[ad_1]
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Italy has passed the symbolic one-million mark, while nearly 43,000 people have died, according to official data.
The country was the first in Europe to be hit by the outbreak earlier this year, sparking an unprecedented national lockdown that slowed infection rates but devastated the economy.
After a hiatus during the summer, cases have risen again in recent weeks, in tune with much of the continent.
Italy registered almost 33,000 new infections in the last 24 hours to reach 1,028,424 in total, according to figures from the Ministry of Health.
Deaths are also increasing rapidly, with another 623 reported, bringing the total to 42,953.
The government of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte imposed a nationwide night curfew and the early closure of bars and restaurants, as well as further restricting the movements of residents in regions where infection rates are highest.
Meanwhile, the death toll in Spain rose to more than 40,000 with infections surpassing the 1.4 million mark, while the rate of new cases continued to grow, data from the Health Ministry showed.
The virus has now claimed 40,105 lives in Spain, which has the fourth highest mortality rate within the European Union after the United Kingdom, France and Italy.
Covid-19 vaccine trials resume in Brazil
Brazil’s health regulator Anvisa allowed the resumption of late-stage clinical trials for China’s Sinovac Biotech Covid-19 vaccine, which had been suspended due to the death of a study subject who was registered in Sao Paulo as suicide.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a longtime skeptic of China who has baselessly dismissed the Sinovac vaccine as lacking in disbelief, had hailed Monday’s suspension as a personal victory.
The decision was severely criticized by the trial organizers, who said the move had taken them by surprise and that there was no need to stop the study as the death was not related to the vaccine.
The suspension further fueled tension between Bolsonaro and Sao Paulo Governor Joao Doria, who has put his political ambitions on the Chinese vaccine he intends to implement in his state in early January, with or without federal assistance.
Anvisa, in its statement today, said that the initial information it received on the case, which led to the suspension, had been incomplete and lacked the cause of the “severe adverse event.”
He has vigorously rejected suggestions that the decision could have been politically motivated.
“After evaluating the new data presented by the sponsor … Anvisa understands that it has sufficient reasons to allow resumption of vaccination,” the agency said.
Latest coronavirus stories
Covid kills 15,000 American minks since August
More than 15,000 minks in the United States have died from the coronavirus since August.
Authorities are keeping about a dozen farms under quarantine while they investigate the cases, state agriculture officials said.
The U.S. states of Utah, Wisconsin and Michigan, where the coronavirus has killed minks, said they do not plan to euthanize animals and are monitoring the situation in Denmark, which last week embarked on a plan to eliminate all of its 17 million minks.
US authorities urge farmers to wear protective equipment such as masks and gloves when handling minks to avoid infecting the animals.
The coronavirus has also infected cats, dogs, a lion and a tiger, according to the USDA. Experts say the mink appears to be the most susceptible animal so far.
Hong Kong and Singapore to start a non-quarantine travel bubble
A travel bubble between Hong Kong and Singapore will begin on November 22, the two cities said, as they moved to reestablish overseas travel links and remove the quarantine barrier for visiting foreigners.
The plan will start with one flight per day to each city, with a quota of 200 travelers per flight, authorities said. This would be increased to two daily flights from December 7.
Travelers from both cities must arrive on designated flights and must take Covid-19 tests.
Quarantine will not be required and there will be no restrictions on the reasons for travel. The travel bubble will be suspended if the Covid-19 situation deteriorates, they added.
California and US Midwestern States Crack Down Again
California and several states in the US Midwest tightened restrictions on residents yesterday when the nation’s top infectious disease specialist asked Americans to remain vigilant until a vaccine can be approved and distributed.
The new drastic measures were announced as the number of Covid-19 infections rose again in the US with the onset of colder weather, depleting hospitals and cities of medical resource revenue.
“There is a real thing called Covid-19 fatigue, which is understandable,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, told CNN in an interview.
“But hold on a little longer, do the things you have to do and we’ll be fine.”
[ad_2]