Latest on the worldwide spread of the novel coronavirus
A RECENT surge in Covid-19 cases could see major parts of Japan slide back into states of emergency with authorities in Tokyo and Osaka looking at renewed curbs, while quarantine-free travel began between New Zealand and Australia for the first time in more than a year.
> The number of patients in intensive care units in France edged up on Sunday, amid a nationwide lockdown trying to stem a third wave of infections.
> British scientists launched a trial which will rexpose participants who have already had Covid-19 to the virus again to observe immune responses and possible reinfection.
> Italy will ease curbs in many areas from April 26, warning caution was still needed to avoid any reversals in the reopening of many long-shuttered activities.
> Just more than half of US adults have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose, data from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention showed on Sunday, with nearly 130 million people aged 18 years or more having received their first shot.
> Dr. Anthony Fauci on Sunday predicted that US health regulators will end the temporary pause on distributing Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine, adding that he expects a decision could come as soon as Friday.
> Canada will present a budget setting aside billions for pandemic recovery measures as Covid-19 infections skyrocket, US$1.6bil (RM6.6bil) toward national childcare, and new taxes on luxury goods.
> Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Sunday the government has made a second payment to the World Health Organisation’s Covax initiative to access around 11 million Covid-19 vaccines.
> India’s capital New Delhi recorded 25,500 cases in a 24-hour period, with about one in three people tested returning a positive result, its chief minister said, urging the federal government to provide more hospital beds to tackle the crisis.
> Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla has agreed to Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s request to supply additional doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, the vaccine minister of Japan said on Sunday.