Tag: Virus

Hong Kong leader says city ‘overwhelmed’ by Omicron wave

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Hong Kong’s health facilities have been overloaded by an “onslaught” of Covid-19 infections, its leader said, as a rise in Omicron cases threatens to bring down the city’s “zero-Covid” policy. Authorities have adhered to mainland China’s policy of stamping out the smallest outbreak with mass quarantine, widespread tracking, and prolonged social distancing measures since the start of the pandemic. But the extremely contagious Omicron variant breached the Chinese territory’s defenses […]

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PHL reports only 3,050 new cases, 11.7 percent Covid positivity rate, the lowest this year

Total Covid-19 recoveries breach 3.5 million   (Eagle News) — The Philippines reported its lowest number of new Covid-19 cases and lowest positivity rate this year at 3,050, and 11.7 percent, respectively, on Sunday, February 13. New recoveries hit 5,811, which again were more than the recorded new Covid cases. Because of this, the total active cases in the country went down to 81,394. This is 2.2 percent of the total confirmed Covid-19 cases since […]

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Canada truckers defy order to clear key bridge

by Geoff Robins with Michel Comte in Ottawa Truckers snarling a key bridge between Canada and the United States in protest at Covid rules defied a judge’s order to leave Friday night, with the crowd getting even bigger two weeks into the snowballing protest movement. The days-long blockade of the Ambassador Bridge that connects Windsor, Ontario and the US city of Detroit, has paralyzed a key North American trade route, piling pressure on Prime Minister […]

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NCR targets “very low risk classification” by March; aim is to have as low as 140 new cases per day

  (Eagle News) — Metro Manila could be placed under a “very low risk classification” by next month, as reproduction numbers and health care utilization rates decrease, according to Octa Research. Metro Manila or the National Capital Region “targets very low risk classification by March,” said OCTA Research fellow Dr. Guido David on Friday, February 11. “The magic number to achieve very low risk classification is 140 new cases per day, which seems possible by […]

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New Zealand Covid protest grows after police draw back

WELLINGTON, United States (AFP) — Protester numbers outside New Zealand’s parliament swelled Friday as police scaled back efforts to clear anti-vaccine demonstrators involved in violent clashes a day earlier. A festive mood prevailed at a makeshift tent settlement inhabitants have dubbed “Camp Freedom”, with music and dancing as police looked on from behind barricades. It was a stark contrast to the fiery scenes Thursday, when a phalanx of officers attempted to evict the protesters, arresting […]

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Novavax says Covid vaccine more than 80% effective among teens

  WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Novavax said Thursday its Covid vaccine was 82 percent effective among adolescents during the period when the Delta variant was dominant, and the US biotech now plans to submit for regulatory approval in this age group. The two-dose vaccine, which is based on synthetic proteins that mimic the spikes that dot the surface of the virus, was found to be safe and effective among more than 2,200 adolescents aged […]

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Covid vaccine maker AstraZeneca says 2021 profit falls

  LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — British Covid vaccine maker AstraZeneca said Thursday that net profit collapsed last year, hit by the vast takeover of US biotech firm Alexion and other charges, despite surging revenues. Profit after tax slumped to just $112 million (98 million euros) compared with $3.2 billion in 2020, the pharmaceutical company said in a statement. However, revenues including Covid vaccine sales rebounded 41 percent to $37.4 billion. The Covid jab, Vaxzevria, […]

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Tonga virus cases surge in wake of eruption

NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga (AFP) – The Omicron variant coronavirus entered Tonga for the first time in the wake of last month’s volcanic eruption, officials confirmed Thursday, as the number of Covid-19 cases in the kingdom almost doubled to 64. Health Minister Saia Piukala said 31 new cases had been detected in the previous 24 hours, a record for the island nation which was virus-free until last month’s blast. Piukala said samples sent to Australia confirmed the […]

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Indonesia starts testing homegrown Covid-19 vaccine on humans

SURABAYA, Indonesia (AFP) — Indonesia began testing a homegrown Covid-19 vaccine on humans Wednesday after getting the green light from the drug regulator as the country faces a rising wave of virus cases. Research on the “Merah Putih” (“Red White”) vaccine — named after the colours of the Indonesian national flag — is led by Airlangga University and Biotis Pharmaceutical Indonesia. The project has suffered delays since starting in 2020, but authorities are now hoping […]

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PHL total active cases drop to below 100K for the first time in a month; 3,651 new Covid cases added

95 percent of active cases still either mild or asymptomatic   (Eagle News) – The country’s total active Covid-19 cases dropped below the 100,000 mark for the first time in a month, hitting only 96,326 on Wednesday, February 9. The last time that total active cases were below 100,000 was on January 7 at 77,369 cases.   On Tuesday, February 8, the total active cases were 105,550. New cases today, February 9, reached 3,651. This is […]

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S. Korea drops vaunted ‘test and trace’ strategy as Omicron surges

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — South Korea said Wednesday it was dropping its vaunted “trace, test and treat” program as a surge in Omicron cases threatens to overwhelm the country’s healthcare system. At the start of the pandemic in 2020, South Korea was hit by one of the worst early outbreaks of the disease outside China but brought it under control with mass testing and aggressive contact tracing. The strategy earned the country widespread praise, […]

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WHO urges rich countries to pay up for Covid plan

  by Robin MILLARD Agence France Presse GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The WHO Wednesday urged rich countries to pay their fair share of the money needed for its plan to conquer Covid-19 by contributing $16 billion as a matter of urgency. The World Health Organization said the rapid cash injection into its Access to Covid Tools Accelerator could finish off Covid as a global health emergency this year. The WHO-led ACT-A is aimed at developing, […]

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