disease, about 10 million have received a first injection.
Health workers were waiting to meet with the WHO team when they arrived in Wuhan on Thursday before their investigation into the origins of the pandemic.
California Disneyland opened its doors Wednesday as a vaccination site, with 81-year-old Gary Dohman leading the line.
“Easy, no brainer, nothing. I didn’t even feel it come in,” she said after getting the injection.
“I’ve been locked up in a house for 10 months, I can’t go anywhere. I want to get my second chance and travel a bit.”
There was good news for those who have already had COVID-19, with a British study suggesting that recovery confers immunity for at least five months for most people.
The research will be welcomed by Britain’s health workers under pressure struggling to cope with the growing burden of cases caused in part by a new, more infectious strain of the virus.
That strain, and another identified in South Africa, was under the microscope in Geneva on Thursday when the WHO emergency committee meets.
The newly identified variants have been recorded in dozens of countries.
The committee normally meets every three months, but the WHO said the director-general moved the meeting forward “to consider issues that need urgent discussion.”
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Premier League players have been told to tone down their goal celebrations to aid social distancing
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Up to a million people are expected on Thursday alone for the first day of the Hindu festival of Kumbh Mela in Haridwar.
A million pilgrims
Sport has provided a measure of fun for many trapped in their homes, but this week elite athletes were warned that they had to lead by example.
The heads of the English Premier League told the clubs that they could be penalized if players hug or shake hands after goals.
“We are fortunate to continue to play and bring our competition to fans at home and around the world,” said EPL CEO Richard Masters.
“This brings justified additional scrutiny and the Premier League must take the initiative to set the right example to follow.”
Hindu pilgrims gathered on the banks of the Ganges River in India were ignoring the terrible pandemic.
Up to a million people were expected to show up for the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar on Thursday alone.
“The pandemic is a bit worrisome, but we are taking all precautions,” organizer Siddharth Chakrapani said, adding that he was not overly concerned for the worshipers.
“I am sure Maa Ganga will take care of your safety,” he said, referring to the holy river.
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© 2021 AFP
Citation: China records first virus death in 8 months as WHO huddles in new strains (2021, January 14) retrieved on January 14, 2021 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-01-china- virus-death-months-huddles. html
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