Covid-19 news: British scientists warn that cases in children are on the rise

By Michael Le Page
, Clare Wilson
, Jessica Hamzelou
, Sam Wong
, Graham Lawton
, Adam Vaughan
, Conrad Quilty-Harper
and Layal Liverpool

Current coronavirus news from 26 p.m. on March 26th

Recent figures suggest that the number of cases is increasing among secondary school students in England

Independent SAGE – a group of scientists that publishes advice to the UK government – has warned rising cases of Covid-19 in children in England since schools reopened on March 8th. The latest results from a random swab test survey from the National Statistics Office (ONS) show that coronavirus infections occur in children aged 11 to 16 years have increased slightly in EnglandIn the week ending March 20, 0.43 percent of secondary school-age children tested positive, compared with 0.31 percent the previous week. “What needs to be understood is that the new variants are harder to control and the limited reopening of schools is likely to show up in the data,” said James Naismith of the University of Oxford in one Explanation.

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Overall, the percentage of people who test positive for the virus appears to have leveled off in England, the ONS analysis found. However, there are signs that the decline in new Covid-19 cases across the UK is slowing. The last official estimate for the British R number – – The average number of people infected in each coronavirus case – – lies between 0.7 and 0.9, slightly between 0.6 and 0.9 in the previous week and between 0.6 and 0.8 two weeks earlier.

Other coronavirus news

European Union leaders have supported a tightening of vaccine exports off the block after a virtual summit on March 25th. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said EU leaders found the European Commission’s new export restrictions “acceptable” but hoped they would never be applied. The new export controls allow the EU to block Covid-19 deliveries to countries with better vaccination rates. Former President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, had criticized the EU’s handling of vaccine exports before the summit.

Health officials in Germany have warned that the third wave of coronavirus infections in the country will be “harder to contain” than the previous two. Lothar Wieler, head of the German Robert Koch Institute, warned that up to 100,000 new infections per day could occur in Germany without intervention. Wieler spoke on March 26th at a press conference with Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn. “At the moment the numbers are increasing too quickly and the variants make the situation particularly dangerous,” said Spahn. “If this is not checked, we run the risk [that] Our health system could reach its breaking point in April, ”he added.

US President Joe Biden announced on March 25 that he had doubled his government’s vaccine delivery target to 200 million doses during his first 100 days as President. The US administered more than 133 million cans of Covid-19 vaccine so far.

A third wave of coronavirus infections in Africa could threaten fragile health systems in some countries, the World Health Organization warned.

Coronavirus deaths

The global Covid-19 death toll has exceeded 2.75 million. The number of confirmed cases is loud. More than 125.6 million Johns Hopkins Universityalthough the true number of cases will be much higher.

Latest information on coronavirus from New Scientist

Third wave: Scientists say a third wave of Covid-19 in the UK is inevitable as restrictions lift. Some predict tens of thousands more deaths. How bad is it going to get?

Covid-19 origins: Photographer Adam Dean’s impressive shot of bats emerging from a Thai cave shows research into the key question of whether Covid-19 originated from bats.

Important information about the coronavirus

Everything you need to know about the pandemic

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Covid-19: The Story of a Pandemic

What to read, see and hear about coronavirus

New Scientist Weekly provides updates and analysis on the latest developments in the Covid-19 pandemic. Every week on our podcast, specialist journalists from the magazine discuss the biggest scientific stories that hit the headlines – from technology and space to health and the environment.

The jump is a BBC Radio 4 series that examines how viruses can be transmitted from animals to humans to cause pandemics. The first episode examines the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Why does Covid kill people with color? is a BBC documentary examining what the high Covid-19 death rates among ethnic minority patients say about health inequalities in the UK.

Panorama: The race for a vaccine is a BBC documentary about the inside story of the development of the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19.

Race against the virus: chasing a vaccine is a Channel 4 documentary that tells the story of the coronavirus pandemic through the eyes of the frontline scientists.

The New York Times evaluates progress in developing potential drug treatments for Covid-19 and evaluates them for effectiveness and safety.

People from COVID-19 is a project shedding light on the experiences of key frontline workers in the UK’s fight against coronavirus through social media.

Belly Mujinga: In Search of Truth is a BBC Panoramic investigation into the death of covid-19 transport worker Belly Mujinga after being reported coughed and spat on by a customer at Victoria Station, London.

Coronavirus, explained on Netflix is ​​a short documentary series that examines the coronavirus pandemic, efforts to fight it, and ways to manage mental health.

COVID-19: The Pandemic That Should Never Have Happened And How To Stop The Next One by Debora Mackenzie is about how the pandemic happened and why it will happen again if we don’t do things differently in the future.

The rules of contagion it’s about the new science of contagion and the surprising ways in which it shapes our lives and behavior. The author Adam Kucharski is an epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in the UK. In his book, he examines how diseases spread and why they stop.

25th March

Vaccination records may only be possible if all adults in the UK are vaccinated, says the UK Prime Minister

It can only be It is possible to introduce Covid-19 vaccine passports In the UK, after a vaccine was offered to all adults, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said. Vaccination records have been suggested to provide evidence that a person has been vaccinated against Covid-19 or to show negative coronavirus test results for those who have not been vaccinated. Johnson told the BBC that “no decisions at all have been made regarding the use of vaccination certificates in the UK,” but added, “I think certificates will play a role.” A review by the UK government of the possible use of vaccination certificates is underway. The decision is expected on April 12, when a planned easing of coronavirus restrictions in England is due to begin.

The European Union has also dealt with the issue Possibility of a Covid-19 vaccination pass, called “digital green passport”. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned about countries developing vaccination records, saying that doing so could lead to inequalities. “Certification of vaccination as a requirement for international travel is not justified because vaccination is not widely available and unevenly distributed around the world,” said Mike Ryan, director of the WHO health emergencies program. during a virtual press conference On March 15.

Other coronavirus news

Former President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, has criticized the EU for dealing with exports of Covid-19 vaccines. Juncker told him Hardtalk radio program from the BBC The bloc should pull out of a “stupid vaccine war” with Britain and instead focus on accelerating efforts to make vaccines available to citizens of its member states. According to Our world in dataThe EU had given around 13 doses of a Covid-19 vaccine per 100 people on March 22, compared with 38 in the US, 45 in the UK and 113 in Israel. EU leaders are expected to push back opposed the bloc’s proposal to use new powers to block supplies of Covid-19 vaccines to countries with better vaccination coverage, according to a draft statement before a virtual meeting on March 25.

AstraZeneca has published additional data from a US study of his Covid-19 vaccine. The additional results show that the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine was 76 percent effective at preventing symptomatic Covid-19 and 100 percent effective at preventing serious or critical illness and hospitalization. Interim results, which the company released on March 22, indicated the vaccine was 79 percent effective in preventing symptomatic Covid-19. However, shortly after the results were published, the US Data and Security Monitoring Board was established said the National Institutes of Health It was feared that AstraZeneca provided “out of date information” from the process in its press release, providing an “incomplete view” of the results. In response, AstraZeneca released the additional data on March 25th.

Sweden is Resumption of the rollout of the Oxford / AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine for people over 65, while Denmark is Extension of its suspension of recordings for three weeks. The EU drug regulator has said the vaccine is safe and not associated with an overall increased risk of blood clots, but some nations are doing their own reviews.

The WHO run COVAX schemewho is working to provide low and middle income countries with Covid-19 vaccines is Delays due to technical problems in a production facility in South Korea as well as due to a Setback in securing export licenses for more doses of vaccines made by the Serum Institute of India.

Coronavirus deaths

The global death toll from Covid-19 has exceeded 2.74 million. The number of confirmed cases is loud. More than 125 million Johns Hopkins Universityalthough the true number of cases will be much higher.

Latest information on coronavirus from New Scientist

A known health threat: Understanding how Covid-19 was perceived in West African countries like Ghana is critical to addressing it, says Ama de-Graft Aikins.

