Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy Rejects Info, Testimony Request From 'Illegitimate' Jan. 6 Panel Sputnik 12 Jan 2022 -- The House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol is requesting the voluntary cooperation of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), making the latter the highest-ranking Republican lawmaker to be tapped with such a request. McCarthy has since rejected the offer, panning the probe as illegitimate.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Omicron fuels record weekly COVID-19 cases, but deaths 'stable' UN News 12 Jan 2022 -- Fuelled by Omicron, more than 15 million new cases of COVID-19 were reported around the world last week, by far the most cases reported in a single seven day period, the World Health Organization (WHO) informed on Wednesday.
• Booster doses of current vaccines may not be enough: WHO People's Daily 12 Jan 2022 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday that current COVID-19 vaccines may need to be updated if they are to provide continued protection against emerging variants, including Omicron.

United States

• Georgia National Guard activates 200 Guardsmen to support COVID-19 response Army News 12 Jan 2022 -- Georgia's Department of Public Health and the Department of Community Health have selected approximately 15 COVID testing sites and 11 hospitals for Guardsmen to assist with logistics and administrative functions, allowing staff more contact time with patients.
• White House Urges Continued Mitigation Efforts Amid Omicron Surge VOA 12 Jan 2022 -- The White House COVID-19 response team on Wednesday reminded Americans of the continued need to slow the omicron variant's spread despite its decreased severity and announced new efforts to help keep schools open.
• Studies: Omicron-Driven Wave of New Cases May Begin to Wane VOA 12 Jan 2022 -- A new study suggests the United States is about to undergo a dramatic decline in new COVID-19 infections driven by the omicron variant of the coronavirus.
• Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and Public Health Officials The White House 12 Jan 2022
• U.S. sets new grim pandemic records with nearly 1.5 mln daily cases People's Daily 12 Jan 2022 -- The United States shattered daily COVID-19 cases record again as nearly 1.5 million new COVID-19 cases were reported across the country on Monday, according to latest data of Johns Hopkins University.
• U.S. reports nearly 8.5 mln child COVID-19 cases, increasing "exponentially" People's Daily 12 Jan 2022 -- Nearly 8.5 million children in the United States have tested positive for COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic, and COVID-19 cases among American children are "increasing exponentially," according to the latest report of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Children's Hospital Association.
• US Breaks COVID-19 Hospitalization Record Including 4,462 Children, Unvaccinated Most at Risk Sputnik 12 Jan 2022 -- The US broke its own earlier records in hospitalizations, as well as infections of COVID-19 on Tuesday, marking a considerable spike for those who are unvaccinated, including children aged 4 and younger who are not yet eligible to receive a vaccine.

China

• Henan virus fight complicated by dual variants, loophole Global Times 12 Jan 2022 -- Central China's Henan Province is at the critical juncture of battling dual challenges posed by both the Delta and Omicron variants that have affected seven regions with possibly two or even more sources of infection. But it is a good sign to see that newly confirmed cases in Henan cities were detected only in epidemic-controlled zones, which means the risk of a larger-scale outbreak is low, experts said.
• Tianjin postpones two sessions amid Omicron surge Global Times 12 Jan 2022 -- North China's Tianjin Municipality has announced it will postpone its two sessions due to the latest wave of the epidemic involving the Omicron variant.
• One more region locked down in C. China's Henan, battling Delta, Omicron variants Global Times 12 Jan 2022 -- Central China's Henan Province, the only province in Chinese mainland battling both Delta and Omicron variants, further escalated epidemic control measures as one more city was locked down. The province reported the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on Tuesday alone in China.
• Chinese vice premier orders differentiated, targeted measures against COVID-19 resurgence in Henan People's Daily 12 Jan 2022 -- Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan has stressed implementing differentiated and targeted measures in epidemic control in central China's Henan Province, which is experiencing a COVID-19 resurgence.
• China's Dalian sees 2 test positive for COVID-19 People's Daily 12 Jan 2022 -- Dalian, a port city in northeast China's Liaoning Province, reported on Wednesday that two people tested positive for COVID-19 during a routine nucleic acid testing.
• North China's Tianjin to launch second citywide nucleic acid testing People's Daily 12 Jan 2022 -- North China's Tianjin Municipality on Wednesday morning mobilized all residents to undergo the second round of nucleic acid testing, after the first round of citywide screening starting Sunday found 77 positive samples for COVID-19.
• Over 2.91 bln COVID-19 vaccine doses administered on Chinese mainland People's Daily 12 Jan 2022 -- More than 2.91 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered on the Chinese mainland as of Tuesday, data from the National Health Commission showed Wednesday.
• Vaccination a necessary measure to deal with Omicron: expert People's Daily 12 Jan 2022 -- Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is still a necessity in the face of the Omicron variant, senior Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) expert Zhang Boli said in an interview with Xinhua on Tuesday.
• Chinese mainland reports 166 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases People's Daily 12 Jan 2022 -- The Chinese mainland on Tuesday reported 166 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, the National Health Commission said in its daily report on Wednesday.
• China's Tianjin uses virus testing lab for citywide tests People's Daily 12 Jan 2022 -- North China's Tianjin Municipality put a COVID-19 testing lab into use to meet the demand for citywide mass nucleic acid tests, said the local authorities on Tuesday.
• Hong Kong to suspend face-to-face classes of primary schools, kindergartens due to COVID-19 People's Daily 12 Jan 2022 -- All face-to-face classes of primary schools and kindergartens in Hong Kong will be suspended no later than Friday until schools' Chinese New Year holidays, the HKSAR government said on Tuesday.
• China's Xi'an logs 13 new confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 12 Jan 2022 -- Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, reported 13 new confirmed locally transmitted COVID-19 cases on Monday, local authorities said Tuesday.
• China blocks dozens of flights arriving from US due to surge of Omicron in America Press TV 12 Jan 2022 -- China has ordered the cancellation of more than two dozen flights from the United States amid a surge of the highly contagious Omicron variant of the coronavirus in the US.
• China Records 221 New COVID-19 Cases SPA 12 Jan 2022 -- China reported 221new coronavirus (COVID-19) cases.
• Chinese vice premier orders differentiated, targeted measures against COVID-19 resurgence in Henan People's Daily 12 Jan 2022 -- Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan has stressed implementing differentiated and targeted measures in epidemic control in central China's Henan Province, which is experiencing a COVID-19 resurgence.
• Xi eyes closer post-pandemic cooperation with Indonesia People's Daily 12 Jan 2022 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that China and Indonesia should advance cooperation in a coordinated manner in the post-pandemic era.
• China's Shenzhen reports 4 new local COVID-19 cases People's Daily 12 Jan 2022 -- South China's Shenzhen reported four new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, the municipal government announced at a press briefing.

