Covid-19 news: Fear of the third wave grows as infections increase in Europe

Latest coronavirus news from 7pm on March 19th

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. “We have now seen three consecutive weeks of growth in Covid-19 cases, with over 1.2 million new cases reported across Europe in the past week,” said Hans Kluge, European Director of the World Health Organization (WHO). at a press conference on the 18th of March. Kluge said the faster spreading B.1.1.7 coronavirus variant, first discovered in the UK, is prevalent in the region. To date, cases have been reported in at least 48 out of 53 European territories. “The number of people dying from Covid-19 in Europe is now higher than last year at this time, reflecting the widespread spread of this virus,” added Kluge.

advertising

Germany started easing some coronavirus restrictions on March 8, but may need to return to stricter rules soon due to stricter cases, according to the country’s health minister Jens Spahn told a press conference on March 19th. “The increasing number of cases may mean that we cannot take any further steps to reopen in the coming weeks,” he said. “On the contrary, we may even have to go backwards.” France, which recorded 35,000 new cases on March 18 and achieved record numbers of Covid-19 patients in the intensive care unit in Paris, introduces a one-month ban in its capital and parts of the north of the country. Italy has also seen increasing cases recently and as a result the Italian authorities have re-imposed restrictions in most of the country on March 15th.

Other coronavirus news

Several European countries, including Germany, France, Italy and Spain, are Resumption of Oxford / AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine rolloutAfter an investigation by the EU Medicines Agency found the benefits outweigh the risks. A separate study by the WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety came to the same conclusion. More than 20 countries had stopped using the vaccine after reports of blood clots in some people who had received it. Within hours of the European Medical Agency’s March 18 statement, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and at least seven other countries said they would resume vaccinations as early as March 19. However, France has stated that only people aged 55 and over should receive the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine, while Norway, Sweden and Denmark haven’t lifted their suspensions yet of the shot.

Great Britain R number – the average number of people infected in each coronavirus case – – can have increased slightly. The last official estimate is between 0.6 and 0.9 compared to the previous week when it was estimated at 0.6-0.8. Overall, infections are still shrinking at a rate between 3 and 6 percent per day, but the rate at which they are falling has slowed from 4 to 7 percent per day in the previous week. The results are in line with the latest results of a survey by the Office for National Statistics which found that these were cases no longer fall in some parts of the UK and can even increase in some regions.

Students in the USA can now sit about a meter apart in the classroom as long as they wear face covering, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on March 19. Under the updated guidance, students are still advised to stay within 2 meters of each other during lunch breaks and during sporting events or gatherings.

Coronavirus deaths

The global death toll from Covid-19 has exceeded 2.69 million. The number of confirmed cases is loud. More than 121.9 million Johns Hopkins Universityalthough the true number of cases will be much higher.

Important information about the coronavirus

Everything you need to know about the pandemic

Where did the coronavirus come from? And other Covid-19 questions were answered

What is covid-19?

You could be spreading the coronavirus without even realizing you have it

What does it take to bring a Covid-19 vaccine into the world?

Covid-19: The Story of a Pandemic

What to read, see and hear about coronavirus

The New York Times tracks the occupancy of hospital beds in England in an interactive graphic.

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 assesses the progress of various vaccine candidates and potential drug treatments for Covid-19 and rates 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 ongoing coronavirus pandemic, efforts to fight it, and ways to manage mental health.

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

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.

March 18

The European Medicines Agency concludes that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh the risks

The Safety Committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which regulates medicines for the European Union, has concluded that the Oxford / AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine is beneficial continue to outweigh the risk of side effects. After examining reports of blood clots in some people who received the vaccine, the committee concluded that the shot was not linked to an increase in the overall risk of blood clots in those who received it, and it is a safer one and effective way to prevent Covid-19, which is itself linked to an increased risk of blood clots. However, the committee is still investigating whether the vaccine may be linked to very rare cases of blood clots associated with low platelet levels in the blood, including cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) – a blood clot in a large vessel in the brain. The EMA said the total number of blood clots reported after vaccination was lower than expected in the wider population.

The EMA said that by March 16, around 20 million people in the UK and Europe had received the Oxford / AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine, and its committee had 18 cases of CVST and seven cases of disseminated intravascular coagulation – blood clots in multiple blood vessels – checked . It’s not yet clear whether the vaccine caused these rare events, but the committee said this was a possibility it will investigate further. Most of the rare events occurred in people under the age of 55 and the majority were women. The committee is currently investigating whether these cases may be related to the oral contraceptive pill.

