Covid-19 news: 95 per cent of over 70s in Great Britain given vaccine

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Geoff Holland, 90, and Jenny Holland, 86, obtain their injections of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at a former Wickes retailer in Mansfield, UK.

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Latest coronavirus information as of 5pm on 19 February

95 per cent of folks over 70 in Great Britain have had a vaccine dose

In Great Britain, 95 per cent of folks aged over 70 have had no less than one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, in keeping with a survey of 6000 folks by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). Most of the rest have been supplied a vaccine and are ready to obtain it. Less than 1 per cent of folks aged over 70 years mentioned they declined the supply of a vaccine. Overall, 91 per cent of all adults surveyed mentioned they’d both been vaccinated already or would get vaccinated when supplied it. These numbers are higher than anticipated. For occasion, in one UK survey carried out in December earlier than vaccination started, simply 72 per cent mentioned they had been prepared to get vaccinated. However, the ONS survey didn’t embrace adults residing in care properties or different institutions, and since of small pattern sizes, the ONS says the share of folks saying they’ve declined vaccination must be handled with warning.

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The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine doesn’t have to be stored ultracold as was beforehand thought when the vaccine was accredited to be used. The corporations say it’s secure at between -25ºC and -15ºC, and have requested regulators to vary the phrases on which it was accredited. New Scientist reported in November that different mRNA vaccines utilizing the identical know-how had been secure at fridge temperatures, and that the identical must be true of the Pfizer vaccine.

Japan has reported 91 instances of folks contaminated with a brand new coronavirus variant referred to as B.1.1.316. It has the E484K mutation additionally discovered in the South African and Brazilian variants, which permits the virus to partially evade immunity from previous an infection or vaccination. However, Japan has had decrease ranges of an infection than South Africa or Brazil, and simply 7000 deaths.

Brazil is vaccinating a complete city as an experiment to see what impact it has on coronavirus transmission. The total grownup inhabitants of Serrana in the state of São Paulo, estimated to be 30,000, will probably be supplied the CoronaVac vaccine made by China-based firm Sinovac.

Coronavirus deaths

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Matthew Rowett

The worldwide covid-19 dying toll has handed 2.44 million. The quantity of confirmed instances is greater than 110.4 million, in keeping with Johns Hopkins University, although the true quantity of instances will probably be a lot increased.

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What to learn, watch and hearken to about coronavirus

The New York Times is monitoring hospital mattress occupancy in England in an interactive graphic.

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Humans of COVID-19 is a undertaking highlighting the experiences of key staff on the frontline in the combat in opposition to coronavirus in the UK, by means of social media.

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Coronavirus, Explained on Netflix is a brief documentary collection analyzing the on-going coronavirus pandemic, the efforts to combat it and methods to handle its psychological well being toll.

New Scientist Weekly options updates and evaluation on the most recent developments in the covid-19 pandemic. Our podcast sees professional journalists from the journal talk about the largest science tales to hit the headlines every week – from know-how and house, to well being and the atmosphere.

COVID-19: The Pandemic that Never Should Have Happened, and How to Stop the Next One by Debora Mackenzie is about how the pandemic occurred and why it should occur once more if we don’t do issues in another way in future.

The Rules of Contagion is in regards to the new science of contagion and the stunning methods it shapes our lives and behavior. The writer, Adam Kucharski, is an epidemiologist on the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK, and in the guide he examines how ailments unfold and why they cease.

Previous updates

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A lady walks by a digital memorial to MTA staff referred to as “Travels Far: A Memorial Honoring Our Colleagues Lost To Covid-19” in the subway station at Union Square in New York City.

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18 February

Life expectancy fell by one 12 months in 2020, helped by the coronavirus

Life expectancy in the US fell by one 12 months on common in the primary half of 2020, in keeping with figures from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The covid-19 pandemic is more likely to be a big contributor, consultants advised CNN. US life expectancy is now the bottom it has been since 2006. “Covid is on track to cause more deaths than cancer or heart disease,” Eileen Crimmins on the University of Southern California advised CNN.

The fall was seen throughout ethnic teams however was most pronounced in minorities. Black Americans misplaced 2.7 years off their life expectancy, and Hispanics misplaced 1.9 years, whereas white Americans misplaced 0.8 years. Life expectancy disparities between Black and white folks in the US had been shrinking in latest years however the pandemic has reversed some of that progress. Over the previous 40 years, life expectancy had been steadily rising in the US, other than between 2014 and 2017, when it fell by one third of a 12 months. This has been attributed to the epidemic of opioid misuse in the nation, in addition to stagnating decline in deaths from coronary heart illness.

Other coronavirus information

New coronavirus infections in England fell by two-thirds between mid-January and the primary two weeks of February. The fall reveals “lockdown measures are effectively bringing infections down”, mentioned Paul Elliott at Imperial College London in a press release. The figures come from one of the most important and most authoritative surveys of infections referred to as REACT. Currently about one in 200 individuals are contaminated in England, the same degree to September. The nationwide R quantity – the common quantity of folks one individual will infect – is estimated to be between 0.69 and 0.76, which means that infections are falling. The findings are based mostly on greater than 85,000 swab assessments from randomly chosen folks. While all areas of England confirmed declining infections, they fell most steeply in London, the South East and West Midlands, and fewer steeply in the North West, North East and Yorkshire and the Humber. This might be linked to harder lockdown guidelines being launched earlier in London and the South East, the BBC reported.

Greece has agreed to a trial of permitting vacationers to enter the nation if they’ve been vaccinated in opposition to covid-19, as soon as flights resume. The preliminary trial will probably be with guests from Israel, which has given the coronavirus vaccine to the next proportion of its inhabitants than another nation. Greece’s tourism minister, Haris Theoharis advised BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the nation is in talks with British officers about how the same scheme would possibly work with the UK.

Coronavirus deaths

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Matthew Rowett

The worldwide covid-19 dying toll has handed 2.41 million. The quantity of confirmed instances is greater than 110 million, in keeping with Johns Hopkins University, although the true quantity of instances will probably be a lot increased.

