Trends - COVID19 - Business Recorder

World

WHO deplores 95pc of vaccine doses limited to 10 countries

According to website Our World in Data, over 32 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered so far.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 08:39pm

World

Africa CDC says nations must act fast to prepare for Covid vaccines

The African Union (AU) deal announced Wednesday is intended to benefit countries unable to finance their own immunisation campaigns.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 08:28pm

World

Sweden registers 6,580 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, total deaths top 10,000

The country of 10 million inhabitants registered 351 new deaths, taking the total to 10,185.
The deaths registered have occurred over several days and weeks with many from the Christmas period being registered with a significant delay.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 07:35pm

Business & Finance

Microsoft, Cigna form coalition for digital records of COVID-19 vaccination

The project, called Vaccination Credential Initiative, aims to help people get encrypted digital copies of their immunization records stored in a digital wallet of their choice.
Individuals without smartphones would receive paper printed with QR codes containing the credentials.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 07:25pm

Pakistan

25 deaths, 767 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Punjab

The Punjab health department conducted 2,655,241 tests for the COVID-19 so far while 131,825 confirmed cases had been recovered in the province.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 07:04pm

World

US weekly jobless claims increase more than expected

$300 unemployment supplement until March 14 as part of nearly $900 billion in additional relief approved at the end of December.
The central bank also noted that the resurgence in the coronavirus was causing staff shortages in the manufacturing.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 06:55pm

World

Brazil to start COVID-19 vaccinations on Jan. 21, says senator

President Jair Bolsonaro, who has been lambasted for overseeing the world's second deadliest coronavirus outbreak after the United States.
Two vaccines - one made by AstraZeneca and another developed by China's Sinovac Biotech - will form the bedrock of the government's vaccination plan.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 06:53pm

Pakistan

Six more corona patients die in Faisalabad

According to the health department spokesperson, the number of deaths had reached 365 since March last year.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 06:51pm

Business & Finance

India's Tata puts post-pandemic bet on digital, electronics and health

When you look at trends for the future, definitely there are clear signs you can pick up. Anything that is digital, we're making a big bet on.
"We are very serious about electric vehicles," Chandra said, adding that Tata is investing in developing clean technology cars at home through Tata Motors and at JLR.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 06:48pm

World

China denies entry to two WHO team members after tests, WSJ says

Chinese officials blocked the duo from boarding their plane to the central Chinese city of Wuhan after they tested positive for the antibodies in blood-based serology tests during transit in Singapore.
“Relevant epidemic prevention control requirements will be strictly enforced,” says Chinese FM spokesperson.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 06:45pm

Pakistan

226 patients die of coronavirus in Sargodha

He said a total 5,433 positive patients were recorded in the division.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 06:45pm

World

German public health official sees pandemic under control by year's end

Wieler urged people who were offered a COVID-19 vaccination to accept it to relieve the strain on hospitals and said people should stick to social distance and hygiene rules.
Hospitals in 10 out of Germany's 16 states are facing bottlenecks as 85% of the beds in its intensive care units were used by coronavirus patients, he added.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 06:01pm

World

Testing snag keeps 2 WHO China probe experts in Singapore

"All team members had multiple negative PCR and antibody tests for Covid-19 in their home countries prior to travelling," it said.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 05:51pm

World

Locked-down Tunisia marks decade since dictator's fall

His fall sparked a string of uprisings across North Africa and the Middle East, toppling other dictators long seen as untouchable.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 05:47pm

World

Africa cannot relax now COVID-19 vaccines are coming, health boss says

Africa has not started vaccinations and there is concern that more prosperous regions will get an unfair head start in the global fight against COVID-19.
We should not see vaccines as a magic bullet for now, it will take time for vaccines to be rolled out in a way that we have herd immunity.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 05:43pm

World

England high streets could lose 400,000 jobs post Covid: study

KPMG UK chief economist said consumers were more likely to purchase household goods online in the wake of the pandemic.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 05:36pm

World

Africa CDC says countries must act fast to prepare for Covid-19 vaccines

The AU deal announced Wednesday is intended to benefit countries unable to finance their own immunisation campaigns.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 05:29pm

World

Morocco's economy to grow 4.6pc in 2021 -planning agency

The forecast is based on assumptions of an improvement in foreign and domestic demand in addition to an average cereal yield of 7.5 million tonnes.
Lower tax revenues and higher subsidies to ease the impact of COVID-19 pushed Morocco's fiscal deficit to 7.4% in 2020.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 05:26pm

Business & Finance

Airlines face more turbulence before vaccine relief

Lockdowns hit bookings ahead of vaccine rollouts.
Cash-burn may worsen before recovery – IATA.
European airline sector 'primed for disappointment' – Citi.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 05:23pm

Business & Finance

India to treat homegrown COVID-19 vaccine same as AstraZeneca's

No vaccine is a backup to the other - both vaccines are equally important, both vaccines are hugely immunogenic.
This achievement will indeed be hailed as a major Indian scientific achievement once efficacy data are released.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 05:18pm

Business & Finance

One-dose Sputnik V vaccine to have 73-85pc efficacy

Authorities said on Monday that Russia would conduct a clinical trial of a one-dose version of its coronavirus vaccine.
It as a possible "temporary" solution to help countries with high infection rates make the drug go further.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 05:15pm

Business & Finance

Premier Inn owner Whitbread looks beyond lockdown after 1,500 job cuts

Cuts fewer jobs than expected.
Q3 UK accommodation sales down 55.2%.
Two-thirds of hotels and all restaurants shut.
Whitbread shares up 4.5%.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 05:08pm

World

Pope Francis, ex-pope Benedict get virus vaccines: Vatican

Media reports suggested Pope Francis received the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine, which was authorised for use in the European Union on December 21.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 05:07pm

Pakistan

AstraZeneca seeks registration of COVID-19 vaccine in Pakistan: report

The data of the clinical trials of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was also shared with the authority.
The vaccine has already been approved by British Medicine and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority.

Updated 14 Jan, 2021 04:04pm

World

COVID-19 infection gives some immunity for at least five months, UK study finds

People who have had COVID-19 are highly likely to have immunity to it for at least five months but there is evidence that those with antibodies may still be able to carry and spread the virus.
But experts cautioned that the findings mean people who contracted the disease in the first wave of the pandemic in the early months of 2020 may now be vulnerable to catching it again.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 03:23pm

Sports

Andy Murray tests positive for COVID-19

The former world No.1 is reportedly in good health and isolating at his residence in Surrey.
The three-time Major champion had been due to fly down to Australia this week to complete a two-week quarantine Down Under before the first Grand Slam of the season on February 8.

Updated 14 Jan, 2021 03:40pm

Pakistan

Pakistan reports over 3,000 new COVID-19 cases in past 24 hours

3,097 people tested positive for COVID-19 across the country in past 24 hours, raising the national tally to 511,921.
Over 29,743 cases have been reported across the country since the beginning of the new year while 642 people have died.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 02:00pm

World

Lebanon enters strict lockdown to stem coronavirus uptick

The heightened restrictions, which include a 24-hour curfew until January 25, come after some hospitals started to run out of beds to treat Covid patients.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 01:38pm

Business & Finance

France's PSA sales slump on virus hit

The company said the European market staged a strong recovery in the second half of 2020, jumping 40 percent compared with the first six months when governments imposed strict lockdowns to try to control the first wave of Covid-19.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 01:31pm

Business & Finance

US December deficit hits $144bn, record for the month

Receipts for the month rose 3% from a year earlier to $346 billion, while outlays were up 40% to $490 billion.

Published 14 Jan, 2021 01:05pm