Europe

OVERVIEW U.S and elsewhere:: Downtrend in new U.S. infections stalls, fueling concerns over virus variants’ spread

Mon, 2021-03-01 09:19 — mike kraft

Live updates: Downtrend in new U.S. infections stalls, fueling concerns over virus variants’ spread The rolling seven-day average has stagnated around a worrisomely high daily rate of 75,000 after weeks of declines. Erin Cunningham Washington Post

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Russians say its Sputnik V vaccines performs well against COVID mutations

Sat, 2021-02-27 14:04 — mike kraft

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A Russian trial testing the effectiveness of revaccination with the Sputnik V shot to protect against new mutations of the coronavirus is producing strong results, researchers said on Saturday.

Last month President Vladimir Putin ordered a review by March 15 of Russian-produced vaccines for their effectiveness against new variants spreading in different parts of the world.

“(A) recent study carried out by the Gamaleya Centre in Russia showed that revaccination with Sputnik V vaccine is working very well against new coronavirus mutations, including the UK and South African strains of coronavirus,” said Denis Logunov, a deputy director of the centre, which developed the Sputnik V shot.

Results of the trial are expected to be published soon, but this was the first indication of how the tests are going. No further details were available yet.

So-called viral vector shots - such as Sputnik V and a shot developed by AstraZeneca - use harmless modified viruses as vehicles, or vectors, to carry genetic information that helps the body build immunity against future infections. ...

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Iceland: Countering the pandemic, bringing life back to normal

Fri, 2021-02-26 13:51 — mike kraft

The Keys to Iceland’s Success Here’s the latest news from the global pandemic. Ragnhildur Sigurdardottir Bloomberg.com

While the rest of the world grapples with mass vaccinations and fear of the new coronavirus variants, life in Iceland is getting closer to normal.

Since the beginning of the month, not a single person has been diagnosed with Covid-19 domestically apart from a handful of people who were already in quarantine.

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Vaccination passports, a growing idea? EU considering, Israel using

Fri, 2021-02-26 12:27 — mike kraft

Coronavirus: EU urged to adopt 'vaccine passports' Greece and Austria want coronavirus-free tourists this summer, but other EU states have concerns. BBC News

Greece and Austria are urging other EU states to adopt coronavirus vaccination "passports" which could help revive Europe's stricken tourist industry.

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OVERVIEW: Europe, Africa Developments--Reuters

Fri, 2021-02-26 10:37 — mike kraft

Factbox: Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus European Union leaders will meet on Thursday to try to speed up the production and rollout of vaccines in a race against the emergence of new variants that some fear could bring a third wave of the pandemic across the continent. Reuters Staff U.S.

* The World Health Organization is working with the European Commission to coordinate vaccine donations for other countries on the continent, the head of its European office said.

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UK sees sharp drop in Covid-19 cases following lockdown

Thu, 2021-02-25 12:06 — mike kraft

UK Covid-19 cases fall nearly 80% in 6 weeks of lockdown Covid-19 cases in England have fallen 78% since the government imposed a national lockdown on Jan. 4, according to weekly statistics from the National Health Service Test and Trace. By Eoin McSweeney, Hannah Strange and Jessie Yeung, CNN CNN

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NIH to launch research into Covid long term effects, plus international roundup

Wed, 2021-02-24 13:16 — mike kraft

Roundup: NIH to study ‘long-haul’ virus symptoms

WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Institutes of Health is launching research to understand the causes and consequences of the lingering brain fog, breathing problems and malaise reported by many recovering COVID-19 patients.

Dr. Anthony Fauci says some studies have shown up to 30% of patients report symptoms that can endure for months, complicating their return to normal routines and work, and plunging many recovering patients into depression.

Fauci noted at a White House coronavirus briefing on Wednesday that work at NIH started this week thanks to more than $1 billion provided by Congress for COVID-related medical research. Government scientists are looking to enlist doctors and research institutions around the country in the effort to learn about “long-haul” COVID-19.

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Germany approves COVID home tests to help ease the lockdown

Wed, 2021-02-24 10:26 — mike kraft

Germany approves COVID home tests to ease way out of lockdown Germany approved three COVID-19 tests for home use as part Health Minister Jens Spahn's strategy to help Europe's biggest economy emerge from a lockdown that has been in place since mid-December. Reuters Staff U.S.

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany approved three COVID-19 tests for home use as part Health Minister Jens Spahn’s strategy to help Europe’s biggest economy emerge from a lockdown that has been in place since mid-December.

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AstraZeneca to miss second-quarter EU vaccine supply target by half - EU official

Tue, 2021-02-23 18:49 — mike kraft

Exclusive: AstraZeneca to miss second-quarter EU vaccine supply target by half - EU official AstraZeneca expects to deliver less than half the COVID-19 vaccines it was contracted to supply the European Union in the second quarter, an EU official told Reuters on Tuesday. Francesco Guarascio U.S.

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OVERVIEW: U.S. and International

Tue, 2021-02-23 10:39 — mike kraft

U.S and international COVID-related developments

ALSO SEE: Reuters worldwide roundup

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California lawmakers have cleared the way for 5.7 million people to get at least $600 in one-time payments, part of a state-sized coronavirus relief package aimed at helping lower-income people weather what they hope is the last legs of the pandemic.

The state Legislature passed the bill by a wide margin on Monday...

BUDAPEST — Officials in Hungary are urging people to trust in the vaccines already approved by the country ahead of a planned rollout Wednesday of a COVID-19 vaccine developed in China.

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