PARIS, Dec 11, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:
– US votes approval –
An expert committee convened by the United States Food and Drug Administration votes heavily in favour of approving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for emergency use after streaming their discussion live.
– Record emissions drop –
Carbon emissions fell a record seven percent in 2020 as countries imposed lockdowns, with the biggest drops in the US (down 12 percent) and the European Union (down 11 percent).
– Russia death toll high –
Russia reports a record 613 virus deaths over the past 24 hours, crossing the 600 mark for the first time as a mass vaccination drive starts.
Excess deaths of 165,000 between March and October suggest its death toll is higher than the reported figure of 44,769.
– Sputnik cocktail –
AstraZeneca says it will clinically trial a vaccine with a mix of its own shot developed with Oxford University and Russia’s Sputnik V.
– Silent night –
Midnight Christmas Mass in Bethlehem, usually attended by hundreds at the site where Christians believe Jesus was born, will be closed to the public this year.
– DeGeneres infected –
US talk show host Ellen DeGeneres tests positive and joins the list of well-known names to have contracted the virus.
– Brazil ‘is best’ –
President Jair Bolsonaro says Brazil, where deaths and infections are surging, is at the “tail end” of the pandemic, adding “our government was the best, or one of the best, in handling it.”
– President first in queue –
Argentina President Alberto Fernandez says he will be injected with Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine once it is approved by health officials to dispel fears.
– Nigeria second wave –
Nigeria’s health minister warns of a second wave following a sudden rise in infections in the west African nation where 1,843 cases were recorded last week compared with 1,235 two weeks ago.
– Sanofi, GSK shots delay –
France’s Sanofi and Britain’s GSK say their protein-based vaccines will not be ready until the end of 2021, after interim results showed a low immune response in older adults.
– Australia jab dropped –
Development of a promising Australian shot in phase-one trials is abandoned after it produced a false positive HIV test result in participants, sparking fears it could undermine public confidence.
– Over 1.58 million dead –
The novel coronavirus has killed at least 1,582,721 people since the outbreak emerged in China last December, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP on Friday.
The US is the worst-affected country with 292,190 deaths, followed by Brazil with 179,765, India with 142,186 and Mexico with 112,326.
– Greece loosens up –
Greece will allow up to nine people in churches on Christmas Day and for the Epiphany. Quarantine for incoming travellers will be cut from 10 to three days.
– Ferrari CEO quits –
Louis Camilleri, who recently left hospital after a severe case of Covid-19, announces his departure from Ferrari for personal reasons.
BSS/AFP/IJ/2002 hrs