Coronavirus Updates
The number of deaths from COVID-19 in Europe has exceeded 2 million, the World Health Organization announced in a statement, calling it a “devastating milestone.” The announcement on Thursday comes as the White House announced that the United States has recorded more than 1 million COVID-19 deaths. US President Joe Biden called it a “tragic milestone” for the country that has recorded the most COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic. “One million empty chairs around the dinner table. Each an irreplaceable loss. Each leaving behind a family, a community, and a nation forever changed because of this pandemic,” Biden said in a statement. “As a nation, we must not grow numb to such sorrow. We must remain vigilant against this pandemic and do everything we can to save as many lives as possible, as we have with more testing, vaccines, and treatments than ever before.” The WHO reported last week that nearly 15 million people were killed either directly or indirectly by COVID-19 during the past two years.
North Korea has announced its first cases of coronavirus infection, calling it a “major national emergency.” The cases were discovered after an unspecified number of people in the capital Pyongyang with fevers were tested; the tests showed that they were infected with the Omicron variant. The cases were reported on Thursday by the state-run news agency KCNA. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Thursday ordered lockdown in all cities and the implementation of “maximum” emergency measures. North Korea’s borders have been sealed since January 2020 to prevent the infiltration of the virus into the country. Most of North Korea’s population is beleived to be unvaccinated. since the country has not imported any COVID-19 vaccinations.
A third, booster shot of Pfizer vaccine against the coronavirus significantly boosts protection against the coronavirus, an Israeli study has found. The peer-reviewed research published in the journal Nature Immunology shows that antibodies against the highly contagious virus increased by 1.7-fold after a third dose, especially in young and healthy people. The study was based on data taken from over 12,000 employees of Sheba Medical Center in central Israel. It found that the strength of antibodies and the protection afforded by them is significantly higher after a third shot given at least five months after the second dose, compared to two shots.
Israel will rescind its requirement for all travelers to take a COVID-19 antigen test upon arrival at Ben-Gurion International airport, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz announced on Sunday. The decision will take effect from May 20. In addition, incoming travelers will be allowed to take a rapid antigen test 24 hours before their flight, in place of the currently required PCR test.
Nearly 15 million people have died as a result of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, the World Health Organization said in a new report; that is nearly three times as many people as official data indicate. The official count of deaths attibuted to COVID-19 and reported to the WHO was slightly more than 5.4 milion. Nearly 50% of the deaths that until now had not been counted were in India, according to the WHO. The figures in the WHO’s report include people who died because of the coronavirus both directly and indirectly due to the pandemic’s wider effect on health systems, such as those who could not access health care for other ailments during huge waves of infection.
Pfizer’s oral antiviral treatment against COVID-19, Paxlovid, does not prevent coronavirus infection in people who live in the same household as someone who is infected with the coronavirus, the company announced. The discovery comes after a trial of 3,000 adults living in the same household as an individual who had recently tested positive for COVID-19 and who had obvious symptoms of the virus. The adults in the trial either took Paxlovid or a placebo for five days or 10 days. Those who took a five-day course of Paxlovid were found to be 32% less likely to become infected than the placebo group and 37% less likely after talking Paxlovid for 10 days.
Hong Kong has eased more restrictions meant to prevent the spread of the coronavirus as its daily number of cases has significantly reduced. Among the restrictions being eased are allowing bars to stay open until 2 a.m. and reopening karaoke rooms and other entertainment venues. Beaches and swimming pools are also set to reopen and restaurants will be permitted to seat eight people at a table, up from four. Hong Kong still requires travelers to the city to quarantine for seven days.
Denmark will destroy some 1.1 million doses of vaccines against the coronavirus that are set to expire. The vaccines will be discarded in the coming weeks after attempts to donate them to developing countries failed. Some 81% of Danes have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and 62% have received a booster shot. Denmark, which has a surplus of vaccines, has already donated 9 million vaccine doses. It has been unable to find a countries to accept its surplus vaccines.
Tourists have returned to New Zealand after over two years. The island country opened its borders to overseas travelers from over 50 countries starting on Monday. New Zealand closed its borders to tourists in 2020 to halt the spread of the coronavirus; they were among the world’s toughest border restrictions. Tourists are required to be vaccinated and tested for coronavirus upon arrival in the country.
A new COVID-19 variant was discovered in travelers returning to Israel. Three PCR tests taken of returning Israelis at Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport were found to contain the BA.4 variant of the coronavirus. The cases were found in travelers returning from South Africa, SIngapore and Italy. The BA.4 variant is a subvariant of the higly contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus and has been rapidly spreading throughout South Africa. Israel dropped its mask mandate this week and had been in discussion about canceling PCR testing at the airport.