March 24th

Vaccine shipments would be assessed based on the vaccination and export rate of the destination country under the proposed new EU controls

The European Commission has proposed stricter controls on exports of Covid-19 vaccines. As part of the proposed new measures, due to be discussed by EU leaders on March 25, each shipment will be assessed on the basis of the vaccination rate and vaccine exports of the destination country. The controls would most likely affect vaccine exporting countries that have higher vaccination rates than the EU, including the UK and the US. “If the country of destination, which has a large production capacity, restricts its own exports of vaccines or substances – either legally or otherwise – it may be appropriate to consider whether exports to that country are warranted.” said Valdis Dombrovskis, Vice-President of the European Commission, on March 24th. Dombrovskis said Member States and the Commission would also take into account a country’s epidemiological situation, its vaccination rate and the current availability of Covid-19 vaccines.

Separately, India has temporarily suspended exports Oxford / AstraZeneca Covid-19 Vaccine Manufactured by the Serum Institute of India to Meet Domestic Demand Amid Rising Coronavirus Cases Reuters reported. The decision will affect the supply of the World Health Organization-led COVAX program, which supplies low and middle income countries with doses of Covid-19 vaccine.

Other coronavirus news

UK children could start getting Covid-19 vaccines in August according to preliminary government plans that telegraph reported on March 23rd. UK government officials are awaiting the results of a trial of the Oxford / AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in children before making a final decision on its introduction. The conclusions from the study, which will involve 300 participants between the ages of 6 and 17, are expected in June or July. “The [UK’s medicines regulator] There will not be enough data on teenagers and children to approve a vaccine, and it will likely require more than one study before approval for use under the age of 18, “said Saul Faust of the University of Southampton, UK. in one Explanation.

Coronavirus Cases, hospitalizations and deaths continue to increase in Brasil. A record daily increase of 3,158 deaths from Covid-19 and 84,996 new cases was reported on March 23, according to a coalition of Brazilian news groups. Brazil witnessed widespread protests after the country’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, claimed in a televised address on March 23 that despite the rising death toll and pressure on hospitals, people would soon be able to go back to their “normal” Life ”again. Of the country’s 26 states, 24 have a Covid-19 Intensive bed occupancy of 80 percent or moreAccording to a bulletin from the Brazilian health institute Fiocruz on March 17th.

A New variant of the coronavirus has been discovered In 206 samples in the western state of Maharashtra, India, according to a government official. The new variant was also detected in nine samples in the capital, New Dehli, said Sujeet Kumar Singh, director of India’s National Center for Disease Control, at a press conference.

Chancellor Angela Merkel reversed a decision strictly lock the country over Easter and call the decision to close shops and churches between April 1st and 5th as a mistake.

The UK Health Security Agency, a new organization that was created with the aim of doing this Preventing and responding to future pandemics, will start on April 1st, British Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced.

Coronavirus deaths

The global death toll from Covid-19 has exceeded 2.73 million. The number of confirmed cases is loud. More than 124.3 million Johns Hopkins Universityalthough the true number of cases will be much higher.

Latest information on coronavirus from New Scientist

Vaccine doubt: Poor communication and a lack of transparency on the part of the Colombian government are leading to a hesitant vaccine among many indigenous communities, already among the hardest hit by Covid-19.

Decreasing vaccine reluctance: People in many rich countries are increasingly willing to get a Covid-19 vaccine, which is the attitude in poorer countries where most people say they would accept a bump when it becomes available.

March 23

People in England traveling outside the UK without exception should face a £ 5000 fine

New UK legislation will mean People in England are fined £ 5000 for traveling outside the UK or common travel area without a reasonable apology. Exceptions to the ban are trips to work, to study or to visit a dying relative. The new law is due to come into force on March 29, subject to a vote by MPs on March 25. While the new law doesn’t expire until June 30, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock told Sky News that a government review of international travel – the results of which are due April 12 – would determine whether people in the UK vacation abroad allowed to do from May 17th. “The earliest date we will allow international travel – for no clear reason you need to now – is May 17th,” said Hancock. “The reason for this is that this third wave is increasing in some parts of Europe and we are also seeing new variations,” he added.

“I think conservatively and at the moment risk averse, I think we should be planning summer holidays in the UK, not overseas,” said Neil Ferguson of Imperial College London. Speaking of which on BBC Radio 4Ferguson suggested that everyone should have mandatory testing when they arrive in the UK.

Other coronavirus news

Information published by AstraZeneca on the results of the US study with its Covid-19 vaccine It may contain outdated informationAccording to a US health agency. The National Institute on Allergies and Infectious Diseases said the study’s data and safety monitoring panel had “raised concerns that AstraZeneca may have included out of date information from this study that may provide an incomplete view of the efficacy data.” On March 22 AstraZeneca announced In a large study in the United States, Chile, and Peru, its Covid-19 vaccine was found to be 79 percent effective in preventing symptomatic Covid-19. In a March 23 statement AstraZeneca said: “The numbers released yesterday are based on a pre-determined interim analysis with a data cut-off date of February 17th.” share the latest efficacy data. We intend to publish the results of the primary analysis within 48 hours. “Speaking of ABC News, US health advisor Anthony Fauci said: “This is probably a very good vaccine,” he added. “If you look at this, the data is really quite good, but when it was put on the press release it wasn’t entirely accurate.”

Regeneron and Roches antibody cocktail against Covid-19 reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by 70 percent in non-hospitalized Covid-19 patients compared to a placebo in one study. The cocktail consists of two antibodies – casirivimab and imdevimab.

Germany’s coronavirus The lockdown will be extended until April 18th, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced today. The country will be even more strictly cordoned off from April 1-5 during Easter when most of the shops, including supermarkets, will have to close.

India announced this Open the vaccination campaign to people over 45 years of age from April 1st. Almost 50 million people in India have received a dose of Covid-19 vaccine, with frontline workers, people over 60 and people over 45 with comorbidities having priority so far.

Coronavirus deaths

The global death toll from Covid-19 has exceeded 2.72 million. The number of confirmed cases is loud. More than 123.8 million Johns Hopkins Universityalthough the true number of cases will be much higher.

Latest information on coronavirus from New Scientist

Vaccine hesitation in Europe: More than half of people in France, Germany and Spain believe the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine is unsafe as a third wave of infections hits Europe, according to a YouGov poll.

Impact on the pandemic: The social, cultural and economic damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic will cast decades-long shadows on education, mental health and public trust in the UK, according to a landmark report.

March 22

Britain could soon be hit by a third wave of infections, says Boris Johnson

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned that the Britain could soon be hit by a third wave of coronavirus infections similar to those currently occurring in other European countries including France, Italy and Germany. France reported more than 35,000 new coronavirus cases on March 18, compared with just 6,303 in the UK on the same day. “Past experience has taught us that a wave that hits our friends unfortunately also hits our shores and I expect we will feel that impact in due course,” Johnson told reporters on March 22nd. The last official estimate of the United Kingdom R number – The average number of people infected in each coronavirus case – is between 0.6 and 0.9. An R number below 1.0 indicates that the epidemic is shrinking. But analysis of the latest results from a random swab test survey of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicate that “there may be early signs of an increase [in infections] for the East Midlands “in England for the week ending March 13, the ONS said in its report.

“Another wave of [covid-19] in the UK is inevitable. However, it is not certain whether this will be the case in the next few months or later this fall, ”said Paul Hunter of the University of East Anglia in a statement. “How the current surge in cases in several European countries will affect the UK is also currently uncertain,” said Hunter. How much vaccines prevent the virus from spreading is a key factor. He said, “While none of the current vaccines can really prevent transmission, they certainly suppress transmission and will go a long way in reducing the effects of future waves.”

