Covid-19 Pandemic: Live Updates and News for January 18, 2021

Photographer: Ariana Drehsler // AFP / Getty Images

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Worldwide cases of coronavirus reached 95 million percent, while the US death toll from Covid-19 was 400,000.

India has one of the biggest starts inoculation is driving the world, trying to stop infections in a nation of more than 1.3 billion people. The UK will increase its mass vaccination program this week as the country closes its boundaries for anyone who has not tested negative.

Elected US President Joe Biden’s promise to deliver 100 million vaccine doses in 100 days is ‘absolutely a’ doable thing, ”said dr. Anthony Fauci said. The US has intensified its claims that the virus from a Chinese laboratory.

Brazil allowed approval for the emergency use of vaccines AstraZeneca Plc and Sinovac Biotech Ltd. South Korea reported the lowest number of new cases in seven weeks. The Australian Open tennis tournament will continue even after the number of players sent to a 14-day hotel quarantine has risen to 72.

Important developments:

• Global Tracker: Business Passes 94.9 Million; deaths exceed 2 million
• Vaccine detection: More than 42.2 million shots are given worldwide
• Massive vaccination begins in India despite doubts about vaccines
• From the bubonic plague to 2021, why locks look ready to stay
• Thailand has sold itself as a paradise-like Covid retreat. Nobody came
• How vaccine fears threaten to delay end of pandemic: QuickTake

Sign in to a daily update of the virus from Bloomberg’s Prognosis Team here. Click on CVID on the terminal for global data on cases and deaths.

California says British variants seen across the state (09:00 HK)

The California Department of Health said it was concerned that the variant, which was first found in the UK, was increasingly identified by viral genomic sequencing in several provinces across the state. The variant has been seen in several major outbreaks in Santa Clara County.

Los Angeles County, the center of the latest wave, said Saturday he identifies his first case with the variant and expects the spread within the community to begin. “The reality is that the risk of contracting Covid-19 has increased with the presence of B.1.1.7 here in our community,” Hilda Solis, chair of the Board of Supervisors, said in a statement on Sunday.

South Korea has the fewest new cases in seven weeks (09:53 HK)

South Korea has reported 389 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours, compared to 520 the previous day, according to data from the Korean Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s website. The number is the lowest since November 29.

China’s Shanxi Bans Fever Medicine Sales on Covid Concerns (08:34 HK)

According to a statement from the region’s drug administration, Shanxi province in China has banned the sale of drugs for fever as part of efforts to break out a virus. Drug dealers should guide people with fever to visit a doctor at designated hospitals. Pharmacies are also told to monitor sales of antibacterial and cough medicines and report irregularities.

UK increases vaccine program as travel closes (08:24 HK)

The United Kingdom will mass vaccination program this week, which provides shots for millions more people as the country closes its borders to anyone who has not tested negative. Vaccinations are offered to people aged 70 and over, and those who are considered “clinically extremely vulnerable” as of Monday – the third and fourth priority group.

The government is considering ‘all possibilities’ to enforce Covid-19 rules for travelers, and would not rule out setting up quarantine hotels and using GPS trackers to combat the spread of the coronavirus, said Foreign Minister Dominic Raab sake, said.

Airlines that may carry passengers in Singapore: ST (07:43 HK)

Several foreign airlines have received approval from Singapore to transport passengers at Changi Airport to other destinations, an attempt to revive the city-state’s airline after travel restrictions collapsed amid the pandamic, the Straits Times reported.

According to the Singapore rules for transport, passengers must stay in designated facilities in the transit area. But those who come from places where Singapore has unilaterally opened its borders, such as China and Vietnam, are exempt from rule.

US Hospitalizations Pass 130,000 (7:11 HK)

Hospitalizations for the coronavirus exceeded 130,000 last week, new data from the Department of Health and Human Services shows. Covid-19 inpatients jumped 7.3% from December 29 to January 15 to 1331,637 data show. Texas, Florida, California, Georgia, New York, Arizona, and North and South Carolina recorded the largest increases. Hospitalizations for Covid-19 declined in the Midwest, with Illinois, Michigan, Colorado, North Dakota, and South Dakota accounting for 17% to 33% fewer patients.

Concerns over Eurostar survival grow (07:01 HK)

British business leaders call on government rescue of Eurostar International Ltd. because border closures aimed at halting new strains of Covid-19 threaten to push the Channel Tunnel railway operator into collapse.

Eurostar, whose passengers express London and Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, ‘need swift action to protect its future’, the London First Lobby Group said in a letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak, obtained by Bloomberg and signed by more than 25 managers and academics.

Swedish Prime Minister does not rule out new virus laws (15:50 NY)

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has said he cannot rule out further restrictions on a temporary right new law to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

“But I hope we do not have to use it, ”he said during an interview on state broadcaster SVT on Sunday evening. The law, which runs from January to September, gives the government of Lofven the right to close businesses and fine citizens who do not comply with stricter restrictions.

Virginia business breaks second day record (14:33 NY)

Virginia broke its record for new infections Sunday and rose to a new daily high of 9,914, state health data shows. The state recorded 6,757 new infections on Saturday. New deaths decreased to 23, compared to 50 the previous day, for a total of 5,729.

Brazil approves first vaccines; Shots start (14:02 NY)

Brazil allowed approval for emergency use of AstraZeneca Plc and Sinovac Biotech Ltd. vaccines against Covid-19, enabling the country to launch shots while the virus is roaring in the largest economy in Latin America.

Health regulator Anvisa cleared the vaccines at a Sunday meeting, citing the recent significant increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in Brazil and the lack of alternatives to treating the disease.

Hospitalizations in Ireland not yet at a peak, says Minister (13:05 NY)

Ireland expects coronavirus hospitalizations ‘to peak in the next week or two,’ Health Minister Stephen Donnelly told state broadcaster RTE Radio, even as the country increased its vaccination program.

The country has seen one of the worst virus outbreaks in the world since the new year, with hospitalizations almost reaching its previous peak in April. However, daily infections began to decline, and on Sunday, the 2,944 reported cases were the lowest since New Year’s Day, health officials said.

French minister calls for early vaccine passports (12:08 NY)