Coronavirus: latest developments | ASEAN Post


Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:

Probe of origins

The World Health Organization (WHO) says the second stage of an investigation into the origins of the coronavirus should include further studies in China and laboratory “audits”.

Curfew in Catalonia

Barcelona and other cities in Spain’s northeastern Catalonia region will reimpose a nighttime curfew from this weekend to tackle a rise in virus cases after the measure was approved by the court.

US doses for Africa

The United States announces that it is shipping 25 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Africa, starting with Burkina Faso, Djibouti and Ethiopia, to which shipments will be sent within days.

Fivefold?

The European disease agency predicts a sharp rise in cases, with almost five times as many new infections by August 1.

London Scuppers Holidays in French

English residents visiting France after a relaxation of coronavirus restrictions on July 19 will still be required to self-quarantine when they return home, even if they are fully vaccinated, according to the government.

APEC meeting

Pacific Rim leaders, including US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, pledge to accelerate the production and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines during unprecedented virtual pandemic discussions.

3 billion US dollars from China

Chinese President Xi Jinping pledges an additional US$3 billion in aid to developing countries to fight COVID-19.

The Eiffel Tower reopens

The Eiffel Tower in Paris is reopening to visitors for the first time in nine months after its longest closure since World War II.

England Overture ‘Murderer’

Scientists say the UK government’s plan to scrap daily pandemic restrictions in England next week has no scientific basis and amounts to premeditated murder for thousands of people.

“Unvaccinated Pandemic”

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is pleading with COVID vaccine holders to get vaccinated, saying “this is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated.”

Confinement in the Philippines

More than three million people in the Philippines are in lockdown as health officials warn of a possible spike in coronavirus infections following the first locally transmitted cases of the Delta variant.

Fiji lifts lockdown

Fiji is rejecting calls for a strict lockdown as COVID-19 cases reach record levels in the Pacific island nation, insisting a “no shot, no work” vaccination campaign will contain the virus.

four million dead

The pandemic has killed at least 4,070,508 people since the virus emerged in December 2019, according to a compilation of official AFP data.

The United States is the most affected country with 608,400 deaths, followed by Brazil with 538,942, India with 412,531, Mexico with 235,740 and Peru with 194,845.

The WHO says up to three times as many people have died directly or indirectly from the pandemic than official figures suggest. -AFP

Previous Russian gas shutdown weighs heavily on Italian economy – EURACTIV.com
Next Biden arrives in Europe for summits focused on Ukraine and the economy