Other coronavirus news

Boris Johnson is Meeting of the heads of state or government of the European Union this weekand urged them to veto a proposal by the European Commission that would block exports of Oxford / AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccines to the UK. EU leaders are preparing to take a decision at a March 25 summit on whether there is a risk of halting exports of the vaccine from a factory in the Netherlands to the UK. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned last week that the Commission could restrict exports of Covid-19 vaccines to the UK if the UK fails to provide evidence “Reciprocity” in vaccine exports. She said the EU is still waiting for vaccine doses from Oxford / AstraZeneca in the UK, while 10 million vaccine doses, including Pfizer / BioNTech, have been shipped to the UK from EU manufacturing facilities.

The Oxford / AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine was found to be 79 percent effective in preventing symptomatic Covid-19 in a large study conducted in the US, Chile and Peru, AstraZeneca announced on March 22. The vaccine was 100 percent effective in preventing serious illness and hospitalization. More than 32,000 volunteers of all ages took part in the study. AstraZeneca said an independent safety committee that conducted a specific blood clot review in the US study found “no increased risk of thrombosis or events characterized by thrombosis in the 21,583 participants who received at least one dose of the vaccine” and “no events” detected cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) – a rare type of blood clot in a large vessel in the brain. The data from the study are being reviewed by the US Food and Drug Administration. It is expected to take a few weeks to decide whether the emergency vaccine will be approved.

Coronavirus cases continue to increase in Brazil Health systems are becoming increasingly overwhelmed. CNN reported on March 22nd that almost every state in Brazil has intensive care units at or above 80 percent. Some have exceeded 100 percent, resulting in patients being turned away. On March 20, Felipe Augusto, mayor of the coastal city of Sao Sebastiao, told CNN’s subsidiary CNN Brasil that supplies of essential drugs for intubating patients in the city would become scarce after March 22.

India added more than 260,000 new coronavirus cases last week one of the largest weekly increases in the country since the pandemic began.

Coronavirus deaths

The global death toll from Covid-19 has exceeded 2.71 million. The number of confirmed cases is loud. More than 123.3 million Johns Hopkins Universityalthough the true number of cases will be much higher.

Latest information on coronavirus from New Scientist

Hybrid viruses: Recombinant viruses, which are made up of two compressed coronavirus variants, are now circulating well among people, although they do not currently appear to have mutations that make them more dangerous.

19th March

Germany, France and Italy are among the European countries with increasing infections

Coronavirus cases have increased in much of Europe in a third wave of infections, with 20 countries in the European Union reporting increasing test positivity and 15 countries reporting increasing hospital or intensive care admissions due to covid-19 as of March 14 European Center for Disease Prevention and Control. “Wir haben jetzt drei aufeinanderfolgende Wachstumswochen bei Covid-19-Fällen verzeichnet, wobei in der vergangenen Woche europaweit über 1,2 Millionen neue Fälle gemeldet wurden”, sagte Hans Kluge, Europadirektor der Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO). bei einer Pressekonferenz am 18. März. Kluge sagte, dass die sich schneller ausbreitende B.1.1.7-Coronavirus-Variante, die erstmals in Großbritannien entdeckt wurde, in der Region vorherrscht. Bisher wurden Fälle in mindestens 48 von 53 europäischen Gebieten gemeldet. “Die Zahl der Menschen, die in Europa an Covid-19 sterben, ist jetzt höher als letztes Jahr um diese Zeit, was die weit verbreitete Verbreitung dieses Virus widerspiegelt”, fügte Kluge hinzu.

Deutschland hat am 8. März damit begonnen, einige Coronavirus-Beschränkungen zu lockern, muss aber möglicherweise bald aufgrund strengerer Fälle zu strengeren Regeln zurückkehren, so der Gesundheitsminister des Landes, Jens Spahn erzählte eine Pressekonferenz am 19. März. “Die steigenden Fallzahlen können dazu führen, dass wir in den kommenden Wochen keine weiteren Schritte zur Wiedereröffnung unternehmen können”, sagte er. “Im Gegenteil, wir müssen möglicherweise sogar Rückschritte machen.” Frankreich, welches verzeichnete 35.000 neue Fälle am 18. März und erreichte Rekordzahlen von Covid-19-Patienten auf der Intensivstation in Paris, führt eine einmonatige Sperrung ein in seiner Hauptstadt und Teilen des Nordens des Landes. Italien hat in letzter Zeit auch steigende Fälle gesehen, und infolgedessen haben die italienischen Behörden wieder auferlegte Beschränkungen im größten Teil des Landes am 15. März.

Andere Coronavirus-Nachrichten

Mehrere europäische Länder, darunter Deutschland, Frankreich, Italien und Spanien, sind Wiederaufnahme der Einführung des Covid-19-Impfstoffs von Oxford / AstraZenecaNachdem eine Untersuchung der EU-Arzneimittelbehörde ergeben hatte, dass die Vorteile die Risiken überwiegen. Eine separate Untersuchung des globalen Beratungsausschusses der WHO zur Impfstoffsicherheit kam zu dem gleichen Schluss. Mehr als 20 Länder hatten die Verwendung des Impfstoffs nach Berichten über Blutgerinnsel bei einigen Personen, die ihn erhalten hatten, ausgesetzt. Innerhalb weniger Stunden nach der Erklärung der Europäischen Medizinagentur am 18. März sagten Deutschland, Frankreich, Italien, Spanien, die Niederlande und mindestens sieben andere Länder, sie würden die Impfungen bereits am 19. März wieder aufnehmen. Frankreich hat jedoch erklärt, dass nur Personen ab 55 Jahren den Impfstoff Oxford / AstraZeneca erhalten sollten, während Norwegen, Schweden und Dänemark haben ihre Suspensionen noch nicht aufgehoben des Schusses.

Großbritanniens R-Nummer – die durchschnittliche Anzahl von Personen, die jeder Coronavirus-Fall infiziert – – kann leicht gestiegen sein. Das letzte offizielle Schätzung liegt zwischen 0,6 und 0,9 im Vergleich zur Vorwoche, als sie auf 0,6 bis 0,8 geschätzt wurde. Die Infektionen schrumpfen insgesamt immer noch mit einer Rate zwischen 3 und 6 Prozent pro Tag, aber die Rate, mit der sie fallen, hat sich von 4 bis 7 Prozent pro Tag in der Vorwoche verlangsamt. Die Ergebnisse stimmen mit den neuesten Ergebnissen einer Umfrage des Amtes für nationale Statistiken überein, bei der festgestellt wurde, dass es sich um Fälle handelt in einigen Teilen des Vereinigten Königreichs nicht mehr fallen und kann in einigen Regionen sogar steigen.

Schüler in den USA kann jetzt etwa einen Meter voneinander entfernt sitzen im Klassenzimmer, solange sie Gesichtsbedeckungen tragen, teilten die US-amerikanischen Zentren für die Kontrolle und Prävention von Krankheiten am 19. März mit. Unter der aktualisierten Anleitung wird den Schülern weiterhin empfohlen, in den Mittagspausen und bei Sportveranstaltungen oder Versammlungen einen Abstand von 2 Metern voneinander einzuhalten.

Coronavirus Todesfälle

Die weltweite Zahl der Todesopfer bei Covid-19 hat 2,69 Millionen überschritten. Die Zahl der bestätigten Fälle beträgt laut. Mehr als 121,9 Millionen Johns Hopkins Universität, obwohl die wahre Anzahl der Fälle viel höher sein wird.

18. März

Die Europäische Arzneimittel-Agentur kommt zu dem Schluss, dass die Vorteile des AstraZeneca-Impfstoffs die Risiken überwiegen

Der Sicherheitsausschuss der Europäischen Arzneimittel-Agentur (EMA), die Arzneimittel für die Europäische Union reguliert, ist zu dem Schluss gekommen, dass der Oxford / AstraZeneca-Covid-19-Impfstoff von Nutzen ist weiterhin das Risiko überwiegen von Nebenwirkungen. Nach einer Untersuchung der Berichte über Blutgerinnsel bei einigen Personen, die den Impfstoff erhalten haben, ist das Komitee zu dem Schluss gekommen, dass der Schuss nicht mit einem Anstieg des Gesamtrisikos von Blutgerinnseln bei denjenigen verbunden ist, die ihn erhalten, und dass dies ein sicherer und wirksamer Weg ist um Covid-19 zu verhindern, das selbst mit einem erhöhten Risiko für Blutgerinnsel verbunden ist. But the committee is still investigating whether the vaccine may be linked to very rare cases of blood clots associated with low levels of platelets in the blood, including cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) – a blood clot in a major brain vessel. The EMA said the overall number of blood clots reported after vaccination was lower than that expected in the wider population.

