Category: COVID-19

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Africa News COVID-19

Tunisia to ban internal travel to tackle Covid 19

Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi has said Tunisia cannot afford a second lockdown with the government already fighting the central bank over a projected deficit double what it had originally foreseen…reports Arab News

Tunisia on Thursday prohibited travel between the country’s regions. It also suspended schools and public gatherings and extended a curfew, as it tried to contain a rapid surge of COVID-19 cases with hospitals nearly full.Arab news reports

Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi has said Tunisia cannot afford a second lockdown with the government already fighting the central bank over a projected deficit double what it had originally foreseen.


However, after successfully containing the coronavirus in the spring and summer, Tunisia is now experiencing a very rapid spread of the disease with more than 55,000 cases and intensive care units full in some regions.

As well as banning internal travel in most cases, the new rules include a suspension of schools until Nov. 8, a two-week suspension of universities and a ban on protests and public gatherings of more than four people.

A night curfew already in place in several regions has been extended across the country and brought forward to start at 8pm instead of 9pm on weekdays, while remaining at 7pm on weekends.

Also read:Food dialogue discusses the scope of UAE-India food corridor

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-Top News COVID-19 USA

Covid-19 vaccine won’t be available by next year: Fauci

Washington, Sept. 23, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, testifies during a hearing of U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Sept. 23, 2020. Anthony Fauci attended the hearing on Wednesday and warned of the long-term effects that disease might have on those infected. (Graeme Jennings/Pool via Xinhua/IANS)

Regarding the wearing of masks, Fauci said adding that people should stop politicising the issue, as donning them “does make a difference”…reports Asian Lite News

Anthony Fauci, America’s top infectious disease expert, has said that it was not likely for a Covid-19 vaccine to be available in the US until next year, the media reported.

He made the remarks on Wednesday during a virtual session with the editor-in-chief of the JAMA medical journal, The Hill news website reported.

Fauci said that even though companies “would have enough data for the independent safety monitoring board to recommend applying for emergency authorization” by December, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) might not grant that authorization early next year.

The director of the National Institutes for Allergies and Infectious Diseases further said that the FDA’s vaccine committee is going to want to see “good enough safety data and even prolonged efficacy data”.

Regarding the wearing of masks, Fauci said adding that people should stop politicising the issue, as donning them “does make a difference”.

“We have to shake each other by the collar, and say: ‘Look at the data! It speaks for itself’.

“Let’s put aside these extraordinary excuses for not doing it, when we’re dealing with a situation that’s not trivial.

“We have 225,000 deaths, the modeling tells us we’re going to get one hundred or more thousand as we get into the winter, that is just something that’s unacceptable,” The Hill news website quoted the top expert as saying.

Fauci’s remarks comes as the US is trying to battle a resurgence of fresh coronavirus cases.

Presently the worst-hit country in the world by the pandemic, the US has so far reported 8,855,182 Covid-19 cases and 227,673 deaths.

Also read:Trump knocks Fauci, calls him ‘disaster’

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-Top News COVID-19 UAE News World News

26 countries pay tribute to frontline heroes

The initiative included a unified performance by these police bands by playing the “Victory March of Aida Opera” as a global thanks …reports Asian Lite News

The Ministry of Interior, MoI, has participated in a global celebration with the participation of 26 countries, which included the presentation of a special recital as a gesture of honour and appreciation for the noble efforts made by the frontline heroes to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and for their human sacrifices in order to preserve the health and safety of societies around the world.

The initiative included a unified performance by these police bands by playing the “Victory March of Aida Opera” as a global thanks and hope message of thanks in addition to this the initiative is to emphasise that the world is united and that humanity is what brings us together.

The event witnessed the participation of representatives of the musical groups from the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Ghana, Guatemala, Lithuania, Mauritius, Italy, Israel, New Zealand, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.

Also read:UAE, India to bolster defence ties

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COVID-19 UAE News

Nahyan bin Mubarak receives COVID-19 vaccine

The UAE authorised the emergency use of the vaccine, to make it available for the front-liners, who are at the highest risk of contracting the virus..reports Asian Lite News

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, has received the COVID-19 vaccine.

Sheikh Nahyan said that the UAE, with the guidance and support of the wise leadership, has demonstrated during the pandemic its ability to deal with the repercussions of the COVID-19 with high efficiency, based on the best scientific and practical standards, which embodies the leadership of the medical sector in the UAE.

The UAE authorised the emergency use of the vaccine, to make it available for the front-liners, who are at the highest risk of contracting the virus, with the aim of providing all safety and security means and protecting them from any dangers.

The trials conducted in the country – in which 31,000 volunteers from 125 nationalities have participated in – have proven that the vaccine is safe and effective and resulted in a strong response to fight the virus.

