Coronavirus live news: AstraZeneca to publish full vaccine trial results; US cases pass 30m

AstraZeneca Plc is likely to release a new, modified statement about its Covid vaccine after a data and safety monitoring board expressed concern that the data in its recent public statement were outdated, U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Wednesday.

Reuters: AstraZeneca said results it published on Monday in which the vaccine had demonstrated 79% efficacy were based on an interim analysis of data through 17 February, and it would now *immediately engage* with the independent panel monitoring the trial to share its full analysis.

AstraZeneca will publish up-to-date results from its major US Covid vaccine trial within 48 hours. It said on Tuesday it had reviewed the preliminary assessment of its full analysis and found it to be consistent with the interim report.

Fauci said he was concerned about miscommunication around Covid vaccine efficacy but was confident a revised statement from AstraZeneca would dispel any confusion about that shot’s effectiveness.

Fauci and Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, both expressed concern about the trajectory of the pandemic during a briefing with reporters, despite a vaccination program that has led to 84 million people in the United States getting one dose of a Covid vaccine.

“We do have a lot of challenges in front of us with regard to the high level of daily infections yesterday being 54,974,” Fauci said. “When you are at that level, I don’t think you can declare victory.”

White House Covid adviser Andy Slavitt said the administration was concerned about the new variant in Brazil and it was having daily discussions with officials in that country.

The United States crossed 30 million coronavirus cases on Wednesday, according to a Reuters tally, as states accelerate the vaccination process by lowering age limits, Reuters reports.

Health authorities are racing to vaccinate in the face of the first uptick in new cases on a weekly basis since January. Against the advice of health experts, several states have lifted mask mandates and more infectious variants have also spread across the nation.

Vaccines prove highly protective of healthcare workers; rapid tests unreliable in asymptomatic cases. The following is a roundup of some of the latest scientific studies on the novel coronavirus and efforts to find treatments and vaccines for Covid, the illness caused by the virus. Vaccines highly protective for healthcare workers.

Hello and welcome to today’s live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic with me, Helen Sullivan.

AstraZeneca Plc is likely to release a new, modified statement about its Covid vaccine after a data and safety monitoring board expressed concern that the data in its recent public statement were outdated, US infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Wednesday.

The United States crossed 30 million coronavirus cases on Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University, as states accelerate the vaccination process by lowering age limits. Health authorities are racing to vaccinate in the face of the first uptick in new cases on a weekly basis since January. Against the advice of health experts, several states have lifted mask mandates and more infectious variants have also spread across the nation.

Here are the key developments from the last few hours:

• India has temporarily suspended exports of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India (SII) to meet domestic demand as cases rise, two sources have told Reuters.
• AstraZeneca has dismissed as “inaccurate” a report in the Italian press that 29m doses of its Covid-19 vaccine found in factory near Rome were destined for the UK. The manufacturer said no exports were currently planned other than to developing countries via the Covax facility.
• The European commission will extend the bloc’s powers to potentially halt vaccine exports to the UK and other areas with much higher inoculation rates.
• Ukraine has reported a record daily number of Covid-related deaths for the second consecutive day, as well as its highest daily number of hospitalisations
• Spain has restarted its AstraZeneca vaccination drive after a week-long suspension of the jab over fears about potential side-effects.
• Finland is to resume use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine from Monday, but will only give it to people aged 65 and over
• Belgium will impose fresh lockdown restrictions, shutting schools, hairdressers and non-essential stores.
• Iceland has tightened Covid-19 measures following a spike in the number of new cases recorded in the country.
• Coronavirus lockdowns are to be imposed in three more regions in France, including the city of Lyon, the country’s government has said.
• Turkey registered its highest daily number of new infections this year on Wednesday, adding 29,762 infections to its tally in the last 24 hours.
• Luxembourg has announced a partial reopening of its hospitality industry, with cafés and restaurants able to serve customers again in outdoor areas from 7 April.