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COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• Joint Chiefs of Staff Message to the Joint Force Joint Chiefs of Staff 12 Jan 2021 -- "As Service Members, we must embody the values and ideals of the Nation. We support and defend the Constitution. Any act to disrupt the Constitutional process is not only against our traditions, values, and oath; it is against the law. On January 20,202 1, in accordance with the Constitution, confirmed by the states and the courts, and certified by Congress, President-elect Biden will be inaugurated and will become our 46th Commander in Chief."
• Joint Chiefs of Staff: US Capitol Riot Was 'Direct Assault' on American Democracy Sputnik 12 Jan 2021 -- In the wake of last week's storming of the US Capitol, officials across the political spectrum have condemned the violent events that unfolded on January 6, as law enforcement officials have continued to investigate and track down individuals who participated in the insurrection.
• US Identifies Over 170 Capitol Rioters for Possible Criminal Charges VOA 12 Jan 2021 -- U.S. prosecutors said on Tuesday that they have identified more than 170 people for potential criminal charges in connection with the violent assault on the U.S. Capitol last week and expect the number to run into the hundreds in the coming weeks as a massive nationwide manhunt for the pro-Trump rioters continues.
• 'Absolutely Ridiculous' Trump Says of Democrats' Impeachment Effort VOA 12 Jan 2021 -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Democratic lawmakers' push to impeach him in the last days of his presidency is "absolutely ridiculous."
• Remarks by President Trump Before Marine One Departure The White House 12 Jan 2021
• Remarks by President Trump Before Air Force One Departure | Joint Base Andrews, MD The White House 12 Jan 2021
• US Homeland Security chief resigns as fears rise over more pro-Trump violence Press TV 12 Jan 2021 -- US Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf has resigned unexpectedly Monday, becoming the third member of the Trump administration to step down in reaction to last week's attack on Capitol by Trump supporters.
• U.S. acting DHS secretary resigns after Capitol Hill riot People's Daily 12 Jan 2021 -- U.S. Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf filed his resignation letter Monday, making him the third cabinet member of the administration of President Donald Trump to leave office following Trump supporters' riot on Capitol Hill.
• United States Takes Action To Counter Iranian Support for al-Qa'ida US Dept. of State 12 Jan 2021 -- "Today, I revealed new information about how the Islamic Republic of Iran has given a new operational headquarters to al-Qa'ida, the terrorist network with more American blood on its hands than any other. For al-Qa'ida, Iran is the new home base. Tehran gives sanctuary to the terror group's senior leaders as they plan attacks against America and our allies."
• The Iran-al-Qaida Axis US Dept. of State 12 Jan 2021 -- Speech by Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State
• Pompeo Accuses Iran of Becoming 'Home Base' for al-Qaida VOA 12 Jan 2021 -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has accused Iran of becoming the new "home base" for al-Qaida.
• Pompeo Alleges Al-Qaeda Has 'New Home Base' In Iran RFE/RL 12 Jan 2021 -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo charged on January 12 that Al-Qaeda has established a new home base in Iran.
• Pompeo Accuses Iran of Harboring Al-Qaeda, Confirms Death of Group's Second-in-Command Sputnik 12 Jan 2021 -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday accused Iran of harboring al-Qaeda (a terrorist organization banned in Russia) and for the first time publicly confirmed the death of the group's high-ranking member Abu Muhammad al-Masri in Tehran.
• Iran's Zarif Rejects Pompeo's Accusations of Iranian Ties With Al-Qaeda as 'Fictitious' Sputnik 12 Jan 2021 -- Reuters reported early on 12 January that outgoing US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was set to accuse Iran of having connections with the notorious terror organisation to al-Qaeda* in his Tuesday speech.
• Pompeo hits Iran for al-Qaida support SPA 12 Jan 2021 -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday accused Iran of having secret ties with the al-Qaida network and imposed new sanctions on several senior Iranian officials, AP reported.
• U.S. designates Cuba as "State Sponsor of Terrorism" People's Daily 12 Jan 2021 -- The United States added Cuba to the list of "State Sponsor of Terrorism" on Monday, a move to constrain the incoming Joe Biden administration's efforts to improve relations with Havana.
• Iran condemns US renaming of Cuba as 'state sponsor of terrorism' Press TV 12 Jan 2021 -- Iran has strongly condemned the United States' designation of Cuba as a "state sponsor of terrorism," expressing solidarity with the Latin American country.
• Trump Visits Southern US Border VOA 12 Jan 2021 -- In his first public appearance since a violent mob of his supporters breached the U.S. Capitol, President Donald Trump on Tuesday highlighted one of his most controversial and visible accomplishments: wall construction along the U.S.-Mexico border.
• Remarks by President Trump at the 45th Mile of New Border Wall | Reynosa-McAllen, TX The White House 12 Jan 2021
• UN counter-terrorism chief urges continued vigilance against 'real' ongoing threat UN News 12 Jan 2021 -- Despite important strikes against terrorism over the past two decades, including in bringing perpetrators to justice and disrupting additional attacks, countries cannot afford to let down their guard, the UN's counter-terrorism chief told a virtual meeting of the Security Council on Tuesday.
• WHO, Partners Announce Ebola Vaccine Stockpile VOA 12 Jan 2021 -- Parts of the world ravaged by outbreaks of Ebola can now heave a small sigh of relief thanks to the stockpile of vaccine, the International Coordinating Group (ICG) announced Monday.
• UN agencies and partners establish global Ebola vaccine stockpile UN News 12 Jan 2021 -- In a major milestone in the fight against deadly diseases, United Nations agencies and humanitarian partners announced on Tuesday, the establishment of a global Ebola vaccine stockpile, to help control future epidemics by ensuring timely access to vaccines for populations at risk, during outbreaks.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) - Weekly Epidemiological Update WHO 12 Jan 2021
• WHO wants to speed up rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, equitable allocation: Tedros People's Daily 12 Jan 2021 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) vowed on Monday to speed up rolling out safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines and their equitable allocation across the world.
• COVID-19 Herd Immunity Will Not Be Achieved in 2021, WHO Says VOA 12 Jan 2021 -- The World Health Organization is warning that mass vaccinations against the novel coronavirus will not produce herd immunity this year.

