Coronavirus Breaking News

To address the lack of access to tests and testing services in multiple countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) published on January 29, 2021, a yearly essential diagnostics list (EDL), a basket of recommended in vitro diagnostics that should be available at point-of-care and in laboratories in all countries to increase timely and life-saving diagnoses.

The latest edition includes WHO-recommended COVID-19 tests (PCR and Antigen), expands the suite of tests for vaccine-preventable and infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases (such as cancer and diabetes), and introduces a section on endocrinology, which is important for reproductive and women’s health. For the first time, the list includes tests that should not be supplied in countries, either because they are not cost-effective, unreliable, or surpassed by newer, easier to use technologies.

‘Access to quality tests and laboratory services is like having a good radar system that gets you where you need to go. Without it, you’re flying blind,’ said WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a press statement. ‘All countries should pay particular attention to the diagnostics space and use the essential list to promote better health, keep their populations safe, and serve the vulnerable.’

The report follows the findings from the third meeting of the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on In-Vitro Diagnostics, which advises the Director-General of WHO in the area of diagnostics.

The European Union announced new rules regarding exports of COVID-19 vaccines on January 29, 2021. However, according to the AP News, the European Commission (EC) made clear the new measure will not trigger controls on COVID-19 vaccine shipments produced in the 27-nation union to parts of the United Kingdom (UK).

“The UK has legally-binding agreements with vaccine suppliers, and it would not expect the EU, as a friend and ally, to do anything to disrupt the fulfillment of these contracts,” the UK said.

Stella Kyriakides, the commissioner for health and food safety, Tweeted the EU is working with companies to ensure the vaccines are delivered. "It depends on all parties living up to their contractual, social, and moral responsibilities," she said.

These concerns are related to the European Commission granting a conditional marketing authorization (CMA) for the COVID‑19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca, the third COVID-19 vaccine authorized in the EU.

The President of the EC, Ursula von der Leyen, said in a press release, “Securing safe vaccines for Europeans is our utmost priority. With the AstraZeneca vaccine now authorized, 400 million additional doses will be available in Europe. I expect the company to deliver these doses as agreed so that Europeans can be vaccinated as soon as possible. We will continue doing all we can to secure more vaccines for Europeans, our neighbors, and our partners worldwide.”

The AstraZeneca COVID-19 (AZD1222) coronavirus vaccine candidate is made from a virus (ChAdOx1), a weakened version of a common cold virus (adenovirus). Genetic material has been added to the ChAdOx1 construct, which is used to make proteins from the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus called Spike glycoprotein.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), located in Atlanta, Georgia, issued an extensive Federal Order on January 29, 2021, requiring the wearing of face masks by travelers within the USA who are older than 1 year of age to prevent the coronavirus's spread that causes COVID-19.

This CDC Order becomes effective on February 1, 2021.

This Order must be followed by all passengers on public conveyances (e.g., airplanes, ships, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis, ride-shares) traveling into, within, or out of the USA, as well as conveyance operators (e.g., crew, drivers, conductors, and other workers involved in the operation of conveyances) and operators of transportation hubs ( e.g., airports, bus or ferry terminals, train or subway stations, seaports, ports of entry) or any other area that provides transportation in the United States.

Furthermore, travelers must wear masks covering both the mouth and nose when awaiting, boarding, traveling on, or disembarking public conveyances. People must also wear masks when entering or on the premises of a transportation hub in the USA.

According to the CDC, this Federal Oder signed by Dr. Martin S. Cetron, the new Director of the Division of Global Mitigation and Quarantine, will be enforced through criminal penalties by Federal Authorities and other appropriate agencies.

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on January 29, 2021, certain airlines have agreed to suspend service to destinations in the Caribbean and Mexico, starting the 29th, until April 30, 2021.

"With the challenges we currently face with the COVID-19 pandemic, both here at home and abroad, we all agree that now is just not the time to be flying," said Trudeau outside his home at Rideau Cottage.

Furthermore, Trudeau stated 'Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing, and Air Transat airlines will be making arrangements with their customers currently in these regions to organize flights home.

And starting in February, all international passenger flights will land at the Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, and Montreal airports, said Trudeau. This change includes flights from the USA.

The prime minister also announced the Canadian government would be introducing mandatory PCR testing at airports for people returning to Canada, on top of the pre-boarding test requirements already mandated. Travelers will then have to wait up to three days at an approved hotel for their test results, at their own expense, which Trudeau said is expected to be more than $2,000.

Those with a negative test will then be able to finish their 14-day quarantine at home, with increased surveillance.

On January 28, 2021, the Public Health Agency of Canada issued the following statement: 'As COVID-19 activity continues in Canada, we are tracking a range of epidemiological indicators to monitor where the disease is most active, where it is spreading and how it is impacting the health of Canadians and public health, laboratory, and healthcare capacity.'

'The latest national-level data indicate a recent downward trend in daily case counts. While this suggests that community-based measures may be starting to take effect, it is too soon to be sure that current measures are strong enough and broad enough to maintain a steady downward trend.'

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) announced on January 29, 2021, the registration of the Russian vaccine against coronavirus Sputnik V by the National Administration of Pharmaceuticals and Medicines of the Republic of Guinea. The Republic of Guinea is the second African country to approve the Sputnik V vaccine.

The vaccine was registered as part of an emergency use authorization based on Sputnik V clinical trials in Russia.

Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the RDIF, said in a press statement, “The Republic of Guinea became the second African state to register the Sputnik V vaccine. High safety and efficacy rates make Sputnik V one of the most demanded vaccines against coronavirus on all continents."

"The drug was created on the well-studied human adenoviral vectors platform and is highly trusted by our partners in the Republic of Guinea. The Sputnik V vaccine was vaccinated by the President of the Republic, Alpha Conde. We welcome the regulator's decision to approve the vaccine and stand ready to support the Republic of Guinea in the fight against the pandemic."

Sputnik V is also registered in Russia, Belarus, Argentina, Bolivia, Serbia, Algeria, Palestine, Venezuela, Paraguay, Turkmenistan, Hungary, and the United Arab Emirates.

The Russian Federation's capital city of Moscow, with about 12 million residents, has lifted certain COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, such as work-from-home and restaurant guidelines. Moscow's Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated he signed a decree on January 27, 2021, which eliminated the requirement to transfer at least 30% of employees to remote work.

And restrictions on night work of catering establishments, night clubs, bars, discos, karaoke, bowling alleys, and other leisure and entertainment industry organizations are also canceled in Moscow. The Moscow Government will decide on changes at universities in early February 2021.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, The Moscow Times reported Russia had confirmed 3,793,810 cases of coronavirus and 71,651 related fatalities.

According to local media reporting on January 28, 2021, the Comirnaty vaccine shows 92% effectiveness in Israel. Only 31 out of 163,000 Israelis vaccinated by Maccabi Healthcare Services caught coronavirus in their first 10 days of full-strength protection, its top vaccine statistics analyst, Anat Ekka Zohar, told The Times of Israel. In an equivalent sample of unvaccinated Israelis, some 6,437 were diagnosed in the same timeframe.

Additionally, the Israeli Ministry of Health's Director-General Prof. Chezy Levy issued guidance 'to lower the vaccinated population's age to 35 and older effective January 28, 2021.

Germany-based BioNTech and Pfizer co-developed the Comirnaty (BNT162b2) vaccine to prevent severe COVID-19. Comirnaty is a nucleoside-modified RNA formulated in lipid nanoparticles and encodes an optimized SARS-CoV-2 full-length spike protein antigen.