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COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• Microsoft Says Solarwinds Hackers Were Able to View Its Source Code Sputnik 31 Dec 2020 -- US tech giant Microsoft said in a blog post on Thursday that hackers who breached the SolarWinds tech company were able to view its source code when they carried out a wide-ranging cyber intrusion of US government agencies.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• The virus that shut down the world: the path to a vaccine UN News 31 Dec 2020 -- Vaccines that protect against COVID-19 have been developed in record time over the year but, amid fears that people from poorer countries may miss out, the UN has consistently insisted on global solidarity, to ensure that all are protected. In the final part of our series on the ways that the virus has changed the world, we trace the evolution of the COVID-19 vaccines, and how protected we are likely to be in 2021.
• UN health agency clears COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use UN News 31 Dec 2020 -- To speed up access to COVID-19 vaccinations in the developing world, on the eve of the new year, the UN health agency approved Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccines for emergency use.
• WHO Approves Emergency Use of Pfizer Vaccine VOA 31 Dec 2020 -- The World Health Organization on Thursday approved the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for emergency use, a move aimed at helping the developing world gain access to the vaccine sooner.
• Worldwide Coronavirus Cases Cross 82.19 Million, Death Toll at 1,796,307 SPA 31 Dec 2020 -- More than 82.19 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 1,796,307 have died, according to a Reuters tally.

United States

• This Week in Operation Warp Speed - Dec. 31, 2020 DoD 31 Dec 2020
• Department of Defense Statement on COVID-19 Distribution Plan DoD 31 Dec 2020 -- The Department of Defense continues to deliver on the Acting Secretary of Defense's priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect our people, maintain readiness, and support the national COVID-19 response. The phased, standardized, and coordinated distribution of vaccines to DoD personnel has expanded to additional locations in the United States and overseas.
• New Hampshire Guardsmen activated at 13 vaccination sites Army News 31 Dec 2020 -- Thirteen vaccination sites officially opened for New Hampshire first responders and high-risk ambulatory care providers on Dec. 29.
• Battling COVID-19 was among WVNG's many missions in 2020 Army News 31 Dec 2020 -- The West Virginia National Guard accomplished a lot in 2020, including homeland and disaster response missions, deployments around the globe, and sustained support of the state's battle against the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
• Wisconsin Guard answered the call in 2020 Army News 31 Dec 2020 -- This was the "Year of the Guard" across the nation, as Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen answered the call in an unprecedented way – from traditional overseas deployments to civil disturbances, pandemic response, and election support.
• Experts warn of catastrophic post-holiday COVID-19 surge in U.S. People's Daily 31 Dec 2020 -- As lots of Americans are heading home or traveling for holidays, public health experts are warning of another possible catastrophic COVID-19 surge that could hit the United States hard.
• U.S. COVID-19 deaths top 340,000: Johns Hopkins University People's Daily 31 Dec 2020 -- U.S. COVID-19 deaths surpassed 340,000 on Wednesday afternoon, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University.
• U.S. Washington governor announces one-week extension of restrictions amid surging pandemic People's Daily 31 Dec 2020 -- Governor of the U.S. state of Washington Jay Inslee on Wednesday announced a one-week extension of the "Stay Safe-Stay Healthy" proclamation, along with the statewide restrictions on in-person gatherings and business activities due to the surging COVID-19 pandemic across the state.
• US sets new COVID records as Fauci hints at 'next fall' for normal life Press TV 31 Dec 2020 -- Top US infectious disease specialist, Anthony Fauci, says the country could return to normal life by early fall next year, if the nation "diligently" gets vaccinated against the coronavirus, which has infected nearly 20 million people and killed nearly 342,000 across America.
• California Reports Coronavirus Variant Case VOA 31 Dec 2020 -- Health officials in the U.S. state of California said a patient there has been infected with a coronavirus variant first detected in Britain, and that it is likely more cases will be identified in the United States.
• State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 31 Dec 2020

