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COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• Attorney General William P. Barr Announces Results of Operation Legend US Dept. of Justice 23 Dec 2020 -- Earlier today, Attorney General William P. Barr announced the results of Operation Legend, which was first launched in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 8, 2020, and then expanded to Chicago and Albuquerque, New Mexico, on July 22, 2020; to Cleveland, Ohio, Detroit, Michigan, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 29, 2020; to St. Louis, Missouri, and Memphis, Tennessee, on August 6, 2020; and to Indianapolis, Indiana, on August 14, 2020.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Worldwide Coronavirus Cases Cross 77.57 Million, Death Toll at 1,709,633 SPA 23 Dec 2020 -- More than 77.57 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 1,709,633 have died, according to a Reuters tally.
• Global coronavirus caseload passes 78mn, new variant threatening world Press TV 23 Dec 2020 -- The global number of confirmed coronavirus cases has topped 78 million, and a new, more infectious variant of the deadly virus is now threatening the world.
• New COVID-19 strain provokes global alarm, unlikely to compromise vaccine effectiveness People's Daily 23 Dec 2020 -- For Britons, Europeans and perhaps a significant number of people around the world, the coming Christmas holiday is like no other -- a "coronavirus Christmas" when people will be largely grounded indoors as they are bracing themselves for a challenging time together.

United States

• Rush Transcript: Governor Cuomo Announces 89,000 New Yorkers Have Received First COVID-19 Vaccine Dose New York State 23 Dec 2020
• Idaho Guard continues to assist with COVID-19 response Army News 23 Dec 2020 -- The Idaho National Guard has partnered with agencies and organizations across Idaho in a renewed push against the COVID-19 pandemic.
• DOD Awards $15 Million Firm Fixed Price Contract to Corning Incorporated to Increase Domestic Production Capacity of Robotic Pipette Tips DoD 23 Dec 2020 -- On December 23, 2020, the Department of Defense (DOD), in coordination with Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), awarded a $15 million Firm Fixed Price contract to Corning Incorporated to expand domestic production of pipette tips for robotic liquid handling instruments.
• HHS, DOD Collaborate With Merck to Continue the Development and Large-Scale Manufacturing of Investigational COVID-19 Treatment DoD 23 Dec 2020 -- The U.S. Department of the Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Defense (DOD) jointly announced an agreement with Merck to support advanced development and large-scale manufacturing of their investigational therapeutic MK-7110 to treat hospitalized patients with severe or critical COVID-19.
• Trump Administration Purchases Additional 100 Million Doses of COVID-19 Investigational Vaccine From Pfizer DoD 23 Dec 2020 -- The Trump Administration, through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Defense (DOD), will purchase an additional 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer.
• Operation Warp Speed Leader Provides Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery DoD News 23 Dec 2020 -- Army Gen. Gustave F. Perna, chief operating officer of Operation Warp Speed, briefed the media today on the progress of COVID-19 vaccine delivery.
• US to Distribute Additional 100M Doses of Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine VOA 23 Dec 2020 -- Pfizer-BioNTech said Wednesday they will supply the United States with an additional 100 million doses of its coronavirus vaccine as the country struggles to contain surges in infections.
• Rush Transcript: Governor Cuomo Announces 89,000 New Yorkers Have Received First COVID-19 Vaccine Dose New York State 23 Dec 2020
• Fauci, other U.S. senior health officials receive COVID-19 vaccines People's Daily 23 Dec 2020 -- U.S. top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci and other senior health officials received COVID-19 vaccines on Tuesday.
• NYS laboratory starts research of COVID-19 variant discovered in UK People's Daily 23 Dec 2020 -- The Wadsworth Laboratory in Albany has begun aggressive research of the new, highly contagious COVID-19 strain that has been discovered in the United Kingdom, said an official release issued by the New York State government on Tuesday.
• Flawed distribution formula in U.S. means most vulnerable may not get COVID vaccine in time People's Daily 23 Dec 2020 -- Even though two types of COVID vaccines have been granted emergency use in the United States and one of them has started to be injected to health care workers, a flawed distribution formula may result in those most vulnerable to the coronavirus unable to get vaccinated in time.
• State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 23 Dec 2020