A number of European countries, including Germany, France, Italy and Sweden, Suspension of use of the vaccine against Oxford / AstraZeneca covid-19 Earlier this week as a precaution. It is up to each country to decide whether to restart vaccine administration. “The pandemic costs lives,” EMA director Emer Cooke said during a March 18 press conference. “We have vaccines that are safe, effective and can help prevent death and hospitalization. We have to use these vaccines, ”she said.

Other coronavirus news

ON Delay in a delivery Oxford / AstraZeneca’s delivery of 5 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine to the UK from India could result in a reduction in Covid-19 vaccine supply in the UK in April. The delivery produced by the Serum Institute of India has been delayed by four weeks, according to the BBC. The UK Department of Health and Welfare has stated that the UK remains on track to offer a first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to all adults by the end of July. More than 25.2 million people in the UK have received one first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine To date, more than 1.7 million have received a second shot. But Adam Finn of Bristol University, who is a member of the UK Department of Health’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization, told BBC Radio 4 that it was about delivery would likely result in a slight delay vaccinations for people in their forties and younger, which could lead to an increase in infections.

Britain has warned against this Consequences if the EU breaks the law on Covid-19 vaccine contracts. “We assume that these contracts will be respected, as the violation of contract law has significant consequences,” said British Health Minister Matt Hancock to Parliament. On March 17, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said 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 plants.

Coronavirus deaths

The global death toll from Covid-19 has exceeded 2.68 million. The number of confirmed cases is loud. More than 121.3 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 don’t currently appear to have mutations that make them more dangerous.

17. March

UK Foreign Secretary Says EU Threats “Exceed Previous Assurances”

The European Commission can restrict the export of Covid-19 vaccines to the UK to get more doses for its own citizens if the UK fails to provide evidence “Reciprocity” in vaccine exportssaid the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on March 17th. “There is reciprocity with the USA […] Primary products, raw materials and active ingredients flow back and forth seamlessly, ”said von der Leyen at a press conference. However, she said the EU is still awaiting vaccine doses from Oxford / AstraZeneca of the UK, despite 10 million vaccine doses from EU plants having been shipped to the UK. “We are still waiting for cans to come from the UK. This is an invitation to show us that cans from the UK are also coming to the European Union so that we can have reciprocity,” she said. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told Reuters The threat to ban exports “diminishes the direct assurances we have received from the Commission” and adds, “We expect these assurances and the legally contracted delivery to be met.”

More than 25 million people in the UK have now received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, according to the UK Department of Health and Welfare. “This latest milestone is an incredible achievement,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement. “We are ahead of schedule to offer everyone in these groups a first dose by April 15th and I urge everyone to come forward,” said UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

Other coronavirus news

Former advisor to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Dominic Cummings, has requested an investigation in the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking to MPs, Cummings described the UK Department of Health and Welfare as a “smoking ruin” at the time of the coronavirus crisis and highlighted problems getting personal protective equipment in the early stages of the UK epidemic in 2020, UK Economy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng shared Sky News with this would be “premature” to start one “If the pandemic is still all around us”.

Poland is set to Enter a new statewide lock as of March 20, the country’s health minister said. Poland reported 25,052 new coronavirus cases on March 17, with the highest daily number in 2021. Several European countries are see rising cases, including Germany, France and Italy.

China is resuming visa processing for foreigners from several countries, but only for those who have done so vaccinated with a China-made Covid-19 vaccine, the Guardian reported.

Coronavirus deaths

The global death toll from Covid-19 has exceeded 2.67 million. The number of confirmed cases is loud. More than 120.9 million Johns Hopkins Universityalthough the true number of cases will be much higher.

Latest information on coronavirus from New Scientist

Vaccine hesitate: The vast majority of respondents in 10 low and middle income countries said they were taking a Covid-19 vaccine in the first study that looked at the question.

Dose delay: UK strategy of lengthening the time between Covid-19 vaccine doses seems to be working. Canada and Germany have followed a similar approach, but the US has ruled out changing its policy.

UK variant: Coronavirus infections have been increasing worldwide since the end of February, mainly in connection with variant B.1.1.7. The big question is what happens next.

