On Thursday, Britain saw more than 45,000 coronavirus infections per day. This was particularly true for children.
According to government figures, 45,066 people were tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday, which is the highest number since July 20.
Many of the cases have increased in the U.K. since children returned to school. It is generally believed that vaccines are not being distributed to older children as quickly as it was planned.
The hospital treatment of COVID-19 has also increased, although it is still lower than in previous waves of the pandemic.
Despite the fact that COVID-19 is not causing more deaths, the number of COVID-19-related deaths has remained steady over recent weeks. However, there are increasing concerns about how this will affect future cases. On Thursday, another 157 deaths from the virus were reported in Britain, bringing its total to 138 237. This is Europe’s second highest number of confirmed cases, after Russia.
Here’s WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING.
NEW DELHI (India) — India has resumed exports for coronavirus vaccines, after stopping them in April due to a catastrophic surge in domestic infection.
Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson for External Affairs Ministry, said that the renewed exports are aimed at neighboring countries. They will increase in the next months after most of India’s eligible adults have been vaccinated.
Bagchi reports that the vaccines have been exported to Myanmar, Bangladesh, Iran, and Nepal. India had donated or sold nearly 100 million vaccine doses before halting exports.
India, a country with 1.4 billion inhabitants, has administered over 960 million vaccine doses. Nearly 70% of eligible adults have received at least one vaccine dose.
HELSINKI — After being exposed to coronavirus in a meeting with a Latvian colleague, the Finnish President Sauli Niinsto has declared that he is now self-isolating.
Wednesday saw Niinisto host a breakfast meeting at a Holocaust conference in Malmo, Sweden, with Latvian President Egils Levits. He later tested positive for coronavirus.
CAIRO — Egypt is seeing an increase in coronavirus cases daily as it struggles with vaccinating a larger population.
The daily number of new infections remains below 1,000, but the country has not achieved a 10% vaccination rate.
Hala Zayed, Egypt’s Health and Population Minister, told a cabinet meeting on Wednesday that more than eight million of Egypt’s population of over 100 million had been inoculated. 15 million more have already received their first dose. She stated that her ministry is working to increase the number of vaccination centres nationwide.
The vaccination campaign has targeted millions of Egyptian state officials, students, faculty, and teachers in recent weeks. It also targets school workers and teachers.
Wednesday saw the reporting of 861 confirmed cases and 41 deaths. Egypt has reported nearly 315,000 cases and more that 17,800 deaths. The actual number is likely to be higher than that reported elsewhere on the planet.
LONDON — A European Medicines Agency has begun an expedited licensing process to license an antibody combination drug that is intended to prevent the coronavirus. It was made by AstraZeneca.
The EU drug regulator stated that it has begun reviewing preliminary laboratory data and clinical research data regarding Evusheld. This combination of monoclonal antibody tixagevimab (or cilgavimab) was disclosed in a Thursday statement. These drugs attach to different parts the coronavirus spike proteins and are designed to prevent the virus from infecting cells.
AstraZeneca requested that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration grant the drug an emergency-use list last week. It would be the first drug to prevent COVID-19 if it is approved. It would likely be restricted to those with weaker immune systems, who aren’t protected enough by vaccinations alone.
Late-stage research revealed that AstraZeneca’s combination of antibodies reduced the risk for COVID-19 symptoms in patients with suppressed immune systems from cancer, lupus, and other conditions.
BEIJING — China’s Foreign Ministry warned against “political manipulation” by the World Health Organization in a renewed investigation into the origins and spread of coronavirus.
Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, stated that China will “continue to support and take part in global scientific traceing and strongly oppose any form of political manipulation.”
Wednesday’s WHO release a list of 25 experts that it intends to consult on the next steps in its search for the virus’ source. This follows criticisms from China for earlier attempts.
In late 2019, the first cases of coronavirus infection in humans were discovered in central China. During a February WHO visit, Beijing was accused of concealing raw data about early cases.
The original WHO team’s findings were not conclusive. Experts released a report stating that it was “extremely unlikely” that the coronavirus had leaked from a Wuhan laboratory. This led to criticisms from outside scientists, who felt that the theory was not properly validated.
BUDAPEST (Hungary) — Thursday saw the highest number of COVID-19 new cases in Hungary in five months, due to a spike in hospitalizations and deaths from coronavirus.
Officials reported 1,141 cases, which is the highest daily total since May 14th. This week’s increase in cases has seen the number jump 37% over last week. Nearly 10 million people are now home to 742 COVID-19 patients. This is the highest number of patients since June.
Since early July, most pandemic containment measures have been repealed in Hungary. Masks are no longer required in public areas.
The Hungarian Academy of Sciences recommended Monday that masks should be worn at events, in enclosed areas and on public transport in order to “cure the fourth wave of COVID-19 pandemic.”
According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, as of Thursday, 66.6% were fully vaccinated in Hungary. This is lower than the European Union average (74.7%),
LONDON — Coronavirus vaccines are trickling into the poorest countries of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Data suggests that some women are still missing out.
Experts believe that women in Africa are the least vaccined, due to misinformation and vaccine doubts.
However, gender inequality and vaccine access problems extend far beyond Africa. Women in impoverished countries around the world face obstacles such as cultural prejudices, lack technology and vaccine prioritization list that did not include them.
While global data on vaccine distribution by gender is not available in all places, officials are unanimous in stating that women are being left behind in certain places and that this issue must be addressed if the world is to overcome the pandemic.
Sarah Hawkes, a global tracker for coronavirus information by sexual at University College London, pointed out that Pakistan and other countries gave first vaccine priority to groups like military personnel, which likely contributes to gender gaps.
