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Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Follow the science: UN plans for a stronger pandemic recovery UN News 29 Jan 2021 -- Funders responsible for more than $100 million of annual global research investments joined the deputy UN chief Amina Mohammed on Friday to discuss how to unify research efforts, and use science to recover effectively from the COVID-19 pandemic.
• WHO urges effective and fair use of COVID vaccines UN News 29 Jan 2021 -- With COVID-19 vaccines currently in scarce supply, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday pressed governments to prioritize inoculation of health workers and older persons, and to share excess doses with other nations.
• Johnson & Johnson One-dose Vaccine 66% Successful VOA 29 Jan 2021 -- U.S. pharmaceutical and medical device maker Johnson & Johnson says after a global trial, the COVID-19 vaccine it has developed is 66% effective in preventing infection.
• COVID-19 Vaccine of US Company Novavax Shows 89.3% Efficacy in Phase 3 Trial in UK Sputnik 29 Jan 2021 -- A coronavirus vaccine developed by the US-based Novavax company has demonstrated an 89.3-percent efficacy during phase 3 trials conducted in the United Kingdom, the company said in a statement.

United States

• Rush Transcript: Governor Cuomo Announces New York City Indoor Dining Can Reopen at 25 Percent Capacity on Valentine's Day New York State 29 Jan 2021

China

• What info would Huanan wet market offer to WHO's COVID-19 origin seeking? Global Times 29 Jan 2021 -- For residents who live near the Huanan Seafood Market in Hankou district of Wuhan, their ritual of buying food and fruits from there in preparation for the Spring Festival holiday has to be altered this year. Since being suspended on January 1, 2020, the market, which was closely linked to the first batch of patients infected with the novel coronavirus in China, has been sealed off for a year.
• Field visits in Wuhan 'righteous and helpful' for WHO experts' better understanding of COVID-19 Global Times 29 Jan 2021 -- The WHO experts are going to the right places for field studies on the origin of the COVID-19 in Wuhan, including the Huanan Seafood Market, hospitals where the early patients were treated and the Wuhan virology lab, which will be helpful for them to get a better understanding of the virus, Chinese experts said, as the team of 13 international scientists officially started their investigation work on Friday.
• WHO team in Wuhan begins field study Friday, to visit hospitals, meet local experts Global Times 29 Jan 2021 -- The WHO team of 13 scientists on the mission to study the origins of the coronavirus is scheduled to visit local hospitals and seafood market and have face-to-face meetings with Chinese scientists in Wuhan, starting Friday, having finished their 14-day quarantine, with one member telling the Global Times there are "records and information everywhere" worth being explored.
• Hong Kong set for widespread COVID-19 vaccine coverage by late 2021 Global Times 29 Jan 2021 -- Hong Kong is expected to be in the first batch of countries and regions in the world to get widespread COVID-19 vaccine coverage among its citizens by the end of 2021, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) forecast recently, despite the relatively low public confidence in the vaccines, experts noted.
• Xi says China ready to strengthen cooperation with Bolivia on COVID-19 vaccines People's Daily 29 Jan 2021 -- China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Bolivia on COVID-19 vaccines, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday in a phone conversation with his Bolivian counterpart, Luis Arce.
• China bans all offline after-school training in COVID-19 risk areas People's Daily 29 Jan 2021 -- China has prohibited all offline training outside the campus in areas with medium and high COVID-19 infection risk, according to a notice issued by the Ministry of Education on Thursday.
• Chinese mainland reports 16 new imported COVID-19 cases People's Daily 29 Jan 2021 -- The Chinese mainland reported 16 new imported COVID-19 cases Thursday, bringing the total number of imported cases to 4,673.

Europe

• EU Drug Regulator Approves AstraZeneca Vaccine for Emergency Use VOA 29 Jan 2021 -- European Union regulators on Friday approved the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, the third vaccine approved for use on the European continent.
• EU May Block Pfizer Vaccine Exports to UK to Ensure Stable Supplies Within Bloc – Reports Sputnik 29 Jan 2021 -- The European Union may block the export of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine to the United Kingdom as a means of retaining stable vaccine supplies for its member states, media reported.
• UK records another 28,680 coronavirus cases, 1,239 deaths People's Daily 29 Jan 2021 -- Another 28,680 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 3,743,734, according to official figures released Thursday.
• UK Records 1,245 More COVID-19 Deaths on Friday SPA 29 Jan 2021 -- The United Kingdom recorded a further 1,245 deaths within 28 days of a positive COVID-19 test on Friday, up from 1,239 the day before, Reuters quoted government data as showing.
• UK Awaits Explanations From EU About Possible Vaccines Exports Control Sputnik 29 Jan 2021 -- The United Kingdom is waiting for an explanation from the European Commission about the bloc's intentions to control the export of coronavirus vaccines, including to Northern Ireland a country subject to the regulation of the European Single Market, the office of Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.
• Three more countries added to UK travel "red list" amid coronavirus variant concerns Global Times 29 Jan 2021 -- The British government on Thursday announced its decision to ban travel from the United Arab Emirates, Burundi and Rwanda as it takes further action to prevent the spread of the COVID variant.
• Pfizer pledges to continue vaccine supply even if Italy files lawsuit Global Times 29 Jan 2021 -- The head of the Italian division of US-based pharmaceutical giant Pfizer said on Thursday that her company will continue to honor its contract to provide coronavirus vaccines to Italy even if Italy follows through on its plan to sue Pfizer for falling behind on vaccine deliveries.
• German Medical Watchdog, Moscow Already Discussing Sputnik V Vaccine Registration in EU Sputnik 29 Jan 2021 -- Germany's Paul Ehrlich Institute, which is in charge of medicines, confirmed on Friday that it was already in touch with Russia regarding the paperwork for the registration of Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus in the European Union.
• Germany Reports 14022 New Cases of Covid-19 SPA 29 Jan 2021 -- Germany reported new 14022 cases of the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19), in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number to 2,192,850.
• Hungary's Drug Regulator Approves Chinese Coronavirus Vaccine RFE/RL 29 Jan 2021 -- Hungary has become the first EU member to give initial approval to the Chinese-made Sinopharm coronavirus vaccine, with Prime Minister Viktor Orban saying he would personally choose to be inoculated with the jab because he trusts it the most.

