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 Pandemic not over, Johnson warns as England set for rule easing
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will urge caution on Monday as
he is expected to confirm plans to remove nearly all remaining
COVID-19 restrictions in England from July 19, despite a surge of
cases to levels not seen since the winter.
The government argues that even though cases have surged, deaths and
hospitalisations remain far lower than before, proof that the
vaccines are saving lives and it is safer to open up.
South Korea reports 1,100 new coronavirus cases
South Korea reported 1,100 new coronavirus cases for July 11, the
Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said on Monday,
as its toughest anti-COVID curbs take effect in Seoul in an attempt
to end its worst-ever outbreak.
The wave of infections has brought fewer serious cases and deaths
than earlier rounds, with many older and more vulnerable South
Koreans now vaccinated against the virus. But health authorities
have expressed concerns over the rising number of young patients who
have not received vaccine shots, and the spread of the highly
contagious Delta variant.
Australia's Delta outbreak worsens despite Sydney lockdown
The prospect of an extended lockdown in Sydney loomed on Monday as
Australian health officials reported yet another record daily rise
in COVID-19 cases for the year, fuelled by the highly infectious
Delta variant. New South Wales state reported 112 new locally
transmitted COVID-19 cases, almost all of them in Sydney, despite
the country's biggest city entering its third week of lockdown. Case
numbers have been at record levels for at least three days.
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 There was, however, a glimmer
of light as the number of newly infected people
who were out in the community while infectious
dropped to 34 from 45 on Sunday. State Premier
Gladys Berejiklian said the progress of that
figure in coming days would determine whether
Sydney's lockdown, due to end on Friday, would
be extended. Pfizer, U.S. health
officials to discuss boosters on Monday
COVID-19 vaccine maker Pfizer Inc will meet U.S. federal health
officials as soon as Monday to discuss the need for a booster dose
of the coronavirus vaccine as it prepares to seek authorisation, the
company said on Sunday.
The meeting comes days after the drugmaker and its partner BioNTech
announced plans to seek U.S. and European regulatory approval for a
third dose of their COVID-19 shot amid the spread of variants and
data they said showed heightened risk of infection six months after
initial inoculation.
Hundreds of Thai medical workers infected despite Sinovac
vaccinations
Thailand's health ministry said on Sunday more than 600 medical
workers who received two doses of China's Sinovac vaccine have been
infected with COVID-19, as authorities weigh giving booster doses to
raise immunity.
Of the 677,348 medical personnel who received two doses of Sinovac,
618 became infected, health ministry data from April to July showed.
A nurse has died and another medical worker is in critical
condition.
(Reporting by Karishma Singh; Editing by Robert Birsel)
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