All updates in Central European Time (CET)
13.04 | Tunisia starts the vaccination campaign by injecting doses of the Russian Sputnik V
The vaccination campaign started this Saturday (13.03.2021) in Tunisia, the second country on the African continent with the highest mortality rate from COVID-19, with the injection of the first of the 30,000 doses of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine to groups of health workers in the metropolitan area of the capital and older people with chronic diseases. The Government’s objective is to ensure that some 3 million Tunisians – around 20 percent of the population – are vaccinated in July, the month in which the high season for tourism begins, one of the pillars of the fragile Tunisian economy, plunged in an acute crisis. (EFE)
12.29 | Five EU countries complain about the unfair distribution of anticovid vaccines
Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Latvia called for the holding of a European Union (EU) summit to discuss the “enormous disparities” that exist, according to these countries, in the distribution of anticovid vaccines, according to a letter released this Saturday. (13.03.2021). Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz on Friday already accused some EU member states, without naming them, of having secretly closed “contracts” with pharmaceutical companies, in addition to criticizing an unequal distribution of anticovid vaccines. Kurz and the leaders of the other four countries sent a letter to the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, alleging that “the supply of vaccine doses by pharmaceutical companies to EU countries are not doing it fairly. ” (AFP)
Sebastian Kurz.
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12.22 | Occupancy rate in West Bank hospitals exceeds 100 percent
The occupancy rate of hospitals in the occupied West Bank exceeded 100 percent due to the incessant increase in coronavirus infections, reported this Saturday (03/13/2021) the Ministry of Health of the Palestinian National Authority (ANP). “The situation is very dangerous,” Health explained in a statement, in which he warned about the scant compliance with the restrictions by some citizens and warned that they will recommend more severe measures. The cases still active in the West Bank exceed 18,000 and have increased rapidly in recent days, with daily infection figures of around 2,000 and positive rates above 25 percent. Vaccination is still limited in this territory, with about three million inhabitants and which has only received 9,800 doses, of which more than 90 percent have already been administered. (EFE)
11.06 | The UK will immunize its adult population two months before the EU
The United Kingdom is on track to immunize its entire adult population against the coronavirus by the beginning of June, two months before the countries of the European Union (EU), according to an analysis released this Saturday (13.03.2021) by The Times. Every adult in this country could receive at least the first dose before June 10, even before the date calculated by the Government of the end of July, according to a study prepared by the research firm Airfinity for the aforementioned newspaper. On the other hand, it is estimated that the EU as a whole will vaccinate all its adults for the first week of August, the newspaper collects. The Times stresses that this is the first research to quantify the advantage this country achieved by choosing not to join the community vaccine program. (EFE)
10.57 | India Reviews AstraZeneca Vaccine Side Effects
India will carry out a more in-depth review of the side effects of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine next week, although no cases of blood clots have been reported so far. The Indian government decided to carry out the review after several countries suspended its application due to fears of blood clots, even though the World Health Organization (WHO) said there was no reason to stop using this vaccine. “We are looking at all adverse events, particularly serious ones such as deaths and hospitalizations. We will return if we find anything that concerns us,” said NK Arora, a member of India’s national task force on COVID-19. (AFP)
10.46 | AstraZeneca announces further delays in deliveries of covid vaccines to the EU
The Anglo-Swedish laboratory AstraZeneca announced this Saturday (03/13/2021) new delays in the delivery of its COVID-19 vaccine to the European Union (EU), alleging production problems and export restrictions. The group had decided to turn to its production sites outside the EU for supply to the bloc, but “unfortunately, export restrictions will reduce deliveries in the first quarter” and “probably” in the second, according to a spokesman for the group. (AFP)
10.24 | Japan detects new variant of coronavirus in traveler from the Philippines
The authorities of Japan detected a new variant of the coronavirus in a traveler from the Philippines, which had been previously discovered in that country and could present a greater health risk than the most common strains, reported this Saturday (03/13/2021) the Japanese media . The variant is different from those discovered in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil, although like these it could be more resistant to the immunity generated by the available vaccines, according to the details released by the Japanese Ministry of Health. The new strain was detected in a man in his 60s who arrived in Japan via Narita airport and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 despite showing no symptoms of the disease. The Japanese authorities also indicated that this variant has been previously identified in the central Philippines since the end of January, where since then more than thirty infections of it have been registered. (EFE)
09.59 | The United Kingdom will hold a day of reflection on March 23 for the pandemic
A minute of silence, a national vigil and various virtual events will be part of a day of reflection scheduled in the United Kingdom for next March 23 to mark the first confinement decreed in this country by the pandemic. As indicated this Saturday (03/13/2021) by local media, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson supports this initiative promoted by the charity Marie Curie, in order to remember all those who have died from the coronavirus. In the day of reflection, the public will be urged to turn on lights and the authorities will illuminate relevant buildings and emblematic places. Marie Curie Executive Director Matthew Reed has stressed the importance of “all coming together to reflect on our collective loss; celebrate the lives of special people who are no longer here; support those who have lost loved ones and trust in a much more promising future. ” (EFE)
09.09 | Georgia receives first batch of AstraZeneca vaccine
Georgia received this Saturday (03/13/2021) the first batch of the COVID-19 vaccine, AstraZeneca, two days after the start of the national vaccination campaign. “The vaccine will be distributed to 82 centers across the country. I am sure that the vaccination process will be a success. We are ready to minimize all risks,” said Ekaterina Tikaradze, Georgian Minister of Health, at a press conference. The 43,200 doses of AstraZeneca are the first batch of vaccines this country receives. “This is a very important day. This is a vaccine authorized by the World Health Organization, so it is of high quality. Before the end of this year we plan to vaccinate 60 percent of the population, that is 1.7 million people, “said Amiran Gamkrelidze, head of Georgia’s national disease control center. (EFE)
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