China

• China grants conditional market approval for its first homemade COVID-19 vaccine Global Times 31 Dec 2020 -- China on Thursday announced that it has granted market approval attached with conditions for its first homemade COVID-19 vaccine, which was developed by Sinopharm, marking a monumental step in the battle against the pandemic that has killed 1.79 million globally.
• China Approves Public Use of Sinopharm Vaccine Against COVID-19 – Reports Sputnik 31 Dec 2020 -- China's National Medical Products Administration authorized on Thursday the public use of the Sinopharm vaccine against the coronavirus, the China Central Television reported.
• China Grants First Approval of Homegrown COVID-19 Vaccine VOA 31 Dec 2020 -- A COVID-19 vaccine developed by a Chinese drugmaker is the first to be granted official approval by China's government.
• China grants conditional market approval for its first homemade COVID-19 vaccine Global Times 31 Dec 2020 -- China on Thursday announced that it has granted market approval attached with conditions for its first homemade COVID-19 vaccine, which was developed by Sinopharm, marking a monumental step in the battle against the pandemic that has killed 1.79 million globally.
• Recent sporadic COVID-19 outbreaks in China traced to imported sources Global Times 31 Dec 2020 -- Recent sporadic cases taking place in Beijing, Northeast China's Shenyang, Dalian and Southwest China's Chengdu, were all found to come from abroad after epidemiological investigation and virus gene sequencing analysis, according to Chinese authorities on Thursday.
• When and how can China make COVID-19 vaccines free to its general public? Global Times 31 Dec 2020 -- Chinese health officials said on Thursday that China will make COVID-19 vaccines affordable to all Chinese residents and eventually offer them free of charge to the public as a premise, a pledge which analysts said would be realized next year when China's production capacity of the vaccine increases to cover the entire population.
• Beijing to vaccinate key groups against COVID-19 by Spring Fest Global Times 31 Dec 2020 -- Beijing health authorities on Thursday announced to vaccinate nine key groups against COVID-19 by Spring Festival, which falls in mid-February, with others being vaccinated afterwards.
• China to eventually make COVID-19 vaccines free to public as a 'premise' Global Times 31 Dec 2020 -- China will ensure the COVID-19 vaccines be affordable to all Chinese residents. The price will depend on the scale of use but the premise is that it would eventually offer free access to the vaccines, Chinese health officials said on Thursday.
• China gives 4.5m doses of COVID-19 vaccine to high-risk groups including cold-chain workers Global Times 31 Dec 2020 -- China has given 3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine for second round of emergency use since December 15 to protect people, including cold-chain workers and customs staff. This was done to prevent virus infections during the winter, Chinese authorities announced on Thursday.
• Epidemic prevention and control a primary task: Beijing govt Global Times 31 Dec 2020 -- The primary task of the Chinese capital is to control and prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Beijing government said, calling on the city to ensure the epidemic will not resurge during the New Year and Spring Festival holidays.
• Chinese COVID-19 vaccines free to all its citizens: official People's Daily 31 Dec 2020 -- China will provide free COVID-19 vaccines to all its citizens, said Zeng Yixin, deputy head of the National Health Commission (NHC), at a press conference on Thursday.
• NE China city conducts massive COVID-19 testing People's Daily 31 Dec 2020 -- Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, is conducting nucleic acid tests for all residents in nine districts starting Thursday, local authorities said.
• China's Heilongjiang reports 2 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, 1 new asymptomatic case People's Daily 31 Dec 2020 -- Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province reported two new confirmed COVID-19 cases and one new asymptomatic case on Wednesday, the provincial health commission said Thursday.
• Beijing reports two locally transmitted COVID-19 cases People's Daily 31 Dec 2020 -- Beijing reported two new locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, local health authorities said Thursday.
• China approves self-developed COVID-19 vaccine People's Daily 31 Dec 2020 -- China announced on Thursday that it had granted conditional marketing authorization for a self-developed COVID-19 vaccine.
• China to tighten COVID-19 measures during upcoming holidays People's Daily 31 Dec 2020 -- China will tighten its epidemic control measures for the forthcoming New Year and Spring Festival holidays, said the National Health Commission on Wednesday.
• Northeast China city Shenyang tightens anti-COVID-19 measures People's Daily 31 Dec 2020 -- Shenyang, the capital city of Northeast China's Liaoning Province, has tightened its COVID-19 prevention and control measures Wednesday following new reports of local COVID-19 infections.
• 85,000 receive COVID-19 vaccines in east China's Fujian People's Daily 31 Dec 2020 -- A total of 85,000 people have been given COVID-19 vaccines in east China's Fujian Province as of Tuesday, local authorities said Wednesday.
• Emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines expands to larger scale People's Daily 31 Dec 2020 -- With the recent increase of sporadic COVID-19 cases and progress in the development and manufacture of vaccines, China's emergency use of vaccines has expanded to a larger scale.
• HKSAR chief executive urges Hong Kong residents to actively get COVID-19 vaccine People's Daily 31 Dec 2020 -- With the COVID-19 vaccine expected to arrive in Hong Kong in the first quarter of 2021, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam called on residents to actively get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Europe