March 16

Growing pressure on the UK to open a pandemic treatment investigation

Pressure on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is growing Start a request in the UK’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, including from scientific advisers and government health guides, the Guardian reported. Andrew Hayward, a member of the government’s emergency scientific advisory group, told the Guardian in a personal capacity that the government’s decision-making processes “need to be reviewed”, with a focus on “learning from the future rather than fault”. Others requesting an investigation are Donna Kinnair, Secretary General of the Royal College of Nursing, and Chaand Nagpaul, Chair of the British Medical Association Council. A government spokesman said: “Our focus is on protecting the NHS and saving lives and this is not the time to devote much official time to an investigation.”

Other coronavirus news

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has reiterated that there is “no answer” that the Oxford / AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine caused blood clots. “The total number of thromboembolic events in vaccinated people does not seem to be higher than in the general population,” said EMA chief Emer Cooke. told a virtual press conference on March 16. Cooke added that there have been similar reports of blood clots associated with other coronavirus vaccines approved for use in Europe, including Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. On March 16, Sweden followed Germany, France, Italy and other European countries Suspension of use of the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine. Both the EMA and the World Health Organization (WHO) are Examination of reports of blood clots in a small number of people who have had the vaccine. The EMA is expected to publish the results of its investigation on March 18th.

A member of the World Health Organization (WHO) team investigating the causes of the Covid-19 pandemic said Game farms in southern China are the most likely source. On previous hypothesis The team suggested that the virus be transmitted through frozen foods first. Peter Daszak, a member of the investigation team, told NPR that China’s decision to close wildlife farms in February 2020 is a strong signal that the Chinese government considered the farms to be the most likely route for coronavirus in southern China’s bats in humans overlap. The WHO is expected to publish official results of the team’s investigation in two weeks.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she would Set dates for the restrictions to be relaxed In scotland. She said things should “get a lot better” in the weeks and months to come. In Scotland some measures have already been relaxed, allowing people to meet in larger groups outdoors and for students to return to school.

Coronavirus deaths

The global death toll from Covid-19 has exceeded 2.66 million. The number of confirmed cases is loud. More than 120.3 million Johns Hopkins Universityalthough the true number of cases will be much higher.

Latest information on coronavirus from New Scientist

AstraZeneca vaccine: The number of incidents of blood clotting in vaccinated people “does not appear to be higher than in the general population,” according to the European Medicines Agency.

March, 15

Germany, France and Italy are among the youngest countries to pause the AstraZeneca vaccine

Germany, France and Italy are under the newest countries discontinue the introduction of the Oxford / AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccine after reports of blood clots in a small number of people who have received the vaccine. The World Health Organization, the European Medicines Agency and the UK Medicines Agency have all indicated that it is no information that the vaccine is causing blood clots. “We are carefully reviewing the reports, but given the large number of doses given and the frequency with which blood clots can occur naturally, the evidence available does not suggest the vaccine is the cause,” said Phil Bryan, chief safety officer for Vaccines at the UK Medicines Regulatory Authority for Health Products in a Explanation. “People should still get their Covid-19 vaccine when prompted,” he said. Approximately 17 million people in the EU and the UK have received a dose of the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine to date. As of last week, only 37 cases of blood clots had been reported. AstraZeneca said.

“It is very unfortunate that countries have stopped vaccination,” said Peter English, former chairman of the British Medical Association’s Public Health Medicine Committee, in one Explanation. “There is a risk that the goal of vaccinating enough people to slow the spread of the virus and end the pandemic will be seriously damaged,” said English.

Britain will not follow other nations A spokesman for UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on March 15 that he had suspended use of Oxford / AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine. Johnson is confident that both Oxford / AstraZeneca and Pfizer / BioNTech vaccines against Covid-19 are “safe and effective,” the spokesman said, adding, “There is no evidence of a causal relationship between blood clots and blood clots [Oxford/AstraZeneca] Vaccine.”

Thailand postponed the planned launch of the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine last week, but announced today The rollout of the recordings continues.

Other coronavirus news

The White House is expected to launch a public relations campaign aimed to build confidence in Covid-19 vaccines and recording in the USA. Regardless, the US health advisor 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,” said Fauci Fox News said on March 14th.

The German Association of Intensive Care Doctors calls for a Return to stricter lockdown restrictionsafter a surge in coronavirus cases.

