Covid-19 Pandemic: Updates and live news from January 18, 2021

Photographer: Ariana Drehsler // AFP / Getty Images

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Global coronavirus cases approached 95 million, while the number of U.S. deaths from Covid-19 approached 400,000.

India started one of the largest inoculation leads the world and seeks to curb infections in a nation of more than 1.3 billion people. The UK will step up its mass vaccination program this week as a country it closes its borders to anyone who has not been negative.

The promise of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden to deliver 100 million doses of vaccine in 100 days is “absolutely a “Feasible,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci. The United States has stepped up its claims that the virus may have arisen from a Chinese laboratory.

Brazil granted approval for emergency use of AstraZeneca Plc and Sinovac Biotech Ltd. vaccines South Korea recorded 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 rose to 72.

Main developments:

• Global Tracker: cases exceed 94.9 million; the deaths exceed 2 million
• Vaccine Tracker: More than 42.2 million shots given worldwide
• Massive inoculation begins in India despite doubts about vaccines
• From the bubonic plague to 2021, why the blockages look like they will stay
• Thailand was sold as a Covid refuge paradise. No one came
• How fear of the vaccine threatens to delay the end of the pandemic: QuickTake

Subscribe to daily virus update from The Bloomberg forecast team here. Click CVID on the terminal for global data on cases and deaths.

California says UK variant has been seen across the state (9.00 HK)

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

Los Angeles County, the epicenter of the latest wave, said Saturday it identified its first case with the variant and expects outreach to the community to begin. “The reality is that the risk of hiring Covid-19 has increased with the presence of B.1.1.7 here in our community,” Hilda Solis, chair of the county board of supervisors, said in a statement Sunday.

South Korea has fewer new cases in seven weeks (9:53 am HK)

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

Shanxi, China, bans the sale of feverfew medications due to coveted concerns (8:34 am HK)

China’s Shanxi province banned the sale of anti-fever drugs as part of efforts to prevent a virus outbreak, according to a statement from the region’s drug administration. Drug dealers should refer people with a fever to see a doctor at designated hospitals. Pharmacies are also told to monitor sales of antibacterial and cough medicines and report any irregularities.

UK intensifies vaccination program when travel corridors close (8:24 am HK)

The UK will intensify its massive vaccination program this week, which offers shots at millions more people as the country closes its borders to anyone who has not been negative. From Monday, vaccines will be offered to people aged 70 and over and those who are considered “extremely clinically vulnerable”, the third and fourth priority group.

The government is considering “every possibility” to enforce Covid-19 standards for travelers, and will not rule out establishing quarantine hotels and using GPS trackers to combat the spread of the coronavirus, said Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.

Airlines flying to Singapore: ST (7:43 am HK)

Several foreign airlines have received approval from Singapore to transit passengers at Changi Airport to other destinations, a move to reactivate the city-state airline after being mistreated by travel restrictions amid the pandemic, he said. reported the Straits Times.

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

130,000 hospitalization passes in the US (7:11 am HK)

Coronavirus hospitalizations exceeded 130,000 last week, according to new data from the Department of Health and Human Services. Patients hospitalized with Covid-19 jumped 7.3% to 131,637 from December 29 to January 15 data show. Texas, Florida, California, Georgia, New York, Arizona and North and South Carolina saw the largest increases. Hospitalizations for Covid-19 declined throughout the Midwest, with Illinois, Michigan, Colorado, North Dakota, and South Dakota registering 17% to 33% fewer patients.

Concern for Eurostar survival grows (7:01 am HK)

UK business leaders called for a government the rescue of Eurostar International Ltd. as border closures intended to stop new Covid-19 strains threaten to push the Channel Tunnel rail operator into collapse.

Eurostar, whose passenger expresses a link between London and Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, needs “swift action to safeguard its future,” lobby group London First said in a letter to Executive Chancellor Rishi Sunak obtained by Bloomberg and signed by more than 25 executives and academics.

Swedish Prime Minister does not rule out new virus laws (3:50 pm NY)

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

“But I hope we will not need it, “he said during an interview with state broadcaster SVT on Sunday evening. The law, which runs from January to September, gives the Lofven government the right to close businesses and fine citizens who breach tougher restrictions.

Virginia Cases breaks second day record (2:33 pm NY)

Virginia shattered its record for new infections Sunday, reaching a new daily high of 9,914, according to state health data. On Saturday, the state had set a record 6,757 new infections. The new fatalities slowed to 23, compared to 50 the day before, for a total of 5,729.

Brasil aprova les primeres vacunes; Shots Begin (14:02 pm NY)

Brasil atorgat aprovació per a l’ús d’emergència de les vacunes AstraZeneca Plc i Sinovac Biotech Ltd. contra el Covid-19, cosa que permet al país iniciar el desplegament de trets a mesura que el virus torna a la major economia d’Amèrica Llatina.

El regulador sanitari Anvisa va eliminar les vacunes en una reunió diumenge, citant el recent augment significatiu del nombre de casos de Covid-19 al Brasil i la manca d’alternatives per al tractament de la malaltia.

Les hospitalitzacions d’Irlanda encara no són al màxim, diu el ministre (13:05 pm a Nova York)

Irlanda espera que les hospitalitzacions per coronavirus arribin al màxim “en la propera o dues setmanes”, va dir el ministre de Salut, Stephen Donnelly, a l’emissora estatal RTE Radio, fins i tot mentre el país augmenta el seu programa de vacunació.

El país ha experimentat un dels pitjors brots de virus del món des del nou any, amb hospitalitzacions gairebé el doble del màxim anterior a l’abril. Tot i així, les infeccions diàries han començat a caure i diumenge els 2.944 casos reportats van ser els més baixos des del dia de Cap d’Any, segons van informar les autoritats sanitàries.

El ministre francès demana prematur el passaport de vacunes (12:08 pm NY)