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A coronavirus lateral circulate system displaying a constructive check end result.

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17 February

UK authorities plans to ship 400,000 assessments a day to properties and workplaces

Rapid coronavirus assessments will begin being despatched out by put up subsequent month to permit twice-weekly testing of folks with out covid-19 signs for as much as two-thirds of England’s inhabitants. The pregnancy-test-style lateral circulate assays, which search for viral proteins in a swab from the nostril or throat, produce outcomes inside half an hour, however they aren’t as correct because the slower PCR assessments used in labs and clinics. The lateral circulate assessments are already getting used for screening folks with out covid-19 signs in settings akin to healthcare, care properties and in sure colleges and universities. The quantity of these assessments carried out has elevated massively in the previous month. The newest deliberate growth would contain finishing up greater than 400,000 assessments a day in properties and workplaces, in keeping with paperwork seen by The Times. The roll-out would start earlier than colleges open up face-to-face educating – at present slated for 8 March in England – and the assessments could be despatched to schoolchildren, their households and academics, in addition to anybody who can’t work from home. It could be accompanied by a marketing campaign to encourage uptake provisionally referred to as “Are you ready? Get testing. Go.”

Using lateral circulate assessments for mass screening is controversial, as a result of they’ve a increased false-negative fee than PCR assessments. Proponents say lateral circulate assessments discover people who find themselves most infectious. Critics say they miss people who find themselves nonetheless succesful of transmitting the virus and who’re then falsely reassured they’re free of the virus, so might behave extra riskily. A spokesperson for the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care mentioned their plans for increasing testing haven’t but been finalised.

Other coronavirus information

Four extra signs must be added to the listing of indicators that individuals want a coronavirus check, researchers say. The new signs are fatigue, headache, sore throat and diarrhoea. The current signs that point out the necessity for a check are cough, fever or loss of style or scent. The findings come from an evaluation of customers of an app referred to as the Zoe Covid Symptom Study, which tracks covid-19 signs and instances. Using these additional indicators as a set off for testing would result in many extra folks being examined who don’t have the virus, however it could additionally choose up 40 per cent extra coronavirus instances, the researchers have calculated. 

The world’s first research that may intentionally infect wholesome volunteers with the coronavirus will start subsequent month. Initially, 90 folks aged 18-30 may have a small dose of the virus squirted up their nostril and can then be fastidiously monitored to see how their immune system reacts and to seek out the smallest dose wanted for a light an infection. In future the experimenters will research how efficient vaccines are in opposition to present and novel variants of the virus, mentioned Chris Chiu at Imperial College London.

South Africa will this week turn out to be the primary nation in the world to begin giving folks the Johnson & Johnson covid-19 vaccine. This one-shot jab is efficient at stopping extreme illness from the coronavirus variant prevalent in that nation.

Coronavirus deaths

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Matthew Rowett

The worldwide covid-19 dying toll has handed 2.43 million. The quantity of confirmed instances is greater than 109.6 million, in keeping with Johns Hopkins University, although the true quantity of instances will probably be a lot increased.

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A woman wearing a face mask stands on a balcony in a retirement home

A lady in a retirement dwelling seems out on the view from her balcony

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16 February

Nearly two million extra folks will probably be added to England’s shielding listing

About 1.7 million folks in England will probably be advised to defend and take additional precautions from covid-19 after they had been discovered to be at critical threat of illness or dying. They will even be prioritised for covid-19 vaccination. The addition will deliver the entire quantity on the UK authorities’s shielding listing to nearly 4 million, all of whom are being suggested to defend till 31 March. 

The folks being added to the listing have been recognized utilizing an algorithm to foretell whether or not an individual is in danger of extreme illness or dying from covid-19. The algorithm incorporates info on age, ethnicity, physique mass index, different well being circumstances and postcode (which is indicative of the extent of deprivation). “As we learn more about covid-19, we’re continuously reviewing the evidence,” Jenny Harries, one of England’s deputy chief medical officers, advised a briefing on 16 February. “It was very clear that not all of those individuals who were at risk were identified by the binary approach,” she mentioned. Harries mentioned it will likely be as much as the people to resolve whether or not to observe the shielding recommendation or not.

Other coronavirus information

An estimated one in 5 folks in England had antibodies in opposition to the coronavirus in the 28 days as much as 1 February, suggesting they’d beforehand been contaminated or had obtained a covid-19 vaccine, in keeping with the Office for National Statistics. In Wales and Northern Ireland the equal estimate was one in 7 and for Scotland it was one in 9 folks. People had been examined for antibodies as half of the COVID-19 Infection Survey in the UK. In England, folks aged 80 and over had been probably to check constructive for antibodies with 40.9 per cent testing constructive, which might be because of the excessive vaccination fee in this group. “It could be tempting to assume that quantifying antibody levels like this tells us the level and distribution of immunity to covid-19 in the population, but we do not know what components of the immune system are required for immunity or how long protection will last,” mentioned Simon Clarke on the University of Reading in a assertion.

Early information from vaccinations in Israel point out that the Pfizer/BioNTech covid-19 vaccine prevents 94 per cent of symptomatic coronavirus infections. The research checked out 600,000 totally vaccinated folks and the identical quantity of unvaccinated folks. This is a really related degree of effectiveness to that recorded in scientific trials of the vaccine. Israel’s well being fund, Clalit, used coronavirus check outcomes extracted from folks’s well being data to check numbers of infections between those that had obtained two doses of the vaccine and those that hadn’t obtained any doses. There had been 94 per cent fewer infections amongst those that had been vaccinated. Nearly half of Israel’s resident grownup inhabitants have obtained no less than one dose of covid-19 vaccine thus far.

Coronavirus deaths

New Scientist Default Image

Matthew Rowett

The worldwide covid-19 dying toll has handed 2.41 million. The quantity of confirmed instances is greater than 109 million, in keeping with Johns Hopkins University, although the true quantity of instances will probably be a lot increased.

