|
 Japan expands state of emergency as COVID-19 surge shadows Olympics
Japan decided on Friday to expand states of emergency to three
prefectures near Olympic host Tokyo and the western prefecture of
Osaka, as COVID-19 cases spike in the capital and around the
country, overshadowing the Summer Games.
Tokyo, already under its fourth state of emergency since the
pandemic began, on Friday announced 3,300 new cases, after a record
3,865 the day before. The surge is beginning to strain the medical
system, with 64% of Tokyo's hospital beds available for serious
COVID-19 cases already filled as of mid-week.
Japan has avoided a devastating COVID-19 outbreak, but is now
struggling to contain the highly transmissible Delta variant, with
daily cases nationwide topping 10,000 for the first time on
Thursday.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Olympics organisers have denied
there is any link between the Summer Games and the recent sharp
spike in cases.
Unlike the voluntary restrictions and low vaccination rates
elsewhere in Japan, the Olympic village in Tokyo for athletes and
coaches boasts more than 80% vaccination, testing is compulsory and
movement is stringently curtailed.
Philippines to place Manila area in lockdown to curb Delta variant
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday approved the
imposition of lockdown measures in the capital region in a bid to
contain the spread of the Delta coronavirus variant and to shield
the country's medical system.
The Manila capital region, a sprawl of 16 cities home to more than
13 million people, will be placed under the tightest quarantine
curbs from Aug. 6 to 20.
The highly transmissible Delta variant, first detected in India, has
spread rapidly across much of Southeast Asia.
Vietnam's health ministry issued an urgent appeal on Friday for
private hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients as the country battles
a surge in infections.
Mixing Russia's Sputnik V, AstraZeneca shots proves safe in small
trial -RDIF
[to top of second column] |
 Trials mixing a first dose of
the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccine with
AstraZeneca's shot revealed no serious side
effects and no subsequent cases of coronavirus
among volunteers, the Russian Direct Investment
Fund (RDIF) said on Friday. The
trial involved 50 people and began in Azerbaijan in February, RDIF,
which is responsible for marketing Sputnik V vaccine abroad, said in
a statement.
China's CanSino Biologics meanwhile may start a clinical trial using
Sputnik V followed by a shot of its own COVID-19 vaccine as early as
next month.
Australia PM wants 80% of adults vaccinated before border opening
Australia will have to vaccinate 80% of its adults against COVID-19
before it can consider reopening its border, Prime Minister Scott
Morrison said on Friday.
Australia has handled the coronavirus crisis much better than many
other developed countries. But that has been achieved largely by
sealing its border to all but a trickle of people since the pandemic
began.
India's Serum Institute ties up with industry in push to vaccinate
rural areas
The Serum Institute of India said on Friday it had partnered with an
industry body to expand the reach of COVID-19 shots in India's
countryside as it had "plenty of supply" of the AstraZeneca drug.
While some 452 million vaccine doses have been administered, the
pace of inoculations in rural areas, where two-thirds of India's
1.35 billion people live, has lagged that of urban centres.
(Compiled by Joe Bavier; Editing by Giles Elgood)
[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content |
