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COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• Acting Secretary Wolf Addresses The Chinese Threat At Heritage Foundation DHS 21 Dec 2020 -- Today, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad F. Wolf delivered remarks at a virtual event hosted by the Heritage Foundation detailing the enduring threat from the People's Republic of China (PRC) and DHS's strategy to confront it.
• Acting Secretary Chad F. Wolf Remarks As Prepared: Homeland Security And The China Challenge DHS 21 Dec 2020
• China dismisses Trump's cyberattack accusations as 'farce, politically-motivated' Press TV 21 Dec 2020 -- China has dismissed as a "farce" and "politically-motivated" accusations by US President Donald Trump that Beijing has been involved in a massive cyberattack in the United States.
• Former Senior Libyan Intelligence Officer and Bomb-Maker for the Muamar Qaddafi Regime Charged for The December 21, 1988 Bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 US Dept. of Justice 21 Dec 2020 -- Today, Attorney General William Barr, Director of the FBI, Christopher Wray, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Demers, and Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Michael Sherwin, announced new charges against a former Libyan intelligence operative, Abu Agela Mas'ud Kheir Al-Marimi, aka, "Hasan Abu Ojalya Ibrahim" (Masud), for his role in building the bomb that killed 270 individuals in the destruction of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland on Dec. 21, 1988.
• Attorney General William P. Barr Delivers Remarks at the Pan Am 103 Press Conference US Dept. of Justice 21 Dec 2020 -- Remarks as Prepared for Delivery
• US Charges New Suspect in 1988 Pan Am Bombing VOA 21 Dec 2020 -- Outgoing U.S. Attorney General William Barr on Monday announced criminal charges against a new suspect in the 1988 terrorist bombing of a Pan Am airliner that exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland.
• USS Port Royal Seizes Suspected Narcotics US Navy 21 Dec 2020 -- The guided-missile cruiser USS Port Royal (CG 73), deployed to U.S. Fifth Fleet and operating in support of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), interdicted a shipment of more than 1100 lbs. (521 kg) of suspected narcotics from a dhow in the international waters of the North Arabian Sea Dec. 18.
• Joint UN-INTERPOL operation disrupts firearms supply to terrorist networks in West Africa and Sahel UN News 21 Dec 2020 -- An international operation coordinated jointly by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the international police organization INTERPOL has disrupted trafficking networks that supply terrorist groups across West Africa and the Sahel, the UN agency reported on Monday.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) - Weekly Update WHO 21 Dec 2020
• New COVID-19 variants under the microscope as travel bans mount over UK mutation UN News 21 Dec 2020 -- The UN health agency chief said on Monday that scientists have been working to understand new COVID-19 variants that have been reported in South Africa and the United Kingdom.
• WHO Says No Evidence Coronavirus Variant is Deadlier, More Severe VOA 21 Dec 2020 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) says it is studying variants of the coronavirus found in Britain and South Africa, adding there is no evidence they are deadlier or more severe than any more common strains, and the best thing people can do is work to suppress transmission.
• WHO says no need for major alarm over new coronavirus strain SPA 21 Dec 2020 -- The World Health Organization cautioned against major alarm over a new, highly infectious variant of the coronavirus that has emerged in Britain, saying this was a normal part of a pandemic's evolution, Reuters reported.
• UNGA president calls for ensuring COVID-19 vaccines accessible to all people People's Daily 21 Dec 2020 -- Volkan Bozkir, president of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), on Sunday called for ensuring that COVID-19 vaccines are accessible to all people.

