Health & Science

Friday, December 18th 2020 - 08:41 UTC
Putin's comments on the Sputnik V vaccine spoil Argentine government promises

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s comments on Thursday about waiting to take the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine due to his age, reverberated in Argentina where the government plans to use the shot to initially immunize priority groups including the elderly.
Friday, December 18th 2020 - 08:30 UTC
Macron tests positive for Covid-19; track-and-trace among EU leaders

President Emmanuel Macron tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday, prompting a track-and-trace effort across Europe following numerous meetings between the French leader and EU heads of government in recent days. Macron, 42, was running France remotely after going into quarantine in the Elysee Palace, the presidency said.
Friday, December 18th 2020 - 08:25 UTC
US experts recommend emergency approval of Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine

US panel of experts on Thursday voted to recommend emergency approval of Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine, paving the way for six million doses to start shipping as soon as this weekend.
Friday, December 18th 2020 - 08:20 UTC
Amnesty International presents 250,000 signatures in support of legalizing abortion in Argentina

Amnesty International on Thursday presented 250,000 signatures it has collected from around the world in support of legalizing abortion in Argentina ahead of a crucial Senate vote. Argentina's lower house of Congress voted last week to legalize abortion, sparking jubilant scenes amongst activists.
Friday, December 18th 2020 - 08:20 UTC
Cemetery in Germany temporarily stores the bodies of Covid-19 victims in metal containers

A cemetery in the German city of Hanau has started to temporarily store the bodies of people who have died from COVID-19 in a metal shipping container because hospital mortuaries are already full.
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 - 10:32 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.