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A laboratory technician handles vials in a laboratory

Genome sequencing of the coronavirus and its variants on the Centre National de Reference in France

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15 February

Coronavirus variants carrying related mutations detected in the US 

Seven coronavirus variants carrying related mutations have been detected in the US. All the variants, reported in a preliminary research, have gained a mutation on the identical location in their genome and seem to belong to the identical lineage as a virus first sequenced on 1 December, which subsequently grew to become extra frequent. “There’s clearly something going on with this mutation,” Jeremy Kamil at Louisiana State University and co-author of the research, advised the New York Times. It isn’t clear if the mutation makes the variants extra transmissible, just like the B.1.1.7 coronavirus variant first sequenced in the UK, however its location in a gene that influences how the virus enters human cells is regarding. “I think there’s a clear signature of an evolutionary benefit,” mentioned Kamil. The preliminary research was launched on a pre-print server and has not been peer-reviewed.

Other coronavirus information

UK well being minister Matt Hancock revealed that a 3rd of social care staff in England haven’t had a covid-19 vaccine but, regardless of being among the many first precedence teams. “We’ll keep offering and keep contacting people who work in social care,” Hancock advised the BBC’s Breakfast present. “Obviously the uptake there is very important,” he mentioned. Separately, a preliminary research discovered decrease covid-19 vaccine uptake amongst Black, Asian and minority ethnic employees on the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust in England. “These findings give significant cause for concern, as ethnic minority groups (especially those working in healthcare) are at higher risk of infection with [the coronavirus] and adverse outcome from covid-19,” mentioned the report, which has not been peer-reviewed. More than 15 million folks have obtained a dose of covid-19 vaccine in the UK thus far, in conserving with the federal government’s goal of providing a primary dose of vaccine to 4 precedence teams by mid-February.

“We’ll do everything we can” to reopen colleges in England by 8 March, UK prime minister Boris Johnson has mentioned, including: “But we’ve got to keep looking at the data, we’ve got to keep looking at the rates of infection, don’t forget they’re still very high.” The UK authorities is predicted to set out plans for ending restrictions at a briefing on 22 February. Johnson mentioned the federal government’s plans will probably be “cautious but irreversible”.

The first travellers required to remain at quarantine lodges in England arrived at London’s Heathrow airport on 15 February. People arriving in the UK from 33 “red list” nations are actually required to enter necessary lodge quarantine for 10 days on arrival, at their very own expense.

Coronavirus deaths

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Matthew Rowett

The worldwide covid-19 dying toll has handed 2.4 million. The quantity of confirmed instances is greater than 108 million, in keeping with Johns Hopkins University, although the true quantity of instances will probably be a lot increased.

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A lady receives the Oxford/AstraZeneca covid19 vaccine at an NHS vaccination middle in Ealing, west London

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12 February

Vaccinations of folks below 70 start in England subsequent week

Vaccinators in England can now begin giving covid-19 vaccines to folks aged between 65 and 69, so long as they’ve already supplied jabs to older and clinically weak folks in the highest precedence teams. “We have been told by NHS England that, in exceptional circumstances, where we have reached other groups, we can move on to cohort five [people aged 65 to 69],” an nameless physician advised the Guardian. Across the UK, 14 million folks had obtained a primary dose of covid-19 vaccine as of 12 February – equal to about 20 per cent of the entire inhabitants.

Infections fall throughout the UK

Coronavirus infections seem like falling throughout the UK. The Office for National Statistics estimates that about one in 80 folks in England had covid-19 in the week as much as 6 February, down from one in 65 folks the earlier week. In Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland the equal figures for the latest week are roughly one in 85, one in 75 and one in 150 folks respectively, all down from the earlier week’s figures. The newest official estimate of the R quantity – the common quantity of folks every individual with coronavirus infects – places it between 0.7 and 0.9  for the UK as an entire, indicating the nation’s epidemic is shrinking. 

Neil Ferguson at Imperial College London, who advises the UK authorities as half of the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group, mentioned lockdowns have helped drive down instances. “They’re basically halving about every 17 days at the moment,” he advised Politico’s Westminster Insider podcast. Ferguson mentioned it may be attainable to reopen no less than main colleges in a month’s time. “And if we continue to see then a continued decline without large outbreaks, then perhaps starting to relax other aspects of society the following month,” he added. UK prime minister Boris Johnson has mentioned discussions on reopening colleges will occur in the week beginning 22 February, with colleges doubtlessly capable of reopen from 8 March.

Other coronavirus information

Germany is imposing strict new border controls attributable to concern over coronavirus variants, with a ban on journey into the nation from the Czech Republic and Austria the place the B.1351 and B.1.1.7 variants of the virus had been discovered to be prevalent. Returning residents and sure important staff will probably be exempt. 

French well being authority Haute Autorite de Sante really helpful that individuals who have already had covid-19 and recovered ought to solely be supplied a single shot of covid-19 vaccine. “The single dose of vaccine will act as a reminder,” it mentioned in a press release.

Coronavirus deaths

New Scientist Default Image

Matthew Rowett

The worldwide covid-19 dying toll has handed 2.37 million. The quantity of confirmed instances is greater than 107 million, in keeping with Johns Hopkins University, although the true quantity of instances will probably be a lot increased.

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Photo of a person's hand holding a box of medication labelled tocilizumab

A pharmacist in France shows a field of tocilizumab, which is used in the therapy of rheumatoid arthritis

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11 February

Roche’s arthritis drug tocilizumab discovered to chop threat of dying amongst sufferers with extreme covid-19

The arthritis drug tocilizumab reduces the chance of dying amongst severely sick covid-19 sufferers, in keeping with findings from the RECOVERY trial, which has been testing a variety of potential therapies for the illness since March final 12 months. The research discovered that 29 per cent of covid-19 sufferers who obtained tocilizumab died inside 28 days, in comparison with 33 per cent of those that didn’t obtain the drug. Treatment with tocilizumab – offered below the model identify Actemra by Swiss firm Roche – additionally shortened the time to restoration and decreased the requirement for mechanical air flow. The trial included 2022 covid-19 sufferers randomly allotted to obtain tocilizumab in addition to their customary care and 2094 sufferers allotted to straightforward care solely, which for 82 per cent of all sufferers in the research included therapy with a steroid, akin to dexamethasone. Last 12 months, dexamethasone grew to become the first drug discovered to scale back dying charges in covid-19 sufferers. The most up-to-date outcomes point out that tocilizumab supplies extra advantages when used with steroids, like dexamethasone. “Used in combination, the impact is substantial,” mentioned Martin Landray on the University of Oxford, one of the lead investigators on the trial. “After dexamethasone (steroids), this is the most significant advance in the treatment of covid,” mentioned Athimalaipet Ramanan on the University of Bristol in a assertion.

