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COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Moderna Expects Its Vaccine to Be Effective Against New Variants of Coronavirus Sputnik 24 Dec 2020 -- US-based pharmaceutical company Moderna expects that its COVID-19 vaccine is effective against the new strains of the coronavirus that were recently discovered in the United Kingdom.
• Worldwide Coronavirus Cases Cross 78.23 Million, Death Toll at 1,723,054 SPA 24 Dec 2020 -- More than 78.23 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 1,723,054 have died, according to a Reuters tally.

United States

• U.S. CDC urges public to avoid travel during Christmas to curb COVID-19 infections People's Daily 24 Dec 2020 -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has urged the public to avoid travel and stay at home during Christmas holiday, to curb the further spread of the COVID-19 virus.
• US vaccinations underway at slow pace as cases of COVID-19 surge Press TV 24 Dec 2020 -- With cases of coronavirus infection surging across the United States, the state of Tennessee has been emerged alongside California as a new epicenter of the virus outbreak, which has so far claimed the lives of over 326,000 Americans and infected more than 18 million nationwide.
• State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 24 Dec 2020

China

• Chinese drug regulators accept application for Sinopharm vaccine rollout Global Times 24 Dec 2020 -- Chinese drug regulators formally accepted the country's leading vaccine producer Sinopharm's application for market rollout of its COVID-19 vaccines on Wednesday, which marks a closer step to China's approval for this vaccine candidate to combat the coronavirus.
• Sinovac may further optimize its vaccines before releasing efficacy data Global Times 24 Dec 2020 -- Sinovac Biotech Ltd may further optimize its vaccines in late-stage clinical trials and release efficacy data along with results obtained from Indonesia and Turkey in 15 days to meet the increasing international demand for its vaccines, Chinese experts said on Thursday, after Brazil postponed the release of detailed data on the effectiveness of the vaccines the company co-developed with the Sao Paulo-based Butantan Institute.
• China's Dalian collects 2.13 mln samples for coronavirus testing People's Daily 24 Dec 2020 -- The city of Dalian in northeast China's Liaoning Province collected samples from some 2.13 million residents for coronavirus testing by 6 p.m. Wednesday, according to the provincial health commission.
• East China reports COVID-19 reinfection case People's Daily 24 Dec 2020 -- A recovered COVID-19 patient in east China's Zhejiang Province was found to have been re-infected with the novel coronavirus, authorities in Lishui City said Thursday.
• Two communities classified as medium-risk for COVID-19 in northeastern Chinese city People's Daily 24 Dec 2020 -- Two communities in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, were upgraded to medium-risk areas for COVID-19 after a new case was reported, the city headquarters in charge of COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control said on Thursday.
• China's Liaoning reports 6 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, 4 asymptomatic infections People's Daily 24 Dec 2020 -- Northeast China's Liaoning Province on Wednesday reported six new confirmed COVID-19 cases and four asymptomatic infections, the provincial health commission said on Thursday.
• Beijing launches community test after asymptomatic case emerges People's Daily 24 Dec 2020 -- Beijing has conducted nucleic acid tests for all residents in the city's Lianzhu Garden community after a man living there was found to be an asymptomatic carrier of the novel coronavirus on Wednesday.
• China's Hubei reports 4 imported asymptomatic COVID-19 cases People's Daily 24 Dec 2020 -- Central China's Hubei Province reported four imported asymptomatic COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, the provincial health commission said Thursday.
• Chinese mainland reports six new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases People's Daily 24 Dec 2020 -- The Chinese mainland on Wednesday reported 17 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases, including six locally transmitted cases in northeast China's Liaoning Province, the National Health Commission said Thursday.
• Hong Kong detects 2 COVID-19 cases related to mutant strain in Britain People's Daily 24 Dec 2020 -- Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) said on Wednesday that the gene sequencing analysis of samples of two COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong matched with those of the mutant strain found in Britain.
• Shanghai reports 12 new imported COVID-19 cases People's Daily 24 Dec 2020 -- Shanghai reported 12 imported COVID-19 cases and zero locally transmitted cases on Tuesday, the municipal health commission said on Wednesday.
• 180,000 people in Guangdong receive COVID-19 vaccine candidates People's Daily 24 Dec 2020 -- Some 180,000 people with higher risks of coronavirus infection in south China's Guangdong Province have been given COVID-19 vaccine candidates as of Tuesday, the provincial government said on Wednesday.
• China's Liaoning reports one confirmed COVID-19 case People's Daily 24 Dec 2020 -- Shenyang, the capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, reported one confirmed COVID-19 case with severe symptoms on Wednesday, together with one imported asymptomatic case, according to the provincial health commission.