China

• Update: Sinovac's COVID-19 vaccine 'effective' in Brazil trials, though results release postponed Global Times 23 Dec 2020 -- The government of São Paulo announced on Wednesday that CoronaVac is over 50 percent effective, but has again postponed the release of detailed data on the effectiveness of the vaccine developed by the Sao Paulo-based Butantan Institute in partnership with the Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac.
• Sichuan Airlines suspends UK flights but China yet to impose travel ban Global Times 23 Dec 2020 -- Speculation is rising that China may cancel inbound flights from the UK amid the worsening COVID-19 situation there, after China's Sichuan Airlines suspended flights on a UK-China route with a stopover in a third country from Wednesday.
• China begins vaccination sign-ups Global Times 23 Dec 2020 -- Signing up to receive the vaccine against COVID-19 has begun in China, as the Global Times has learned that hospitals, schools, police stations and enterprises in Chinese cities are mobilizing people to take the shot against the resurgence of the epidemic.
• Seeking anti-epidemic aid from central government to HK 'a right decision to make' Global Times 23 Dec 2020 -- As voices alleging that the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is seeking political ends in the fight against the epidemic, some representatives from the city expressed the hope of seeking nucleic acid tests and vaccine assistance from the central government amid the fourth wave of outbreak in the international business hub, saying it is "a right decision to make."
• NE China's Liaoning bans large gatherings amid COVID-19 resurgence Global Times 23 Dec 2020 -- Northeast China's Liaoning Province is cancelling all large gatherings, including banquets and training sessions, ahead of the coming New Year's Day and Spring Festival holidays, after some cities in the province entered "wartime mode" in response to a resurgence of COVID-19 infections.
• Chinese mainland reports 1 new locally transmitted COVID-19 case People's Daily 23 Dec 2020 -- China's National Health Commission said Wednesday that it received reports of 15 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland Tuesday, including one locally transmitted case and 14 imported ones.
• China's Dalian conducts citywide COVID-19 tests People's Daily 23 Dec 2020 -- China's northeastern port city of Dalian has started to conduct nucleic acid tests on all its citizens in the wake of new COVID-19 cases reported recently, local authorities said on Tuesday.
• Casinos, COVID or Drugs? Why China Is Building a Fence on Myanmar Border VOA 23 Dec 2020 -- Media reports say Chinese authorities are putting up a barrier along their southeastern border with Shan State, a volatile part of Myanmar, a move some analysts believe will stop coronavirus-infected people from sneaking in while deterring Chinese casino gamblers and their debt-collection gangs from sneaking to the other side.

Europe

• UK records highest daily number of coronavirus cases People's Daily 23 Dec 2020 -- Another 36,804 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, marking the highest daily increase of coronavirus cases since the pandemic began in the country, according to official figures released Tuesday.
• New COVID-19 Variant More Infectious Than Other Strains, British Scientists Say VOA 23 Dec 2020 -- Researchers in Britain say the new strain of COVID-19 is more infectious than other variants, and could be more transmissible in children.
• Second, 'More Transmissible' Mutation of Coronavirus Detected in UK, Health Secretary Says Sputnik 23 Dec 2020 -- Britain is already moving to widen lockdowns in connection with the emergence of a separate new strain of COVID-19 identified in southeast England last week. That strain is said to be more transmissible, but no more severe than the original virus.
• Germany extends UK travel ban despite EU urging to scap restrictions People's Daily 23 Dec 2020 -- Germany on Tuesday extended its travel ban from Britain until Jan. 6 amid concern over a highly infectious new COVID-19 variant, despite a European Commission recommendation earlier for member states to lift the ban.
• France Lifts Britain Travel Ban VOA 23 Dec 2020 -- France began allowing people to enter the country from Britain again Wednesday after several days in which it and other European nations imposed travel bans to contain a COVID-19 variant spreading in Britain.
• New coronavirus cases in France stable compared with a week ago SPA 23 Dec 2020 -- France reported 11,795 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, up from 5,797 on Monday and nearly unchanged from 11,532 a week ago, raising the overall total to 2.49 million, health ministry data showed.
• France allows travelers from UK to enter with negative COVID-19 test People's Daily 23 Dec 2020 -- France will lift its ban on travel from the United Kingdom (UK) from Wednesday subject to a negative COVID-19 test result, the Prime Minister's Office said on Tuesday.
• Italy's COVID-19 Death Toll Passes 70,000, with 553 New Fatalities SPA 23 Dec 2020 -- Italy reported 553 coronavirus-related deaths today, on Wednesday against 628 the day before, taking its total toll past 70,000, Reuters cited the Italian health ministry as saying.
• New coronavirus strain prompts lockdowns, travel bans as EU green-lights vaccine People's Daily 23 Dec 2020 -- Several European countries and Australia have detected a new, faster spreading and potentially more contagious strain of COVID-19 in recent days and have or are about to roll out stricter control measures.