• Britain Approves AstraZeneca Vaccine, Offering Hope Amid Surge in COVID-19 Infections VOA 31 Dec 2020 -- Britain became the first country to approve the coronavirus vaccine developed jointly by Oxford University and AstraZeneca Wednesday. Scientists say the vaccine could be a game changer in the global fight against the pandemic.
• UK Reports 55,892 New COVID-19 Cases, 964 Deaths SPA 31 Dec 2020 -- The United Kingdom recorded 55,892 new COVID-19 cases today, on Thursday and 964 deaths within 28 days of a positive test for the virus, Reuters cited official data as showing.
• UK records highest daily coronavirus death toll since April Global Times 31 Dec 2020 -- Britain has recorded almost 1,000 coronavirus deaths overnight, the highest daily death toll since April, according to the latest official figures released on Wednesday.
• England to delay return to school due to rising COVID-19 infection rates People's Daily 31 Dec 2020 -- All secondary schools and some primary schools in England will face delayed return when the new school term begins next week, the United Kingdom (UK) government said on Wednesday.
• UK records highest daily coronavirus death toll since April People's Daily 31 Dec 2020 -- Britain has recorded almost 1,000 coronavirus deaths overnight, the highest daily death toll since April, according to the latest official figures released on Wednesday.
• France's New Daily COVID-19 Cases A Little Down But Still close to 20,000 SPA 31 Dec 2020 -- The French health ministry reported 19,927 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours today, on Thursday, down from Wednesday's more than one-month high of 26,457 but still far from the government's target of less than 5,000 daily additional infections, according to Reuters.
• France's new coronavirus infections above 26,000 over 24 hours SPA 31 Dec 2020 -- The French health ministry reported 26,457 new coronavirus infections over the past 24 hours on Wednesday, up sharply from 11,395 on Tuesday, and a level unseen since Nov. 18, Reuters reported.
• European Coronavirus Updates: UK records highest daily coronavirus death toll since April, Germany reports new daily record of 1,129 COVID-19 deaths People's Daily 31 Dec 2020 -- The following are the latest developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in European countries.
• New Coronavirus Variant Spreads 'Much' Faster Than Expected, Irish Prime Minister Says Sputnik 31 Dec 2020 -- The coronavirus variant that has been recently identified in the United Kingdom and has spread to other countries, including Ireland, is even more transmissible than most pessimistic models have suggested, Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said on Wednesday.

Russia

• Russia's RDIF Continues to Work With Hungary on Approval of Coronavirus Vaccine Sputnik V Sputnik 31 Dec 2020 -- The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) told Sputnik on Thursday it continued to work with Hungarian regulators on the approval of coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V, and is ready to supply the vaccine in the required amount in January-March 2021.

India

• In a landmark stride, India's Recovery Rate crosses 96%, one of the highest in the World India PIB 31 Dec 2020 -- India has crossed a significant milestone in its fight against COVID. National Recovery rate has crossed 96% (96.04%) today, one of the highest globally. The exponential rise in the recoveries has led to the improvement in the Recovery Rate.
• Centre asks States/UTs to gear up for roll out of COVID19 Vaccine India PIB 31 Dec 2020 -- With the objective of gearing up for the roll out of COVID19 vaccine across the country, the Central Government has asked all States and UTs to ensure effective preparedness for the vaccine roll out. Union Health Secretary Sh. Rajesh Bhushan today chaired a high-level meeting to review the preparedness at session sites for COVID-19 vaccination with Pr. Secretaries (Health), NHM MDs and other health administrators of all States/UTs through video conference.
• How the Domestic Medical Equipment Industry "Adapted, Evolved and Expanded" to meet COVID19 challenge in 2020 India PIB 31 Dec 2020 -- 2020 witnessed tremendous achievements in the medical supplies sector in the country. At the beginning of the pandemic, India was almost totally dependent on imported Ventilators, PPE Kits and N-95 Masks.

Pakistan

• Pakistan to purchase vaccine from China's Sinopharm: health authority People's Daily 31 Dec 2020 -- Pakistan has decided to pre-book COVID-19 vaccine from Chinese state-owned company Sinopharm for emergency use for healthcare workers, Pakistan's Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination has said in a statement.

Iran

• COVID-19 kills 128 more people in Iran IRNA 31 Dec 2020 -- Some 128 more Iranians have died from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) over the past 24 hours bringing the total deaths to 55,223, Iran's Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on Thursday.