United States

• Air Force update for COVID-19 US Air Force 12 Jan 2021
• Statement by Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller on Operation Warp Speed Vaccine Doses Delivered Today DoD 12 Jan 2021
• HHS, DOD Purchase Additional Doses of Regeneron's Antibody Therapeutic to Treat Patients With Mild to Moderate COVID-19 DoD 12 Jan 2021 -- The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Defense (DOD) today announced the purchase of 1.25 million additional treatment courses of Regeneron's investigational monoclonal antibody therapeutic, a combination of casirivimab and imdevimab, to be delivered in the first half of 2021 to treat non-hospitalized, high-risk COVID-19 patients.
• Officials Discuss COVID-19 Vaccine Deliveries and Prioritization Criteria DoD News 12 Jan 2021 -- There's been significant progress in getting the COVID-19 vaccines out to the states, said Army Gen. Gustave F. Perna, the chief operating officer of Operation Warp Speed.
• Biden receives 2nd dose of COVID-19 vaccine People's Daily 12 Jan 2021 -- U.S. President-elect Joe Biden on Monday received the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, four weeks after he was administered the first shot.
• US Changes Vaccine Strategy, WHO Says Herd Immunity Will Not Be Achieved in 2021 VOA 12 Jan 2021 -- The United States is changing vaccine strategies, releasing millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses it was holding back for use as second shots to inoculate Americans older than 65, as well as those with underlying health conditions.
• Three US Lawmakers Are COVID-19 Positive After Capitol Riot Confinement VOA 12 Jan 2021 -- Brad Schneider has become the third Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives to test positive for COVID-19 after being forced into lockdown in a room where several Republicans refused to wear masks during last week's deadly riot on Capitol Hill.
• US to Release Millions of COVID-19 Vaccine Doses to Those 65 and Older VOA 12 Jan 2021 -- The Trump administration says it will release millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses it was holding back for use as second doses in order to vaccinate Americans older than 65, as well as Americans with underlying health conditions.
• Rush Transcript: Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's COVID-19 Response, Makes an Announcement New York State 12 Jan 2021
• Readout from the Trump Administration's 49th Governors Briefing on COVID-19 Response & Best Practices The White House 12 Jan 2021
• One in five tested positive for COVID-19 in US Los Angeles County: health officials People's Daily 12 Jan 2021 -- One in five people in Los Angeles County who are tested are carrying the COVID-19 virus, public health authorities of the most populous US county said on Wednesday.
• California to open mass vaccination sites as COVID-19 death toll soars People's Daily 12 Jan 2021 -- California Governor Gavin Newsom declared Monday that the state would open mass vaccination sites in major cities to step up its coronavirus vaccination efforts this week.
• Last mile limits U.S. vaccine rollout: media People's Daily 12 Jan 2021 -- The sluggish rollout of COVID-19 vaccines across the United States highlights the challenges of a decentralized distribution plan that relies on states and localities to handle the complicated last-mile logistics of getting shots into people's arms, reported The Wall Street Journal on Monday.
• Mutant Coronavirus Strain Hits State of Maryland Bordering US Capital Sputnik 12 Jan 2021 -- The state of Maryland, adjacent to Washington DC, confirmed two cases of the highly-contagious mutation of the novel coronavirus, Governor Larry Hogan said in a press release on Tuesday.