Europe

• More England areas put into tightest restrictions as new COVID variant found in UK People's Daily 24 Dec 2020 -- British Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Wednesday announced that more areas of the East and South East of England will be put into Tier Four restrictions, the highest level, while revealing that two cases of another new variant of the novel coronavirus have been identified in Britain.
• UK records highest daily number of coronavirus-related deaths since end of April People's Daily 24 Dec 2020 -- Another 744 people have died within 28 days of a positive test, marking the highest daily increase of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain since the end of April, according to official figures released Wednesday.
• China halts flights with UK over mutated strain Global Times 24 Dec 2020 -- Taking into account the practices of other countries, China on Thursday announced the suspension of flights to and from the UK due to a new coronavirus strain, the Chinese foreign ministry announced.
• China suspends flights to and from UK in wake of new virus strain Global Times 24 Dec 2020 -- Taking into account the practices of other countries, China on Thursday announced the suspension of flights to and from the UK due to the discovery of new virus strain, said the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
• Indonesia Issues UK Travel Ban over Coronavirus Variant SPA 24 Dec 2020 -- Indonesia has banned travellers from Britain and tightened the rules for those arriving from Europe and Australia to try to limit the spread of a new coronavirus variant, a circular issued by the country's COVID-19 task force this week says, according to Reuters.
• UK Bans Entries From South Africa After New COVID-19 Strain Different to UK Variant Found Sputnik 24 Dec 2020 -- The United Kingdom on Thursday banned entry for passengers traveling from South Africa after a second new variant of the coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, allegedly originating from South Africa was found in the country, the Department of Transport said.
• Difficult Times Ahead As Variant Virus Spreads, UK PM Says SPA 24 Dec 2020 -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned today, on Thursday that the spread of a new variant of the coronavirus meant there would be difficult times ahead, citing the need to control its rapid spread, Reuters reported.
• UK confirms second new strain of coronavirus Press TV 24 Dec 2020 -- British Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced that another new, possibly more infectious variant of the coronavirus has been found in the UK.
• Serbia Launches COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign RFE/RL 24 Dec 2020 -- Serbia launched on December 24 its coronavirus vaccination program using the Pfizer-BioNTech shot.
• Germany Reports Case of British Coronavirus Vriant SPA 24 Dec 2020 -- A new variant of the pandemic SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that has been spreading rapidly in Britain has been found in Germany, Reuters quoted the German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg as saying today, on Thursday.
• Germany's daily COVID-19 deaths set new record at 962 People's Daily 24 Dec 2020 -- Germany counted 962 deaths related to COVID-19 within one day, setting a new record and bringing the official death toll to 27,968, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) announced on Wednesday.
• France reports another 14,929 coronavirus cases People's Daily 24 Dec 2020 -- France reported another 14,929 coronavirus cases and 276 more deaths in the past 24 hours, according to data released on Wednesday by the Health Ministry.

Russia

• Russia to Increase Sputnik V Vaccine Output to 30Mln Doses by June, Industry Minister Says Sputnik 24 Dec 2020 -- Russia is expected to ramp up the production of the Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus by 30 million doses by June, Russian Minister of Trade and Industry Denis Manturov said Thursday.

India

• India's Active Caseload continues to decline, stands at 2.83 lakh today India PIB 24 Dec 2020 -- The ongoing trend of contraction of India's total active cases continues. The active caseload of the country stands at 2,83,849 today. The share of Active Cases in the total Positive Cases has further shrunk to 2.80%.

Iran

• Iran transfers foreign funds needed to buy COVID-19 vaccine Press TV 24 Dec 2020 -- The Iranian government has finally worked out a solution to pay for foreign supplies of coronavirus vaccines, says the country's chief banker, amid a series of harsh financial restrictions imposed on the country by the United States.
• CBI chief: 200 million euros earmarked for buying coronavirus vaccine IRNA 24 Dec 2020 -- Governor of Central Bank of Iran Abdolnaser Hemmati said on Thursday that Iran allocated some 200 million euros to purchase 16.8 million doses of coronavirus vaccine.
• Money transfer license issued for purchase of coronavirus vaccine: Rabiei IRNA 24 Dec 2020 -- Government spokesman Ali Rabiei announced on Thursday that money transfer license for purchasing coronavirus vaccine was issued, saying that incessant efforts of Central Bank of Iran yielded results.
• 152 more Iranians die from COVID-19 over past 24 hours: Official IRNA 24 Dec 2020 -- Some 152 people in Iran have died from coronavirus disease over the past 24 hours, Iranian Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on Thursday.
• Obstacles on purchasing COVID-19 vaccine removed: CBI chief IRNA 24 Dec 2020 -- The Governor of the Central Bank of Iran said on Thursday that he has already issued necessary orders for the purchase of the coronavirus vaccine.
• 'So Frustrated': Iranians' Fears Skyrocket That They Won't Get Access To COVID-19 Vaccines RFE/RL 24 Dec 2020 -- Amid the launch of mass COVID-19 vaccination drives in the West, there's growing concern among Iranians that they could be left behind.

