Trends - COVID19 - Business Recorder

Markets

Bank of Israel sees strong rebound if vaccine rolled out quickly

The bank left its benchmark interest rate at 0.1% for a sixth straight meeting, in line with analysts' forecasts in a Reuters poll.
The central bank said that if the rapid rate of inoculation was maintained, it forecast the economy to grow by 6.3% in 2021 and 5.8% in 2022.

Published 04 Jan, 2021 08:44pm

World

EU drugs agency meeting to discuss Moderna COVID-19 vaccine

The EMA's human medicines committee (CHMP) had been scheduled to meet on Wednesday.
In the event that the CHMP reaches an opinion at today's meeting, we would send out a press release as soon as possible after the meeting,

Published 04 Jan, 2021 08:39pm

World

Germany, Denmark mull delaying second COVID-19 vaccine shot

Germany, Denmark weigh delay in offering second vaccine dose.
Scientists cite vaccine shortages, soaring infections.
German minister under fire over slow innoculation campaign.
EU approval of Moderna vaccine expected this week.

Published 04 Jan, 2021 08:33pm

Business & Finance

Moderna raises 2021 vaccine output forecast to at least 600mn doses

The company was working to invest and hire in order to deliver up to 1 billion doses this.
Moderna said it has so far supplied about 18 million doses to US government as part of a deal for 200 million doses.

Published 04 Jan, 2021 08:32pm

World

EU defends its slow vaccine roll-out

EU countries started inoculations on December 27 with the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine, but progress has been much slower than in the United States, Britain or Israel.

Published 04 Jan, 2021 08:27pm

Markets

US stocks pause near records to open 2021

The tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index added 0.1 percent to 12,906.78.

Published 04 Jan, 2021 08:15pm

World

UK PM Johnson to set out COVID lockdown measures on Monday

He will make a televised address at 8 p.m. on Monday, and parliament will be recalled on Wednesday.
The spread of the new variant of COVID-19 has led to rapidly escalating case numbers across the country.

Published 04 Jan, 2021 08:13pm

World

eSwatini aims to vaccinate entire population against COVID-19

eSwatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is participating in the COVAX global vaccine distribution scheme co-led by the World Health Organization.
We are still trying to explore other sources for the vaccine in the event the country fails to secure the additional vaccine doses through the COVAX Facility due to limited supplies.

Published 04 Jan, 2021 08:11pm

World

UK scientists worry vaccines may not protect against South African coronavirus variant

UK says worried about S.African variant.
Mutations include extensive alterations to spike protein.
Changes could lead to "escape from immune protection".
Vaccine makers are testing shots against new variants.

Published 04 Jan, 2021 08:08pm

World

Russia considers COVID-19 vaccination certificates for cross-border travels

The document also said the government has been tasked with making the certificates internationally recognizable.
More than 800,000 people in Russia have been inoculated so far and more than 1.5 million vaccine doses have been dispatched.

Published 04 Jan, 2021 07:38pm

Pakistan

Review 2020: Pakistan's success story with PM Imran Khan

The government has handled the economic impact of pandemic with effective strategies and emerged successful during tough times.

Published 04 Jan, 2021 07:18pm

Pakistan

COVID-19 claims 15 more lives in Punjab

The Punjab health department has urged the masses to follow SOPs for their protection and cover their faces with masks.

Published 04 Jan, 2021 07:06pm

Pakistan

Federal capital records 117 fresh corona cases in last 24 hours: NCOC

According to NCOC, as many as 126 cases were reported on Sunday while 132 cases were reported on Saturday.

Published 04 Jan, 2021 07:04pm

Sports

Moeen Ali tests positive for COVID-19

The 33-year-old will now observe a 10-day self-isolation period in accordance with the Sri Lankan Government’s quarantine protocols.
All-rounder Chris Woakes has been deemed as a possible contact and he, too, will self-isolate until further testing.

Published 04 Jan, 2021 06:43pm

Pakistan

Govt spends Rs 260 million to treat Covid patients at RIU: Dr Yasmin

The minister said that 11 doctors had lost their lives while providing medical treatment to the patients of Coronavirus in the province.