China

• Origin-tracing on coronavirus is about scientific answers: WHO People's Daily 12 Jan 2021 -- The mission of the research team to arrive in China for novel coronavirus origin-tracing is about scientific answers, a senior World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Monday.
• WHO Scientists Will Arrive in China This Week to Begin Probe of Corovanirus Origins VOA 12 Jan 2021 -- China says a team of scientists from the World Health Organization will arrive this week in Wuhan to begin its investigation of the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.
• China's Sinovac COVID-19 Vaccine Less Effective than Initially Thought VOA 12 Jan 2021 -- Late-stage trials in Brazil show the Chinese COVID-19 vaccine Sinovac to be 50.38% effective, nearly 30 percentage points below the initial results released last week.
• New outbreaks raise concern for holiday Global Times 12 Jan 2021 -- As people across China prepare for Spring Festival, the biggest annual holiday in the Chinese lunar calendar, clusters of new COVID-19 outbreaks in several areas have raised concerns over a resurgence of the virus, and a swift response from many provinces and regions to introduce tightened regulations on travel and other consumer behaviors foreshadowing a relatively challenging holiday season ahead.
• Millions neighboring Beijing under COVID-19 lockdown Global Times 12 Jan 2021 -- About 22 million people in three cities of Hebei Province neighboring the capital Beijing have been placed under COVID-19 lockdown as of Tuesday, twice the size of the population that was put under lockdown during the Wuhan epidemic, as Hebei has vowed to take resolute measures to prevent the epidemic from spreading to the capital.
• Outbreak in Heilongjiang's locked-down county spreads as neighboring cities detect eight asymptomatic cases Global Times 12 Jan 2021 -- The new COVID-19 outbreak in the locked-down Wangkui county, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, continued to spread as two neighboring cities on Tuesday detected eight new asymptomatic cases that are related to the outbreak.
• Three N.China cities of over 22 million people under lockdown amid fresh Hebei outbreak Global Times 12 Jan 2021 -- Three cities in North China's Hebei Province - Shijiazhuang, Xingtai and Langfang - which were hit by the fresh COVID-19 outbreak, were put under lockdown on Tuesday. The three cities are home to more than 22 million people, double the population that was put under lockdown during the Wuhan epidemic.
• Various Chinese regions promptly trace, quarantine close contacts of COVID-19 patients from Hebei Global Times 12 Jan 2021 -- Various provinces and cities across China are promptly tracing local people who may have come into close contact with COVID-19 patients in North China's Hebei Province, where several infected clusters were recently found, bringing risks of cross-regional spread of the coronavirus.
• Cities in Shanxi tighten COVID-19 prevention measures after Jinzhong reports cases related to neighboring Hebei Global Times 12 Jan 2021 -- Cities in North China's Shanxi Province, which neighbors Hebei Province, announced strengthened COVID-19 prevention measures and expanded nucleic acid tests among residents after Jinzhong city in Shanxi reported two asymptomatic cases from Shijiazhuang on Monday night.
• Gu'an county neighboring Beijing in de facto lockdown after one COVID-19 case who works in capital found Global Times 12 Jan 2021 -- Gu'an, a North China's county neighboring Beijing, will impose a seven-day quarantine on its entire 500,000 population and will roll out free nucleic acid tests to residents after one person was confirmed to be infected with COVID-19. The patient works at a company in Beijing's Xicheng district.
• Zhang Wenhong promotes COVID-19 vaccination, claims Hebei outbreak to be contained in a month Global Times 12 Jan 2021 -- The COVID-19 vaccination rate around the world seems low and the future of the fight between humans and coronavirus depends on the speed of COVID-19 vaccination, Chinese infectious disease specialist Zhang Wenhong posted on China's Twitter-like Sina Weibo on Tuesday, noting that the latest Hebei outbreak in North China will be curbed effectively in about one month thanks to the nation's effective measures.