The EMA said about 20 million people in the UK and Europe had received the Oxford/AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine as of 16 March, and its committee had reviewed 18 cases of CVST and seven cases of disseminated intravascular coagulation – blood clots in multiple blood vessels. It is not yet clear if the vaccine caused these rare events but the committee said this is a possibility, which it will be investigating further. Most of the rare events occurred in people under the age of 55 and the majority were women. The committee said it is investigating whether there may have been a link with the oral contraceptive pill in these cases.

A number of European countries, including Germany, France, Italy and Sweden, suspended use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine earlier this week as a precautionary measure. It is up to individual countries to decide whether to resume administering of the vaccine. “The pandemic is costing lives,” said Emer Cooke, director of the EMA, during a press briefing on 18 March. “We have vaccines that are safe and effective, that can help prevent death and hospitalization. We need to use those vaccines,” she said.

Other coronavirus news

EIN delay in a delivery of 5 million Oxford/AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine doses to the UK from India could result in a reduction in the UK’s covid-19 vaccine supply in April. The shipment, produced by the Serum Institute of India, has been delayed by four weeks, the BBC reported. The UK’s Department of Health and Social Care has said the UK remains on track to offer a first dose of covid-19 vaccine to all adults by the end of July. More than 25.2 million people in the UK have received a first dose of covid-19 vaccine so far and more than 1.7 million have received a second shot. But Adam Finn at the University of Bristol, who is a member of the UK Department of Health Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, told BBC Radio 4 that the delivery issue was likely to result in a slight delay in vaccinations for people in their 40s and younger, which could result in a rise in infections.

The UK has warned that there will be consequences if the EU breaks the law on covid-19 vaccine contracts. “We fully expect those contracts to be delivered on, because there are very significant consequences to breaking contract law,” UK health minister Matt Hancock told parliament. On 17 March, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the commission may restrict exports of covid-19 vaccines to the UK unless the UK shows more “reciprocity” in vaccine exports. She said the EU is still waiting for Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine doses from the UK, while 10 million vaccine doses, including from Pfizer/BioNTech, had been delivered to the UK from EU plants.

Coronavirus deaths

The worldwide covid-19 death toll has passed 2.68 million. The number of confirmed cases is more than 121.3 million, according to Johns Hopkins Universität, though the true number of cases will be much higher.

Latest on coronavirus from New Scientist

Hybrid viruses: Recombinant viruses made up of two coronavirus variants mashed together are now circulating widely among people, although for now they do not seem to carry mutations that make them more dangerous.

17. März

UK foreign minister says EU threats “cut across previous assurances”

The European Commission may restrict exports of covid-19 vaccines to the UK to secure more doses for its own citizens unless the UK shows more “reciprocity” in vaccine exports, the commission’s president Ursula von der Leyen said on 17 March. “With the US reciprocity is given […] there is a seamless flow back and forth of pre-products and raw materials and drug substance,” von der Leyen told a press conference. But she said the EU is still waiting for Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine doses from the UK, despite the fact that 10 million vaccine doses had been delivered to the UK from EU plants. “We are still waiting for doses to come from the UK, so this is an invitation to show us that there are also doses from the UK coming to the European Union so that we have reciprocity,” she said. UK foreign minister Dominic Raab erzählte Reuters the threat to ban exports “cuts across the direct assurances that we had from the commission”, adding: “We expect those assurances and legal contracted supply to be respected.”

More than 25 million people in the UK have now received a first dose of covid-19 vaccine, according to the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care. “This latest milestone is an incredible achievement,” UK prime minister Boris Johnson said in a statement. “We’re ahead of schedule to offer a first dose to all in these groups by the 15 April and I urge everybody eligible to come forward,” said UK health minister Matt Hancock.

Other coronavirus news

UK prime minister Boris Johnson’s former adviser Dominic Cummings has called for an investigation into the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking to MPs, Cummings described the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care as a “smoking ruin” at the time the coronavirus crisis hit, highlighting issues with the procurement of personal protective equipment during the early stages of the UK’s epidemic in 2020. In response to growing calls for an inquiry, UK business minister Kwasi Kwarteng told Sky News it would be “premature” to launch one “when the pandemic is still all around us”.

Poland is set to enter a new nationwide lockdown from 20 March, the country’s health minister said. Poland reported 25,052 new coronavirus cases on 17 March in its highest daily toll in 2021 so far. Several European countries are seeing rising cases, including Germany, France and Italy.

China is resuming processing of visas for foreigners from several countries, but only for those who have been vaccinated with a Chinese-made covid-19 vaccine, das Wächter has reported.

Coronavirus deaths

The worldwide covid-19 death toll has passed 2.67 million. The number of confirmed cases is more than 120.9 million, according to Johns Hopkins Universität, though the true number of cases will be much higher.

Latest on coronavirus from New Scientist

Vaccine hesitancy: The overwhelming majority of people surveyed in 10 low and middle income countries said they would take a covid-19 vaccine, in the first study to look at the question.

Dose delay: The UK’s strategy of increasing the time between covid-19 vaccine doses appears to be working. Canada and Germany have followed a similar approach, but the US has ruled out changing its policy.

UK variant: Globally, since late February, coronavirus infections have started to rise again, mainly linked to the B.1.1.7 variant. The big question is what happens next.

16. März

Growing pressure for UK to launch inquiry into handling of pandemic

There is growing pressure for UK prime minister Boris Johnson to launch an inquiry into the UK’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, including from government scientific advisers and health leaders, the Wächter has reported. Andrew Hayward, a member of the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, told the Wächter in a personal capacity that the government’s decision-making processes “need to be scrutinised”, with an emphasis on “learning from the future rather than culpability”. Others calling for an inquiry include Donna Kinnair, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, and Chaand Nagpaul, chair of the British Medical Association council. A government spokesperson said: “We are focused on protecting the NHS and saving lives and now is not the right time to devote huge amounts of official time to an inquiry.”

Other coronavirus news

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has reiterated that there is “no indication” that the Oxford/AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine has caused blood clot incidents. “The number of thromboembolic events overall in vaccinated people seems not to be higher than that seen in the general population,” EMA chief, Emer Cooke, told a virtual press conference on 16 March. Cooke added that there were similar reports about blood clots related to other coronavirus vaccines approved for use in Europe, including the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. On 16 March, Sweden followed Germany, France, Italy and other European countries in suspending use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. Both the EMA and the World Health Organization (WHO) are investigating reports of blood clots in a small number of people who had the vaccine. The EMA is expected to release results from its investigation on 18 March.

A member of the World Health Organization (WHO) team investigating the origins of the covid-19 pandemic has said wildlife farms in southern China are the most likely source. Ein earlier hypothesis proposed by the team was that the virus was first transmitted via frozen food. But Peter Daszak, a member of the investigative team, told NPR that the decision by China to shut down wildlife farms in February 2020 is a strong signal that the Chinese government thought the farms were the most probable pathway for a coronavirus in bats in southern China to spillover into people. The WHO is expected to release official findings from the team’s investigation in two weeks.

Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon said she would set out dates for the easing of restrictions in Scotland. She said things were set to “get a fair bit better in the weeks and months ahead”. Some measures have already been eased in Scotland, with people allowed to meet in larger groups outdoors and pupils able to return to school.

Coronavirus deaths

The worldwide covid-19 death toll has passed 2.66 million. The number of confirmed cases is more than 120.3 million, according to Johns Hopkins Universität, though the true number of cases will be much higher.