United States

• New York National Guard begins COVID-19 vaccinations Army News 21 Dec 2020 -- Almost 1,000 New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen were vaccinated against COVID-19 Dec. 17-20 as part of a Department of Defense (DOD) pilot program at 16 locations worldwide.
• Wisconsin National Guard assists with vaccine rollout Army News 21 Dec 2020 -- A small team of Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen from the Wisconsin National Guard supported the distribution of the state's first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines.
• WVNG helps process, deliver COVID-19 vaccine Army News 21 Dec 2020 -- The West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) shifted its focus to receiving and delivering the first batch of COVID-19 vaccine across the Mountain State.
• DOD Awards $4.8 Million Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity to a Calibre Scientific Subsidiary, Anatrace, to Increase Domestic Production Capacity of COVID-19 Testing Reagents DoD 21 Dec 2020 -- On Dec. 20, 2020, the Department of Defense (DOD), in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), awarded an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract to Anatrace Products, LLC. to support increased testing demands for COVID-19.
• Pfizer, Moderna Produce COVID-19 Vaccine DoD News 21 Dec 2020 -- The COVID-19 vaccine distribution had a strong week last week, with 2.9-million doses initially coming from pharmaceutical company Pfizer, Army Gen. Gustave F. Perna, Operation Warp Speed chief operating officer, said in a media briefing today.
• Biden Receives COVID-19 Vaccination VOA 21 Dec 2020 -- U.S. President-elect Joe Biden received a COVID-19 vaccination on live television Monday to convince Americans that the inoculation is safe as the country surpassed 18 million confirmed coronavirus cases.
• Rush Transcript: Governor Cuomo Announces British Airways Agrees to Test All Passengers Before Entering New York State New York State 21 Dec 2020
• Rush Transcript: Governor Cuomo Announces British Airways and Delta Airlines Agree to Test All Passengers Before Entering New York State New York State 21 Dec 2020
• Rush Transcript: Governor Cuomo Announces British Airways and Delta Airlines Agree to Test All Passengers Before Entering New York State New York State 21 Dec 2020
• Rural hospitals in U.S. Texas to get COVID-19 vaccines: health officials People's Daily 21 Dec 2020 -- Some 620,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines are expected to arrive in hospitals in the U.S. state of Texas on Monday, including those in rural areas.
• CDC panel recommends frontline essential workers, 75+ seniors in line for COVID-19 vaccine People's Daily 21 Dec 2020 -- An advisory panel of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) voted Sunday to recommend that frontline essential workers and adults 75 years of age and older be next in line to receive COVID-19 vaccine.
• Readout from the Trump Administration's 45th Governors Briefing on COVID-19 Response & Best Practices The White House 21 Dec 2020
• State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 21 Dec 2020

China

• China's clear anti-epidemic timeline refutes Western media accusations: Chinese FM Global Times 21 Dec 2020 -- China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson has reiterated China's timeline of its handling of the COVID-19 outbreak in response to accusations from an article of The New York Times, claiming that it concealed information at the start of the epidemic.
• China evaluating number of high-risk workers in need of COVID-19 vaccine Global Times 21 Dec 2020 -- China is calculating how many people working in high-risk professions, including cold-chain, medical and port workers, will need to receive COVID-19 vaccines, health officials said Monday.
• China wants to know how many high-risk workers need COVID-19 vaccine Global Times 21 Dec 2020 -- China is calculating how many people working in high-risk professions will need to receive COVID-19 vaccines, health officials said Monday, as the travel rush of the Chinese New Year, also known as the world's largest annual human migration, draws close.
• Hong Kong reports 74 new COVID-19 cases, 8,152 in total Global Times 21 Dec 2020 -- Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported 74 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, taking its total tally to 8,152.
• Shanghai reports eight COVID-19 cases from Russia Global Times 21 Dec 2020 -- Shanghai reported eight imported COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. The eight patients, all Chinese nationals, took the same flight to the Chinese city from Russia, Shanghai authority announced Monday.
• Fosun's COVID-19 vaccine one step closer to hitting market Global Times 21 Dec 2020 -- The Phase II clinical trial of the vaccine developed by Fosun Pharma has completed the enrollment of 960 subjects ahead of schedule and shown no serious side effects, bringing it a step closer to being sold on market.
• Central China county detects coronavirus on imported frozen beef packaging People's Daily 21 Dec 2020 -- Samples collected from the packaging of a batch of imported frozen beef in Zhongmu County, central China's Henan Province, have tested positive for COVID-19, local health authorities said Monday.
• China's Heilongjiang reports 1 new confirmed COVID-19 case, 3 new asymptomatic cases People's Daily 21 Dec 2020 -- Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province reported one new confirmed COVID-19 case and three new asymptomatic cases on Sunday, the provincial health commission said Monday.
• Chinese mainland reports 2 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases People's Daily 21 Dec 2020 -- China's National Health Commission said Monday that it received reports of 23 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland Sunday, including 21 imported ones and two locally transmitted ones.
• China's Guangzhou reports one asymptomatic COVID-19 case People's Daily 21 Dec 2020 -- Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, found one asymptomatic COVID-19 case on Sunday, local authorities said.
• China's Liaoning reports new coronavirus infections People's Daily 21 Dec 2020 -- Northeast China's Liaoning Province on Sunday reported one confirmed COVID-19 case and one asymptomatic COVID-19 case, local authorities said Monday.
• China's Dalian strengthens cold-chain management amid new COVID-19 cases People's Daily 21 Dec 2020 -- China's northeastern port city of Dalian has strengthened cold-chain management in the wake of new COVID-19 cases reported recently, local authorities said Sunday.
• China's Shenyang finds coronavirus on imported fish packaging People's Daily 21 Dec 2020 -- Two samples collected from the packaging of imported caroun croaker have tested positive for COVID-19 in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, local authorities said Sunday.