• Shanxi's Jinzhong reports 2 asymptomatic COVID-19 cases late Monday Global Times 12 Jan 2021 -- Yuci district in the city of Jinzhong, North China's Shanxi Province, reported two asymptomatic coronavirus cases, said the local authority at a press conference held at 10:30 pm on Monday, confirming that the two cases are related to infections in Hebei Province, where more than 500 people have tested positive for the virus.
• China fulfills ASEAN priority, provides vaccines to Indonesia, Myanmar Global Times 12 Jan 2021 -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday started his visit to Indonesia as part of his four-nation tour of Southeast Asia, which comes after Indonesia announced on Monday an emergency approval of a Chinese-developed COVID-19 vaccine in its national inoculation project.
• Supplies of fresh products 'sufficient' in closed-off cities in North China's Hebei Global Times 12 Jan 2021 -- To prevent the spread of coronavirus, Shijiazhuang, Xingtai and Langfang in North China's Hebei Province will be under closed-off management, officials from Hebei Province said at a press conference on Tuesday, according to media reports, after 326 cases were found in the province since January 2.
• China's Hebei reports 40 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases People's Daily 12 Jan 2021 -- North China's Hebei Province reported 40 locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases and 26 asymptomatic cases on Monday, the provincial health commission said Tuesday.
• Chinese mainland reports 42 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases People's Daily 12 Jan 2021 -- The Chinese mainland on Monday reported 55 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases, of whom 42 were locally transmitted and the rest arrived from outside the mainland, the National Health Commission said Tuesday.
• Over 1 mln get COVID-19 vaccine in Beijing People's Daily 12 Jan 2021 -- Over 1 million people in Beijing had received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine as of 11 a.m. Monday, the municipal health commission said.
• China's Hebei suspends activities at parks, squares for COVID-19 control People's Daily 12 Jan 2021 -- North China's Hebei Province has suspended activities at city parks and squares amid efforts to tame the latest outbreak of COVID-19.
• COVID-19 patients in Xingtai receive dedicated team care: hospital People's Daily 12 Jan 2021 -- The city of Xingtai in north China's Hebei Province is providing every confirmed COVID-19 case with treatment from a dedicated team of experts, health officials said at a press conference on Monday.
• China's COVID-19 vaccination tops 9 million People's Daily 12 Jan 2021 -- China has administered more than 9 million doses of self-developed COVID-19 vaccines since Dec. 15 last year, including the previous 1.6 million doses targeting groups with high risks of infection, according to a press conference on Jan. 9.
• NE China city sees asymptomatic COVID-19 cases rise to 45 People's Daily 12 Jan 2021 -- The number of asymptomatic COVID-19 cases in Suihua City of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province has increased to 45 as of 8 p.m. Monday, according to the municipal government's information office.
• Beijing reports 1 new locally transmitted COVID-19 case People's Daily 12 Jan 2021 -- Beijing reported one new locally transmitted COVID-19 case on Monday, the municipal health commission said Tuesday.
• Chinese Cities in Lockdown as Police Warn People Not to Spread 'Rumors' Radio Free Asia 12 Jan 2021 -- The ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on Tuesday placed a city of five million people in lockdown amid a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in several locations around the country.

