PARIS, Dec 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:
VACCINES: Poorer countries will begin to receive coronavirus vaccines early next year, with almost two billion doses secured by a facility created to ensure fair access, the World Health Organization says.
INFECTION/DEATH: At least 1,665,177 people have died since the outbreak emerged in China last December.
Most new deaths over the past seven days were in the US with 18,234, followed by Brazil with 5,062.
The US is also the worst-affected country with 310,792 deaths followed by 184,827 in Brazil, 144,789 in India, 116,487 in Mexico and 67,894 in Italy.
US: The United States authorises Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use, as the country grapples with a surge that is killing over 2,500 people a day.
The US is the first nation to approve the two-dose regimen, which is now the second vaccine to be deployed in a Western country after one developed by Pfizer and BioNTech.
US lawmakers hammer out the final details of a major coronavirus package aimed at providing emergency relief for millions of struggling families and businesses amid signs of a worsening economy.
SOUTH AFRICA: South African researchers identify a severe variant of the coronavirus, the 501.V2 Variant, which could explain the rapid spread of a second wave there affecting younger people.
INDIA: India passes 10 million coronavirus cases, the second highest in the world, although new infection rates have fallen sharply in recent weeks.
FRANCE: The number of coronavirus deaths in France tops 60,000, after health authorities voice concern over a “worrying” resurgence in the virus ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays.
SWEDEN: Sweden does a U-turn on face masks, recommending they be worn on public transport at peak times, having previously resisted their use in the fight against Covid-19 except in healthcare. The country has so far shunned lockdowns.
ITALY: Italy, one of the countries worst hit by Covid-19, will be placed under new restrictions over the Christmas and New Year periods, closing shops, bars and restaurants, banning travel between regions and limiting trips outside.
AUSTRIA: Austria will enter its third coronavirus lockdown between December 26 and January 24, but those who take part in a planned series of mass tests between January 15 and 17 will be allowed more freedom.
DR CONGO: Authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo impose a 9-5 overnight curfew with police setting up roadblocks in the capital Kinshasa, which has been the city worst hit by the virus.
MEXICO: Mexico City suspends non-essential activities from the weekend, with only activities such as the sale of food, energy, transport, manufacturing and financial services allowed.
UKRAINE: Ukraine recorded 12,630 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, taking the national tally to 944,381, according to the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, 260 fatalities were reported, raising the country’s death toll from the virus to 16,256, the council reported. As many as 561,222 patients have recovered from the disease, including 12,866 in the previous day.
PORTUGAL: The country reported 4,336 new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the national tally to 366,952, said the country’s Directorate-General for Health.
Meanwhile, 75 more COVID-19 deaths were recorded, taking the country’s death toll to 5,977, while the national total recoveries rose to 290,690.
Local media reported that the government had called on all ministers and state secretaries to get tested in response.
SLOVAKIA: Prime Minister Igor Matovic said he had tested positive for Covid-19, a week after he attended an EU summit in Brussels.
Deputy Prime Minister Veronika Remisova and Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad later announced that they were also infected.
Since the pandemic erupted, Slovakia has registered more than 146,000 confirmed infections, including nearly 4,000 new cases on Thursday.
More than 1,400 people have died from the virus in the country of 5.4 million people, including 62 people on Thursday. — NNN-AGENCIES
