The number of jobs for medical professionals worldwide is not decreasing, and there is still no decrease in COVID statistics. Countries around the world are concerned about the low effectiveness of AstraZeneca’s vaccine against the South African variant of the virus. Britain has overtaken Russia in the number of people infected. Austria eases quarantine despite poor statistics. Meanwhile, Seoul begins testing cats and dogs. This and other news about the development of the coronavirus situation in the world – in our daily review.
According to Johns Hopkins University, the number of people infected worldwide since the beginning of the pandemic has exceeded 106 million, with more than 2.3 million deaths. Countries around the world are concerned that AstraZeneca’s vaccine, developed in collaboration with Oxford University, appears to be less effective against the so-called South African variant of the coronavirus. The vaccine has been licensed for use in many countries, but if the new variant spreads rapidly, vaccination campaigns using it may not produce the expected results.
According to South African scientists, the new strain (501.V2) is responsible for nearly 90% of all Covid-19 cases in the country. This is the reason why the South African authorities have decided to postpone the vaccination of the population with the AstraZeneca vaccine. Recent clinical trials involving two thousand people have shown that the vaccine is only able to prevent severe infections and provides minimal protection against mild and moderate cases. The test results have not yet been certified, but many countries have already expressed doubts about the appropriateness of purchasing new batches of AstraZeneca’s drug. Previously, most European countries considered the drug inappropriate for people over 55 due to a lack of data on its effectiveness. Meanwhile, the South African strain is actively spreading beyond South Africa’s borders. In the United Kingdom, for example, 147 cases have been identified. In that country,…
Snowfall in southern England disrupted the operation of many vaccination centers. We explain quickly, simply, and clearly what happened, why it matters, and what happens next. The number of offers should remain: episodes. The end of the story: Promotional Podcasts The head of the parliamentary education committee, Robert Halfon, suggested on Monday that the school day be extended by about two hours when children return to their desks. Earlier, the idea of shortening the summer vacation by two weeks this year was discussed. But according to Halfon, his proposal seems more productive. Heavy snowfall in southeastern England forced some vaccination centers to close temporarily. British authorities have urged illegal migrants to register at the nearest clinics in order to be vaccinated when it is their turn. The authorities emphasize that the proposed measure is aimed only at protecting the health of illegal immigrants, and they will not be deported. The approximate number of illegal immigrants in the country was officially estimated at about 430,000 people in 2005. Meanwhile, according to the government, it has multiplied several times, despite the strict immigration policy. The British Minister for Immunization, Nadhim Zahawi, has stated that in the future the vaccine may appear in the form of tablets. According to him, such technologies are already being developed and Britain has the capability to produce a wide range of vaccines capable of fighting any strain.
Vaccines in tablet form are much easier to distribute. At the same time, he confirmed that the UK is currently facing disruptions in the supply of AstraZeneca’s vaccine, which is disrupting the vaccination campaign. The same problem exists in a number of other European countries, and experts say a vaccine in pill form will help solve it, as pills are easier to transport and store. British biotech giant IoBio has announced that previous animal trials of the tablet drug have yielded positive results. Currently, IoBio and American company ImmunityBio are ready to begin clinical trials in the UK as soon as British regulators give the green light. Clinical trials for the vaccine in tablet form started in the US in January. “IoBio CEO Wayne Cannon says, ‘With the capsules, there’s no need for medical professionals to be involved in the vaccination process. They can be shipped through Amazon Prime, and by Saturday, the entire population can be vaccinated.'” Many experts agree that two doses several weeks apart, administered only by a healthcare professional, is the longest and most complex of the possible vaccine routes. In addition to pills, there are also nasal drops and patches, and all of these options must be considered.
The Irish government has taken the unprecedented step of banning residents of Northern Ireland from entering the country without a valid reason. Valid reasons include working in key areas on the other side of the border or visiting medical facilities. Violators will be fined €100 from Monday. Even at the height of the previous lockdowns, no restrictions were imposed on the Northern Irish, but now the Irish government has declared the country at the fifth (highest) level of epidemic threat and is imposing the strictest quarantine since the beginning of the pandemic. In particular, Irish people are not allowed to travel more than 5 kilometers from their homes.
Since the ski season in France has not yet started and will probably not start at all this year, hundreds of thousands of French people have decided to spend the winter on cross-country skiing. Queues are forming for miles around at ski resorts, with people waiting an average of 1.5 to 2 hours at the ticket office. Ski resort managers point to the lack of logic in some of the government’s decisions. As of Monday, students in French schools have been banned from wearing homemade masks indoors. From now on, students will only be allowed to attend classes if they have medical masks. In addition, the French authorities intend to revise labor laws to allow employees in all sectors to eat lunch at work. For many years, this has been forbidden, and people have been eating in nearby cafes or in their own building cafeterias. However, in the current situation, the government says it is necessary to do everything possible to contain the coronavirus. France ranks sixth in the world and second in Europe in terms of the number of people infected, with nearly 3.4 million confirmed diagnoses and more than 79,000 deaths among those infected. Austria has eased quarantine measures, although the infection rate remains high. Museums, zoos, and stores selling non-essential goods have reopened, but the number of people on the premises at any one time will be limited.
Clients of Austrian hairdressers are required to test negative for Covid-19. Hairdressers and beauty salons have returned to work, but clients must provide confirmation of a negative Covid-19 test. Masks are mandatory in all public places, and they must be more complex masks with filters rather than disposable medical masks. Restaurants and hotels remain closed. Classes have resumed in Austrian schools, and students are regularly tested for coronavirus. In addition, lower grade students have returned to their desks in Denmark and Slovakia. Authorities in the South Korean capital, Seoul, have announced the start of a campaign to test cats and dogs with symptoms of the coronavirus – elevated temperature, coughing and difficulty breathing.
Some time ago, the country reported the first detected case of Covid-19 in an animal – a kitten fell ill in one of the southeastern provinces. The Seoul authorities believe that pets should be subject to the same rules as humans: owners must maintain a distance of two meters between their pets and other animals when walking them, and in case of a positive test result, the pets should be completely isolated for two weeks. During the pandemic, the coronavirus was detected in tigers, gorillas, and mink in several countries, but there is no compelling evidence of the animals’ role in spreading the virus, according to leading infectious disease experts.