Health & Science

• Saturday, January 9th 2021 - 09:58 UTC

  WHO chief accuses wealthy nations of monopolizing Covid-19 vaccine production

  

  The head of the World Health Organization said on Friday there is a “clear problem” that low- and middle-income countries are not yet receiving supplies of COVID-19 vaccines and urged countries to stop striking bilateral deals with manufacturers.

• Friday, January 8th 2021 - 08:42 UTC

  China Biotech vaccine tested 78% effective in Brazil trial, but doubts remain

  

  A coronavirus vaccine developed by China's Sinovac Biotech was 78% effective in a late-stage Brazilian trial with no severe COVID-19 cases, researchers said on Thursday, although a lack of data details stirred calls for more transparency.

• Thursday, January 7th 2021 - 09:49 UTC

  Uruguay extends closure of frontier until the end of January; concern with clandestine partying

  

  Uruguay announced on Wednesday a raft of new measures to help contain the growing number of Covid-19 positive cases which if sustained could strain hospital and sanitary capacities.

• Wednesday, January 6th 2021 - 09:29 UTC

  France to cull 600,000 ducks to contain an avian influenza virus

  

  France is to cull around 600,000 poultry birds as it tries to contain an avian influenza virus that is spreading among duck flocks in the southwest of the country, the farm ministry said on Tuesday.

• Wednesday, January 6th 2021 - 08:51 UTC

  China has yet to authorize scientists' visit to Wunan as promised; WHO chief “very disappointed”

  

  The head of the World Health Organization said on Tuesday he was “very disappointed” that China has still not authorized the entry of a team of international experts to examine the origins of the coronavirus.

• Tuesday, January 5th 2021 - 09:55 UTC

  Brazil diplomatic push to guarantee shipment of India made AstraZeneca vaccine

  

  Brazil made a diplomatic push on Monday to guarantee an Indian-made shipment of British drugmaker AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine, hoping to avoid export restrictions that could delay immunizations during the world's second-deadliest outbreak.

• Tuesday, January 5th 2021 - 09:30 UTC

  UK becomes first country to roll out the Oxford vaccine; but Johnson also orders new lockdown in England

  

  British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday ordered England into a new national lockdown to contain a surge in COVID-19 cases that threatens to overwhelm parts of the health system before a vaccine program reaches a critical mass.

• Tuesday, January 5th 2021 - 09:17 UTC

  China suspends imports from pork plant in southern Brazil

  

  China has suspended imports from a Brazilian pork plant operated by privately-owned Aurora Alimentos over coronavirus concerns, according to a statement from meat trade group on Monday, in the latest suspension since the health crisis began.

• Tuesday, January 5th 2021 - 09:13 UTC

  Sao Paulo state confirms the first two cases of infections with the new strain

  

  The government of Sao Paulo, the largest state in Brazil, confirmed on Monday two cases of people infected by the new strain of coronavirus, the same that has been putting parts of the UK in lockdown since the end of December.

• Monday, January 4th 2021 - 05:36 UTC

  Brazil health regulator approves import of 2 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine

  

  Brazil's health regulator Anvisa said over the weekend it had approved the import of 2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, although the jab is not yet approved for use in the country.