Other coronavirus information

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued up to date steerage saying individuals who have been “fully vaccinated” in opposition to covid-19 are now not suggested to quarantine if they’re uncovered to somebody who assessments constructive for coronavirus. This applies to individuals who have had each doses of a covid-19 vaccine no less than two weeks in the past. However, the CDC mentioned this doesn’t imply that totally vaccinated people ought to cease taking precautions and added that individuals who had their photographs three months in the past or extra ought to nonetheless quarantine if they’re uncovered, because it isn’t recognized how lengthy safety in opposition to covid-19 lasts.

US well being officers are advising folks in the nation to contemplate carrying two masks on prime of one another to higher defend themselves in opposition to coronavirus an infection. A CDC report prompt carrying a fabric masks over a disposable surgical masks or bettering the match of a single surgical masks as methods to spice up safety.

It might take six to 9 months to provide and deploy covid-19 vaccines that work in opposition to new variants of the coronavirus, in keeping with AstraZeneca. The UK-Swedish firm made this assertion after its present vaccine was discovered to be much less efficient in opposition to the coronavirus variant first recognized in South Africa.

The Guardian reported that greater than 40 per cent of employees on the UK’s largest care dwelling supplier haven’t obtained any doses of covid-19 vaccine.

Coronavirus deaths

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Matthew Rowett

The worldwide covid-19 dying toll has handed 2.35 million. The quantity of confirmed instances is greater than 107 million, in keeping with Johns Hopkins University, although the true quantity of instances will probably be a lot increased.

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A woman is pictured sitting on a chair, holding a coronavirus test kit

A lady takes a coronavirus check at a short lived testing facility in London, UK

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10 February

Chills, loss of urge for food, headache and muscle ache linked to covid-19 in new research

New signs have been linked to covid-19 in sure age teams, together with chills, loss of urge for food, headache and muscle ache, in Imperial College London’s REACT research. The 4 new signs had been recognized by researchers by means of random swab testing and questioning of greater than one million folks in England, performed between June 2020 and January 2021. The researchers discovered an affiliation between testing constructive for the coronavirus and reporting any of these new signs or different signs beforehand linked to covid-19, akin to a persistent cough, fever or a loss or change in sense of style or scent. 

The extra signs folks had, the extra probably they had been to check constructive, though there was some variation in signs throughout totally different age teams. Chills had been linked with an infection throughout all age teams, whereas complications had been reported primarily in youngsters aged 5-17, urge for food loss in adults over 18 and muscle aches in these aged 18-54. Infected 5-17 12 months olds had been additionally much less more likely to report experiencing fever, persistent cough and urge for food loss, in comparability with adults.

The REACT research additionally checked out whether or not reported signs modified earlier than and after the B.1.1.7 variant grew to become the dominant variant in the UK. It discovered that signs had been largely related, regardless of the elevated prevalence of B.1.1.7. However, loss or change of sense of scent was much less predictive of having covid-19 in January when B.1.1.7 accounted for about 86 per cent of infections, in contrast with November to December when it was 16 per cent. “As the epidemic progresses and new variants emerge, it’s essential that we keep monitoring how the virus affects people so that testing programmes meet changing needs,” mentioned Joshua Elliott, one of the researchers behind the research at Imperial College London, in a press release.

Other coronavirus information

People in the UK are going to need to “get used to the idea of vaccinating and revaccinating in the autumn as we face these new variants”, UK prime minister Boris Johnson advised parliament on 10 February. Several vaccine producers have confirmed that they’re already engaged on new variations of their covid-19 vaccines to verify they continue to be efficient. The UK authorities not too long ago introduced a partnership with producer CureVac to quickly manufacture new vaccines in response to new coronavirus variants if wanted. “We believe that they may help us to develop vaccines that can respond at scale to new variants of the virus,” mentioned Johnson.

England’s deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam mentioned he doesn’t assume the B.1351 coronavirus variant first recognized in South Africa “is going to be a dominant issue in the next few months”. Speaking on BBC News, Van-Tam mentioned 90 per cent of instances in the UK in the meanwhile are brought on by the B.1.1.7 variant, first detected in Kent.

South Africa is contemplating promoting or exchanging its doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine, in keeping with the nation’s well being minister. Plans to start out administering the jabs had been placed on maintain this week after a small, preliminary research indicated it could not defend in opposition to gentle or average covid-19 brought on by the B.1.351 variant.

Coronavirus deaths

New Scientist Default Image

Matthew Rowett

The worldwide covid-19 dying toll has handed 2.34 million. The quantity of confirmed instances is greater than 107 million, in keeping with Johns Hopkins University, although the true quantity of instances will probably be a lot increased.

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Peter Ben Embarek, a member of the WHO-China joint study team, gestures with his hand as he answers a question during a press conference

Peter Ben Embarek solutions questions on the WHO-China joint research press convention in Wuhan, China on 9 February

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9 February

WHO workforce in China is investigating idea that coronavirus was unfold by means of frozen meals

The World Health Organization (WHO) mission in Wuhan, China has dominated out the likelihood that the coronavirus originated in a laboratory, however the workforce is investigating whether or not the virus got here from frozen meals, probably from exterior China. The investigation workforce chief Peter Ben Embarek mentioned the virus appears to have originated in bats, as initially thought, however it was in all probability transmitted to people by way of an unknown intermediate species, probably a lifeless or frozen animal meals product. Embarek mentioned it’s “extremely unlikely” that the virus escaped from a lab. The WHO mission arrived in China in January and spent 4 weeks researching the origin of the coronavirus with web site visits to the Huanan seafood market, initially suspected because the supply of the virus, in addition to the laboratories on the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which was additionally being investigated as a possible supply. It introduced its preliminary findings at a press briefing in Wuhan on 9 February. 

