Coronavirus Updates

Jordan will be administering 230,000 seasonal flu shots as the country continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic, state news agency Petra reported Thursday.

American biotechnology company Regeneron confirmed Wednesday that it has applied to the US Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization for its experimental monoclonal antibody therapy. The treatment was given to US President Donald Trump on Friday after he was diagnosed with COVID-19. Eli Lilly and Company, another US biotech company, also announced Wednesday that it was seeking FDA emergency approval for a similar coronavirus treatment.

Jordan is imposing a 48-hour lockdown starting midnight Thursday until Saturday, director of the Coronavirus Crisis Management Cell, Mazen Faraya said Tuesday, adding that the curfew will be a weekly measure until coronavirus cases are brought down. The country is also suspending in-school learning indefinitely from Friday, according to the Education Ministry.

Emirati low-cost airline Air Arabia has announced that it will provide free COVID-19 medical coverage to all passengers flying from Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. The insurance includes medical and quarantine costs and will be valid for 31 days.

Germany on Wednesday declared Georgia, Jordan, Romania and Tunisia to be coronavirus risk regions, meaning that returnees from those countries will have to enter quarantine pending a negative coronavirus test.

Voice of America, citing a knowledgeable source, reported Wednesday that Iranian dissident Farhad Meysami contracted the coronavirus while at Rajaei Shahr prison in the city of Karaj.

Rick Bright has quit his post at the National Institutes of Health on Tuesday, adding to his whistleblower complaints against the Trump Administration’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. The former top federal scientist in May was fired from his job as director of the office involved in developing a coronavirus vaccine and reassigned to NIH.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday discussed advancing cooperation between the two countries against the coronavirus, the Prime Minister’s Office said.