The use of the COVID -19 vaccine contributes to saving lives, and it is one of the ways that the country has taken to limit the spread of the epidemic and protect the health and safety of society.

Also read:UAE reiterates need to leverage Israel peace accord in Middle East

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Africa News COVID-19 Travel & Tourism

Zimbabwe to gradually reopen borders from December

Zimbabwe plans to gradually reopen borders from December (Xinhua/IANS)

Zimbabwe closed it’s ports of entry in March following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic…reports Asian Lite News

Zimbabwe will gradually reopen it’s land borders beginning in December, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said.

Addressing a post-cabinet media briefing, Mutsvangwa said on Tuesday that borders to be opened first include the country’s busiest, Beitbridge, on the border with South Africa, and Plumtree which borders with Botswana, Xinhua reported.

“The borders will open first to private passenger vehicles and pedestrian traffic from December 1, 2020, while further assessment is being undertaken with regard to preparations for handling public passenger transport,” said Mutsvangwa.

She said the borders will operate between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., until further notice.

Zimbabwe closed it’s ports of entry in March following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

While the government has allowed inter-city travel to resume, cross-border public transport remains banned.

The country reopened it’s skies to international flights at the beginning of this month as the government gradually reopens the economy.

Zimbabwe has recorded 8,303 Covid-19 cases, including 7,797 recoveries and 242 deaths as of October 26.

Also read:UN hopes Israel-Sudan agreement will ensure peace

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-Top News COVID-19

Smriti Irani Contracts Covid-19

Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday became the latest Union Minister to be infected by coronavirus.

Taking to Twitter, Irani said: “It is rare for me to search for words while making an announcement; hence here’s me keeping it simple – I’ve tested positive for COVID and would request those who came in contact with me to get themselves tested at the earliest.”

Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and AYUSH Minister Shripad Y. Naik were among those infected. Chief Ministers like Madhya Pradesh’s Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Karnataka’s B.S. Yediyurappa had also tested positive.

Also Read-India Govt Notifies New Land Laws in J&K

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-Top News COVID-19 EU News

Bulgarian PM tests Covid-19 positive

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov. (Credit: Xinhua)

The 61-year-old leader added that he has “postponed all meetings and public events for the upcoming days”…reports Asian Lite News

  • Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov. (Credit: Xinhua)

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov announced that he has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, joining a handful of world leaders to be infected with the disease.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, Borisov said: “After two PCR tests from today I’m positive with Covid-19. I generally have a general malaise, at the moment at the discretion of doctors I’m staying on home treatment.

“All contacts with me are submitted to the RZI (Metropolitan Regional Health Inspectorate). I’m sure that we will manage it together.”

The 61-year-old leader added that he has “postponed all meetings and public events for the upcoming days”.

The development comes in the wake of a recent spike in the number of new Covid-19 cases in Bulgaria.

The country has so far reported a total of 37,889 cases and 1,094

Borisov joins Polish President Andrzej Duda, US President Donald Trump, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the list of infected world leaders.

Also read:Trump campaigns in 3 swing states

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-Top News COVID-19 EU News

Covid-19: Spanish PM declares state of alarm

新华社照片，布鲁塞尔，2019年10月18日 （国际）欧盟秋季峰会结束 10月18日，在比利时布鲁塞尔，西班牙首相桑切斯在欧盟秋季峰会结束后出席国别新闻发布会。 当天，2019年欧盟秋季峰会在比利时布鲁塞尔结束。 新华社发（里卡多·帕雷贾尼摄） +32(0)496539019 图片已经欧总郑焕松审核 BELGIUM-BRUSSELS-EU-SUMMIT Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain, attends a national press conference at the end of the EU autumn summit at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 18, 2019. (Photo by Riccardo Pareggiani/Xinhua)

A state of alarm grants the government special powers to limit the movement of citizens…reports Asian Lite News

审核 BELGIUM-BRUSSELS-EU-SUMMIT Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain, attends a national press conference at the end of the EU autumn summit at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 18, 2019. (Photo by Riccardo Pareggiani/Xinhua)

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Sunday announced a state of alarm in an attempt to restrict the spread of coronavirus, days after Spain became the first European Union state to pass the grim one-million-case mark.

A state of alarm grants the government special powers to limit the movement of citizens.

The state of alarm, effective from Sunday, has an original duration of 15 days. But the Prime Minister said his government aims to keep it in effect until May 9, 2021 — a move needs the support of a majority in Spain’s 350-seat Congress, Xinhua reported.

The state of alarm was approved in an emergency cabinet meeting on Sunday morning after 11 out of Spain’s 17 Autonomous Communities had requested it. It will limit movements from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. for all regions of Spain except the Canary Islands.