Other coronavirus information

People arriving in England who’re required to quarantine in lodges will probably be charged a payment of £1750 to cowl the price of their keep, transport and coronavirus assessments, UK well being minister Matt Hancock introduced. People who fail to quarantine face fines of as much as £10,000, whereas those that lie on their passenger locator types about visiting any of 33 “red list” nations withstand 10 years in jail. Hancock mentioned related measures are being checked out for the devolved nations. “People who flout these rules are putting us all at risk,” he advised parliament on Tuesday. He additionally confirmed that an enhanced testing regime for all arrivals would begin on 15 February, from which level all arrivals will probably be required to get examined for the coronavirus on the second and eighth days of their 10-day quarantine interval.

Extra covid-19 testing will start in elements of Greater Manchester in the UK, following the invention of 4 folks contaminated with a mutated model of the B.1.1.7 variant, first recognized in Kent. The 4 folks, from two separate households in Greater Manchester, had been discovered to be contaminated with a virus carrying the E484K mutation. The mutation is regarding, as there may be proof that some covid-19 vaccines could also be much less efficient in opposition to the B.1.351 variant, often known as the “South Africa variant”, which has the identical mutation.  

The NHS covid-19 app has advised 1.7 million folks in England and Wales to self-isolate since its launch in September. A preliminary evaluation by researchers on the University of Oxford and the Alan Turing Institute signifies 594,000 coronavirus instances have been prevented by the app. The app has had about 21.7 million downloads, though inner information suggests about 16.5 million individuals are at present actively utilizing its contact-tracing software, in keeping with the BBC.

Coronavirus deaths

New Scientist Default Image

Matthew Rowett

The worldwide covid-19 dying toll has handed 2.32 million. The quantity of confirmed instances is greater than 106 million, in keeping with Johns Hopkins University, although the true quantity of instances will probably be a lot increased.

Latest on coronavirus from New Scientist

South Africa variant: South Africa paused its rollout of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine because it may not be efficient in opposition to the South African B.1.351 coronavirus variant – however it’s nonetheless more likely to restrict the severity of covid-19.

A person wearing a face mask leans out of a car window to get vaccinated

An individual receives a covid-19 vaccine at a drive-through vaccination centre in St Albans, UK

REUTERS/Paul Childs

8 February

Researchers are investigating methods to change covid-19 vaccines to sort out the South Africa variant and others that emerge

UK ministers say work is underway to tweak current covid-19 vaccines to sort out new variants of the coronavirus together with the B.1.351 coronavirus variant, generally known as the “South Africa variant”. On 6 February, a small, preliminary research was reported to indicate that the Oxford/AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine might not defend in opposition to gentle or average covid-19 brought on by B.1.351. At least 147 instances of this variant have now been detected in the UK. “Our brilliant scientists and medical advisers are now working on the potential for new versions of existing vaccines to offer further protections against covid variants,” Nadhim Zahawi, minister for covid-19 vaccine deployment, wrote in the Telegraph. As a precaution, South Africa – the place the variant accounts for about 90 per cent of new coronavirus instances – has put its rollout of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine on maintain. However, the research, which has not but been printed or peer-reviewed, was comparatively small and didn’t take a look at the impression of the vaccine on extreme illness or dying.

Sarah Gilbert on the University of Oxford, one of the lead vaccine researchers on the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, mentioned a modified model that’s efficient in opposition to the South Africa variant might be able to deploy in the autumn. “What we’re seeing from other vaccine developers is that they have a reduction in efficacy against some of the variant viruses,” Gilbert advised the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show on 7 February, including that though vaccines could also be much less efficient at decreasing instances with new variants, they nonetheless seem like protecting in opposition to dying, hospitalisation and extreme illness. Other covid-19 vaccine producers are additionally engaged on new variations of their vaccines to verify they continue to be efficient. “We’re very confident in all the vaccines that we are using, and I think it’s important for people to bear in mind that all of them, we think, are effective in delivering a high degree of protection against serious illness and death, which is the most important thing,” mentioned UK prime minister Boris Johnson, in an interview with Sky News on 8 February. “We will be continuing to study the results, the effectiveness, of the vaccine rollout.”

Other coronavirus information

All folks residing in the UK will probably be eligible to obtain a covid-19 vaccine regardless of whether or not they have the authorized proper to work and stay in the nation, the UK authorities mentioned on 8 February. “Coronavirus vaccines will be offered to everyone living in the UK free of charge, regardless of immigration status,” a authorities spokesperson advised Reuters. The authorities mentioned getting the vaccine wouldn’t set off immigration checks.

Ireland mentioned it should crack down on travellers returning to the UK from the Middle East by way of Ireland to keep away from not too long ago launched quarantine guidelines. The quantity of folks travelling to Dublin from Dubai has risen for the reason that UK added the United Arab Emirates to its journey ban listing in January.

Coronavirus deaths

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Matthew Rowett

The worldwide covid-19 dying toll has handed 2.31 million. The quantity of confirmed instances is greater than 106 million, in keeping with Johns Hopkins University, although the true quantity of instances will probably be a lot increased.

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Three people wearing face coverings sit on chairs in a waiting area

People wait to obtain the Oxford/AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine at Copes pharmacy in Streatham, England

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5 February

Early outcomes counsel the Oxford covid-19 vaccine works in opposition to B.1.1.7 virus variant

Preliminary outcomes point out that the covid-19 vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca is efficient in opposition to the extremely transmissible coronavirus variant B.1.1.7, which was first detected in the UK. Researchers on the University of Oxford analysed swabs from vaccine trial contributors who had examined constructive for the coronavirus between 1 October 2020 and 14 January 2021, to find out the variant of the virus with which they’d been contaminated. They discovered related efficacy charges of the vaccine in opposition to the B.1.1.7 variant (74.6 per cent efficient) and the unique virus (84 per cent efficient). This is although these contaminated with the B.1.1.7 variant produced fewer antibodies that would neutralise the virus. The outcomes had been launched on-line as a pre-print and haven’t been peer-reviewed.