Russia

• Volunteers in Russia's Sputnik V Vaccine Trials Will No Longer Receive Placebos, Developer Says Sputnik 23 Dec 2020 -- Russia's health ministry has approved changing the format of post-registration clinical trials of the Sputnik V vaccine against COVID: volunteers will no longer get a placebo, only the real vaccine since it has already proven safe, Alexander Gintsburg, the head of the Gamaleya research institute, said.

India

• At less than 3% of Total Cases, India's Active Caseload of 2.89 lakh continues to retreat India PIB 23 Dec 2020 -- The ongoing trend of contraction of India's total active cases continues. The active caseload of the country stands at 2,89,240 today. The share of Active Cases in the total Positive Cases has further shrunk to 2.86%.
• Ministry of Health issued Standard Operating Procedure for Epidemiological Surveillance and Response in the context of new variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus detected in United Kingdom India PIB 23 Dec 2020 -- A new variant of SARS- CoV 2 virus [Variant Under Investigation (VUI)-20212/01] has been reported by the Government of United Kingdom (UK) to World Health Organization (WHO) .
• Union Health Secretary reviews the status of passengers coming from UK to India and found positive with 10 States/UTs where the flights from UK to India land India PIB 23 Dec 2020 -- Shri Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary, reviewed the status of passengers coming from UK to India and found positive in the States/UTs of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Goa, Punjab, Gujarat and Kerala and their response measures in a meeting held through Video Conferencing today, in the presence of DG, ICMR, Health Secretaries from the States/UT, NHM MD,Ms Arti Ahuja, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health , Dr Sujeet Singh, Director, NCDC, and other senior health officials.
• COVID-19 incidence falls in India, says federal health ministry People's Daily 23 Dec 2020 -- The incidence of COVID-19 is continuously falling in India as the total active caseload fell below 300,000 mark on Tuesday and touched its lowest in past 163 days.

Iran

• Iran in talks to buy foreign coronavirus vaccine: Health Ministry Spox IRNA 23 Dec 2020 -- Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on Wednesday that Iran is currently talking with the countries producing coronavirus vaccine to purchase it.
• No case of new UK mutation corona found in Iran: Minister IRNA 23 Dec 2020 -- Iran's Minister of Health Saeed Namaki said on Wednesday that the new mutation corona virus rapidly spreading in United Kingdom has not been detected in Iran and that passengers from the UK are being quarantined for two weeks.
• COVID-19 kills 153 more people in Iran IRNA 23 Dec 2020 -- Some 153 more Iranians have died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) over the past 24 hours bringing the total deaths to 54,156, Iran's Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on Wednesday.
• President gives assurance about providing COVID-19 vaccine IRNA 23 Dec 2020 -- President Hassan Rouhani said there is no concern for manufacturing COVID-19 vaccine, adding that Health Ministry and Central Bank of Iran have spared no efforts for providing vaccine.
• Iran starts registration of volunteers for human trial of COVID-19 vaccine People's Daily 23 Dec 2020 -- Iran started registration of volunteers for the first phase of human trial of its COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, the official IRNA news agency reported.
• Thousands volunteer as Iran prepares to launch human trials of homegrown COVID-19 vaccine Press TV 23 Dec 2020 -- Just hours into the start of a national enrollment program for volunteers, almost 10,000 Iranians signed up to take part in the first phase of the human trials of the homegrown COVID-19 vaccine.
• Iran has no concern about COVID-19 vaccine supplies: Rouhani Press TV 23 Dec 2020 -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says the country has no concern about coronavirus vaccines supplies, adding that his government has plans in place to ensure people would receive the jab on time.