Europe

• World Insights: Vaccination gathers pace in Europe amid new COVID-19 variants, high death toll People's Daily 12 Jan 2021 -- As concerns over new COVID-19 variants and high death toll from the pandemic linger in a large part of Europe, many European countries have pinned their hope of getting over the pathogen on vaccines, speeding up vaccination as a way out of the scourge.
• Covid-19 cause of more 'excess deaths' in UK since World War Two Press TV 12 Jan 2021 -- The full scale of the coronavirus pandemic's impact on UK public health and demographics is beginning to emerge, and the details make for grim reading.
• British Officials Crack Down on COVID-19 Rule Violators VOA 12 Jan 2021 -- A top British police official Tuesday said officers have issued about 45,000 fines for violations of COVID-19 restrictions and that they will issue more to keep the infection from spreading.
• Divisions emerge between police and government over lockdown rules Press TV 12 Jan 2021 -- As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to exact a terrible toll on the health and lives of British citizens, there are signs that divisions are forming between senior police officers and the upper reaches of government over the management of the crisis.
• UK PM warns of "false complacency" amid coronavirus vaccine rollout People's Daily 12 Jan 2021 -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday warned against "false complacency" as the country is seeking to speed up the coronavirus vaccine rollout.
• Spain registers 61,422 new cases of COVID-19 in 72 hours People's Daily 12 Jan 2021 -- Spain's Ministry of Health said on Monday that 61,422 new cases and 401 deaths from COVID-19 have been confirmed for the 72-hour period from 2 p.m. on last Friday until 2 p.m. on Monday.
• Italy reports 448 coronavirus deaths on Monday, 12,532 new cases SPA 12 Jan 2021 -- Italy reported 448 coronavirus-related deaths on Monday, up from 361 the day before, the health ministry said, while the daily tally of new infections fell to 12,532 from 18,627.
• Italy relaxes anti-virus restrictions as it registers 12,532 new daily cases People's Daily 12 Jan 2021 -- A total of 12,532 new COVID-19 cases were registered in Italy over the last 24 hours, as the country on Monday returned to a three-tiered system that places regions into different restriction levels according to the local pandemic situation.
• Malta becomes first EU country to receive new Moderna vaccine People's Daily 12 Jan 2021 -- Malta has become the first country in the European Union to receive a consignment of vaccines developed by Moderna, an American pharmaceutical company, Health Minister Chris Fearne said on Monday.
• Netherlands PM Extends COVID-19 Lockdown to February 9 VOA 12 Jan 2021 -- Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced Tuesday the government is extending its COVID-19 restrictions by three weeks, to February 9, expressing concern about the new so-called "British variant" of the virus.
• Germany imposes stricter COVID-19 measures nationwide People's Daily 12 Jan 2021 -- As COVID-19 incidences and death rates remain on a high level in Germany, stricter contact restrictions would take effect nationwide as of Monday until at least the end of January, the government announced.
• Portugal president tests positive for COVID-19 but asymptomatic: statement People's Daily 12 Jan 2021 -- Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa tested positive for COVID-19, said a statement posted on the official website of the Portuguese Presidency on Monday night.

Russia

• Russia Prolongs Suspension Of Flights With U.K. Over New Coronavirus Strain RFE/RL 12 Jan 2021 -- Russia has extended its suspension of flights to and from Britain due to the new U.K. coronavirus strain until February 1.
• Russia to Supply Up to 25 Million Doses of Sputnik V Vaccine to Nepal Sputnik 12 Jan 2021 -- Russia intends to deliver up to 25 million doses of its Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19 to Nepal, the Russian Foreign Ministry's Second Asian Department Director Zamir Kabulov said.
• Russia Reports 22,934 New Coronavirus Cases SPA 12 Jan 2021 -- Russia reported 22,934 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, including 5,001 in Moscow, taking the national tally - the world's fourth highest - to 3,448,203, Reuters reported.

India

• India records lowest New Cases in 7 months; 12,584 found positive in the last 24 hours India PIB 12 Jan 2021 -- India has crossed a crucial milestone in its fight against the global pandemic. The daily new cases have touched a new low today.

Iran

• Khamenei's Ban On Western Vaccines Blasted As A 'Politicization' Of Iranians' Well-Being RFE/RL 12 Jan 2021 -- Despite a coronavirus outbreak that has killed more than 56,000 Iranians, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has banned Western coronavirus vaccines, claiming they're untrustworthy.
• Iran's record in confrontation with Al-Qaeda terrorists crystal-clear IRNA 12 Jan 2021 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh reacted to the baseless US foreign secretary's accusation about Iran's relations with Al-Qaeda by emphasizing that Iran has been a victim of the US state terrorism and its supported terrorist groups for many years.
• Iran injects second dose of home-made COVID-19 vaccine to first three volunteers IRNA 12 Jan 2021 -- Iran injected the second dose of the domestically developed COVID-19 vaccine to the first three volunteers who had received their first dose on 29 December 2020.
• Rouhani wants people not to worry about COVID-19 vaccine IRNA 12 Jan 2021 -- President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday that Iran has submitted a request to the World Health Organization's COVAX and paid for it as well and is also trying to purchase COVID-19 vaccine from other sources, so there is no need for people to worry.
• Official: Iran identifies 5 new cases infected with UK mutation coronavirus IRNA 12 Jan 2021 -- Spokeswoman for Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education Sima Sadat Lari announced here on Tuesday that some 5 patients infected with the new mutation coronavirus rapidly spreading in the United Kingdom have been detected in the country.
• Iran COVID-19 death toll hits 98 IRNA 12 Jan 2021 -- Death toll caused by COVID-19 pandemic over the past 24 hours hit 98, spokeswoman for Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education Sima Sadat Lari said on Tuesday.
• Zarif calls Pompeo's 'Iran, Qaeda link' rant warmongering lies Press TV 12 Jan 2021 -- Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says his American counterpart is marking the twilight of his already "disastrous" career with a pathetic end by resorting to more baseless warmongering lies about Iran and other countries.
• First 3 volunteers receive second dose of Iranian COVID-19 vaccine Press TV 12 Jan 2021 -- Three Iranian volunteers have received the second dose of a domestically-developed Iranian vaccine for the COVID-19 disease, 14 days after receiving the first dose.

