According to the World Health Organization, the rate of spread of the coronavirus is decreasing worldwide, but the emergence of new strains of Covid-19 continues to cause concern. The world’s hopes for overcoming the pandemic are tied to vaccination, and on Wednesday, the international Covax program began to deliver vaccines to the poorest countries. Meanwhile, Georgia is beginning to lift restrictions on tourist travel and other quarantine measures.
This and other news about the development of the situation with the coronavirus in the world – in our review.
The World Health Organization has expressed cautious optimism that the number of new infections and the death rate from coronavirus worldwide are on a downward trend for the sixth consecutive week. According to the WHO, 2.4 million new cases were reported last week, down 11% from the previous week. The Covid-19 mortality rate decreased by 20% during the same period. However, despite the overall decline in morbidity, the increase in infection with new strains is causing concern among medical professionals. The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that the British strain, which is characterized by increased virulence, has already been detected in 101 countries around the world, while the South African strain has been detected in 51 countries. In total, there have been 110.7 million cases of coronavirus infection and more than 2.4 million deaths worldwide since the beginning of the pandemic.
Ghana has become the first country in the world to receive a batch of coronavirus vaccine under the Covax program, which aims to immunize people in the world’s poorest countries. The shipment of 600,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, manufactured in India, was delivered to Accra on Wednesday.
Ghana is the first country to receive the vaccine under the Covax program. Ghana was selected as the first country to receive the vaccine because it was better prepared than others. The first vaccinations are expected to begin early next week. Priority will be given to health care workers, people over the age of 60, people with chronic diseases, and high-ranking officials. In Ghana (population 30 million), there have been more than 80,000 cases of COVID-19 infection and 580 deaths since the start of the pandemic, although these figures may be incomplete due to testing problems. The Covax program was developed under the leadership of the WHO and with the participation of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi) and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Cepi).
The goal of the program is to ensure that the poorest countries are not the last to receive the vaccine. In order to achieve this (through funding), 98 rich and developed countries should help them. The WHO estimates that in less than a year, up to 20% of the population of the 190 poorest countries will receive more than two billion doses of vaccine without using their own budgets. Including the Covax program, Ukraine is expected to receive 16 million doses this year.
U.S. regulators are poised to approve Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine, which is safe, effective in preventing severe coronavirus infection and, importantly, does not require a second dose.
According to experts, the new vaccine can become a cost-effective alternative to Pfizer’s and Moderna’s drugs because, unlike them, it can be stored in a regular refrigerator rather than a special one. Preliminary clinical trials in the United States, South Africa and Brazil have shown that the new vaccine is more than 85% effective in preventing severe cases of the disease, but no more than 66% effective against mild and moderate forms of the coronavirus. At the same time, none of the study participants who received this vaccine died or were hospitalized within 28 days of vaccination. Previously, Johnson and Johnson announced that, if approved, they would be able to release more than 4 million doses at once and provide 20 million doses by the end of March.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged additional funding to help students make up missed classes and have one-on-one time with their teachers over the summer.
Since severe restrictions imposed in March last year forced students to switch to distance learning, this could not help but affect their academic performance. The government’s new initiative means that schools will be able to decide for themselves when and for how long to hold summer classes, and which specific students to invite to the classrooms. Similar programs are planned in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, whose authorities have also pledged additional funding for schools. Teachers, unions and education experts have called this initiative a good start. Earlier, Boris Johnson confirmed that in the first phase of easing the quarantine, students will be able to return to classes as early as March 8. In addition, all senior students will be required to undergo free coronavirus testing.
Beginning February 25, Georgia will begin phasing out restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. From March 1, citizens of Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan with a negative coronavirus test will be able to travel to the country. Previously, only citizens of European Union countries were allowed to enter the country.
In early February, protests were held in Tbilisi against the introduction of quarantine measures. Hotels will be opened first in Georgian ski resorts, and from March 8 – ski lifts. At the same time, restaurants, shopping malls and markets (except for grocery stores, which will be allowed to operate only on weekends) will resume operations throughout the country. On March 15, it is planned to reopen higher education institutions and gyms, and from April 1, theaters, sports clubs and sports arenas will start operating. At the same time, the 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew will remain in effect.