South Korea

• S. Korea to suspend flights to and from Britain amid concerns about COVID-19 variant People's Daily 23 Dec 2020 -- South Korea's health authorities said on Wednesday that the country will suspend flights coming from and heading to Britain till the end of this year to contain the spread of a new COVID-19 variant found in the European nation.
• S. Korea reports 1,092 more COVID-19 cases, 52,550 in total People's Daily 23 Dec 2020 -- South Korea reported 1,092 more cases of COVID-19 as of midnight Tuesday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 52,550.

Japan

• Japan reports 2,687 COVID-19 cases amid concerns over strain to medical system People's Daily 23 Dec 2020 -- Japan on Tuesday confirmed 2,687 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the nation's cumulative total to 203,717, not including those related to a cruise ship quarantined near Tokyo earlier in the year.
• Japan's Coronavirus Death Toll Tops 3,000 SPA 23 Dec 2020 -- Japan's death toll from the novel coronavirus topped 3,000 yesterday, on Tuesday amid fears that a recent spike in infections could further squeeze the country's health care system, Kyodo reported.

Saudi Arabia

• MoH: Over 500,000 Individuals Registered for Taking COVID-19 Vaccine SPA 23 Dec 2020 -- The Ministry of Health (MoH) has stated that the total number of individuals who have registered via "Sehaty" App to take the COVID-19 vaccine reached 500,178 since the launch of the registration last Tuesday.
• Health Ministry: 177 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 Reported in Saudi Arabia SPA 23 Dec 2020 -- The Ministry of Health said, in a statement today, that 177 new confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number to 361,536 cases, including 2,970 active cases receiving necessary medical care.

Taiwan

• Contacts of local COVID-19 case test negative so far: CECC CNA 23 Dec 2020 -- The contacts of a domestic COVID-19 case reported in Taiwan on Tuesday have all tested negative for the disease so far, including four people who had symptoms, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Wednesday.
• MOTC steps up COVID-19 controls for public transportation CNA 23 Dec 2020 -- The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) on Wednesday announced stricter COVID-19 control measures for public transportation amid the intensifying pandemic situation worldwide and the appearance of Taiwan's first domestic case in 253 days the previous day.
• Six new imported cases of COVID-19 reported in Taiwan (update) CNA 23 Dec 2020 -- Taiwan reported six new imported cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, three from the Philippines and three from Indonesia, bringing the total number of cases in Taiwan to 776, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
• Taiwan to tighten COVID-19 control regulations for flight crews CNA 23 Dec 2020 -- Taiwan will impose more stringent regulations for flight crews, by the end of the week, to close loopholes in its prevention and control measures against COVID-19, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Wednesday, after it reported a cluster infection the previous day, which was linked to a commercial airline pilot.
• Taiwan reports COVID-19 local infection after eight months People's Daily 23 Dec 2020 -- Taiwan reported its first locally-infected COVID-19 case since April 12, the local epidemic monitoring agency said Tuesday.

North Korea

• Top-class Emergency Anti-epidemic State Maintained in DPRK KCNA 23 Dec 2020 -- All sectors and units are waging an intensive drive to firmly consolidate the anti-epidemic walls.

