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- Pfizer says the US government is buying an additional 200 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Students stressed and worried as universities were rejecting accommodation due to COVID-19.
- Ontario’s COVID-19 Program Paid to Get a Little Rush.
- Frontier communities were frustrated that the United States would later open up from Canada, keeping Quebecers at home.
- 75% of eligible Albertans have had at least one injection of the COVID-19 vaccine.
- The study found that two doses of Pfizer, AstraZeneca COVID-19 shots were effective against the delta variant.
- Do you have a question regarding the coronavirus or news tip for CBC News? e-mail: Covid@cbc.ca Or join us directly in the comments now.
The British government has sought to ease food supply pressures in England by relieving some workers from quarantine rules.
In an announcement late Thursday after mounting pressure from retailers facing staff shortages and empty shelves, the plan outlined plans for daily COVID-19 testing for critical food industry workers that would effectively allow those who test negative to continue working even if they were notified. Phones are self-isolating due to contact with someone infected with the virus.
The move, along with a limited relaxation of self-isolation rules in other key sectors and vital public services, including essential transport, emergency services and the energy industry, came amid growing concerns within the government about the impact of the so-called “pandemic” in many key sectors of the British economy. .
Hundreds of thousands of people, including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, are forced to self-isolate for 10 days after being notified through the National Health Service’s testing and tracing app that they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus. .
Expand the test
It was concerns about food supplies that prompted the government to change its approach as more and more workers, including essential delivery drivers, were forced to self-isolate, leading to scenes of empty supermarket shelves and fears of panic buying by anxious consumers.
The government said it has identified priority locations, including the largest supermarket distribution centres, where testing will begin this week. The program will be expanded to include up to 500 locations next week.
“As we are managing this virus and doing everything we can to break the chains of transmission, daily contact testing of workers in this vital sector will help reduce the disruption caused by the surge in cases in the coming weeks, while ensuring that workers are not at risk,” said Health Minister Sajid Javid, who He is also self-isolating after he tested positive for the virus at the end of last week.
Retailers welcomed the new government’s policy, but many said the government should be prepared to take further action if needed, which could expose its previously announced plan to change self-isolation rules on August 16.
On that date, the government said it would exempt fully vaccinated individuals from self-isolation rules. The change comes nearly a month after most coronavirus-related legal rules in England were scrapped. Other countries in the UK – Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – are more cautious in lifting restrictions.
Besides measures to protect food supplies, the government published guidance Thursday evening setting out limited exceptions for 16 other critical workers if their inability to work would have a “significant adverse effect” or threaten national security. However, the instructions have already proven difficult to understand.
Under the new guidance, fully vaccinated employees who provide what are considered important services will be able to continue working and avoid self-isolation if they are named to a list that is updated by officials.
-From the Associated Press, last updated at 7 a.m. ET
What is happening in Tokyo
Ian Hanumansingh talks with former athletes Patrick Chan, Annick Horn Miller and journalist Vicki Hall about how competing without an audience and concern about COVID-19 can affect athletes’ performance. 6:24
Tokyo reported 1,359 cases of the COVID-19 virus on Friday, as part of a wave of infections in the capital as the Olympics kick off. Tokyo reported 1,979 cases on Thursday, the highest level since January.
The update came before the Games’ opening ceremony. The ceremony was mostly held without spectators to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection, although some officials, guests and the media were present.
–From Reuters, Associated Press and CBC News, last updated at 7:05 a.m. ET
What is happening around the world
As of early Friday morning, more than 192.5 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University’s case tracking tool. The reported global death toll has reached more than 4.1 million.
In the AmericasPfizer Inc. said. And German partner BioNTech said Friday that the US government had purchased an additional 200 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and had the option to purchase an updated version of the vaccine that targets new types of the virus. This announcement brings the total number of doses to be made available to the United States to 500 million. Of those, nearly 208 million doses have been delivered, according to Thursday’s data from the government.
Pfizer last year signed a deal with the US government to acquire 100 million doses of the vaccine for nearly $2 billion, with an option to purchase an additional 500 million doses. The companies said the majority of the new doses will be available by the end of the year, and the remaining 90 million will be delivered by April 30 next year.
The director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday that the seven-day average for new cases in the United States was up 53 percent from the previous week. The delta variant, which was first detected in India, comprises more than 80 percent of new cases nationwide.
Pfizer said earlier this month that the companies plan to seek permission from US and European regulators to get a booster dose of their COVID-19 vaccine.
The World Health Organization said Thursday that new cases of COVID-19 have slowed Africa, “driven by a sharp decline in South Africa, which accounts for the largest portion of cases reported on the continent.”
However, Dr Machidiso Moeti, WHO’s regional director for Africa, cautioned that more needs to be done – and quickly.
“Don’t be under illusions,” Moeti said in a statement. “The third wave of Africa is not over yet.” “Many countries remain at peak risk and the third wave in Africa has risen faster and higher than ever before.”
In the Asia Pacific In the region, Pakistan has passed a bleak milestone of one million cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began last year. Pakistan reported 11 more deaths on Friday and 1,425 new cases, bringing the number of infected people in the country to 1,000,034. The nation has confirmed 22,939 deaths.
Meanwhile, the government in Taiwan said on Friday that Taiwan will ease its restrictions on the coronavirus next week, as a rapid decline in case numbers gives authorities confidence to further lower the alert level for the coronavirus.
in a EuropeProfessor Jean-Francois Delfraissy said this week that a fourth wave of infections will hit French hospitals in the second half of August. Delfraissy is the chair of the scientific council that advises the government on COVID-19 responses.
In the Middle eastIsrael announced plans this week to allow only people who are considered immune to COVID-19 or who have recently been negatively tested to enter some public places such as restaurants, gyms and synagogues.
— From The Associated Press, CBC News and Reuters, last updated at 8:15 a.m. ET
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