Stories for December 2020

Friday, December 18th 2020 - 08:05 UTC
Ireland expects a “serious increase” in Covid-19 cases following relaxation of restrictions

Ireland, which has the second-lowest COVID-19 infection rate in Western Europe, is set for a “serious increase” in cases following the relaxation of restrictions, its health minister said on Thursday, as officials called for new curbs.
Friday, December 18th 2020 - 06:33 UTC
UNICEF support to feed UK children, first time since end of WW2

UNICEF has launched a domestic emergency response in the UK for the first time in its more than 70-year history to help feed children amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thursday, December 17th 2020 - 23:26 UTC
UK government coordinating plans to deploy Covid-19 vaccines to Overseas Territories

The UK Government will supply the Overseas Territories with a proportionate share of the vaccines that the UK procures, and together with the UK Vaccine Taskforce are coordinating plans to deploy vaccines to the BOTs.
Thursday, December 17th 2020 - 10:55 UTC
Uruguay closes borders from 21 December to 10 January to help contain its Covid-19 first wave

Uruguay announced it will regulate the constitutional right to assembly when a sanitary emergency, lockdown access to the country from 21 December to 10 January, limit the number of passengers in long range transport, and have government staff take their annual vacation and those remaining, unless essential personnel, will work from their homes.
Thursday, December 17th 2020 - 10:50 UTC
IMF working constructively with Argentina until the country “has clarity about its medium term objectives”

The managing director of International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, highlighted that “they are working constructively with Argentina” and ratified the commitment so that the country ”has clarity about its medium-term objectives.”
Thursday, December 17th 2020 - 10:32 UTC
Chile approved the use of Pfizer vaccines; first batch expected this month

The Chilean health regulator has approved for emergency use the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE, paving the way for the first doses to be administered as early as Christmas to citizens over the age of 16.
Thursday, December 17th 2020 - 10:18 UTC
Argentina and UK hosted seminar on access to Covid-19 vaccines in Latin America and the Caribbean

Argentina and the UK hosted a virtual seminar on access to vaccines in Latin America and the Caribbean addressing the portfolio of emerging vaccines against COVID-19, the challenge of equitable distribution and how best to tackle vaccine disinformation.
Thursday, December 17th 2020 - 10:16 UTC
Fed urges more fiscal stimulus and confirmed monthly purchase of US$ 120 billion in bonds

The Federal Reserve concluded its final meeting of a tumultuous year on Wednesday, as policymakers weigh a mixed bag of economic signals in setting the central bank’s course for the new year and beyond.
Thursday, December 17th 2020 - 10:08 UTC
US and UK in talks to seal a mini-deal to reduce trade tariffs

The outgoing US administration is in talks with the UK to try to seal a mini-deal to reduce trade tariffs, Trump's trade chief has told the BBC. US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said he was hopeful for a deal that could see punitive tariffs on Scottish whisky lowered.
Thursday, December 17th 2020 - 10:00 UTC
IMF chief says 62% of lending has gone to 21 countries in Latin America

Sixty-two percent of the International Monetary Fund’s lending in response to the coronavirus pandemic has gone to 21 countries in hard-hit Latin America, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said.