About 201 million people have tested positive for the virus worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 4.2 million infected people have died. About 4.3 billion vaccine doses have been administered worldwide.
26 new COVID 19 cases in Tokyo Olympics
Another 26 Corona cases were registered at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday (Aug. 8). Among them was no athlete, according to a statement from Olympic organizers. The total number of Corona infected people in connection with the Summer Games increased to 430, of which 32 were residents of the Olympic village so far. Since July 1, some 600,000 Corona tests have been performed on Olympic participants.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis has been pelted with eggs
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis has been pelted with eggs during an election campaign appearance. The incident occurred two months before Saturday’s (Aug. 7) parliamentary election at his home in Pruhonice, near Prague, news agency CTK reported. Bodyguards took the head of government to a nearby cafe. Babis told CNN Prima News he was attacked by opponents of the Corona measures: “They hit me in the head – and a young woman got a cup of beer.” Before the appearance, critics of the head of government had already painted hundreds of white crosses on the ground. They said they did so to commemorate the more than 30,300 people killed in the Corona pandemic in the Czech Republic.
200,000 people again took to the streets on Saturday in France
In France, more than 200,000 people again took to the streets on Saturday (Aug. 7) against stricter Corona rules and mandatory vaccination for hospital and nursing home workers. The Interior Ministry reported in the evening that some 237,000 people had taken part – the largest rally so far since the new mass protests began last month. Rallies were again held in the capital, Paris, but also in numerous other cities. A focal point of the protests this time was in the south. According to information from the radio station France Info, up to 37,000 people took part in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. According to initial reports, the demonstrations were largely peaceful. Tension between security forces and demonstrators occurred in Lyon, the country’s third-largest city.
India grants emergency approval to vaccine Johnson & Johnson
India grants emergency approval to vaccine from U.S. pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson. Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya made the announcement Saturday (Aug. 7). So far, Indian authorities have approved Corona vaccines from AstraZeneca, Bharat Biotech, Russia’s Gamaleya Institute and Moderna. Unlike other vaccines, a single dose of Johnson & Johnson is sufficient. Since July, India has reported about 30,000 to 40,000 new cases per day. This is down from a high of 400,000 during the second wave of high mortality. However, the Indian government warns that the danger has not been eliminated.
Russia’s population continues to shrink
Russia’s population continues to shrink significantly in the Corona pandemic. Between January and June 2021, nearly 422,000 more people died than were born in the world’s largest country by area, according to figures released Friday (Aug. 6) by Russia’s Rosstat statistics agency. The population decline was thus almost 60 percent higher than in the first half of 2020. According to official Corona statistics, around 163,000 people have died of Corona in Russia so far. However, the number of unreported cases is estimated to be much higher.
China is participating in funding Corona vaccine
China is participating in funding Corona vaccine for poorer countries through the United Nations. The government provided $100 million (about 91 million Swiss francs), the GAVI vaccination alliance reported Friday (Aug. 6) in Geneva. The money will go to the AMC financial instrument, which finances vaccines for the 92 poorest countries as part of the Covax international solidarity program. In total, this means AMC has nearly ten billion dollars at its disposal. In addition to many smaller donors, the USA, for example, is involved with $3.5 billion, Japan with $1 billion, the UK with $733 million, Canada is involved with $348 million and Sweden with $295 million.
Israel is launching a Corona antibody testing project for children
Israel is launching a Corona antibody testing project for children to enable more face-to-face teaching in schools. Starting Sunday (Aug. 8), students aged three to 12 will be tested for antibodies to the corona virus, a spokeswoman for the Education Ministry confirmed Friday (Aug. 6). The program will initially be offered in three religious cities in Israel and two settlements in the occupied West Bank. A total of 250,000 children would be affected by the project. The ministry assumes that about 25 to 30 percent of the affected children have already recovered from the coronavirus and therefore have antibodies. These children would no longer have to go into quarantine if a case of the disease occurred in the classroom. Those who do not have antibodies will be tested daily for a week for the coronavirus if a case of the disease occurs.
- source: nzz.ch/picture:pixabay.com
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