Japan

• Japan's PM set to expand virus emergency to western Japan amid resurgence People's Daily 12 Jan 2021 -- Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is set to expand a state of emergency declared over the COVID-19 pandemic for the Greater Tokyo area to include Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo prefectures as the virus is also continuing to surge in western Japan, sources close to the matter said Tuesday.

Saudi Arabia

• Health Ministry: 147 New Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 Reported in Saudi Arabia SPA 12 Jan 2021 -- The Ministry of Health said, in a statement today, that 147 new confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number to 364,096 cases, including 1,939 active cases receiving necessary medical care. Of these, there are 310 critical cases, while the health condition of the rest is stable, the statement said.

Taiwan

• First doctor in Taiwan to get COVID-19 among 4 new cases CNA 12 Jan 2021 -- Taiwan on Tuesday reported four new cases of COVID-19, including the first case of a local doctor to be infected with the disease, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).
• Taiwan reports first local doctor to get COVID-19 CNA 12 Jan 2021 -- A doctor in a northern Taiwan hospital has been confirmed as one of two locally infected COVID-19 cases in Taiwan Tuesday, the first time a local physician has come down with the disease since the outbreak began.
• Navy cancels port visits to allies over COVID-19 concerns CNA 12 Jan 2021 -- Taiwan Navy's midshipmen crusing training mission will not include port calls in the country's diplomatic allies this year as the COVID-19 pandemic shows no sign of easing, a military source said Tuesday.

South Africa

• South African Health Workers Want COVID-19 Vaccine Plan and Stalled Pay Promise Kept Sputnik 12 Jan 2021 -- President Cyril Ramaphosa said 1.2 million healthcare workers would be first in line for COVID-19 vaccines — once they start arriving mid-year — followed by "essential" workers, the elderly and those at risk due to other medical conditions.
• South Africa Extends Coronavirus Restrictions as Cases Climb VOA 12 Jan 2021 -- South Africa's president has extended restrictions as coronavirus infections affect more and more people — including, notably, the U.S. ambassador to South Africa, who announced this week she was recovering from the virus.

Other Countries

• Turkey to start COVID-19 vaccination before weekend People's Daily 12 Jan 2021 -- Turkey will start COVID-19 vaccination for its citizens as of Thursday or Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday.
• Tunisia in Talks With Russia on Sputnik V COVID-19 Vaccine Supplies - Health Minister Sputnik 12 Jan 2021 -- Tunisia is engaged in talks with several COVID-19 vaccine producers, including Russia, over delivery of its Sputnik V vaccine, Tunisian Health Minister Faouzi Mehdi said.
• Mexican President Says Country Intends to Buy 24Mln Doses of Russia's Sputnik V, Earmarks $240Mln Sputnik 12 Jan 2021 -- Mexico is seeking to extend its vaccination campaign, primarily pinning hopes on the Russian Sputnik V and the joint British-Swedish AstraZeneca shots.
• Malaysian King Declares State of Emergency to Curb Rising COVID-19 Infections VOA 12 Jan 2021 -- Malaysia's king has declared a national state of emergency as part of an effort to curb the growing numbers of novel coronavirus infections.
• COVID-19 Kills Two Malawian Cabinet Members; President Declares State of National Disaster VOA 12 Jan 2021 -- Two ministers in the cabinet of Malawi's President Lazarus Chakwera died Tuesday from COVID-19. The southern African country is dealing with a steep rise in cases, and in a televised address the president urged Malawians to take protective measures.
• UAE Announces 3,243 New COVID-19 Cases, 2,195 Recoveries, and 6 Deaths in Last 24 Hours SPA 12 Jan 2021 -- ‏The UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) announced that it conducted 151,480 additional COVID-19 tests over the past 24 hours, using state-of-the-art medical testing equipment.