Latest on coronavirus from New Scientist

AstraZeneca vaccine: The number of blood clotting incidents in vaccinated people “seems not to be higher than that seen in the general population”, the European Medicines Agency says.

15. März

Germany, France and Italy among latest countries to pause AstraZeneca vaccine

Germany, France and Italy are among the latest countries to pause their rollouts of the Oxford/AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine, following reports of blood clots in a small number of people who received the vaccine. The World Health Organization, the European Medicines Agency and the UK’s medicines regulator have all said there is no indication that the vaccine causes blood clots. “We are closely reviewing reports but given the large number of doses administered, and the frequency at which blood clots can occur naturally, the evidence available does not suggest the vaccine is the cause,” said Phil Bryan, vaccines safety lead at the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in a Erklärung. “People should still go and get their covid-19 vaccine when asked to do so,” he said. Approximately 17 million people in the EU and UK have received a dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine so far, with just 37 cases of blood clots reported as of last week, AstraZeneca said.

“It is most regrettable that countries have stopped vaccination,” said Peter English, former chair of the British Medical Association public health medicine committee, in a Erklärung. “It risks doing real harm to the goal of vaccinating enough people to slow the spread of the virus, and to end the pandemic,” said English.

The UK will not follow other nations in suspending use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine, a spokesperson for UK prime minister Boris Johnson said on 15 March. Johnson is confident that both the Oxford/AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines against covid-19 are “safe and effective”, said the spokesperson, adding: “There is no evidence of any causal link between blood clots, and the [Oxford/AstraZeneca] vaccine.”

Thailand delayed its planned rollout of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine last week but today announced that rollout of the shots will resume.

Other coronavirus news

The White House is expected to unveil a public relations campaign aimed at boosting covid-19 vaccine confidence and uptake across the US. Separately, US health adviser Anthony Fauci has urged former US president Donald Trump to encourage his supporters to get vaccinated against covid-19. “It would make all the difference in the world,” Fauci told Fox News on 14 March.

Germany’s association of intensive care doctors is calling for a return to stricter lockdown restrictions, following a rise in coronavirus cases.

Coronavirus deaths

The worldwide covid-19 death toll has passed 2.65 million. The number of confirmed cases is more than 120 million, according to Johns Hopkins Universität, though the true number of cases will be much higher.

Latest on coronavirus from New Scientist

Vaccination effort: Even in countries where vaccines are available and uptake is high, emerging issues threaten the success of comprehensive vaccination programmes.

The story of a pandemic: A year after the World Health Organization first declared the coronavirus a pandemic, we put together a video timeline of covid-19, from the first cases in China in December 2019 to 300 million vaccine doses delivered (and counting).

12. März

Countries should continue using Oxford/AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine, says WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said there is no evidence that the Oxford/AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine causes blood clots and is urging countries to continue using it. “It’s very important to understand that, yes, we should continue to be using the AstraZeneca vaccine,” said Margaret Harris, a WHO spokesperson, at a briefing on 12 March. The WHO’s global advisory committee on vaccine safety is reviewing reports of blood clots in some people who received the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. A number of countries, including Denmark, Norway and Iceland, have suspended its use as a precautionary measure, while Thailand has delayed its rollout of the vaccine, originally scheduled to begin on 12 March. Da waren 30 cases of blood clots among the 5 million people in the European Union who have received the vaccine as of 11 March, according to the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

More than 11 million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine have been administered in the UK so far, said Phil Bryan, MHRA vaccines safety lead, in a statement, adding: “Reports of blood clots received so far are not greater than the number that would have occurred naturally in then population.” The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said people in the UK should still go and get their covid-19 vaccine when asked to do so. “There is currently no indication that vaccination has caused these conditions,” the EMA said.

Harris said WHO data shows that more than 268 million doses of covid-19 vaccines have been administered worldwide and no deaths have been found to have been caused by them.

Other coronavirus news

Preliminary results from a survey of people who had covid-19 in the UK found 93 per cent of respondents reported on-going symptoms, with fatigue being the most common symptom, reported by 77 per cent of those people. The next most commonly reported symptom was shortness of breath, experienced by 54 per cent of people with on-going symptoms. The survey also found that in people under the age of 50 outcomes were worse for women than men, with the women surveyed more than five times more likely to report lingering symptoms compared to the men. The preliminary results are based on 325 participants who had been admitted to one of 31 UK hospitals with covid-19 between 5 February and 4 October 2020. The study is being conducted by ISARIC4C, a UK-wide consortium of doctors and researchers studying covid-19.

A covid-19 vaccine developed by Novavax has been found to be 89 per cent effective at preventing covid-19 cases in a trial involving more than 15,000 participants in the UK. The effectiveness of the vaccine was 96 per cent for prevention of cases caused by the original coronavirus variant and 86 per cent for cases caused by the B.1.1.7 variant first identified in the UK. In einem smaller trial conducted in South Africa, bei dem die B.1.351 variant is highly prevalent, the vaccine was found to be 60 per cent effective among the 94 per cent of trial participants who were HIV-negative, and 49 per cent effective overall.

The UK’s R number – the average number of people each coronavirus case infects – has fallen to between 0.6 and 0.8, it’s lowest level since September, according to the latest official estimate.

Coronavirus deaths

The worldwide covid-19 death toll has passed 2.63 million. The number of confirmed cases is more than 118.6 million, according to Johns Hopkins Universität, though the true number of cases will be much higher.

11. März

GSK antibody therapy reduced hospitalisation or death by 85 per cent in initial trial

An antibody therapy developed by UK firm GlaxoSmithKline and US-based Vir Biotechnology reduced hospitalisation or death by 85 per cent compared with a placebo, according to interim data from 583 trial participants. The companies said they plan to apply for emergency use authorisation from the US Food and Drug Administration after an independent monitoring committee recommended shortening a trial of the experimental treatment early due to evidence of “profound efficacy”. The people included in the trial will continue to be followed for another six months. GlaxoSmithKline and Vir Biotechnologies also said that a new laboratory study indicated that the therapy, called VIR-7831, was similarly effective against coronavirus variants first identified in the UK, South Africa and in travellers from Brazil. Other antibody therapies, including those developed by Eli Lilly and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, received recommendations from US and European medicines regulators earlier this year.

“This class of drug could be especially important for those people who are less protected by vaccines, for example if their immune system is weakened,” said Alexander Edwards at the University of Reading in a Erklärung. But Edwards said it will be important to wait for a complete set of results from the trial to understand how well VIR-7831 works and unpick the findings. “For example, who can it treat, when must they be given the drug, how does it prevent the worst outcomes?”

Other coronavirus news

Denmark is pausing its rollout of the Oxford/AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine for at least two weeks after reports of blood clots in an undisclosed number of people who had the vaccine, including one person who has reportedly died. “This is a super-cautious approach,” said Stephen Evans at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in a Erklärung. “The problem with spontaneous reports of suspected adverse reactions to a vaccine are the enormous difficulty of distinguishing a causal effect from a coincidence,” he added. Separately, Austria suspended use of a batch of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine on 7 March to investigate a death from blood clotting disorders and a case of pulmonary embolism. Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania and Luxembourg have reportedly also halted use of the batch. The European Medicines Agency said there was no evidence so far linking the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine to the two Austrian cases, adding that the number of people reporting blood clots after receiving the vaccine was no higher than among the general population, with just 22 cases among the 3 million people who had received it as of 9 March.

Moderna has begun trialling a coronavirus vaccine booster shot targeted at the B.1.351 coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa. Earlier findings indicated the company’s existing two-dose regimen generates a weaker antibody response against the B.1.351 variant, compared to the original virus. The first participants have now received the modified vaccine in an amendment to an on-going clinical trial, Moderna announced on 10 March. The study involves 60 participants previously vaccinated with the company’s original shots, who will receive a third shot of either another dose of the original vaccine or the booster shot at a low or high dose.