Vaccine researchers are investigating methods to change current covid-19 vaccines quickly to make sure continued safety in opposition to different new variants as properly. “We are working with AstraZeneca to optimise the pipeline required for a strain change should one become necessary,” mentioned Sarah Gilbert on the University of Oxford in a assertion. “This is the same issue that is faced by all of the vaccine developers, and we will continue to monitor the emergence of new variants that arise in readiness for a future strain change,” she mentioned. “All viruses accumulate mutations over time, and for influenza vaccines there is a well-known process of global viral surveillance, and selection of strains for an annual update of the vaccines.”

Other coronavirus information

Coronavirus instances seem like falling in most of the UK. The most up-to-date outcomes from a random swab testing survey by the Office for National Statistics point out constructive assessments had been falling in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland in the week as much as 30 January. New infections throughout the UK as an entire are estimated to be falling by between 2 and 5 per cent every day, and the most recent official estimate for the UK’s R quantity – the common quantity of folks every coronavirus case infects – places it between 0.7 and 1.0. This is probably to characterize the state of affairs two to a few weeks in the past, attributable to a time lag in the information. The UK authorities mentioned it goals for all folks aged 50 and above to have been supplied a covid-19 vaccine by May, clarifying earlier feedback by a spokesperson for UK prime minister Boris Johnson who on 4 February mentioned the federal government’s goal was “spring”.

Johnson & Johnson utilized for an emergency use authorisation from the US Food and Drug Administration for its covid-19 vaccine. The firm introduced final week that the single-dose vaccine had an efficacy of about 66 per cent in section III trials. If accredited, it could turn out to be the third covid-19 vaccine authorised for emergency use in the US, after these developed by Pfizer and its associate BioNTech and by Moderna.

Israel introduced it will ease lockdown restrictions from 7 am native time on 7 February however will hold its borders closed, after a slight discount in coronavirus instances. Almost 80 per cent of folks over 50 in Israel have obtained a covid-19 vaccine thus far. The nation is vaccinating its 9 million residents at the next fee than another nation.

Coronavirus deaths

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Matthew Rowett

The worldwide covid-19 dying toll has handed 2.28 million. The quantity of confirmed instances is greater than 105 million, in keeping with Johns Hopkins University, although the true quantity of instances will probably be a lot increased.

A person wearing personal protective equipment holds a vaccine vial and syringe between their fingers

A physician prepares to manage the Pfizer/BioNTech covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre in Salisbury Cathedral in Salisbury, UK

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4 February

UK plans to check impact of giving one dose every of the Pfizer and Astrazeneca covid-19 vaccines

A UK trial is aiming to analyze the impression of giving folks two totally different covid-19 vaccines for his or her first and second doses. Being in a position to make use of both vaccine will create extra flexibility in the supply of doses, and assist take care of disruption in provides, mentioned England’s deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam. He mentioned combining two totally different vaccines in this manner might additionally enhance immune responses, doubtlessly main to higher safety in opposition to covid-19. The trial, which is being led by researchers on the University of Oxford and funded by the UK authorities’s vaccine taskforce, will recruit 820 volunteers over the age of 50 who haven’t but obtained a covid-19 vaccine. Participants will then obtain a primary dose of both the vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca or the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech. Some of them will get the identical vaccine once more for his or her second dose 4 or 12 weeks later and others will get a second dose of the opposite vaccine, to check the impact of combining the 2 photographs and of totally different time intervals between doses. 

UK vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi mentioned the nation is on monitor to fulfill its goal of vaccinating all folks in the 4 precedence teams in opposition to covid-19 by 15 February. He advised parliament it has been “an incredible effort” that has “drawn on the hard work of so many”. Last month, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson mentioned the UK authorities goals to have given a primary dose of covid-19 vaccine to all these over 70, essentially the most clinically weak folks and frontline well being and social care staff by 15 February – equal to about 15 million folks. Across the UK, greater than 10.4 million folks had obtained a primary dose of covid-19 vaccine as of 4 February.

Other coronavirus information

International journey was related to elevated dying charges in the worst-affected nations through the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, in keeping with a research printed in the scientific journal BMJ Open. Tiberiu Pana on the University of Aberdeen, UK, and colleagues analysed the connection between country-level elements – akin to worldwide arrivals, inhabitants density and well being indicators – and the common improve in day by day deaths recorded in early 2020 throughout the 37 nations with the very best dying charges from covid-19. They discovered that the largest improve in dying charges was related to worldwide arrivals. An improve of one million worldwide arrivals was related to a 3.4 per cent rise in the common day by day improve in covid-19 deaths.

A World Health Organization scientist has mentioned society is unlikely to return to “normal” till 2022. “I think we are going to be well into next year before we see a change – that change is likely to be caused by high coverage of the vaccines,” mentioned Helen Rees, who sits on the WHO’s committee for covid-19. “I think this new normal we all talk about is with us for a very long time,” Rees advised BBC Wales Live.

Coronavirus deaths

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Matthew Rowett

The worldwide covid-19 dying toll has handed 2.27 million. The quantity of confirmed instances is greater than 104 million, in keeping with Johns Hopkins University, although the true quantity of instances will probably be a lot increased.

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Royal Navy medics prepare syringes of the Oxford/AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre

Royal Navy medics put together syringes of the Oxford/AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre in Bath, UK

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3 February

Covid-19 vaccine in opposition to new variants might be deployed quickly, says Oxford vaccine researcher

A model of the covid-19 vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca that may sort out the brand new, extremely transmissible coronavirus variants might be able to deploy in about 7 months in the UK, in keeping with a researcher on the Oxford vaccine workforce. “The actual work on designing a new vaccine is very, very quick because it’s essentially just switching out the genetic sequence for the spike protein,” Andrew Pollard on the University of Oxford advised the BBC. “And then there’s manufacturing to do and then a small scale study. So all of that can be completed in a very short period of time, and the autumn is really the timing for having new vaccines available for use,” he mentioned. Pollard mentioned work is already underway to replace the vaccine and improve its efficacy in opposition to not too long ago recognized coronavirus mutations, akin to these in the variants first sequenced in the UK and South Africa.