Coronavirus deaths

The global death toll from Covid-19 has exceeded 2.65 million. The number of confirmed cases is loud Johns Hopkins Universityalthough the true number of cases will be much higher.

Latest information on coronavirus from New Scientist

Vaccination effort: Even in countries where vaccines are available and absorption is high, emerging problems threaten the success of comprehensive vaccination programs.

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 dispensed (and their count).

March 12th

According to the WHO, countries should continue to use the Oxford / AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced this No evidence that Oxford / AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine causes blood clots and urges countries to keep using it. “It is very important to understand that we should keep using the AstraZeneca vaccine,” said Margaret Harris, a WHO spokeswoman, at a March 12 briefing. The WHO Global Advisory Panel on Vaccine Safety is reviewing reports of blood clots in some people who have received the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine. A number of countries including Denmark, Norway, and Iceland have stopped using it as a precaution, while Thailand has delayed the introduction of the vaccine, originally scheduled for March 12th. There were 30 cases of blood clots among the 5 million people in the European Union who received the vaccine on March 11th, according to the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

To date, more than 11 million doses of the Oxford / AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in the UK, MHRA vaccine safety officer Phil Bryan said in a statement, adding: “Reports of blood clots received to date are no greater than the number which would have naturally occurred in the population at the time. “The UK Medicines and Health Products Regulator (MHRA) said the people of the UK should do this Still get your Covid-19 vaccine when prompted. “There is currently no evidence that vaccination 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 caused by them have been recorded.

Other coronavirus news

Preliminary results of a survey of people with Covid-19 in the UK showed 93 percent of respondents reported persistent symptoms77 percent of these people reported fatigue as the most common symptom. The second most common symptom reported was shortness of breath, which occurred in 54 percent of people with persistent symptoms. The survey also found that among people under the age of 50, the results for women were worse than for men, with women surveyed reporting more than five times more often persistent symptoms compared to the men. Preliminary results are based on 325 participants admitted to one of 31 UK hospitals with covid-19 between February 5 and October 4, 2020. The study is carried out by ISARIC4C, a UK consortium of doctors and researchers working on covid-19.

A Covid-19 vaccine developed by Novavax was found 89 percent effective in preventing Covid-19 cases in a study of more than 15,000 participants in the UK. The vaccine’s effectiveness was 96 percent for preventing cases caused by the original coronavirus variant and 86 percent for cases caused by the coronavirus B.1.1.7 variant first identified in the UK. In one smaller trial carried out in South Africawhere the B.1.351 variant When the vaccine is widely used, it was found to be 60 percent effective in 94 percent of HIV-negative subjects and 49 percent overall.

Great Britain R number – The average number of people infected in each coronavirus case has dropped to 0.6-0.8 niedrigster Stand seit September, laut der letzte offizielle Schätzung.

Coronavirus Todesfälle

Die weltweite Zahl der Todesopfer bei Covid-19 hat 2,63 Millionen überschritten. Die Zahl der bestätigten Fälle beträgt laut. Mehr als 118,6 Millionen Johns Hopkins Universität, obwohl die wahre Anzahl der Fälle viel höher sein wird.

11. März

Die GSK-Antikörpertherapie reduzierte den Krankenhausaufenthalt oder den Tod in der ersten Studie um 85 Prozent

Eine Antikörpertherapie, die von der britischen Firma GlaxoSmithKline und der in den USA ansässigen Vir Biotechnology entwickelt wurde Reduzierung des Krankenhausaufenthaltes oder des Todes um 85 Prozent verglichen mit einem Placebo nach vorläufigen Daten von 583 Studienteilnehmern. Die Unternehmen sagten, sie planen, eine Genehmigung für den Notfall bei der US-amerikanischen Food and Drug Administration zu beantragen, nachdem ein unabhängiges Überwachungskomitee aufgrund von Hinweisen auf eine „tiefgreifende Wirksamkeit“ empfohlen hatte, eine Studie zur experimentellen Behandlung vorzeitig abzubrechen. Die in die Studie einbezogenen Personen werden weitere sechs Monate lang beobachtet. GlaxoSmithKline und Vir Biotechnologies sagten auch, dass eine neue Laborstudie ergab, dass die Therapie mit dem Namen VIR-7831 durchgeführt wurde ähnlich wirksam gegen Coronavirus-Varianten erstmals in Großbritannien, Südafrika und bei Reisenden aus Brasilien identifiziert. Andere Antikörpertherapien, einschließlich der von Eli Lilly und Regeneron Pharmaceuticals entwickelten, erhielten Anfang dieses Jahres Empfehlungen von US-amerikanischen und europäischen Arzneimittelaufsichtsbehörden.