Russia

India

• On a steady decline, India's Active Caseload further contracts to 1.71 lakh India PIB 29 Jan 2021 -- India's total Active Caseload continues to manifest sustained downward movement. It has dropped to 1.71 lakh (1,71,686) today.
• Update on COVID-19 Vaccination-Day 14 India PIB 29 Jan 2021 -- India has seen a significant hike in the number of healthcare workers getting vaccinated against COVID19, under the countrywide COVID-19 vaccination program.

Iran

• Some 71 deaths caused by COVID-19 in Iran IRNA 29 Jan 2021 -- Some 71 deaths were caused by COVID-19 in Iran over the past 24 hours, spokeswoman for Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education Sima Sadat Lari said on Friday.
• Iran conducts half of 1st human trial of Covid-19 vaccine IRNA 29 Jan 2021 -- Director of the Clinical Trial Center of Tehran University of Medical Sciences Hamed Hosseini said that 35 volunteers out of 56 people needed to participate in the first phase of the human trial of Iran-made Covid-19 vaccine have got a first vaccine shot.

South Korea

• S. Korea's New Virus Cases in 400s Again; Virus Curbs Set to Be Tweaked SPA 29 Jan 2021 -- South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell back to below 500 again today, on Friday due to fewer tests amid cold weather despite a continued rise in clusters tied to religious facilities, which has put health authorities in more prudent mode about relaxing virus curbs, Yonhap reported.
• South Korea Reports 469 New Coronavirus Cases SPA 29 Jan 2021 -- South Korea reported today 469 more COVID-19 cases, including 445 locally transmitted infections, raising the total caseload to 77,395, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Yonhap News Agency reported.

Saudi Arabia

• 267 New Confirmed Covid-19 Cases, 253 Recoveries Reported, in Saudi Arabia SPA 29 Jan 2021 -- The Ministry of Health announced, in a statement, here today that 267 new confirmed cases of the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) have been reported, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number to 367,543, including 2,169 active cases undergoing treatment.

Taiwan

• Taiwan records four new imported cases of COVID-19 CNA 29 Jan 2021 -- Taiwan reported four new imported cases of COVID-19 on Friday, with three of the infected individuals arriving in Taiwan from the Philippines and one coming from South Africa, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

Other Countries

• Africa's confirmed COVID-19 cases near 3.5 mln: Africa CDC People's Daily 29 Jan 2021 -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the African continent reached 3,494,117 as of Thursday, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said.
• WHO says new COVID-19 strains could prolong second wave in Africa People's Daily 29 Jan 2021 -- Discovery of new COVID-19 variants in several African countries risk prolonging the second wave in the continent and overwhelm its already fragile public health systems, a senior World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Thursday.
• Chilean president welcomes arrival of Sinovac vaccines People's Daily 29 Jan 2021 -- Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Thursday welcomed a shipment of nearly 2 million vaccines developed by Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech as the South American country is preparing for mass vaccination campaign against COVID-19.
• Australian COVID outbreaks result of prioritizing economy over health: medical body People's Daily 29 Jan 2021 -- Australia's December coronavirus outbreaks were the result of governments prioritizing the economy over health according to the nation's peak medical body.
• COVID-19 updates: Mexico's virus toll world's third; Europe's crisis accelerating Press TV 29 Jan 2021 -- Mexico overtakes India with the third-highest number of coronavirus fatalities, after the US and Brazil. In Europe, countries consider imposing new restrictions as a new variant of COVID-19 that initially emerged in Britain, continues to rise across the continent.
• Ukrainian Parliament Bans Approval Of Russian COVID-19 Vaccines RFE/RL 29 Jan 2021 -- Lawmakers in Ukraine's parliament have overwhelmingly voted to ban the approval of vaccines made in Russia.
• Sputnik V Vaccine Authorised in Republic of Guinea, RDIF Says Sputnik 29 Jan 2021 -- Russia's Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus was registered for use in the Republic of Guinea, the Russian sovereign wealth fund said Friday.
• Kuwait approves emergency use of AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine SPA 29 Jan 2021 -- Kuwait's health ministry approved on Friday the emergency use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
• UAE Announces 3,962 New Cases of Covid-19 SPA 29 Jan 2021 -- UAE announced a new 3,962 cases of the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19), bringing the total number of the infections to 297,014.
• Vietnam Reports 34 COVID-19 Infections in Latest Outbreak SPA 29 Jan 2021 -- Vietnam reported 34 new COVID-19 infections today in its latest coronavirus outbreak, which began and has spread to five northern cities and provinces, including Hanoi, Reuters cited the country's Ministry of Health as saying in a statement.
• Canada to Receive 500,000 Less Vaccine Doses Than Expected - Ontario Official Sputnik 29 Jan 2021 -- Canada will receive 500,000 less COVID-19 vaccine doses than anticipated in the coming weeks, Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott said on Thursday.
• Thai Economy Struggles Amid COVID Second Wave VOA 29 Jan 2021 -- Thailand had hoped the new year would bring relief to its battered economy. But a second wave of the coronavirus has sunk the kingdom deeper into trouble, leaving streets scarred with abandoned businesses and millions scrambling for an income.