Published 04 Jan, 2021 06:27pm

World

Dubai Airports and GMR Hyderabad agree deal to aid vaccine distribution

The vaccine corridor between Dubai and Hyderabad connects leading vaccine manufacturers in India with markets around the world through the Dubai International Airport cargo hub.
A major surge in demand for the efficient, safe and reliable global distribution of high volumes of COVID-19 vaccines is expected in the coming months.

Published 04 Jan, 2021 05:56pm

World

Pressure on French government to speed up vaccinations

According to the French health ministry just 516 people had received the vaccination by January 1.

Published 04 Jan, 2021 05:55pm

Business & Finance

UK first to roll out AstraZeneca shots in race to stem COVID surge

UK first to roll out AstraZeneca vaccine.
82-year-old dialysis patient is first to get shot.
UK hails British scientific 'triumph'.
Johnson mulls tougher lockdown in England.
Concerns grow over South African variant.

Published 04 Jan, 2021 05:41pm

World

UK PM Johnson to impose tougher COVID-19 curbs shortly

Cases of COVID-19 have risen sharply in Britain in recent weeks, fuelled by a new and more transmissible variant of the virus.
If you look at the numbers, there's no question that we're going to have to take tougher measures and we'll be announcing those in due course.

Published 04 Jan, 2021 05:39pm

Business & Finance

EU in discussions with Pfizer-BioNTech for additional vaccine doses

The Commission is checking with the companies whether there is a way to add additional doses to those for which we already have a deal.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the only one to be authorised in the EU so far.

Published 04 Jan, 2021 05:17pm

Business & Finance

NITB's Pass Track App Registrations Reach 400k

The Pass Track app by the National Information Technology Board's (NITB) registers 400,000 passengers travelling to Pakistan.
Around 2000 individuals have been registering daily on the app, according to a recent tweet by NITB.

Published 04 Jan, 2021 04:06pm

World

Palestinians excluded from Israel's vaccination drive, as millions in the occupied territory may wait months

Despite the fact that Israel has conducted a record-setting vaccination drive, having already vaccinated a tenth of the population, Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza have yet to be involved in the process.
Batches of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines have been dispatched to the West Bank, but they have only been distributed to Jewish settlers - depriving the nearly 2.7 million Palestinians in the territory.

Updated 04 Jan, 2021 03:04pm

Markets

Gulf stocks rise on higher oil prices as OPEC+ expected to cap output

The Qatari index was up 0.1% as Industries Qatar advanced 1.2%, while the Gulf's largest lender Qatar National Bank gained 0.7%.

Published 04 Jan, 2021 01:26pm

World

French adviser says COVID rate still too high to ease restrictions

France has one of the highest totals of COVID-19 cases in western Europe.

Published 04 Jan, 2021 01:24pm

World

UK rolls out AstraZeneca vaccine, touts British science triumph

Six hospitals in England are administering the first of around 530,000 doses Britain has ready.

Published 04 Jan, 2021 01:20pm

Pakistan

Pakistan decides to open educational institutions in phases from Jan 18

Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood announced that in the first phase, classes nine to 12 would be allowed to resume from January 18.
In the second phase, the minister said, primary to class 8 will resume on January 25.

Updated 04 Jan, 2021 03:15pm

Pakistan

Pakistan reports two more cases of new COVID strain: NCOC

The NIH examined a number of samples taken from passengers who returned from United Kingdom over suspicion of carrying the new Covid-19 variant
The new more "severe" coronavirus strain was detected in Britain and South Africa with experts claiming it spreads quicker than current types of the virus

Published 04 Jan, 2021 11:51am

Markets

OPEC+ meeting to set February production levels

On April 20, WTI crude collapsed to minus $40.32 per barrel -- meaning producers paid buyers to take the oil off their hands.

Published 04 Jan, 2021 11:38am

World

US officials reject Trump claims on toll, defend vaccine rollout

In Tennessee, elder citizens, some with walkers, were reported standing along a busy highway while waiting for their vaccinations.

Published 04 Jan, 2021 11:35am

World

Beijing vaccinates thousands in Covid-19 jab drive

But China now plans a gradual rollout for the vaccine starting with key groups considered to have a high risk of exposure to the virus, including port and logistic workers and people planning to return to studies abroad.

Published 04 Jan, 2021 11:26am