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Why Asian govts are approaching Covid-19 vaccines with caution
In stark contrast to Western nations that have rushed to inoculate their populations with the new Covid-19 vaccines, Asian governments are taking their time to grant regulatory approvals for the shots that can finally end the pandemic. Their cautious approach may seem strange given the urgency to resume normal life, but low infection rates mean that they can wait to see how the unprecedented vaccination drives play out elsewhere.
India has introduced an app called CoWIN (Covid Vaccine Intelligence Work) that will be the backbone of the exercise to vaccinate its vast population, India bureau chief Nirmala Ganapathy reports. Through the app, authorities will SMS those who have registered to get vaccinated, and officials can use the app to track each dose of the vaccine, have a clear picture of how many
WHO Team In China Will Start Meetings Online From Quarantine WHO Team In China Will Start Meetings Online From Quarantine Their arrival at the city in central China on Thursday was disrupted by the absence of two members who failed coronovirus antibody tests in Singapore.
The team of 15 had all tested negative for the disease prior to leaving their home countries.
Wuhan, China:
A World Health Organization-led team investigating the origins of COVID-19 are to begin virtual meetings with their Chinese hosts from a hotel in China s Wuhan, where the pandemic first emerged, on Friday.
Their arrival at the city in central China on Thursday was disrupted by the absence of two members who failed coronovirus antibody tests in Singapore. One of the missing members has since passed a test and their travel to China is being arranged, according to China s foreign ministry.
China reported its biggest jump in COVID-19 cases in more than 10 months as infections in northeastern Heilongjiang province nearly tripled, underscoring the growing threat ahead of a major national holiday when hundreds of millions of people usually travel.
The team of 15 had all tested negative for the disease prior to leaving their home countries, and underwent further testing while in transit in Singapore.
CCP Virus Updates: UK Bans Arrivals From South America
The United Kingdom is banning arrivals from South America following evidence of a new variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus in Brazil.
The government says that beginning at 4 a.m. Friday, arrivals will no longer be allowed from all South American countries as well as the Cape Verde islands off the west coast of Africa and Panama in Central America.
Biden Announces $1.9 Trillion Plan
President-elect Joe Biden late Thursday announced a $1.9 trillion stimulus plan to address the ongoing CCP virus pandemic in the United States.
Biden asserted that more spending early on would reduce the long-term economic damage caused by the CCP virus lockdowns and restrictions.