Following is a summary of current health news briefs.
Germany’s confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 1,919 – RKI
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 1,919 to 3,754,511, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Saturday. The reported death toll rose by 28 to 91,520, the tally showed.
U.S. appeals court lifts CDC cruise ship restrictions in win for Florida
A federal appeals court late on Friday reversed course and let stand a lower court order prohibiting the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from enforcing coronavirus-related cruise ship rules in Florida. The decision is a win for Florida that had filed a lawsuit arguing the CDC curbs made it tough for the cruise industry to recover from the pandemic.
China’s Sinovac evaluates vaccine plant in Chile
Chilean authorities said on Friday that China’s Sinovac had begun evaluating potential sites for the construction of a vaccine plant in Chile that could begin producing doses of the Chinese shot as early as the first half of 2022. Chile, a global leader in vaccinating its citizens against the coronavirus, has leaned heavily on the Sinovac vaccine in its fast-paced mass vaccination program. The Andean nation also helped spearhead clinical trials of the shot late last year. A delegation of executives from Sinovac this week visited potential sites for the factory near the capital Santiago and in Chile’s northern desert. “This is an investment that could be made veryquickly and that would make the plant … operational in the first quarter next year,” Economy Minister Lucas Palacios told reporters following a site visit near Antofagasta. Palacios said the plant could produce as many as 50 million vaccine doses annually and in addition to its CoronaVac COVID-19 shot, it could produce vaccines for hepatitis B or influenza. Sinovac is expected to announce its final investment decision for the plant, which would supply vaccines in Chile and regionally, in the coming weeks.
China reports 35 new COVID-19 cases on July 23 vs 48 a day earlier
China reported 35 new COVID-19 cases in the mainland on July 23, down from 48 cases a day earlier, the country’s national health authority said on Saturday. Local infections accounted for 13 of the new cases,up slightly from 12 a day earlier, the National Health Commission said in a statement. Almost all of the local cases were reported in the eastern province of Jiangsu, it added.
United States buys 200 million more doses of Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
Pfizer Inc and German partner BioNTech said on Friday the U.S. government has purchased 200 million additional doses of their COVID-19 vaccine to help with pediatric vaccination as well as possible booster shots – if they are needed. A Biden administration official with knowledge of the contract said that as part of the agreement, Pfizer will provide the United States with 65 million doses intended for children under 12, including doses available immediately after the vaccine is authorized for that age group.
White House says new Pfizer vaccine order could help if booster shot needed
The U.S. purchased 200 million more doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for flexibility if booster shots are later needed and the shots are approved for younger children, the White House said on Friday. The vaccine makers announced the government’s purchase earlier on Friday.
Mexico City’s third wave of pandemic drives up hospital occupancy
COVID-19 hospitalizations in Mexico City and its suburbs, home to some 21 million people, increased by a third in the last week, authorities said on Friday, amid a third wave of the coronavirus pandemic. There are currently 3,382 people hospitalized in the metropolitan area of the Valley of Mexico, city official Eduardo Clark said. He added that if necessary more hospital beds would be turned over to COVID-19 treatment.
India reports 39,097 new covid-19 cases in last 24 hours – government
India reported on Saturday 39,097 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, a government statement said. The COVID-19 death toll rose by 546, with total deaths reaching 420,016, health ministry data showed.
J&J shot recipients may need a booster; new advice on infected kids
The following is a roundup of some of the latest scientific studies on the novel coronavirus and efforts to find treatments and vaccines for COVID-19. Johnson & Johnson shot may need boosting
Vaccinated people make up 75% of recent COVID-19 cases in Singapore, but few fall ill
Vaccinated individuals accounted for three-quarters of Singapore’s COVID-19 infections in the last four weeks, but they were not falling seriously ill, government data showed, as a rapid ramp-up in inoculations leaves fewer people unvaccinated. While the data shows that vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe cases, it also underscores the risk that even those inoculated could be contagious, so that inoculation alone may not suffice to halt transmission.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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