Europe

• EU Approves Pfizer-BioNTech COVID Vaccine VOA 21 Dec 2020 -- The European Union has given official approval for the coronavirus vaccine developed by BioNTech and Pfizer, while the United States began distributing a second COVID-19 vaccine developed by U.S.-based drugmaker Moderna.
• Germany Says Unified European Response Needed to Coronavirus Variant VOA 21 Dec 2020 -- Germany's foreign minister said Monday a coordinated response from the European Union (EU) is needed to prevent a new strain of the coronavirus from spreading outside of Britain, where it was recently discovered.
• Taiwan not considering banning flights from U.K.: CECC CNA 21 Dec 2020 -- Taiwan is not considering banning flights from the United Kingdom as a preventative measure against a new coronavirus variant detected there, because the measures already in place are sufficient in preventing the spread of COVID-19, a top health official said Monday.
• Calls to halt flights from UK grow as mutated virus' ability to evade human immune system improves rapidly Global Times 21 Dec 2020 -- Chinese netizens called for flights from the UK to be halted after a new coronavirus variant sweeping the south of the country caused public fear and chaos.
• Israel bans flights from Britain over new COVID-19 variant Global Times 21 Dec 2020 -- Israel on Sunday announced a ban on flights from Britain following the discovery of a fast-spreading variant of COVID-19.
• Several European countries halt UK flights over fears of mutant coronavirus Global Times 21 Dec 2020 -- A number of European countries on Sunday began to ban flights from Britain following the emergence of a highly infectious variant of coronavirus.
• More countries suspend UK flights amid concern over highly infectious new COVID-19 strain People's Daily 21 Dec 2020 -- More countries have announced plans to ban flights from Britain following several European nations' similar decisions, as a new and more transmissible strain of COVID-19 has been reported in Britain.
• London could be under COVID-19 lockdown for months: UK health secretary People's Daily 21 Dec 2020 -- British Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Sunday raised the prospect that London could be under lockdown for months as he has warned it will be "very difficult" to keep a virulent new strain of the coronavirus under control until vaccinations are rolled out.
• Ireland announces 48-hour ban on flights from Britain over COVID-19 concerns People's Daily 21 Dec 2020 -- The Irish government on Sunday evening announced a ban on all flights arriving into Ireland from Britain with effect from midnight of Sunday, in response to the identification of a new strain of COVID-19 in the southwest of England.
• Germany wants to restrict travel with UK and South Africa: spokesperson People's Daily 21 Dec 2020 -- A German government spokesperson announced on Sunday that Germany plans to limit travel possibilities with the UK and South Africa.
• Britain Holds Urgent Talks With France to Lift Coronavirus Blockade VOA 21 Dec 2020 -- Britain became more isolated Monday as additional countries imposed bans on British commercial airline flights, automobile journeys and cross-Channel trains and freight because of rising international alarm over a more infectious coronavirus strain that has flared in London and southern England.
• UK records another 35,928 coronavirus cases, 326 deaths People's Daily 21 Dec 2020 -- Another 35,928 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 2,040,147, according to official figures released Sunday.
• France to suspend all travel from UK for 48 hours People's Daily 21 Dec 2020 -- France is to suspend from Sunday midnight (Paris time) for 48 hours all travel from the United Kingdom, "including people related to the transport of goods, by road, air, sea or rail," the Prime Minister's Office announced following a cabinet meeting.
• Macron Says France Needs to Boost Vigilance Over Mutated Coronavirus Strain Sputnik 21 Dec 2020 -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday said it was necessary to be extra vigilant regarding the fresh discovery of the mutated coronavirus strain in the UK.
• Hong Kong to Ban Flights from UK from Dec 22 SPA 21 Dec 2020 -- Hong Kong will ban all flights arriving from the United Kingdom from midnight local time on Monday, becoming the first city in Asia to announce such a halt after a new super-virulent strain of the novel coronavirus was identified in Britain, Reuters reported.
• Hong Kong to deny entry of visitors from Britain to fend off new COVID-19 strain People's Daily 21 Dec 2020 -- Hong Kong will deny entry of visitors who have stayed for over two hours in Britain during the past two weeks, effective from midnight Monday, to fend off a more infectious strain of COVID-19 virus reported there.
• Iran orders quarantine measures for travelers from UK amid mutant virus reports Press TV 21 Dec 2020 -- Iran has ordered quarantine measures affecting travelers who arrived from the United Kingdom over the past two weeks amid reports that a new variant of the coronavirus has been circulating in the European country.
• New COVID-19 variant forces Iran, other regional countries to suspend UK flights Press TV 21 Dec 2020 -- Iran and some other countries in the Middle East have joined a list of nations halting flights to and from the UK amid growing fears of a new, more transmissible COVID-19 strain originating in southeast England.