“Diese Klasse von Medikamenten könnte besonders wichtig für Menschen sein, die weniger durch Impfstoffe geschützt sind, zum Beispiel wenn ihr Immunsystem geschwächt ist”, sagte Alexander Edwards von der University of Reading in a Erklärung. Edwards sagte jedoch, es sei wichtig, auf einen vollständigen Satz von Ergebnissen aus der Studie zu warten, um zu verstehen, wie gut VIR-7831 funktioniert, und die Ergebnisse aufzuheben. “Zum Beispiel, wer kann es behandeln, wann muss ihnen das Medikament gegeben werden, wie verhindert es die schlimmsten Ergebnisse?”

Andere Coronavirus-Nachrichten

Dänemark ist Unterbrechen des Rollouts des Oxford / AstraZeneca-Covid-19-Impfstoffs für mindestens zwei Wochen nach Berichten über Blutgerinnsel bei einer unbekannten Anzahl von Personen, die den Impfstoff hatten, einschließlich einer Person, die Berichten zufolge gestorben ist. “Dies ist ein sehr vorsichtiger Ansatz”, sagte Stephen Evans von der London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in einem Erklärung. “Das Problem bei spontanen Berichten über vermutete Nebenwirkungen eines Impfstoffs ist die enorme Schwierigkeit, einen kausalen Effekt von einem Zufall zu unterscheiden”, fügte er hinzu. Separat Österreich suspendierte Verwendung einer Charge des Impfstoffs Oxford / AstraZeneca am 7. März zur Untersuchung eines Todes durch Blutgerinnungsstörungen und eines Falles von Lungenembolie. Berichten zufolge haben auch Estland, Italien, Lettland, Litauen und Luxemburg die Verwendung der Charge eingestellt. Die Europäische Arzneimittel-Agentur gab an, dass es bislang keine Beweise für einen Zusammenhang zwischen dem Oxford / AstraZeneca-Impfstoff und den beiden österreichischen Fällen gibt. Die Zahl der Personen, die nach Erhalt des Impfstoffs Blutgerinnsel melden, sei mit nur 22 Fällen nicht höher als in der Allgemeinbevölkerung die 3 Millionen Menschen, die es am 9. März erhalten hatten.

Moderna hat begann mit der Erprobung eines Coronavirus-Impfstoff-Booster-Schusses gezielt auf die B.1.351 Coronavirus-Variante erstmals in Südafrika identifiziert. Frühere Ergebnisse zeigten, dass das bestehende Zwei-Dosis-Regime des Unternehmens eine schwächere Antikörperantwort gegen die B.1.351-Variante im Vergleich zum ursprünglichen Virus erzeugt. Die ersten Teilnehmer haben nun den modifizierten Impfstoff in einer Änderung einer laufenden klinischen Studie erhalten. Moderna angekündigt am 10. März. An der Studie sind 60 Teilnehmer beteiligt, die zuvor mit den Originalaufnahmen des Unternehmens geimpft wurden. Sie erhalten eine dritte Aufnahme entweder einer anderen Dosis des Originalimpfstoffs oder der Auffrischimpfung mit einer niedrigen oder hohen Dosis.

Menschen, die obdachlos sind, einschließlich derer, die schlecht schlafen, werden es sein priorisiert für Covid-19-Impfstoffe in England gemäß den Empfehlungen des Gemeinsamen Ausschusses für Impfung und Immunisierung (JCVI) des Vereinigten Königreichs. “Menschen, die von Obdachlosigkeit betroffen sind, haben wahrscheinlich gesundheitliche Probleme, die sie einem höheren Sterberisiko durch covid-19 aussetzen”, sagte Wei Shen Lim, covid-19-Vorsitzender des JCVI, in einer Erklärung. “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 published in the 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 getwittert 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 published in the 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 science 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. März

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 Amt für nationale Statistik (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.

Mehr als 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 hydroxychloroquine 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. A study 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.