Europe

• Europe, Central Asia Face Spike In Infections As WHO Warns Of Omicron 'Tidal Wave' RFE/RL 12 Jan 2022 -- President Vladimir Putin has warned Russians they have two weeks to prepare for a fresh wave of coronavirus infections driven by the omicron virus after the World Health Organization (WHO) warned of a "west-to-east tidal wave" of the super-contagious variant that could infect more than half of the Europeans in the next two months.
• Bulgarian Protesters Clash With Police In Front Of Parliament Over COVID Restrictions RFE/RL 12 Jan 2022 -- Protesters opposed to Bulgaria's COVID-19 restrictions have clashed with police in front of the parliament building in Sofia as the country notched up a record number of infections from the virus.
• Omicron wave to hit unvaccinated in Europe: WHO regional director People's Daily 12 Jan 2022 -- World Health Organization (WHO) European Regional Director Hans Kluge warned on Tuesday that the Omicron variant could become more prevalent in Europe as the "tidal wave" of infections spreads eastward.

India

• India's Cumulative COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage exceeds 153.80 Cr India PIB 12 Jan 2022 -- With the administration of over 85 lakh Doses (85,26,240) vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has exceeded 153
• COVID - 19 Vaccination Update - Day 362 India PIB 12 Jan 2022 -- India's COVID-19 vaccination coverage has crossed 154
• Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Availability in States/UTs India PIB 12 Jan 2022 -- 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 12 Jan 2022
• India reports 194,720 new COVID-19 cases SPA 12 Jan 2022 -- India reported 194,720 new COVID-19 cases.
• India reports 194,720 new COVID-19 cases SPA 12 Jan 2022 -- India reported 194,720 new COVID-19 cases.

Iran

• COVID-19 kills 32 more Iranians over past 24 hours IRNA 12 Jan 2022 -- The number of deaths from the coronavirus pandemic in Iran increased to 131,972 with 32 more Iranians killed by the deadly disease over the past 24 hours, Iran's Health Ministry announced on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia

• COVID-19 kills 32 more Iranians over past 24 hours IRNA 12 Jan 2022 -- The number of deaths from the coronavirus pandemic in Iran increased to 131,972 with 32 more Iranians killed by the deadly disease over the past 24 hours, Iran's Health Ministry announced on Wednesday.

Taiwan

• COVID-19 kills 32 more Iranians over past 24 hours IRNA 12 Jan 2022 -- The number of deaths from the coronavirus pandemic in Iran increased to 131,972 with 32 more Iranians killed by the deadly disease over the past 24 hours, Iran's Health Ministry announced on Wednesday.

Other Countries

• Jordan Records 2,829 New Infections of COVID-19 SPA 12 Jan 2022 -- The Jordanian Ministry of Health announced the registration of 2,829 new infections with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of infections to 1,088,329.
• Qatar Reports 4,206 New Infections of COVID-19 SPA 12 Jan 2022 -- Qatar recorded 4,206 new infections with the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of infections to 282,904.
• Sudan Records 248 New Cases of COVID-19 SPA 12 Jan 2022 -- Sudan recorded, in the past 24 hours, 248 new infections with the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), without recording deaths.
• Kuwait Records 4,548 New Cases of COVID-19 SPA 12 Jan 2022 -- Kuwait recorded, in the past 24 hours, 4,548 new infections with the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total infections to 446,547.
• UAE Announces 2,616 New COVID-19 Cases, 4 Death in Last 24 Hours SPA 12 Jan 2022 -- The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced that it conducted 300,893 additional COVID-19 tests over the past 24 hours, using state-of-the-art medical testing equipment, according to WAM News Agency.
• Brazil Records 70,765 New Cases of COVID-19 SPA 12 Jan 2022 -- Brazil recorded 70,765 new infections of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), along with 147 deaths in the past 24 hours.
• Egypt Records 932 New Cases of COVID-19 SPA 12 Jan 2022 -- Egypt recorded 932 new cases afflicted with novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and 19 deaths in the past 24 hours.
• WHO Africa urges rich countries to donate vaccines with longer shelf life Global Times 12 Jan 2022 -- Most vaccine donations arrive in the receiving countries close to expiry and without key parts like the syringes, an officer of the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa said in an e-mail to the Global Times, urging wealthier countries to consider giving donations with a longer shelf life to match the absorption capacity.