India

• Sustained shedding of Active Caseload continues; drops to 3.03 Lakh after 161 days India PIB 21 Dec 2020 -- India's total Active Caseload has dropped to 3.03 lakh (3,03,639) today. This is the lowest in 161 days. The total active cases were 3,01,609 on 13th July, 2020.
• Indian health minister says first COVID-19 vaccine may be available in January People's Daily 21 Dec 2020 -- Indian Health Minister Harsh Vardhan Monday said the COVID-19 vaccine may be available in the country in January next year.
• India's COVID-19 tally rises to 10,055,560 People's Daily 21 Dec 2020 -- India's COVID-19 tally rose to 10,055,560 on Monday while 24,337 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours, according to the latest data from the federal health ministry.
• India Reports 24,000 New COVID-19 Cases, 333 Deaths SPA 21 Dec 2020 -- With 24,337 new coronavirus infections and 333 deaths in the past 24 hours, India's overall tally stood at 10,055,560 on Monday.

Iran

• Official vows doing COVID19 vaccine human trial this week IRNA 21 Dec 2020 -- Member of national anti-COVID-19 committee and researcher in Iranian coronavirus project Minou Mohraz said grounds have been prepared for doing COVID-19 vaccine human trial and it will be done this week.
• COVID-19 kills 191 more Iranians IRNA 21 Dec 2020 -- Some 191 more Iranians have died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) over the past 24 hours bringing the total deaths to 53,816, Iran's Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on Monday.
• Iran COVID-19 vaccine expected in next six months IRNA 21 Dec 2020 -- Head of Iranian Society for Immunology and Allergy announced on Monday that the necessary knowledge for manufacturing COVID-19 vaccine exists in the country and domestically-produced vaccines are expected to be available in the next six months.

