WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States plans to give priority to the elderly, those with pre-existing conditions and essential workers once there is a vaccine against COVID-19, a senior Trump administration official said Tuesday. Under Operation Warp Speed (OWS), the US government is aiming to deliver 300 million vaccine doses by January 2021, investing in manufacturing capacity to relieve pharmaceutical firms of the financial risk. “Before any vaccines are approved or authorized, Operation […]
Tag: Virus
Beijing imposes partial travel ban, closes schools over virus outbreak
by Jing Xuan Teng and Beiyi Seow BEIJING, China (AFP) — Beijing on Tuesday urged its residents to not leave the city and closed schools again as authorities scramble to contain a “severe” new coronavirus outbreak in the city of 21 million people. The coronavirus resurgence — believed to have started in the capital’s sprawling Xinfadi wholesale food market — has prompted alarm as China had largely brought its outbreak under control through mass testing […]
Steroid breakthrough raises virus hopes, despite China outbreak
by Dmitry Zaks with Beiyi Seow in Beijing LONDON, United States (AFP) — Britain will start giving seriously ill coronavirus patients a basic steroid treatment hailed as a breakthough to help reduce the global pandemic’s death toll even as worrying new outbreaks surfaced in China and elsewhere. An “extremely severe” cluster of cases in Beijing cast doubt over efforts to get the virus under control although Tuesday’s news from Britain came as a boost after […]
Hungary MPs approve end of controversial emergency virus powers
by Peter MURPHY BUDAPEST, Hungary (AFP) — Hungarian MPs voted Tuesday to revoke anti-coronavirus emergency powers that triggered international criticism amid fears of a power grab by Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Dominated by Orban’s ruling Fidesz party, parliament voted by 192 votes to none to request the government lift the “state of danger” and related special powers put in place to tackle the COVID-19 crisis. The government is now expected to formally lift the state […]
UK jobless claims near three million on coronavirus
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — UK jobless claims more than doubled at the height of Britain’s coronavirus outbreak, official data showed Tuesday. Claims surged 126 percent to 2.8 million people in the three months to May, coinciding with a strict nationwide lockdown that shut shops and businesses, Office for National Statistics figures revealed. Claims surged almost a quarter in May from April, the ONS added, while job vacancies tumbled to a record low as economic […]
Ukraine first lady hospitalized with pneumonia
KIEV, Ukraine (AFP) — Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska, who last week tested positive for the coronavirus, has been hospitalized with pneumonia, the presidency said on Tuesday. Zelenska, 42, has been diagnosed with double pneumonia, the presidency said, adding that oxygen treatment was not required. “Her condition is stable,” it said in a statement. Zelenska said on Friday she had tested positive for the coronavirus, while her husband, President Volodymyr Zelensky, and their two children […]
301 record recoveries reported as 364 COVID-19 cases added today bringing total to 26,781
(Eagle News) — A record of 301 COVID-19 recoveries were added today, Tuesday, June 16, bringing total recoveries to 6,552, as confirmed COVID-19 cases rose to 26,781. In its virtual press briefing, the Department of Health (DOH) said that the concentration of COVID-19 cases – both fresh and old cases – were from Metro Manila and the Central Visayas. There are 249 fresh cases added today: 128 from Metro Manila and 56 from Central […]
Over 8 million COVID-19 cases worldwide with no vaccine in sight; virus deaths still rising
(Eagle News) – There are more than 8 million COVID-19 cases worldwide with virus-related deaths continuing to rise at 436,899, according to the latest data from the Johns Hopkins University on COVID-19 dashboard. Total confirmed cases as of 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, are 8,034,461, with the United States still leading in terms of number of cases and deaths. -US has most COVID-19 cases and deaths- The US confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 2,114,026, followed […]
Less than 400 US virus deaths in 24 hours for 2nd day: Johns Hopkins
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United State recorded fewer than 400 coronavirus-related deaths in 24 hours for the second day in a row, according to a tally Monday by Johns Hopkins University. There were 385 new deaths at 8:30 pm (0030 Tuesday), the tracker from the Baltimore-based university showed, after a 24-hour toll of 382 the day before. These are the lowest daily death tolls since the end of March, although data tend to […]
Beijing virus situation ‘extremely severe’ as 27 new cases reported
by Jing Xuan TENG BEIJING, China (AFP) — The coronavirus situation in China’s capital is “extremely severe”, a city official warned Tuesday, as 27 new infections were reported from Beijing where a new cluster has sparked a huge trace-and-test programme. The COVID-19 resurgence — believed to have started at the sprawling Xinfadi wholesale food market in the capital — has sparked alarm as China had largely brought its outbreak under control through mass testing and […]
New Zealand reports first new virus cases in 25 days
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — New Zealand reported two cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, ending a three-and-a-half week spell without any fresh infections, health authorities said. Both the new patients were recent arrivals from the United Kingdom, the health ministry said. “The ministry can confirm today two new cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand related to the border as a result of recent travel from the UK. Both cases are connected,” it said in a brief […]
Over 100 cases in new Beijing COVID-19 outbreak: WHO
by Robin MILLARD GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — More than 100 cases of the novel coronavirus have been officially recorded in the fresh outbreak in Beijing, the World Health Organization said Monday. As lockdown restrictions, ease and countries in Europe lifted their borders, the WHO warned countries to stay on alert for a possible resurgence of COVID-19 infections. The UN health agency said it understood no new deaths have been reported thus far in the Chinese […]





