(Reuters) – Pope Francis in his Christmas message mentioned political and enterprise leaders should not permit market forces and patent legal guidelines to take precedence over making Covid 19 vaccines obtainable to all, condemning nationalism and “the virus of radical individualism”.
DEATHS AND INFECTIONS * Eikon customers, see COVID-19: MacroVitals https://apac1.apps.cp.thomsonreuters.com/cms/?navid=1592404098 for a case tracker and abstract of reports.
EUROPE
* Greater than 4,500 lorries, amongst an enormous backlog of vehicles stranded for days within the British port of Dover, crossed the Channel on Friday after further troops have been deployed to step up coronavirus testing, a minister mentioned.
* Russia on Saturday authorized its fundamental COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, to be used by individuals over the age of 60, Russian information companies cited the well being ministry as saying.
The full variety of instances of coronavirus infections in Russia crossed the three million mark for the primary time on Saturday after officers recorded 29,258 new instances within the previous 24 hours and 567 deaths.
* Some Russians took to social media to voice frustration after 300,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine have been equipped to Argentina, arguing that extra photographs needs to be made obtainable at house.
* France recorded its first case of the brand new variant of coronavirus, because the variety of instances and deaths from COVID-19 mounted within the nation, growing issues of a brand new wave of the virus hitting the euro zone’s second-biggest financial system.
* All many individuals need for Christmas this 12 months is an easy hug, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth mentioned in her annual festive message, saying it might be exhausting for many who misplaced family members to COVID-19 pandemic or have been separated by curbs on social mixing.
AMERICAS
* U.S. states, going through a backlog in administering coronavirus vaccines, are asking medical and nursing college students, and even firefighters, to assist in giving the photographs and unlock healthcare employees battling a raging pandemic at overcrowded hospitals.
* The U.S. authorities would require all airline passengers arriving from Britain to check damaging for COVID-19 inside 72 hours of departure beginning Monday amid issues a couple of new coronavirus variant which may be extra transmissible.
* Households throughout Mexico scaled down Christmas festivities to keep away from the unfold of coronavirus, whereas others spent the vacation alone after having misplaced family members to the pandemic that has killed greater than 120,000 in Mexico this 12 months.
ASIA-PACIFIC
* South Korea posted its second-highest each day variety of coronavirus instances on Saturday as outbreaks at a jail, nursing properties and church buildings continued to develop, prompting authorities to plead for a halt to all year-end gatherings.
* Coronavirus infections in Tokyo hit a report each day excessive of 949 instances on Saturday as Japan heads into the New Yr vacation, which usually sees individuals stream from the capital into the provinces.
* Sydney residents have been urged to not head to the retailers for Boxing Day bargains, whereas these in some northern seaside suburbs ready to re-enter a strict lockdown for 3 days from Sunday because the Australian metropolis seeks to stamp out a coronavirus outbreak.
* China’s capital Beijing on Thursday issued a collection of coronavirus-related advisories forward of the height journey season from New Yr’s Day to the Chinese language Lunar New Yr in February, however it stopped wanting imposing draconian restrictions.
MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA
* Matron Annamarie Odendaal has cancelled all workers vacation on the COVID-19 ward on the personal Arwyp Medical Centre in Johannesburg as a second wave of the coronavirus threatens to overwhelm South Africa’s well being system.
MEDICAL DEVELOPMENTS
* The CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd SVA.O confirmed efficacy between 50% and 90% in Brazilian trials, Sao Paulo’s state well being secretary mentioned, and its Brazilian producer mentioned full trial outcomes might be launched by Jan. 7.
* Moderna Inc expects that the immunity induced by its COVID-19 vaccine can be protecting towards the coronavirus variants reported in Britain.
* Brazilian researchers mentioned the COVID-19 vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac Biotech is greater than 50% efficient based mostly on preliminary knowledge, however withheld full outcomes of their late-stage trial once more at Sinovac’s request.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
* Tens of millions of Individuals’ jobless advantages expired on Saturday after President Donald Trump refused to signal into regulation a $2.3 trillion coronavirus pandemic help and spending package deal, protesting that it didn’t do sufficient to assist on a regular basis individuals.
(Compiled by Charles Regnier, Aditya Soni and Krishna Chandra Eluri and Uttaresh.V; Modifying by Mark Heinrich)