Preliminary outcomes counsel that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine might scale back coronavirus transmission, in addition to decreasing symptomatic covid-19 and extreme sickness. UK well being minister Matt Hancock praised the findings of the research led by researchers on the University of Oxford. The outcomes point out that two doses of the jab scale back coronavirus an infection with or with out signs by 67 per cent. They additionally counsel {that a} single dose of the vaccine is 76 per cent efficient at stopping symptomatic covid-19 for 3 months, with this determine rising to 82 per cent after two doses. Hancock described the outcomes as “absolutely superb” and mentioned they present that “vaccines are the way out of this pandemic”.

Other coronavirus information

A cell coronavirus testing unit has been arrange in the city of Southport in England to check residents for the coronavirus and determine if they’ve the variant first recognized in South Africa. Firefighters and council employees are additionally delivering 10,000 dwelling testing kits to folks residing in the world.

Denmark introduced plans to introduce a digital “Corona-Pass”, which might permit Danish residents to show they’ve been vaccinated in opposition to covid-19 for the needs of enterprise and leisure journey, in keeping with the nation’s finance ministry.

Israel will begin increasing its covid-19 vaccination programme to everybody over the age of 16, in keeping with its well being ministry.

Coronavirus deaths

New Scientist Default Image

Matthew Rowett

The worldwide covid-19 dying toll has handed 2.25 million. The quantity of confirmed instances is greater than 104 million, in keeping with Johns Hopkins University, although the true quantity of instances will probably be a lot increased.

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Passengers push luggage on trolleys through a terminal at London's Heathrow airport

Travellers arrive at London’s Heathrow airport

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2 February

UK science advisers really helpful introduction of journey restrictions two weeks in the past

The UK’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) suggested the federal government to introduce necessary lodge quarantine for travellers arriving into the UK two weeks in the past, in keeping with minutes from a gathering on 21 January that had been leaked to the Times. On Thursday 21 January, SAGE reportedly warned that “reactive, geographically targeted” journey bans couldn’t be relied on to forestall faster-spreading coronavirus variants, akin to these recognized in South Africa and Brazil, from reaching the UK, including that: “no intervention, other than a complete, pre-emptive closure of borders, or the mandatory quarantine of all visitors upon arrival in designated facilities, irrespective of testing history, can get close to fully preventing the importation of new cases or new variants.” 

A Downing Street spokesperson mentioned SAGE didn’t instantly advise UK prime minister Boris Johnson to shut borders. Universities minister Michelle Donelan advised Sky News that the federal government “always based our decisions on the best medical and scientific advice” and mentioned “the SAGE advice actually said it would probably be ineffective, in fact, to close the borders, which was the same advice that we got at the time from the World Health Organization”. Johnson introduced geographically focused lodge quarantine measures for travellers coming back from 30 nations, together with Brazil and South Africa, final week.

UK well being minister Matt Hancock urged folks residing in postcodes in England singled out for enhanced coronavirus testing for the so-called South Africa variant to keep at dwelling except “absolutely essential”. Urgent door-to-door testing for the faster-spreading variant has been deployed after 11 instances with no hyperlink to international journey had been recognized in elements of England.

Other coronavirus information

Interim outcomes from section III trials counsel Russia’s covid-19 vaccine is 91.6 per cent efficient, and information on the vaccine is being submitted to the European Medicines Agency, in keeping with Kirill Dmitriev, director of the Russian Direct Investment Fund. The outcomes, based mostly on a section III trial together with 21,977 adults, three-quarters of whom obtained the Sputnik V vaccine, are printed in scientific journal the Lancet. Other contributors obtained a placebo. 

Sweden introduced it could not suggest the covid-19 vaccine developed by the University of Oxford in partnership with AstraZeneca for folks aged over 65, hours after Poland mentioned it could not supply the vaccine to over 60s. Last week, medical consultants in Germany and Austria made related suggestions, citing a scarcity of information in this age group. The European Medicines Agency authorised the vaccine to be used in all grownup age teams throughout the European Union and June Raine, chief government of the UK Medicines and Healthcare merchandise Regulatory Agency, final week mentioned: “Current evidence does not suggest any lack of protection against covid-19 in people aged 65 or over. The data we have shows that the vaccine produces a strong immune response in the over-65s.”

Coronavirus deaths

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Matthew Rowett

The worldwide covid-19 dying toll has handed 2.24 million. The quantity of confirmed instances is greater than 103 million, in keeping with Johns Hopkins University, although the true quantity of instances will probably be a lot increased.

Latest on coronavirus from New Scientist

Faster-spreading variants: The faster-spreading UK coronavirus variant has acquired a mutation that may assist it evade immune safety – the identical mutation already discovered in the South African variant.

Article amended on 4 February 2021

We corrected June Raine’s identify.

A health worker talks with a man taking a swab test in a park

A well being employee talks with a person taking a swab check in Goldsworth Park, because the South African variant of the novel coronavirus is reported in elements of Surrey, in Woking, UK, 1 February 2021

REUTERS/Hannah McKay

1 February

All adults in elements of England to be examined for South Africa variant after 11 new instances recognized

Door-to-door testing for the so-called South Africa coronavirus variant will start in elements of England this week, after 11 instances with no recognized hyperlinks to journey or to earlier instances had been recognized in eight areas of the nation. Urgent testing of adults, regardless of signs, will happen in some postcodes in Hertfordshire, Surrey, Kent, Walsall, Sefton and in the London boroughs of Merton, Haringey and Ealing. “We are trying to contain this so it does not spread,” Susan Hopkins, senior medical adviser at Public Health England advised the BBC. Any newly recognized infections will probably be analysed to see if they’re brought on by the extremely transmissible coronavirus variant first sequenced in South Africa. 