“This is a restriction of night-time movement and has nothing to do with a curfew. According to experts, restrictions on mobility and a reduction in social relations are vital to contain the virus,” said Sanchez in his televised speech, adding that social meetings will be limited to six in the entire country.

“All of Europe is taking measures to limit mobility,” said Sanchez, adding that the Autonomous Communities will also have discretion to stop people entering or leaving their territory — for example, if a neighboring region is badly affected by the coronavirus.

The Health Ministry has reported over 1 million cases since the start of the pandemic. Sanchez commented that the coronavirus incidence in Spain has risen to 362 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and that one aim of re-imposing the State of Alarm is to bring this level down to just 25 cases.

The new State of Alarm will not, however, impose a strict lockdown as the one introduced on March 14, and Spain’s borders will also remain open.

A State of Alarm is the first of three emergency levels a Spanish government can apply under exceptional circumstances, with the others being “A State of Exception” and “Martial Law.”

Also read:Spain mulls curfews to curb Covid-19 flare ups

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-Top News COVID-19 EU News

Italy tightens Covid restrictions after spike in cases

The new measures will go into effect from Sunday midnight through November 24, the Premier explained during a nationally televised press conference…reports Asian lite News

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Sunday announced new measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

Conte said that pubs, bars, restaurants, and ice cream shops must shut down at 6 p.m.

The new measures will go into effect from Sunday midnight through November 24, the Premier explained during a nationally televised press conference.

According to the new measures, 75 per cent of high school students must follow their lessons remotely, Xinhua news agency reported.

Movie theaters, concert halls, gyms, swimming pools, as well as gaming and betting halls, must shut down. All contact sports are suspended except for national leagues.

Also suspended for a month are conferences, trade fairs, and civil ceremonies such as weddings and funerals. Museums, however, can stay open, Conte said.

The Prime Minister added that the government will promote smart working in public administration and that it “strongly recommends” the private sector do the same in order to reduce crowding on public transportation.

Rome, Aug. 18, 2020 (Xinhua) — Restaurant staff wait for customers in Rome, Italy, Aug. 4, 2020. (Xinhua/Cheng Tingting/IANS)

Conte said that while the government is not imposing a curfew, “we strongly recommend that people only leave home for work or health-related reasons.”

The move came after the Ministry of Health reported a surge of more than 17,000 infections and 151 fatalities on Saturday, pushing the tally to 203,182 and toll to 37,210 in the country.

Several of Italy’s 20 regions have recently imposed night-time curfews in a bid to stop people from crowding together. They include the northern Lombardy and Piedmont regions, Lazio in central Italy, and Calabria and Campania in the south.

The tightened restrictions came as Italy and other countries such as Britain, China, Russia and the United States are racing against time to develop coronavirus vaccines.

Also read:Italy announces new anti-Covid restrictions

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COVID-19 USA

Mike Pence’s top aide tests Covid-19 positive

US President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence at Republican National Convention.
United States Vice President Mike Pence (Photo: White House/IANS)

“Vice President Pence and Mrs. Pence both tested negative for Covid-19 today, and remain in good health”.said Pence’s press secretary..reports Asian Lite News

Marc Short, US Vice President Mike Pence’s Chief of Staff, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, it was announced.

“Today, Marc Short, Chief of Staff to the Vice President, tested positive for COVID-19, began quarantine and assisting in the contact tracing process,” Xinhua news agency quoted Devin O’Malley, Pence’s press secretary, said in a statement on Saturday.

“Vice President Pence and Mrs. Pence both tested negative for Covid-19 today, and remain in good health.

“While Vice President Pence is considered a close contact with Mr. Short, in consultation with the White House Medical Unit, the Vice President will maintain his schedule in accordance with the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines for essential personnel,” O’Malley added.

Short has travelled extensively with Pence, who has maintained a busy campaign schedule.

In addition, Bloomberg News reported earlier on Saturday that one of Pence’s closest political advisers, Marty Obst, contracted the virus on October 21.

Despite not being a government employee, Obst has frequently been in contact with the vice president, the outlet said, adding that he has not been in proximity with Pence since about a week ago.

On Saturday evening, Pence delivered a campaign speech in Tallahassee, Florida, during which Short did not accompany him.

Short was with the Vice President on October 23 for a rally in Indiana.

Pence has kept an aggressive travel schedule in recent weeks, campaigning tirelessly for the Trump-Pence ticket as the November 3 Election Day approaches.

He is expected to travel to North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Minnesota and other states in the coming days.

The Vice President’s spokeswoman, Katie Miller, was diagnosed with Covid-19 in May and has recovered since.

Also read:Pence delays Indiana trip to vote early