Japan

• Tokyo's new daily COVID-19 cases hit record 888 amid continued strain on medical system People's Daily 24 Dec 2020 -- The Tokyo metropolitan government on Thursday reported a record 888 new daily coronavirus cases, as concerns continue to grow about the increasing strain on the medical system as cases in the capital continue to surge.

Saudi Arabia

• Health Ministry: 189 New Confirmed COVID-19 Cases, 190 Recoveries Reported in Saudi Arabia SPA 24 Dec 2020 -- The Ministry of Health announced in a statement here today that 189 new confirmed cases of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number to 361,725, including 2,958 active cases undergoing treatment.

Taiwan

• Taiwan firm donates COVID-19 rapid tests to country's allies CNA 24 Dec 2020 -- TaiDoc Technology, a Taiwanese manufacturer of health monitoring systems and devices, on Wednesday donated 300,000 rapid screening tests for COVID-19 to Taiwan's diplomatic allies.
• All contacts of domestic COVID-19 case test negative: health minister CNA 24 Dec 2020 -- A total of 176 individuals who had contact with a newly-confirmed domestic COVID-19 case have received both nucleic acid and antibody tests and the results came back negative for the disease, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) said Thursday at a press conference.

North Korea

• DPRK firmly maintains top-class emergency anti-epidemic state People's Daily 24 Dec 2020 -- All sectors and units are waging an intensive drive to firmly consolidate the anti-epidemic walls in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Wednesday.

Brazil

• Brazilian Researchers Say Chinese-Made COVID-19 Vaccine is Effective VOA 24 Dec 2020 -- Brazilian researchers said Wednesday the coronavirus vaccine developed by Chinese drug maker Sinovac Biotech was found to be more than 50% effective in a late-stage clinical trial.
• Brazil's Butantan Institute announces efficacy of China's CoronaVac vaccine on Brazilian volunteers People's Daily 24 Dec 2020 -- Brazil's state-run Butantan Institute on Wednesday announced that the CoronaVac vaccine developed by the private Chinese laboratory Sinovac Life Science achieved the levels of efficacy against the coronavirus required by the World Health Organization (WHO) in trials with 13,000 Brazilian volunteers.

Mexico

• Mexico Records 11,653 New Coronavirus Cases, 816 Deaths SPA 24 Dec 2020 -- Mexico's health ministry reported, on Wednesday, 11,653 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infection and 816 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 1,350,079 cases and 120,311 deaths, Reuters reported.
• Mexico First Latin American Country With COVID-19 Vaccination Program VOA 24 Dec 2020 -- Mexico became the first Latin American country Thursday to launch a COVID-19 vaccination initiative, offering hope to a nation that has lost more than 120,000 people to the pandemic.

Other Countries

• UAE first country to roll out Chinese COVID-19 vaccine for mass use Global Times 24 Dec 2020 -- The United Arab Emirates has become the world's first country to offer Chinese-developed COVID-19 vaccines to all citizens and residents for free as part of its efforts to achieve nationwide immunity against the coronavirus.
• Australians spend Christmas within locked state borders under COVID-19 People's Daily 24 Dec 2020 -- Until last week, Australia appeared primed for a COVID-free Christmas. However, a large cluster of cases detected in Sydney has since forced a strict lockdown of the area and put state leaders around the country on high alert.
• Israel detects 4 infections with new COVID-19 strain People's Daily 24 Dec 2020 -- The Israeli Ministry of Health said Wednesday that four cases of infection with the new strain of coronavirus were detected in the country.
• Anti-Myanmar hate speech flares up in Thailand over coronavirus cases Press TV 24 Dec 2020 -- A surge of coronavirus cases among Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand has prompted a flare-up in online hate speech against them.
• Nigeria Detects Another Mutant Strain of Coronavirus, Different from UK's and South Africa's Sputnik 24 Dec 2020 -- A number of nations shut borders with the United Kingdom and South Africa earlier on news that health experts have detected new strains of SARS-CoV-2 in those countries, potentially more infectious than the original one.