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 Infections in Tokyo may have jumped nine-fold
The number of people infected by the novel coronavirus in Tokyo may
have increased nine-fold since last summer, antibody tests showed,
as Japan tries to rein in the country's third and most lethal wave
of the pandemic ahead of the Olympics in July.
Random testing on people in Japan's capital in December showed that
0.91% had antibodies to the virus, compared with about 0.1% in a
similar study in June.
Reported infections in Japan have trended down in recent days but
the government has signalled it would remain cautious.
Pfizer drops India vaccine application
Pfizer said on Friday it had withdrawn an application for
emergency-use authorisation of its vaccine in India, after failing
to meet the drug regulator's demand for a local safety and
immunogenicity study.
The decision means the vaccine will not be available for sale in the
world's two most populous countries, India and China, in the near
future. Both countries are running their immunisation campaigns
using other products.
Unlike other companies conducting small studies in India for
foreign-developed vaccines, Pfizer had sought an exception, citing
approvals it had received elsewhere.
J&J files vaccine application with FDA
Johnson & Johnson said on Thursday it has asked U.S. health
regulators to authorise its single-dose vaccine for emergency use,
and it will apply to European authorities in coming weeks.
The drugmaker's application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) follows its Jan. 29 report in which it said the vaccine had a
66% rate of preventing infections in its large global trial.
The FDA said on Thursday evening that it has scheduled a meeting of
its Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee on
Feb. 26, to discuss the company's request.
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 Australia to ease caps on
returning citizens
Australia's biggest state will exit a snap
five-day lockdown after reporting no cases for
five straight days, as the national cabinet
decided to lift the temporary caps on citizens
returning from overseas from the middle of this
month.
Western Australia's state capital Perth and
southwest region, home to some two million
people, will exit lockdown from 6 pm local time
on Friday, state Premier Mark McGowan said,
adding the only reason that could change was if
local cases were recorded before that time.
Australia will reinstate prior limits on
international travellers allowed back each week
to some states, after cutting the number by
nearly half to around 3,000 in early January.
New Zealand resumes refugee intake
New Zealand said on Friday it will start
receiving refugees again this month, nearly a
year after it shut its borders to stop the
spread of COVID-19.
A group of 35 refugees will arrive in February,
with about 210 refugees expected to enter the
country by June 30, Immigration New Zealand and
officials said.
"With health protocols in place and safe travel
routes, we are ready to welcome small groups of
refugee families as New Zealand residents to
this country, to begin their new lives," Fiona
Whiteridge, general manager for refugee and
migrant services at Immigration New Zealand,
said.
(Compiled by Linda Noakes; editing by Barbara
Lewis)
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