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Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Booster programs will prolong COVID pandemic, not end it, WHO chief warns Press TV 23 Dec 2021 -- Blanket vaccine booster programs are likely to prolong the COVID-19 pandemic rather than ending it, as inequity in access to jabs could lead to more mutated variants that drag out the crisis, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) warns.
• Omicron Milder Than Other Coronavirus Variants, New Studies Suggest VOA 23 Dec 2021 -- New research from Britain and South Africa suggests the fast-spreading omicron variant of the coronavirus is milder and results in fewer hospitalizations than other versions.

United States

• US contributes $10 million to support UN food agency efforts on COVID-19 response, future pandemics UN News 23 Dec 2021 -- A $10 million contribution from the United States will assist the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in its work on COVID-19 response and addressing threats to human, animal and environmental health, including future pandemics.
• FDA Approves Merck COVID-19 Pill VOA 23 Dec 2021 -- A day after approving Pfizer's COVID-19 pill, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency use authority to a similar pill produced by Merck.

China

• China's Xi'an under lockdown amid surge in COVID-19, hemorrhagic fever cases Radio Free Asia 23 Dec 2021 -- Authorities in the northern Chinese city of Xi'an have placed the city of 13 million under lockdown, amid a sharp rise in the number of COVID-19 cases and fears over a recent outbreak of epidemic hemorrhagic fever, local residents told RFA.
• Xi'an cancels all flights, begins 3rd round of mass testing amid pressure from unclear transmission routes Global Times 23 Dec 2021 -- Xi'an, the ancient city in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, started this month's third round of mass testing on 13 million people on Thursday following the highest number of positive COVID-19 cases found in a single day. It has also canceled all flights at its airport and put all residential communities under closed management.
• China's Xi'an imposes lockdown amid COVID-19 resurgence People's Daily 23 Dec 2021 -- Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, imposed a citywide lockdown, effective Thursday, in an effort to curb the spread of the latest COVID-19 resurgence.
• Chinese mainland reports 71 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases People's Daily 23 Dec 2021 -- The Chinese mainland on Wednesday reported 71 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, the National Health Commission said in its daily report on Thursday.
• China's Shaanxi reports 149 COVID-19 cases People's Daily 23 Dec 2021 -- Northwest China's Shaanxi Province has reported a total of 149 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases since the latest resurgence in the province was reported on Dec. 9, according to local authorities on Wednesday.
• Hong Kong reports 7 more cases of Omicron COVID-19 variant People's Daily 23 Dec 2021 -- Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported seven additional cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the total number of Omicron infections to 34.
• China Records 100 New COVID-19 Cases SPA 23 Dec 2021 -- China reported 100 new coronavirus (COVID-19) cases.

Europe

• Britain Records 119,789 New Cases of COVID-19 SPA 23 Dec 2021 -- Britain recorded 119,789 new infections of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), along with 147 deaths in the past 24 hours.

India

• India's Cumulative COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage exceeds 139.70 Cr India PIB 23 Dec 2021 -- With the administration of 70,17,671 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 139
• COVID-19 Vaccination Update - Day 342 India PIB 23 Dec 2021 -- India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has crossed 140
• Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Availability in States/UTs India PIB 23 Dec 2021 -- The Union Government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country
• COVID-19 UPDATE India PIB 23 Dec 2021
• Centre reviews COVID19 status and preparedness in States/UTs, in view of Omicron variant India PIB 23 Dec 2021 -- The Centre has advised States and UTs to not let their guard down and maintain their preparedness for fighting COVID19 (and its variants) in view of the new variant Omicron (designated as a Variant of Concern by WHO on 26th November 2021)
• Delhi Chief Braces for 100,000 COVID-19 Cases Daily as Omicron Spreads Through India Sputnik 23 Dec 2021 -- India has recorded more than 7,495 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, out of which 236 were of the Omicron strain, India's Health Ministry said on Thursday.

Iran

• COVID-19 kills 51 more Iranians over past 24 hours IRNA 23 Dec 2021 -- The number of deaths from the coronavirus pandemic in Iran increased to 131,262 with 51 more Iranians killed by the deadly disease over the past 24 hours, Iran's Health Ministry announced on Thursday.

South Korea

• S.Korea Records 6,919 New Cases of COVID-19 SPA 23 Dec 2021 -- South Korea recorded 6,919 new cases of the novel coronavirus along with 109 deaths in the past 24 hours.

Saudi Arabia

• Ministry of Health Reports 287 New Cases of COVID-19, 113 Recoveries in Saudi Arabia SPA 23 Dec 2021 -- The Ministry of Health reported 287 new cases of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the past 24 hours, bringing the infection tally to 551,749.

Taiwan

• Taiwan confirms four Omicron cases, bringing total up to 16 CNA 23 Dec 2021 -- Four imported COVID-19 cases previously reported by the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) have been confirmed as Omicron variant infections, the CECC announced Thursday.

Australia

• Australia Records Major Spike in Omicron Variant of COVID-19 VOA 23 Dec 2021 -- Australia on Thursday reported a major spike in coronavirus infections driven by the omicron variant, prompting the worst-hit state of New South Wales to reimpose mandatory indoor mask-wearing.
• Australia Considers Charging Unvaccinated Residents for COVID-19 Hospital Care VOA 23 Dec 2021 -- A suggestion by Australia's most populous state to charge unvaccinated people for COVID-19 medical costs has received widespread criticism. The New South Wales proposal has angered doctors and some federal politicians, who argue that health care in Australia is free and universal.

Other Countries

• Brazil Sees 3,451 New Coronavirus Cases SPA 23 Dec 2021 -- Brazil registered 3,451 new cases of coronavirus and 143 further COVID-19 deaths in the last 24 hours, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday, according to Reuters.
• Egypt Records 879 New Cases of COVID-19 SPA 23 Dec 2021 -- Egypt recorded 879 new cases afflicted with novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and 43 deaths in the past 24 hours.
• Africa CDC Concerned with New Wave of COVID Infections VOA 23 Dec 2021 -- The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is expressing concern at the latest wave of COVID infections as the continent enters the holiday season.Africa CDC Director John Nkengasong says they are pushing African countries to consider vaccine mandates.
• Nigeria Hits New COVID-19 Infections Record VOA 23 Dec 2021 -- Nigeria's number of confirmed COVID-19 infections nearly doubled on Wednesday, to a record of more than 4,000 — the most since the start of the pandemic. Nigerian officials say the jump raises serious concerns and are urging people to stay away from gatherings.The figures were announced as Nigeria destroyed a million doses of coronavirus vaccine that had passed the expiration date.