People experiencing homelessness, including those sleeping rough, will be prioritised for covid-19 vaccines in England in accordance with advice from the UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). “People experiencing homelessness are likely to have health conditions that put them at higher risk of death from covid-19,” Wei Shen Lim, covid-19 chair for the JCVI, said in a statement. “The advice will help us to protect more people who are at greater risk, ensuring that fewer people become seriously ill or die from the virus.”

Coronavirus deaths
The worldwide covid-19 death toll has passed 2.62 million. The number of confirmed cases is more than 118.2 million, according to Johns Hopkins Universität, though the true number of cases will be much higher.

10. März

Study indicates B.1.1.7 coronavirus variant identified in the UK is more deadly

Das B.1.1.7 coronavirus variant first identified in the UK is between 32 and 104 per cent more deadly than previous dominant variants, according to a study veröffentlicht in der BMJ. The study compared death rates among people in the UK infected with B.1.1.7 or other variants of the coronavirus. Earlier research has indicated the variant is also more transmissible. “The precise mechanisms responsible for increased mortality associated with the variant remain uncertain but could be related to higher levels of virus replication as well as increased transmissibility,” said Lawrence Young at the University of Warwick in a Erklärung.

Other coronavirus news

Das Vereinigte Königreich hasn’t imposed a ban on the export of covid-19 vaccines, UK prime minister Boris Johnson told parliament on 10 March. Johnson’s comments come in response to claims made by European Council president Charles Michel a day earlier that the UK and US have imposed “an outright ban on the export of vaccines or vaccine components produced on their territory”. Johnson told MPs: “Let me be clear, we have not blocked the export of a single covid-19 vaccine or vaccine components.” Michel has since tweeted that there are “different ways of imposing bans or restrictions on vaccines/medicines”. European Commission spokesperson Eric Mamer declined to comment specifically on Michel’s statements during a press briefing in Brussels. The EU has faced supply issues with several covid-19 vaccines and in January introduced a system of controls on exports of vaccines manufactured in the bloc.

Health systems in most of Brazil’s largest cities are approaching collapse due to covid-19 cases, its leading health institute, Fiocruz, has warned. More than 80 per cent of intensive care unit (ICU) beds are occupied in the capitals of 25 of Brazil’s 27 states and 15 state capitals have ICUs that are at more than 90 per cent capacity, Fiocruz has said. The cities of Porto Alegre and Campo Grande have exceeded their ICU capacity. Last week, Fiocruz said that the P.1 coronavirus variant was one of several “variants of concern” that have become dominant in six of eight states it had studied.

Doctors and public health researchers have warned that “the UK’s colour-blind vaccination model disregards the unequal impact of the pandemic on minority ethnic groups”. In an article, published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, they argue “the invisibility of these vulnerable groups from the priority list and the worsening healthcare inequities and inequalities are putting ethnic minorities at a significantly higher risk of covid-19 illness and death”. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson told Sky News: “The independent JCVI’s [Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation] advice on covid-19 vaccine prioritisation was developed with the aim of preventing as many deaths as possible, with older age being the single greatest risk of death. We are following the JCVI recommendations so that we save lives.”

UK chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak has defended his role in the UK’s covid-19 response after extracts from Jonathan Calvert and George Arbuthnott’s new book Failures of State wurden veröffentlicht in der Mal. The extracts include mention of a government science adviser blaming Sunak for his “one-eyed approach in putting the nation’s finances first”. When asked about the issue in parliament on 9 March, Sunak said: “At all steps in this crisis we have indeed taken the advice of our scientific advisers.”

Coronavirus deaths

The worldwide covid-19 death toll has passed 2.61 million. The number of confirmed cases is more than 117.7 million, according to Johns Hopkins Universität, though the true number of cases will be much higher.

Latest on coronavirus from New Scientist

Immunity tracking: New “immunity tracker” tests that claim to measure your precise antibody levels after infection or a covid-19 vaccine are for sale, but the results might not be as useful as they seem.

Evolving virus: The strategy of vaccinating the eldest first may save the most lives in the short term, but also has the greatest risk of creating variants that escape vaccine immunity.

Face mask pioneer: The 10 March Google doodle celebrates Wu-Lien teh, who helped to end the Manchurian plague outbreak of 1910-11 with the use of cotton and gauze face masks he designed.

Vaccine dosing: Small study shows people who have previously been infected with the coronavirus make similar levels of antibodies after one dose of covid-19 vaccine as people normally have after two shots.

9. März

UK science and medical advisers urge caution on easing of restrictions in England

England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty cautioned MPs against lifting coronavirus restrictions in England earlier than planned, saying this could increase the size and severity of future surges in infections. “It’s very easy to forget quite how quickly things can go bad if you don’t keep a very close eye on them,” said Whitty. “What we don’t want to do is to accelerate into trouble and then have to reverse straight back out again, open things up and immediately close them down,” he said. “All the modelling suggests there is going to be a further surge.” Whitty was giving evidence to MPs on the commons science and technology committee alongside the UK’s chief scientific adviser, Patrick Vallance. Asked why encouraging data couldn’t lead to an accelerated easing of restrictions, Vallance said that three to four weeks were needed to generate and analyse data, which exceeds the one-week notice that the government wants to give of changes to rules. “I think if you truncate that you are essentially flying blind,” Vallance told the committee.

Other coronavirus news

Greece’s tourism minister Harry Theocharis has said people who are vaccinated against covid-19, have antibodies or test negative for the coronavirus can travel to Greece during the summer of 2021. “All tourists will be subject to random testing,” Theocharis told the ITB Berlin trade show on 9 March. It has been reported that the UK government is considering the possibility of the NHS coronavirus app featuring a digital health passport, which would carry information on vaccinations and test results. UK prime minister Boris Johnson said on 8 March that vaccine passports for international travel will be “a feature of our life in the future”.

Johnson & Johnson told the European Union it is facing supply issues that could disrupt plans to deliver 55 million doses of its covid-19 vaccine to the bloc in the second quarter of 2021, Reuters Berichte. The EU has already faced issues related to the supply of other covid-19 vaccines, including those made by Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca. Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine, which consists of a single shot, is expected to be approved by the European Medicines Agency on 11 March and the company has committed to deliver 200 million doses to the EU in 2021.

Temporary Nightingale hospitals built in England during the first wave of covid-19 will be closed in April, the NHS announced. From April, the sites will transition back into locations for local NHS services, with some to be used as testing centres or covid-19 vaccination sites.

Coronavirus deaths
The worldwide covid-19 death toll has passed 2.6 million. The number of confirmed cases is more than 117.2 million, according to Johns Hopkins Universität, though the true number of cases will be much higher.

Latest on coronavirus from New Scientist

Mixing indoors: Vaccination means freedom to mix in private properties without social distancing or wearing masks, US authorities have said, but the guidance is deemed too risky for the UK.

8. März

Return of pupils is first step in England’s ‘roadmap’ for easing lockdown

Pupils in England began to return to school today for the first time since a national lockdown began in January. Primary schools reopened fully but pupils can return to secondary schools only if they test negative for coronavirus. Most secondary schools are phasing reopening to allow this testing to be done. Since January, most pupils in England have been doing lessons online, with only the children of key workers allowed to physically attend schools.

The testing of secondary school pupils is being done with the rapid tests known as lateral flow devices. Their use is controversial because they are less accurate than standard PCR tests, and there is a higher risk of false positives and false negatives. Initially, government ministers said pupils who tested positive with a lateral flow test would not be allowed to return to school even if a subsequent PCR test came back negative. Today a spokesperson for the prime minister said pupils could return if a PCR test came back negative. EIN modelling study released today suggests that the use of lateral flow tests in schools will be beneficial if combined with other measures such as isolating contacts.

The reopening of schools is the first step in the “roadmap” for easing the lockdown in England. On 29 March the government plans to ease restrictions on outdoor meetings and sports, with many businesses being allowed to reopen from 12 April.

