Covid-19 Pandemic: Updates and live news for January 4, 2021

refers to Tokyo Emergency Mulled;  Thailand sees registered cases: virus update

Photographer: Daniel Leal-Olivas / AFP / Getty Images

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Global coronavirus infections have risen to more than 85 million, after daily cases in the US rose to a record nearly 300,000 after the New Year’s holiday.

The Prime Minister of Japan is considering another state of emergency for the Tokyo area, with cases highlighted and the launch of a vaccine more than a month away. Thailand imposed fresh edges against the background of record infections. Chinese Foreign Minister said outbreaks could have caused the pandemic as the examination grows on the origins of the pathogen.

The UK is ready to deliver the first photos of the AstraZeneca vaccine on Monday, in a race against a faster-spread variant that caused the blockade across the country. India agreed emergency approval for Astra shooting. Anthony Fauci said the launch of the vaccine in the US is raising the speed after a slow start.

Key developments:

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Thailand reports multiple registered cases (12:56 pm HK)

Thailand reported 745 new cases of coronavirus on Monday as rising infections prompted authorities to impose Fresh borders in some of the most populous regions, including the capital Bangkok.

The latest number, which included 729 local broadcasts, brought the nation’s total number of cases to 8,439, according to the Covid-19 Situation Management Center. More than 4,000 of these infections have been reported since mid-December, when the new group of viruses was first detected among migrant workers, official figures show.

Police have set up checkpoints around Bangkok while blocking

A government official takes the temperature of the bus passengers’ bodies at a Covid-19 checkpoint in Bangkok on January 3.

Photographer: Sirachai Arunrugstichai / Getty Images

HK may delay resumption of classes: RTHK (12:54 pm HK)

Hong Kong is leaning towards extending the in-person class suspension to primary and secondary schools after January 10, Hong Kong Radio Television reported, citing unidentified individuals. The report did not mention a time frame for a possible extension.

Vietnam to buy 30 million doses of AstraZeneca (11:55 am HK)

Vietnam has signed an agreement with AstraZeneca to purchase about 30 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine, Deputy Health Minister Truong Quoc Cuong said during a government briefing posted on the government’s Facebook page. Vietnam has also negotiated the purchase of vaccines with companies in the United States, Russia and China, Cuong said.

Chinese diplomat links global outbreaks to pandemic (11:37 am HK)

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Photographer: Issei Kato / Pool / AFP / Getty Images

China’s foreign minister says outbreaks could have caused the Covid-19 pandemic, while Beijing is stepping up efforts to reform the virus’s narrative amid increased control over the Covid-19 pandemic. the origins of the pathogen.

“Increasing research suggests that the pandemic was likely caused by separate outbreaks in several parts of the world,” Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in comments released over the weekend in an interview with the official Xinhua news agency. the state CCTV broadcaster.

Thailand to receive two million doses of Sinovac photos (11:27 am HK)

Thailand will receive the first batch of vaccines from China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd. next month, allowing the country in the midst of a resurgence of cases to begin inoculating people at highest risk.

The Southeast Asian nation will receive the Chinese vaccine in three batches, with the first 200,000 doses arriving in February, 800,000 in March and another million in April, according to the Ministry of Health. Thailand has also started local production of vaccines developed by AstraZeneca under a technology transfer agreement, which is expected to be ready for distribution in May, the ministry said.

Japan considers virus emergencies an increase in cases (10:45 AM HK)

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is considering a the state of emergency in Tokyo and the surrounding areas, with coronavirus cases at record levels and the launch of vaccines in Japan still more than a month away.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga Press Conference as Japan Given the Emergency Situation of the Virus

Yoshihide Suga on January 4th.

Photographer: Yoshikazu Tsuno / Gamma-Rapho / Bloomberg

Suga told a news conference that the government will consult with an advisory committee before finalizing the emergency declaration plan and did not provide details such as when the declaration will start and how long it will last. He urged people to avoid unnecessary exits and said a strengthened law on virus management would be presented to parliament when it meets this month.

Concern grows over Sydney supermarket cluster (9:15 AM HK)

Australian authorities are concerned about a growing group of cases involving a liquor store and a supermarket in western Sydney and are urging people with the slightest symptom to show up and be tested.

Two new local cases were detected overnight in the suburb of Berala, where potentially thousands of people who visited the shops in the last two weeks were urged to isolate themselves until they give negative results. Clothing in Sydney, a city of 5 million people, is now mandatory in most inland areas as authorities try to contain other clusters in the city.

The Sydney cases are a blow to Australia, which largely involved community outreach and led other states and territories to restrict entry to Sydneysiders or residents of New South Wales.

South Korean cases rise again over 1,000 (8:45 am HK)

South Korea has reported 1,020 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours, rising again to more than 1,000 after infection levels fell in the past two days. Over the weekend, South Korea extended its current rules on social distance by two weeks, as authorities continue to restrict private meetings before national vaccination is expected next month.

New York positive test rate over 9% (14:40 NY)

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People line up in front of a Covid-19 test site in Brooklyn on January 2nd.

Photographer: Kena Betancur / AFP / Getty Images

New York’s seven-day positive test average exceeded 9% for the third day in a row, a level that compares to less than 2% in November. New hospitalizations rose to 213, and new cases rose to 3,885, based on an average of seven days, Mayor Bill de Blasio wrote on Twitter.

California Hospitals Add to Health Care Pregnancy (14:15 NY)

Hospitalizations in California have remained at one of the highest levels, as an increase in post-Christmas infections has further strained the health care system.

The state added 45,352 new cases, bringing the total to nearly 2.4 million. Another 181 new deaths were reported, for a total of 26,538. Intensive care capacity is at zero in Southern California as hospitals strain to add space to accommodate an increased patient load.

The test positivity rate of 12.3% is also at one of the highest levels at the initial peak of the outbreak. Hospitalizations increased by 307 to 21,510. California has a residence order for most of the state.

Norway reinstates borders (2:11 pm NY)

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