UK well being minister Matt Hancock “has ordered an attempt at eradication of the new variant if at all possible”, with public well being officers beginning to go door-to-door in affected areas this week, in keeping with a briefing seen by the Guardian. “This is a precautionary measure,” mentioned Ruth Hutchinson, director of public well being for Surrey, in a press release. “The more cases of the variant we find, the better chance we have at stopping it from spreading further,” mentioned Hutchinson, including: “It’s really important to say that there is currently no evidence that this variant causes more severe illness, so you don’t need to worry.”

Other coronavirus information

A covid-19 vaccine has now been supplied to older residents at each eligible care dwelling in England, the NHS introduced, however vaccination charges of care dwelling employees are lagging behind residents. Fiona Carragher, director of analysis and influencing at Alzheimer’s Society advised the BBC she remained involved that the vaccination rollout for care dwelling employees “has not been nearly so effective”. In January, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson mentioned the UK authorities goals to vaccinate all these over 70, essentially the most clinically weak folks and frontline well being and social care staff by 15 February – equal to about 15 million vaccinations. Across the UK, greater than 8.9 million folks had obtained a primary dose of covid-19 vaccine as of 30 January.

The European Union mentioned AstraZeneca has agreed to provide it with 9 million extra doses of its covid-19 vaccine, developed in partnership with the University of Oxford. This brings the entire quantity of anticipated doses for the primary quarter of this 12 months to 40 million, which is about half of what the EU was initially anticipating. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen tweeted saying the corporate would increase its manufacturing capability in Europe, and begin delivering doses per week sooner than scheduled.

Germany’s well being minister Jens Spahn hinted that covid-19 vaccines from China and Russia might be used in Europe to compensate for the shortfall of doses provided by Pfizer and its associate BioNTech, and by Oxford/AstraZeneca. “Regardless of the country in which a vaccine is manufactured, if they are safe and effective, they can help cope with the pandemic,” Spahn advised German media on Sunday, including that any vaccine will first have to be accredited by the European Medicines Agency.

Coronavirus deaths

New Scientist Default Image

Matthew Rowett

The worldwide covid-19 dying toll has handed 2.23 million. The quantity of confirmed instances is greater than 103 million, in keeping with Johns Hopkins University, although the true quantity of instances will probably be a lot increased.

Latest on coronavirus from New Scientist

Can vaccines cease transmission?: Several research counsel that coronavirus vaccines can considerably scale back transmission of the virus, however not halt it utterly – so social distancing remains to be crucial.

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A lab technician working at Janssen Pharmaceutical in Beerse, Belgium

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29 January

Vaccines from Johnson & Johnson and Novavax report constructive trial outcomes

A coronavirus vaccine developed by the US agency Novavax has been proven to be 89 per cent efficient in stopping covid-19 in scientific trials. The trials included contributors in the UK and South Africa, and located the vaccine to be 86 per cent efficient in opposition to the UK variant of the virus, however solely 60 per cent efficient in opposition to the variant in South Africa. Novavax mentioned it should instantly start improvement on a vaccine particularly focused to the South African variant.

Janssen, a subsidiary of US agency Johnson & Johnson, introduced that its covid-19 vaccine confirmed 66 per cent efficacy in a world trial. These outcomes are based mostly on a single dose of the vaccine, which makes it simpler to manage than the two-shot vaccines which have already been accredited. The firm has mentioned it should promote its vaccine on a not-for-profit foundation.

The UK has already ordered 30 million doses of the Janssen vaccine and the European Union has ordered 400 million. The UK has additionally ordered 60 million doses of the Novavax jab.

Other coronavirus information

The European Medicines Agency has really helpful the approval of the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for all adults, which can permit mass use of the vaccine in the European Union. Yesterday, a German committee really helpful in opposition to approving the vaccine for folks over 65 as a result of of inadequate information in the trials, however the EMA’s consultants mentioned safety might be anticipated in this group and there may be dependable info on security. The vaccine is already the topic of a dispute between AstraZeneca and the EU over the agency’s resolution to provide fewer doses to the EU this 12 months than initially agreed. Today, the European Commission printed elements of its contract with AstraZeneca, which it says obliges the corporate to provide the agreed volumes. The drug-maker says the contract solely obliges it to make its “best effort” to fulfill the EU demand, to not stick with a particular timetable. The EU additionally introduced export restrictions on vaccines made inside the bloc in response to the deliberate reduce in deliveries. 

The coronavirus variant from South Africa – which is extra infectiousness  than the unique variant has been detected in the US for the primary time, with two instances confirmed in South Carolina

The New York state authorities has launched new figures displaying that it undercounted deaths from covid-19 in nursing dwelling residents by greater than 3800. The state’s total dying toll has not elevated, however the increased tally in nursing properties has fuelled criticism that governor Andrew Cuomo didn’t do sufficient to guard these residents.

In the UK, covid-19 hospital admissions fell to 33.51 per 100,000 folks from a fee of 35.64 in the week ending 24 January, figures from the Office for National Statistics present. One in 55 folks in non-public households in England examined constructive for covid-19 between 17 and 23 January, which is analogous to the earlier week. The an infection fee was roughly one in 70 in Wales, one in 50 in Northern Ireland and one in 110 in Scotland. The R quantity for the UK is between 0.7 and 1.1, in keeping with the newest estimate by the federal government’s scientific advisory group. The R quantity is the quantity of folks every individual with covid-19 will go on to contaminate.

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Global vaccine distribution: While mass immunisation programmes are making speedy progress in wealthy nations, many middle-income nations have solely simply begun roll-outs and most low-income ones will take months to get began. These delays improve the chance of mutations resulting in variants which might be extra transmissible,and should render vaccines much less efficient in future.

Coronavirus deaths

The worldwide covid-19 dying toll has handed 2.19 million. The quantity of confirmed instances is greater than 101 million, in keeping with Johns Hopkins University, although the true quantity of instances will probably be a lot increased.

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