U.S. cases rose on Christmas Day by the smallest amount in almost two months, though the numbers were likely skewed by the holiday. Japan is making final arrangements to ban new entries of all non-Japanese nationals through the end of January, NTV reported.
Russia passed 3 million cases, making it the fourth country after the U.S., India and Brazil to exceed that marker. South Africa reported its third straight day of record cases, while rejecting allegations that a new variant there had spurred a second wave of infections in the U.K.
France, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland and Japan joined a growing number of countries that have identified their first cases of the coronavirus mutation, although there’s no clear evidence it results in more severe cases of the disease.
German Health Minister Expects More Vaccine Approvals
More shots should get approval in coming weeks and Germany will likely be able to offer a shot to everyone who wants one by the middle of next year, according to Health Minister Jens Spahn.
Germany, which along with EU partners begins inoculations on Sunday, will have 1.3 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech shot by the end of the year, and expects delivery of almost 700,000 per week in January. Germany will also get 1.5 million doses of a vaccine developed by Moderna once it’s approved, he added.
Malaysia Logs Highest Single-Day Infections
Malaysia logged the highest single-day jump in new infections, three weeks after the government relaxed restrictions on movements in some places to bolster the economy.
Saturday’s 2,335 cases topped the previous high of 2,234 on Dec. 10, according to data from the health ministry. The total number of positive cases topped 100,000 this week.
U.K. Scientists Trial Antibody Treatment, Guardian Says
U.K. scientists are evaluating the effectiveness of a treatment that could prevent the development of Covid-19 in people who have been exposed to the coronavirus.
The therapy was developed by the University College London Hospitals NHS Trust and AstraZeneca Plc, with trial participants receiving two doses, the newspaper reported. The treatment could be available as soon as March or April if it receives regulatory approval after evidence from the study has been reviewed.
Turkey Signs Vaccine Accord With BioNTech
Turkey signed an agreement with Pfizer Inc. partner BioNTech SE for 4.5 million doses of their coronavirus vaccine, with an option to raise it to 30 million. Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said Friday that an initial 550,000 doses will arrive by the year-end or in early January, state news agency Anadolu reported.
Turkey made its first Covid-19 vaccine deal with Sinovac Biotech Ltd. for 50 million doses, saying it found the Chinese vaccine to be the safest as it’s manufactured using conventional methods. But the CoronaVac needs to be administered in two shots, which means the amount Turkey signed for will be enough only for 25 million of its citizens out of a population of more than 83 million people. ...
20 Nigerian Doctors Die From Covid in One Week: Report
At least 20 Nigerian doctors have died from Covid-19 in a week amid a second wave of infections, the Premium Times reported, citing the Nigeria Medical Association.
The outbreak has been caused by intense community transmission in nearly two dozen states. Nigerian health workers had complained of exposure to coronavirus infections due to a lack of adequate personal protective equipment, which has led to more than 1,000 infections among health workers. ...