Other coronavirus news

New Zealand has increased its order of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to 10 million doses, enough to vaccine the entire population of nearly 5 million people. However, the full order will not arrive until the second half of the year. New Zealand has managed to eliminate the coronavirus but has had occasional outbreaks, including a recent cluster caused by the more transmissible B.1.1.7 variant from the UK. No new cases have been reported since a week-long lockdown in Auckland ended. In February, the country began vaccinating border and quarantine workers.

People in the US who have been vaccinated will be allowed to meet others indoors without wearing masks, and will also not be required to isolate if they are exposed to known covid-19 cases, according to new guidance issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “We know that people want to get vaccinated so they can get back to doing the things they enjoy with the people they love,” said CDC director Rochelle Walensky. The guidance applies to people who are two weeks past the end of their vaccine regimen – which means two doses of the Pfizer/Biontech or Moderna vaccines, or one Johsnon & Johnson shot. However, given that we do not yet know how much vaccines prevent people from catching and transmitting the virus, it is still possible that vaccinated people may infect others. Nearly 10 per cent of the US population has now been vaccinated.

Coronavirus deaths

The worldwide covid-19 death toll has passed 2.59 million. The number of confirmed cases is more than 116.9 million, according to Johns Hopkins Universität, though the true number of cases will be much higher.

5. März

Covid-19 vaccine patents should be waived, says WHO chief

World Health Organization (WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said he supports the temporary waiving of covid-19 vaccine patents to enable countries to manufacture and sell vaccine copies at reduced cost. “I don’t believe that globally we’re exercising our full manufacturing muscle at present. For example, some manufacturers have not been able to produce successful vaccine candidates, which is to be expected, but their production facilities could be repurposed for those vaccines that have been proven to work,” he wrote in the Wächter. “Waiving patents temporarily won’t mean innovators miss out. Like during the HIV crisis or in a war, companies will be paid royalties for the products they manufacture.”

World Trade Organization member states are set to discuss a proposal by India and South Africa next week to waive rules on intellectual property for covid-19 drugs and vaccines. Worldwide, 265 million doses of covid-19 vaccines have been administered, with 80 per cent in just 10 countries, said Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO’s Health Emergencies Program, during a social media Q&A on 3 March.

Other coronavirus news

Australia has asked the European Commission to review its decision to approve Italy’s blocking of a shipment of covid-19 vaccine doses to the country. In January, the European Commission launched a mechanism to allow monitoring the export of covid-19 vaccines produced in the European Union, and on 4 March Italy blocked a shipment of 250,000 doses of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine being sent to Australia. “Australia has raised the issue with the European Commission through multiple channels,” Greg Hunt, Australia’s health minister, told journalists on 5 March. Japan is also concerned about the export ban. The country’s vaccine minister told Reuters: “We want to work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to secure the vaccines bound for Japan.” Germany’s health minister expressed concern about the export ban, saying it could disrupt global covid-19 vaccine supply chains.

Willingness to receive a covid-19 vaccine has risen in the UK and globally in recent months, according to a survey on attitudes towards vaccination in 15 countries, conducted by researchers at Imperial College London. In February, 77 per cent of people surveyed in the UK said they would accept a covid-19 vaccine if one was available to them, up from 55 per cent in November. Other countries included in the poll were Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Spain and Sweden. Scepticism about the vaccine was highest in France, with only 40 per cent of respondents in February saying they would accept a covid-19 vaccine, although this still represents an increase from 25 per cent in November.

Coronavirus deaths

The worldwide covid-19 death toll has passed 2.57 million. The number of confirmed cases is more than 115.7 million, according to Johns Hopkins Universität, though the true number of cases will be much higher.

Latest on coronavirus from New Scientist

Long covid vaccine: People with lasting symptoms after a covid-19 infection, known as long covid, are more likely to recover than get worse after receiving a vaccine, according to an online survey

Zero-covid countries: As plans are made for international travel to resume, covid-free countries may have to achieve herd immunity through vaccination before letting the rest of the world in.

4. März

Approval of covid-19 vaccines modified to work against virus variants could be accelerated in the UK

Covid-19 vaccines that have been modified to improve their effectiveness against new coronavirus variants could be fast-tracked for approval in a similar way to annual flu vaccines, according to new guidance from the UK’s medicines regulator. Vaccine manufacturers would need to provide robust evidence that the modified vaccine produces a sufficient immune response, for example release of antibodies into the blood, but wouldn’t need to conduct lengthy clinical trials that don’t add to understanding of the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness. “Our priority is to get effective vaccines to the public in as short a time as possible, without compromising on safety,” said Christian Schneider, chief scientific officer at the UK agency overseeing medicine, in a Erklärung. “The public should be confident that no vaccine would be approved unless the expected high standards of safety, quality and effectiveness are met,” he added. Several manufacturers of covid-19 vaccines are already working on tweaking them to tackle coronavirus variants.

Das B.1.1.7 coronavirus variant first identified in the UK is between 43 and 90 per cent more transmissible than the original virus, a study published in the scientific journal Wissenschaft has estimated. “Without stringent control measures, including limited closure of educational institutions and a greatly accelerated vaccine roll-out, covid-19 hospitalisations and deaths across England in 2021 will exceed those in 2020,” the authors of the study write in their paper, adding that the spread of the variant at similar rates in other countries, including Denmark, Switzerland and the US, is “concerning”.

Other coronavirus news

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has announced a rolling review of the Sputnik V covid-19 vaccine developed in Russia. The Sputnik V vaccine prompted concern among immunologists last year after it was approved in Russia in August before any detailed results from advanced clinical trials were released. But in early February, interim results from a phase III trial indicated the vaccine is 91.6 per cent effective at preventing symptomatic covid-19. World Health Organization Europe director Hans Kluge told a press briefing on 4 March that the EMA’s announcement was a “welcome development”, adding that: “[in Europe] we desperately need to enlarge our portfolio of vaccines”.

Italy has blocked a shipment of 250,000 Oxford/AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine doses to Australia. In January, the European Commission launched a mechanism to enable monitoring of covid-19 vaccines produced in Europe and being exported out of the European Union.

The rate of covid-19 Infections in England is shrinking less quickly than it was earlier in 2021, according to recent results from the REACT study by researchers at Imperial College London. The study indicates one in 204 people were infected between 4 and 23 February, down only slightly from one in 196 during the period between 4 and 13 February, suggesting the fall in infections seen since January has slowed.

Germany is expected to approve the Oxford/AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine for use in people over the age of 65.

Coronavirus deaths

The worldwide covid-19 death toll has passed 2.56 million. The number of confirmed cases is more than 115.3 million, according to Johns Hopkins Universität, though the true number of cases will be much higher.

Latest on coronavirus from New Scientist

Pandemic origins: From habitat degradation to squalid animal treatment, our part in allowing “zoonotic” diseases like covid-19 to leap into humans is becoming ever clearer.

Naming variants: The names given to new coronavirus variants and bacteria can be difficult to use or understand. Using a pre-generated list of names would be better, says Mark Pallen.

Children in lockdown: The covid-19 pandemic and associated restrictions have impacted children’s mental health – which has already been declining for years in the UK and US.

3. März

US to have enough covid-19 vaccines for all adults by end of May

US president Joe Biden announced the US is on track to have enough covid-19 vaccine doses to vaccinate its entire adult population by the end of May. “Great news, but stay vigilant,” said Biden. “It’s not over yet,” he added. More than 76 million people in the US have received a first dose of covid-19 vaccine so far – – equivalent to about 23 per cent of the population. Not all adults will be vaccinated by the end of May, as the vaccines will take time to administer, but the country is on track to meet Biden’s target of delivering 100 million doses in his first 100 days in office.

The governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, announced that the state will lift its requirement for people to wear face coverings and will allow businesses to reopen at full capacity next week. This is in contrast to advice from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which on 1 March warned of a potential fourth surge of cases before the majority of people in the country are vaccinated.

