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The new coronavirus has infected more than 84.3 million people around the world and claimed more than 1.8 million lives. Here are the updates for January 2:
An employee answers questions from the public near samples of a Covid-19 vaccine produced by Sinopharm subsidiary CNBG in Beijing on September 6, 2020 (AP)
Saturday, January 2, 2021
Different “real and valid” Chinese vaccine efficacy data
The different efficacy results of a Chinese Covid-19 vaccine launched separately in China and the United Arab Emirates are real and valid, an executive from the China National Biotec Group (CNBG) told state media.
China on Thursday approved its first Covid-19 vaccine for general public use, a vaccine developed by a state-backed Sinopharm affiliate, after the developer said the vaccine showed an efficacy of 79.34 percent according to a interim analysis of late-stage clinical trials.
That rate is lower than the 86 percent rate for the same vaccine reported by the United Arab Emirates on December 9.
Countries have certain differences in their standards and procedures for diagnosing patients, and the final results of the Covid-19 case identification were different, Yang Xiaoming, president of the CNBG of Sinopharm’s unit, told Global Times, a tabloid published by the People’s Daily, the official newspaper. of the ruling Communist Party of China.
“Thus, there were differences between the comprehensive data from various countries that we reviewed and the protection rate data previously assessed by the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain,” Yang said, according to the Global Times, in a report published Thursday.
“But these two results are real and valid,” Yang said, without elaborating on the data.
Vietnam reports the first case of a new variant
Vietnam has detected its first imported case of the new variant of the coronavirus that is rapidly spreading across Britain.
The variant was detected in a 44-year-old woman returning to Vietnam from Britain, who was quarantined upon arrival and confirmed positive for the virus on December 24, the Health Ministry said in a statement.
“The researchers ran genetic sequencing on the patient sample and found that the strain is a variant known as ‘VOC 202012/01,'” he said.
The variant includes a genetic mutation that, in theory, could make the virus spread more easily between people.
Confirmed cases of coronavirus in Germany increase by 12,690
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany rose by 12,690 to 1,755,351, data from the Robert Koch Institute for Infectious Diseases showed.
The reported death toll rose from 336 to 33,960, the tally showed.
Tokyo to request a new emergency declaration
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will ask the central government to declare a state of emergency following a resurgence of virus cases, local media reported.
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike will make the request in a meeting with Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who coordinates the government’s measures to combat the pandemic, the Nikkei newspaper said, citing multiple sources.
Saitama prefecture, north of Tokyo, will make a similar request to the government, national broadcaster NHK reported.
Mexico reports 11,091 new cases, 700 deaths
The Mexican Ministry of Health reported 11,091 new confirmed coronavirus cases and 700 additional deaths on Friday, bringing the total to 1,437,185 infections and 126,507 deaths.
The actual number of infected people and deaths is likely significantly higher than the official count, the Health Ministry said.
Previously, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Twitter that he had spoken with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and both decided to deepen their strategic relationship in the fight against the pandemic. He did not elaborate.
South Korea expands coronavirus social distancing in Seoul region
South Korea will extend unprecedented social distancing rules in Seoul and neighboring areas until January 17, a health official said on Saturday, including a ban on gatherings of more than four people.
Kwon Deok-cheol told a briefing that the measures were necessary to reduce a prolonged increase in infections that has led to an increase in deaths.
The country reported 824 new cases as of midnight on Friday, up from 1,029 the day before.
Australia virus cluster expands as Victoria, NSW records new cases
Australia’s state of Victoria recorded 10 new locally acquired Covid-19 cases on Saturday, as authorities confirmed that the outbreak in the southeastern state was “directly linked” to a growing cluster in neighboring New South Wales.
The rising numbers have prompted virus alerts for regional resort towns in both Victoria and New South Wales, where cases traveled before testing positive.
Victoria, who now has 29 active cases, this week made masks mandatory across the state while limiting meetings and closing her border with New South Wales, prompting lengthy delays at border checkpoints on New Year’s Day. New.
New South Wales, the epicenter of the outbreak, made masks mandatory starting at midnight after reporting seven new cases on Saturday.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian also announced restrictions on numbers for gym classes, weddings, funerals and places of worship to avoid any high-profile events.
“We will ensure compliance or enforcement takes place from Monday, so we will not impose a fine until Monday. The fine would be A $ 200 for not wearing a mask”, in certain indoor settings such as shopping malls , entertainment venues and public transportation. Berejiklian said.
Saints’ Kamara placed on reserve / Covid-19 list
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara tested positive for coronavirus and was placed on the reserve / Covid-19 list, the team announced Friday.
Kamara will be out for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers and his eligibility for the postseason, at least for the wild-card round, is now in question.
The star running back, who was coming off a six-touchdown performance on Christmas Day against the Minnesota Vikings, had mixed test results Friday afternoon, but a subsequent test confirmed he is positive for Covid-19, ESPN reported.
The Saints have clinched the NFC South title and will likely host a playoff game next weekend if they don’t move up to the top spot in the conference.
Pfizer and BioNTech will offer Covid vaccine to volunteers who received placebo
Pfizer Inc and its partner BioNTech plan to give volunteers who received a placebo in their Covid-19 vaccine trial an option to receive a first dose of the vaccine before March 1, 2021, while they remain in the study.
The trial vaccine transition option allows all participants 16 years of age or older the option to find out if they received the placebo, “and participants who learn they received the placebo have the option of receiving the investigational vaccine while they stay in the studio. ” the companies said on their website for trial participants.
The US Food and Drug Administration and a panel of its outside advisers have raised concerns about Pfizer’s “unmasking” plan, saying it could make it difficult to collect the safety and efficacy data needed to gain full approval. of the vaccine by the FDA.
Trial participants who received the placebo will have two doses of the investigational vaccine reserved for them within the study, the companies said on the website.
“The study physician will follow the latest guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and their local health authorities to offer the vaccine transition option to participants on a prioritized basis,” the companies said. .
Death toll in Brazil exceeds 195,000: ministry
Brazil reported 24,605 additional confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in the last 24 hours and 462 deaths from Covid-19, the Health Ministry said on Friday.
The South American country has recorded 7,700,578 cases since the pandemic began, while the official death toll has risen to 195,411, according to ministry data, in the third-worst outbreak in the world outside the United States and India.
AstraZeneca expects to supply 2 million doses of vaccine each week in the UK – The Times
Approximately two million doses of the Oxford / AstraZeneca-developed vaccine will be delivered each week in mid-January in the UK. The times reported.
There would be two million doses of vaccine ready in total next week and then the plan is to increase fairly quickly, the newspaper reported, citing an anonymous member of the Oxford / AstraZeneca team.
U.S. Cases Top 20 Million As Deaths Rise
Coronavirus cases in the U.S. crossed the 20 million mark on Friday as officials seek to speed up vaccines and a more infectious variant appears in Colorado, California and Florida.
The United States has seen an increase in the number of daily deaths from Covid-19 since Thanksgiving with 78,000 lives lost in December. A total of 345,000 have died of Covid-19, or one in every 950 U.S. residents, since the virus first appeared in China in late 2019.
To reduce the death toll, Sen. Mitt Romney on Friday urged the United States government to recruit veterinarians and combat medics to administer the coronavirus vaccines.
Source: TRTWorld and agencies
