MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Russia is aiming for herd immunity against the coronavirus by the autumn and hailed his country’s development of three vaccines. “Vaccination is now of paramount importance… to allow herd immunity to develop in the fall,” Putin said during his annual state of the nation address. “Our scientists have made a real breakthrough. Now Russia has three reliable vaccines against the coronavirus,” he added. The […]
Tag: Virus
India Covid surge hits new record as oxygen runs short
by Aishwarya KUMAR Agence France Presse NEW DELHI, India (AFP) — India’s brutal new Covid outbreak set records on Wednesday with more than 2,000 deaths in 24 hours as hospitals in New Delhi ran perilously low on oxygen. India has been in the grips of a second wave of infections blamed on lax government rules and a new “double mutant” virus variant, adding almost 3.5 million new cases this month alone. Health ministry […]
PHL doctor explains what people can do amid evidence of airborne transmission of COVID virus
Importance of increased ventilation, stricter observance of health protocols cited by pulmonologist, Dr Eileen Aniceto in “Balitalakayan” interview (Eagle News) – The public should take extra precautions to protect themselves from COVID-19 after scientific evidence showing that COVID-19 is now not just spread through droplets, close contact, or even by touching infected surface, but through the air. Airborne transmission of COVID-19 means that the virus can be spread in farther distances (more than six […]
EMA says J&J linked to ‘rare’ clot, but benefits outweigh risks
by Danny KEMP THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AFP) — Blood clots should be listed as a “very rare” side effect of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine but its benefits still outweigh the risks, the EU’s drug watchdog said Tuesday. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said in a statement that it had found a “possible link” between the J&J jab and the clots, following eight such cases in the United States, one of which was fatal. […]
Mexican president gets Covid vaccine, says ‘no risk’
MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) — Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Tuesday received his first dose of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine and urged all senior citizens to be immunized, reassuring them it was safe. “It doesn’t hurt and it also helps a lot. It protects us all,” the 67-year-old said shortly after getting the injection in front of the media following his daily news conference. “I appeal again to all older adults to get […]
Modi asks Indians to do better to stop virus amid new surge
by Bhuvan BAGGA NEW DELHI, India (AFP) — Prime Minister Narendra Modi late Tuesday called on Indians to step up their efforts to battle the coronavirus so that fresh lockdowns are not necessary, as the vast nation reels from an explosion of cases and the capital runs dangerously short of oxygen supplies. In his first address since the start of the record-breaking new wave of infections, Modi acknowledged that the nation of 1.3 billion people […]
Dutch to lift Covid curfew, let cafes serve outdoors
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AFP) — The Dutch government said Tuesday it was relaxing tough coronavirus restrictions, ending a controversial curfew and allowing cafes to serve outdoors from April 28. The introduction of the night curfew in January, the first in the Netherlands since World War II, sparked the country’s worst riots for decades. “We are of course glad that this is possible again because society yearns for more freedom,” Prime Minister Mark Rutte told a […]
In Latin American first, Argentina to produce Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AFP) — Argentina will be the first Latin American country to produce Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, according to Russia’s RDIF sovereign fund, which financed the development of the shot. A deal to this end has been struck with Argentina’s Richmond pharmaceutical company, the fund announced on Tuesday. The vaccine technology has been transferred to Richmond and full-scale production should start in June, RDIF said in a statement. “Sputnik V is approved […]
Italy approves J&J vaccine, recommends it for over 60s
ROME, Italy (AFP) — Italy on Tuesday declared the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine to be “safe” and said it would prioritise its use for people over 60. The announcement came hours after the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said blood clots should be listed as a “very rare” side effect of the vaccine. In the light of that ruling, the US-made jab should be considered “definitely safe,” Italian health authorities said in a statement. It […]
Japanese region seeks new virus emergency as Olympics near
TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan’s third most populated region will on Tuesday ask the central government to impose a state of emergency over the coronavirus as infections rise just three months before the country hosts the Olympics. Osaka prefecture only lifted a state of emergency two months ago and restrictions are expected to be tougher this time, possibly involving store and shopping mall closures. That would still fall short of the harsh lockdowns seen in […]
New Zealand confirms airport virus case, says travel bubble unaffected
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — New Zealand authorities revealed an Auckland airport worker had tested positive for Covid-19 Tuesday, although Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it would not affect a newly opened travel bubble with Australia. Confirmation the cleaner at New Zealand’s largest airport had contracted the virus came barely 24 hours after the transport hub hosted joyful scenes as families reunited following the launch of the quarantine-free bubble. Ardern said the cleaner worked on […]
Scores test positive for Covid-19 on India flight to Hong Kong
HONG KONG, China (AFP) — At least 49 passengers on a flight from New Delhi to Hong Kong have tested positive for coronavirus, authorities said, as the financial hub introduced an emergency ban on all flights from India in a crackdown over a new wave of cases. All of the passengers who tested positive flew into Hong Kong on a flight run by Indian operator Vistara on April 4. The positive tests are significant as […]





