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 New, milder, virus variant found
Researchers in Singapore have discovered a new variant of the
COVID-19 coronavirus that causes milder infections, a study
published in The Lancet medical journal found.
The study showed that COVID-19 patients infected with the variant of
SARS-CoV-2 had better clinical outcomes, with a lower proportion
developing low blood oxygen or requiring intensive care.
The study also showed the variant elicited a more robust immune
response.
The variant, which likely came from Wuhan, China, was detected in a
cluster of infections from January to March 2020. An expert told
Reuters this week that mutations in viruses may be "a good thing".
Myanmar locks down Rakhine state capital
Myanmar has locked down the state capital of conflict-torn Rakhine
state after an outbreak of a coronavirus strain that officials said
was more infectious than that previously seen in the country.
Nineteen people have tested positive for the virus in the western
region since Monday, health officials said on Friday, the first
local transmission in Myanmar in months, bringing the total number
of cases to 409.
Myat Htut Nyunt, deputy director at Myanmar's medical research
department, said the type of virus was the same as a mutation
detected earlier this week in Malaysia, which has been found in
Europe, North America, and parts of Asia and is thought to be more
infectious.
Record daily cases in Poland
Poland reported 903 new coronavirus cases on Friday, the Health
Ministry's Twitter account said, the highest daily increase since
the pandemic began.
The record comes days after the health minister resigned and as
Poland braces for the school year starting on Sept.1.
The health ministry data showed the biggest increase in the south of
Poland, including the mining region Silesia, which has been hit hard
by the COVID-19 crisis as many miners caught the disease and mining
operations were closed.
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Outbreaks have become more dispersed and mostly stem from gatherings, such as
weddings, crowded work places and organised holidays.
Masks off again in Beijing
Health authorities in Beijing have removed a requirement for people to wear
masks outdoors, further relaxing rules aimed at preventing the spread of the
novel coronavirus after the city reported 13 consecutive days without new cases.
It is the second time Beijing's health authorities have relaxed guidelines on
mask-wearing in the Chinese capital, which has largely returned to normal
operations after two rounds of lockdowns brought the city to a standstill.
Despite the relaxed guidelines, a large proportion of people continued to wear
masks in Beijing on Friday. Some said the mask made them feel safe, while others
said social pressures to wear the masks were also a factor.
Doctors strike in Nairobi
Doctors in most public hospitals in Kenya's capital went on strike on Friday to
protest against delayed salaries and a lack of protective equipment when
handling patients who may have COVID-19.
The strike began at midnight on Friday, said Thuranira Kaugiria, secretary
general for the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union.
He said 320 doctors employed by the Nairobi County government were taking part
in the strike because they had inadequate health insurance, poor quality
protective gear and not enough isolation wards to treat COVID-19 patients.
(Compiled by Linda Noakes; editing by Barbara Lewis)
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