South Korea

• S. Korea's capital area to ban gatherings of 5 or more people to contain COVID-19 spread People's Daily 21 Dec 2020 -- The municipal governments of South Korea's capital area decided Monday to ban the gatherings of five or more people to contain the fast spread of COVID-19 in capital Seoul, its surrounding Gyeonggi province and the western port city of Incheon.

Saudi Arabia

• 168 New Confirmed COVID-19 Cases, 211 Recoveries Reported, in Saudi Arabia SPA 21 Dec 2020 -- The Ministry of Health announced in a statement here today that 168 new confirmed cases of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number to 361,178, including 2,958 active cases undergoing treatment.

Thailand

• Thailand COVID-19 outbreak involving hundreds linked to seafood market Global Times 21 Dec 2020 -- Thailand plans to test more than 10,000 people after reporting 516 workers at a seafood market in Samut Sakhon province, not far from the capital, had tested positive for the coronavirus.
• Thailand reports record daily spike of COVID-19 cases People's Daily 21 Dec 2020 -- Lockdown measures were imposed in Bangkok's neighboring province Samut Sakhon as 516 new confirmed COVID-19 cases with a local seafood market as their origin were reported in the past 24 hours, according to a health official on Saturday.
• Thai PM, Officials Suspect Foreign Workers as Source of New COVID-19 Outbreak Radio Free Asia 21 Dec 2020 -- The Thai prime minister and health officials said Monday that foreign workers who entered the country illicitly were the likely source of a record outbreak of coronavirus cases detected at Thailand's largest seafood market complex, where hundreds of migrants from Myanmar have been infected.
• Thailand Urges Tight Virus Controls for Big Holiday Celebrations VOA 21 Dec 2020 -- It's holiday season in Thailand, when international tourists who pay top prices join local residents for countdowns, fireworks and a blur of partying.

Kazakhstan

• Kazakhstan Starts Production Of Russia's Sputnik-V, Announces Mass Vaccination Program RFE/RL 21 Dec 2020 -- Kazakhstan says it has started producing the Russian-developed Sputnik-V coronavirus vaccine ahead of a mass vaccination project planned for early next year.
• Kazakhstan Starts Production of Sputnik V Coronavirus Vaccine Sputnik 21 Dec 2020 -- Kazakh Prime Minister Askar Mamin attended the pharmaceutical complex in Karagandy on Monday to officially launch production of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19, the Kazakh government said.

Other Countries

• Chile to begin COVID-19 vaccination program next week People's Daily 21 Dec 2020 -- Chilean President Sebastian Pinera announced on Sunday that the vaccination program against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) will begin next week, with 585,545 total cases having been reported to date.
• UAE Announces 1,077 New COVID-19 Cases, 845 Recoveries, 2 Deaths SPA 21 Dec 2020 -- UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) announced here today that it conducted 94,911 additional COVID-19 tests over the past 24 hours, using state-of-the-art medical testing equipment.
• Belarus First Country Outside Russia to Register Sputnik V Vaccine Against COVID-19 Sputnik 21 Dec 2020 -- Belarus has become the first foreign country to register Russia's Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said Monday.
• Australia on High Alert as Sydney COVID-19 Cluster Grows VOA 21 Dec 2020 -- Tougher controls have been put in place as Australia fights to contain a growing COVID-19 cluster in Sydney. Travel from the nation's biggest city is being restricted as authorities race to find he source of 83 recently diagnosed infections, up from 68 on Sunday.
• Kenyan Doctors Strike Over Pay, Working Conditions VOA 21 Dec 2020 -- Kenyan doctors Monday joined clinical officers and nurses in a nationwide strike that is likely to make it harder for patients to receive treatment. Doctors called the strike after talks with the government regarding pay and coronavirus protective gear broke down.