Other coronavirus news

A preliminary study led by researchers at the University of Bristol, UK, indicates that a single dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech or Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine reduces the risk of hospitalisation with covid-19 by about 80 per cent among people aged 80 and over. The results add to earlier findings from an analysis by Public Health England, which found that a single dose of either vaccine is 80 per cent effective at preventing hospitalisation among people over 80. “This adds to growing evidence showing that the vaccines are working to reduce infections and save lives,” Mary Ramsay, Public Health England’s head of immunisation, told the BMJ.

Austria will receive an additional 100,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech covid-19 vaccine to administer to all adults in the Schwaz district of the Tyrol province, where there are currently 66 active cases of people infected with the B.1351 coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa.

UK chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak announced an additional £1.65 billion to support the UK’s covid-19 vaccine rollout in the latest budget.

Coronavirus deaths

The worldwide covid-19 death toll has passed 2.55 million. The number of confirmed cases is more than 114.8 million, according to Johns Hopkins Universität, though the true number of cases will be much higher.

Latest on coronavirus from New Scientist

Fighting Ebola alongside covid-19: Guinea has vaccinated over 1000 people in the two weeks since its latest Ebola outbreak was declared, including close contacts of those infected.

2 March

Deaths from covid-19 in England and Wales are falling quickest among people over 80

Covid-19 deaths in England and Wales are falling fastest among people aged 80 and over, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggest, indicating that the vaccination programme has had an impact on deaths from the disease. People aged 80 and over were included in the top four priority groups for covid-19 vaccination. According to analysis of ONS data by the Wächter, 1622 people aged 80 and above were reported to have died from covid-19 in the week up to 19 February, down from 5300 four weeks earlier and equivalent to a reduction of 69 per cent. Among people aged between 70 and 79, there was a reduction in covid-19 deaths of 65 per cent over the same period, and the equivalent figure was 55 per cent for people aged 0 to 69.

“Together with the evidence for reduction of hospitalisations after both the Pfizer/BioNTech and the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines, the message is clear: vaccines work for those 80+ and 70+ and they are saving lives,” said Zania Stamataki at the University of Birmingham in a Erklärung.

More than 20.2 million people in the UK as a whole had received a first dose of covid-19 vaccine as of 1 March.

Other coronavirus news

The search for a person who tested positive for the P.1 variant of coronavirus in England has been narrowed down to 379 households in the south-east of the country, UK health minister Matt Hancock told parliament on 2 March. Six cases of the P.1 coronavirus variant, first detected in people travelling from Brazil to Japan, have been identified in the UK. “We’re grateful that a number of potential cases have come forward,” said Hancock.

Germany is expected to start easing some coronavirus restrictions from 8 March. Under new draft rules, a maximum of five people from two households would be allowed to meet. Currently, meetings are restricted to a maximum of two people. Some shops and salons would also be allowed to reopen. The draft plans for easing measures will be discussed by national and state government leaders on 3 March.

A World Health Organization (WHO) panel is advising against the use of the malaria drug Hydroxychloroquin to treat covid-19 patients. In einem Erklärung, the panel said hydroxychloroquine is “no longer a research priority” and that “resources should be used to evaluate other more promising drugs to prevent covid-19”.

The WHO has said it is “unrealistic” to expect the coronavirus pandemic will be over by the end of 2021. “I think it will be very premature, and I think unrealistic, to think that we’re going to finish with this virus by the end of the year,” Michael Ryan, executive director of the WHO’s Health Emergencies Program, told a press conference on 1 March.

Coronavirus deaths

The worldwide covid-19 death toll has passed 2.54 million. The number of confirmed cases is more than 114.5 million, according to Johns Hopkins Universität, though the true number of cases will be much higher.

1. März

Health officials in England attempt to trace person infected with P.1 virus variant

Efforts are underway in England to trace a person infected with the P.1 coronavirus variant, after they used a home testing kit but didn’t complete a registration form. The P.1 variant was first identified in people who were travelling from Brazil to Japan on 10 January, and the infected person is one of six cases of the P.1 variant detected in the UK in February. Three of the six cases were detected in England and the remaining three in Scotland. Public health officials are appealing for anyone who hasn’t yet received a result from a test on 12 or 13 February to come forward by calling 119. Since 15 February, travellers arriving in England from 33 countries – including Brazil – have been required to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days. In Scotland, the hotel quarantine rule applies to all international arrivals.

UK prime minister Boris Johnson said the government has no intention to reverse its plans to ease coronavirus restrictions in England. “Our whole strategy is to go forward in a way that is cautious but irreversible. And we don’t think that there’s any reason on this basis to change that now,” he told journalists on 1 March. Under the government’s current plans, schools in England are expected to reopen on 8 March. To support this planned reopening of schools, the government has said that families with children in school will be able to test themselves for coronavirus twice a week from home, free of charge.

Across the UK, more than 20 million people have received a first dose of a covid-19 vaccine.

Other coronavirus news

Das first covid-19 vaccinations through the World Health Organization’s COVAX scheme were administered in Ghana and Ivory Coast on 1 March. “This is a day many of us have been dreaming of,” said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a statement. “I am sure that through COVAX and international solidarity we will be able to reach the most at-risk everywhere. Global equitable access to life-saving vaccines is the surest way to save lives and rebuild economies,” he said. Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire received 600,000 and 504,000 doses respectively of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine licensed and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India.

The European Commission plans to present a proposal on creating an EU-wide digital covid-19 passport, which could allow EU citizens to travel more freely within the bloc during the summer. The “digital green pass” would provide proof that a person has been vaccinated against covid-19 or coronavirus test results for those who haven’t been vaccinated. “The aim is to gradually enable them to move safely in the European Union or abroad – for work or tourism,” said European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.

The US Food and Drug Administration has authorised Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot covid-19 vaccine for emergency use. The first doses of the vaccine will be transported to US states on 1 March.

Coronavirus deaths

The worldwide covid-19 death toll has passed 2.53 million. The number of confirmed cases is more than 114.2 million, according to Johns Hopkins Universität, though the true number of cases will be much higher.

26. Februar

One dose of Pfizer vaccine shows 75 per cent reduction in asymptomatic infections

There is yet more good news on vaccine effectiveness. Eine Studie based on nearly 9000 coronavirus tests done on healthcare workers in Cambridge, UK, has found that asymptomatic infections fell by 75 per cent 12 days after they got one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. There was a similar reduction in symptomatic infections.

The finding is significant because it shows the vaccine will greatly reduce the spread of the virus. It was already clear from clinical trials and previous studies that the Pfizer vaccine is highly effective at preventing symptomatic infections but we did not know how many vaccinated people might still get infected without symptoms and potentially pass the disease on to others.

“This will mean a substantial reduction in transmission of the virus as more and more people are vaccinated, which is really great news,” study leader Mike Weekes at the University of Cambridge, told the Guardian.

Other coronavirus news

Fifty million Covid-19 vaccine doses have been given to people in the US since President Joe Biden took office 37 days ago, taking the total to around 67 million. Biden had promised to deliver 100 million doses in his first 100 days, so his administration is on course to comfortably beat this target. But he warned that things will not return to normal soon. “This is not a victory lap. Everything is not fixed. We have a long way to go. And that day when everything is back to normal depends on all of us,” Biden said.

New Zealand has reported one more locally acquired case of coronavirus. The infected person went to work at a fast food restaurant on Monday despite being told to isolate at home. But officials say the small cluster of cases in Auckland is under control, and have not imposed another lockdown on the city. “This is a situation where we know the source of the cases [and] we know where there may have been contact with others,” said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Coronavirus deaths

The worldwide covid-19 death toll has passed 2.5 million. The number of confirmed cases is more than 113 million, according to Johns Hopkins Universität, though the true number of cases will be much higher.

See previous updates from February 2021, January 2021, November/December 2020, and March to November 2020.