South Korea

• S. Korea Signs Deal with Moderna to Buy COVID-19 Vaccines for 20 mln SPA 31 Dec 2020 -- South Korea today, on Thursday signed a deal with U.S. biotech company Moderna to buy new coronavirus vaccine doses for 20 million people here starting in the second quarter of next year, Yonhap quoted the country's health authorities as saying.

Japan

• Tokyo's daily COVID-19 cases surpass 1,000-mark for 1st time People's Daily 31 Dec 2020 -- The number of new daily COVID-19 cases in Tokyo surpassed the 1,000-mark for the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic, Governor Yuriko Koike said Thursday, warning that the third wave hitting the capital is of "unprecedented size."
• Tokyo's medical system enters "critical stage" as COVID-19 cases climb People's Daily 31 Dec 2020 -- Japan confirmed 3,841 new daily COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the nation's cumulative total to 231,223 infections, not including those related to a cruise ship quarantined here earlier this year, with Tokyo's strained medical system "entering a critical stage," according to experts.

Saudi Arabia

• Health Ministry: 140 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 Reported in Saudi Arabia SPA 31 Dec 2020 -- The Ministry of Health said in a statement today that 140 new confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number to 362,741 cases, including 2,665 active cases receiving necessary medical care. Of these, there are 368 critical cases, while the health condition of the rest is stable.

Taiwan

• Taiwan compatriots included in key groups for COVID-19 vaccination: spokesperson People's Daily 31 Dec 2020 -- Taiwan compatriots are included in priority groups to receive COVID-19 vaccines, a mainland spokesperson said Wednesday.
• Taiwan reports two new imported COVID-19 cases from U.K., India CNA 31 Dec 2020 -- Taiwan recorded two new imported cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, from the United Kingdom and India, respectively, bringing the total number in the country to 799, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
• Second case of U.K. COVID-19 variant recorded in Taiwan CNA 31 Dec 2020 -- A Taiwanese student who returned from the United Kingdom recently has been confirmed as the second person identified as infected with the U.K. coronavirus variant in the country, the nation's health authorities confirmed Thursday.
• Taiwan suspends entry of international students CNA 31 Dec 2020 -- The Ministry of Education (MOE) on Thursday issued a directive for Taiwan schools to stop accepting entry permit applications by international students, for at least one month, with immediate effect.

Other Countries

• Argentina authorizes use of AstraZeneca vaccine against COVID-19 People's Daily 31 Dec 2020 -- Argentina's National Administration of Drugs, Foods and Medical Devices (ANMAT) on Wednesday approved the use of vaccine from AstraZeneca, a multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company, against COVID-19 in the country.
• Ukraine to buy 1.9 mln doses of SinoVac COVID-19 vaccine People's Daily 31 Dec 2020 -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky informed about signing the contract of over 1.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by China's SinoVac Biotech, while the state is working on obtaining more vaccines, reported the president's press service on Wednesday.
• First batch of Chinese COVID-19 vaccines arrives in Turkey People's Daily 31 Dec 2020 -- The first batch of 3 million doses of China's SinoVac COVID-19 vaccine arrived in the Turkish capital Ankara early Wednesday.
• Turkmen President Suggests Licorice Might Hold The Answer To Curing COVID-19 RFE/RL 31 Dec 2020 -- Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, the eccentric president of Turkmenistan, has claimed on television that the herb licorice might hold the answer to the cure for COVID-19 and has ordered scientists to work on a medicine.
• Orban Aide Says Hungary Won't Use Russia's Sputnik-V Vaccine RFE/RL 31 Dec 2020 -- A senior aide to Prime Minister Viktor Orban says Hungary won't use Russia's Sputnik-V vaccine despite bilateral cooperation on Russian testing of the controversial serum against COVID-19.
• Philippines Bans Travel from Japan, 19 Locations Amid Virus Variant SPA 31 Dec 2020 -- The Philippines will bar the entry of travellers from Japan and 19 other countries and territories, Kyodo cited the country's transport ministry as saying Tuesday.
• UAE Announces 1,730 New COVID-19 Cases, 1,435 Recoveries, and 4 Deaths in Last 24 Hours SPA 31 Dec 2020 -- The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, MoHAP, announced that it conducted 146,721 additional COVID-19 tests over the past 24 hours, using state-of-the-art medical testing equipment.
• Alarm in Australia as COVID-19 Infections Grow VOA 31 Dec 2020 -- Tough New Year's Eve restrictions are being put in place as Australia's biggest city struggles to contain growing coronavirus clusters.