Brazil

• Brazil's Sao Paulo tightens lockdown to curb Christmas, New Year revelry Global Times 23 Dec 2020 -- Brazil's southeast state of Sao Paulo, the epicenter of the country's COVID-19 outbreak, said Tuesday it will double down on lockdown measures to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus over the Christmas and New Year holidays.
• Brazil's COVID-19 death toll tops 188,000 People's Daily 23 Dec 2020 -- Brazil's COVID-19 death toll reached 188,259 after 968 more patients died from the novel coronavirus disease, the country's ministry of health reported on Tuesday.

Uganda

• WFP to Cut Refugee Food Rations in Uganda for Lack of Cash VOA 23 Dec 2020 -- The World Food Program says for the second time in a year, it will have to cut food rations for more than one million refugees in Uganda due to a shortage of cash.
• Uganda: UN food assistance programme hit as COVID-19 dries up funding UN News 23 Dec 2020 -- The UN World Food Programme (WFP) will have to further reduce food rations and cash assistance for more than 1.2 million refugees in Uganda due to a funding shortfall, the agency has said, calling for urgent resources to sustain aid efforts.
• Uganda's Health Care System Struggling Against Second COVID Wave VOA 23 Dec 2020 -- A second wave of COVID-19 infections in Uganda is overwhelming hospitals. The country has close to 32,000 confirmed cases of the virus, and at least 238 people have died.

Australia

• Australian opposition leader calls for faster coronavirus vaccine rollout Global Times 23 Dec 2020 -- The leader of Australia's opposition Labor Party has called for the country's coronavirus vaccine rollout to be accelerated.
• COVID-19 Christmas Restrictions Temporarily Relaxed as Sydney Cluster Grows VOA 23 Dec 2020 -- Australian authorities say coronavirus restrictions will be eased slightly for three days over the Christmas holiday as a cluster of infections continues to grow in Sydney.

Other Countries

• UNHCR Seeks $455 Million to Keep Refugees, Displaced Safe From COVID-19 VOA 23 Dec 2020 -- The U.N. refugee agency is appealing for $455 million to help protect millions of refugees and displaced people from the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Thailand reports 427 new COVID-19 cases, stricter regulations expected this week Global Times 23 Dec 2020 -- COVID-19 cases continued to rise in Thailand on Tuesday, up by 427 from the previous day, with a majority of them being connected to a seafood market in Samut Sakhon province near the capital Bangkok.
• Uzbekistan applies for 2 mln doses of COVID-19 vaccine through COVAX People's Daily 23 Dec 2020 -- Uzbekistan has placed an order for 2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine through the COVAX initiative led by the World Health Organization, an Uzbek health official said Tuesday.
• Ukraine plans to vaccinate 20 mln people in 2021-2022 People's Daily 23 Dec 2020 -- Ukraine's Ministry of Health has approved a plan for vaccinating the population against COVID-19, in which 50 percent of the population, or 20 million people, will receive the vaccination in 2021-2022, the press service of the Center for Public Health (CPH) reported on Tuesday.
• Malaysia in Talks With Russia on Purchasing 6.4Mln Doses of Sputnik V Vaccine, Reports Say Sputnik 23 Dec 2020 -- Malaysia is negotiating with Moscow the potential purchase of 6.4 million doses of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19, Reuters news agency reported on Wednesday, citing Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Khairy Jamaluddin.
• Malawi Reintroduces COVID-19 Restrictions as Cases Surge VOA 23 Dec 2020 -- Malawi has closed its borders after confirmed cases of COVID-19 jumped 75 percent in the past two weeks. Malawi authorities attribute the surge to relaxed preventive measures and increased cross-border traffic for the holidays. Health campaigners have welcomed the border closure, but say Malawi should also mandate face masks and sanitizers.
• First COVID-19 Vaccines Arrive in Latin America VOA 23 Dec 2020 -- Latin America received its first doses of COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday, with a shipment landing in Mexico City.
• Myanmar Migrant Worker Says His Seafood Market Boss Started Chain of COVID-19 Infections Radio Free Asia 23 Dec 2020 -- A Myanmar migrant worker in Thailand who became infected with the coronavirus said Wednesday that he contracted the illness from his Thai employer in a huge seafood market compound in coastal Samut Sakhon province near the capital Bangkok.