MOSCOW — Russia recorded Thursday the highest daily coronavirus deaths and infections since the outbreak of the pandemic. This rapidly rising toll has severely affected the country’s health system.
According to the government’s coronavirus taskforce, there were 31,299 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 986 deaths within the last 24 hours.
Over the past few weeks, the country has seen record daily deaths. This is due to an increase in infections and a slow vaccine rate.
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin stated Tuesday that approximately 43 million Russians were fully vaccinated, which is just 29% of Russia’s almost 146 million population.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed the importance of increasing vaccination rates, but cautioned against forcing people into getting vaccine shots.
SARE GIBEL (Gambia) — Health officials are facing vaccine reluctance from African women, particularly those in childbearing years.
Many are concerned about the impact of vaccines on pregnancies. In Africa, many factors affect the success or failure of a woman’s marriage, including how many children she has. Others fear the vaccine more that COVID-19. Women are breadwinners and can’t work if side effects occur.
These fears are not uncommon, as rumors of a possible outbreak of cholera in Africa are commonplace. Only 4% of Africans have been immunized. Experts believe that although gender data is not available globally, they show that a growing number African women are missing vaccines in the poorest countries.
Officials are already expressing concern at the uneven distribution of vaccines between poor and rich countries. Now, they fear that African women will be the least vaccinated.
Despite widespread concerns about fertility and pregnancy, there is no evidence to suggest that vaccines can affect a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant. Because pregnant women are at greater risk for severe diseases and death, the CDC, World Health Organization and other agencies recommend that they get vaccinated.
DENPASAR (Indonesia) — International tourists can now visit Bali’s shops and white-sand beach resort island for the first time since last Thursday.
Foreign visitors might be slower to arrive. On the opening day, no international flights to Bali were planned. However, a tourism official predicted that travel would increase in November.
New foreign arrivals to Bali’s airport are welcome from 19 countries that have met the criteria of the World Health Organization, Luhut Binsar Panjaitan, who is the minister responsible for the COVID-19 response in Java, and Bali, announced in a statement on Wednesday.
All international passengers on international flights must show proof that they have been vaccinated twice, be negative for coronavirus at arrival in Bali, and then undergo a five-day quarantine at designated hotels at the passenger’s expense. They will also need to adhere to strict rules in hotels, restaurants, and on beaches.
PRAGUE — Andrej Babis, the Czech Prime Minister, has had a third dose in coronavirus vaccine. He used this opportunity to urge his people to get vaccinated.
Babis, a 67-year old Czech woman, has received booster shots. Since Sept 20, the Czech Republic has provided vaccine boosters to people over 60 years old, health workers, and other vulnerable individuals.
Babis stated that more than 340,000 seniors over 65 have not received a single shot. This is a concern.
The prime minister stated, “I am calling for everyone to get vaccinated.” “Vaccination is the only way to save lives.”
Three days in a row, the Czech Republic reported approximately 1,500 coronavirus cases. This is compared to numbers seen since May.
BUDAPEST (Hungary) — Hungary is expected to receive this year technology to make Russia’s Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccination at a Hungarian plant that is currently being built, the country’s foreign minister said Thursday.
Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine has been approved in over 70 countries. It was widely used in Hungary’s earlier in the year vaccination drive. The jab was first used in the European Union by the Central European country, which purchased enough vaccine for 1,000,000 people.
After talks with the Russian minister of health, Peter Szijjarto, Hungarian foreign minister, stated in Moscow that “we have now agreed to take collaboration on vaccines to an new and higher dimension.”
Szijjarto stated that there is a worldwide demand for the vaccine, so Hungary has an economic incentive to participate in its production. Sputnik V has not been approved by the European Medicines Agency or the World Health Organization, and customers have expressed concern about production.
Officials indicated that the Hungarian vaccination plant in Debrecen, the country’s second largest city, would be complete by 2022.
SACRAMENTO (Calif.) — A California judge partially blocked an order that took effect this week that required state prison workers to be vaccinated for the coronavirus.
A Kern County judge issued temporary restraining orders that prohibit the enforcement of the vaccine mandate for unionized guards.
Friday’s mandate will take effect and will continue to apply to all other employees at prisons with health care facilities. It is designed to prevent another coronavirus epidemic like the one that claimed 28 lives and injured a correctional officer in San Quentin State Prison last January.
California Correctional Peace Officers Association strongly opposes this measure.
MELBOURNE (Australia) — Coronavirus cases in Australia’s Victoria have risen to 2,297. This is the highest daily infection rate since the pandemic started last year.
Officials said that Thursday’s announcement was not a surprise. They stated that the state would no longer be subject to pandemic restrictions if the 70% double-dose vaccination rates for those 16 years and older are met next week.
Daniel Andrews, the State Premier, says that the case numbers won’t be as relevant once the vaccine target has been met.
Officials claimed that 11 COVID-19-related deaths had also been recorded during the most recent 24-hour period.
SEOUL, South Korea — More than 1,000 coronavirus infections have been reported in South Korea for the 100th consecutive daily as a Delta-driven epidemic continues to spread in the Greater Capital Area.
According to health officials, 1,580 of the 1,940 cases reported on Thursday were in Seoul Metropolitan Region.
Since July, the capital has been subject to South Korea’s most severe social distancing measures. If all of the participants have been fully vaccinated, private social gatherings with three or more people are prohibited after 6 p.m.
Officials believe social distancing is becoming a greater problem for people. They hope that the increasing vaccination rate will enable them to take more flexible measures.
On Thursday morning, 61% of the more than 51 million people were fully vaccinated.
