The mission, which has been delayed and heavily monitored by China, is under pressure to explore how the virus jumped from animals to humans.But with the fieldwork element of the probe in its early stages, WHO officials are downplaying expectations of finding the source of the virus, which has killed more than two million people and devastated the global economy.On Sunday, local time, the WHO team visited the Huanan market and another wholesale market.
Team member Peter Daszak tweeted that the tours were “very important site visits”, adding that the team met with key staff at both markets and “asked questions to help better understand the factors involved in the emergence of COVID.”He said the visits were “critical for our joint teams to understand the epidemiology of COVID as it started to spread at the end of 2019.”Security staff told the reporters who had gathered outside the market to leave and when a photographer used a ladder to get a better view it was shaken.The team deflected questions from reporters but in response to a shouted question of whether the experts were satisfied with the access they had been granted, a member of the mission gave a thumbs-up.
It comes as Western studies continue to trace the virus to Wuhan as “ground zero.”Researchers at the Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia also claimed that the virus “definitely” began in China, the Mail on Sunday reported.The scientists analysed thousands of samples of COVID-19 patients to establish that Sars-Cov-2 evolved from a “progenitor” genome that dates from mid-October to November 2019.Sergei Pond, one of the researchers involved in the study, said: “All the genetic evidence makes it clear this virus is from China.
“The pattern of worldwide spread is also consistent with Chinese viruses seeding epidemics in other countries.”It has been reported by The Sun that crucial online data related to the lab in Wuhan was deleted.More than 300 studies published by the National Natural Science Foundation of China – including investigations into diseases that transfer from animals to humans – are no longer available.The state-run organisation deleted scores of online content, including studies carried out by Wuhan based virologist Shi Zhengli, 56, who conducted extensive research by gathering samples in bat caves.The mass removal of the online studies has reaffirmed fears that China is trying to hamper the investigation into the origin of coronavirus.
Vaccination Rates
EU LEADERS BACK OFF IN VACCINE WAREuropean leaders have sensationally backed down in the COVID vaccine war, after being met with fury over the “grave” bid to block jabs on the Irish border.But they are still pushing for an extraordinary export ban that could block 3.5 million lifesaving jabs ordered from a Pfizer BioNTech in Belgium from entering the UK.According to The Sun, politicians have slammed Brussels for handing itself new sweeping powers to stop companies sending millions of vaccines across the channel.Ex-Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith has branded the act “almost Trumpian”.“The EU cocked up big time last night, but we all need to work in the interest of preserving Northern Ireland.“It is not just a backdoor for goods going to Britain, it is a very sensitive place and we have a duty between the EU and UK to ensure there is no hard border,” said Mr Smith.
His comments came after widespread anger erupted in Northern Ireland and among Tory MPs – with ex-Brexit Minister David Jones comparing the EU to the “Mafia”.Boris Johnson also condemned the act, which meant the bloc overrode part of the Brexit deal to effectively create a hard border in Ireland.A British government spokesman said: “The Prime Minister spoke to EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen this evening”. “He expressed his grave concerns about the potential impact which the steps the EU has taken today on vaccine exports could have.”First Minister Arlene Foster branded it an “incredible act of hostility” and accused Brussels of playing politics with people’s lives.“The European Union has once again shown it is prepared to use Northern Ireland when it suits their interests but in the most despicable manner – over the provision of a vaccine which is designed to save lives,” she said.“At the first opportunity the EU has placed a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland over the supply chain of the coronavirus vaccine.”She said the EU had used Article 16 of the Brexit deal in an “aggressive and most shameful way” and “it is now time for our Government to step up”.The Republic of Ireland’s Premier Micheal Martin has spoken to the European Commission’s president Ursula von der Leyen to “express concerns” about the plan.
In a statement, the European Commission said: “To tackle the current lack of transparency of vaccine exports outside the EU, the Commission is putting in place a measure requiring that such exports are subject to an authorisation by Member States.“In the process of finalisation of this measure, the Commission will ensure that the Ireland / Northern Ireland Protocol is unaffected. The Commission is not triggering the safeguard clause.“Should transits of vaccines and active substances toward third countries be abused to circumvent the effects of the authorisation system, the EU will consider using all the instruments at its disposal.“In the process of finalising the document, the commission will also be finetuning the decision-making process under the implementing regulation.”Brussels fired the first shot in the vaccine war this week after sensationally claiming Britain is “hijacking” doses.The bloc then tried to slam the back door shut on medicines entering Northern Ireland using powers under Article 16 of the Brexit deal, which was signed just 29 days ago.The article allows the EU to override the treaty and was devised as a last resort to alleviate serious disruption to trade in Northern Ireland after Brexit.
As tensions boiled over, chief eurocrat Ursula von der Leyen accused AstraZeneca of misrepresenting its contract with the bloc and ordered the firm to find up to an extra 50 million doses for the continent from Britain.Under the EU vaccine plan customs authorities in bloc countries will have to notify the Commission every time jabs are being sent to the UK – allowing them to keep an eye on our supplies.The new rule, which lasts until March, means vaccine makers will have disclose all shipments they’ve made abroad in the last three months to try to catch out those heading to the UK.As of Sunday night, local time, Britain has vaccinated more than 8.8 million people while France and Germany have only inoculated a fraction of that. French President Emmanuel Macron has decided not to lock down France for a third time as the country continues to log upward of 24,000 new infections daily.
NED-3118-Covid-country-performance
COUNTRIES TIGHTEN BORDERS AS VARIANTS SPREADA ban took effect on Saturday on noncitizens travelling to the United States from South Africa, amid warnings over the threat posed by a virus variant spreading rapidly there and signs that it could weaken the effectiveness of vaccines.
Other countries hoping to slow the spread of the more contagious variants include Canada, which has announced some flights from Mexico and Caribbean nations will be suspended. International travellers must take coronavirus tests when they return to Canada and will have to wait up to three days for results in an approved quarantine hotel at their own expense.In a televised address, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said, “Now is just not the time to be flying.”Canada marked a grim milestone on Sunday, local time, as the country’s coronavirus death toll pushed past 20,000.Restrictions in France and Germany began this weekend, with France banning most travel from all countries outside of the European Union. Travellers from EU countries will be required to present a negative test before entering France, said Jean Castex, the French prime minister.In Germany, nonresidents from Portugal, Brazil, South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini (the former Swaziland), Britain and Ireland — will be restricted from entering the country, even if they test negative for the virus.
NED-2281 Pfizer Vaccine
BRAZIL ‘LET COVID SPREAD’The Brazilian Government has been accused of deliberately allowing coronavirus to spread as the country’s death toll hit over 222,000.Authorities were “intentionally” trying to infect the public with the virus, a study by a top university has claimed.According to The Sun US, the Centre for Research in Public Health Law at the University of Sao Paulo and Conectas Direitos Humanos – one of the most respected justice organisations of Latin America – have been collecting and analysing the data since March 2020.The document obtained by Spanish newspaper El Pais states: “Our research has revealed the existence of an institutional strategy, promoted by the Federal Government, spearheaded by the Presidency of the Republic, that intentionally seeks to ensure the spread of the virus.”It comes 10 months after right wing President Jair Bolsonaro dismissed the deadly bug as “just a flu.”
Researchers found there was “the commitment and efficiency of the Federal Government’s work in favour of the extensive spread of the virus in Brazilian territory.”They argue that spreading the virus deliberately came with an agenda “of resuming economic activity as quickly as possible and at any cost”.It comes as a Brazilian supreme court judge authorised the opening of an investigation into the possible responsibility of Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello for the collapse of the health system in the Amazonian city of Manaus during the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic in Brazil.Brazil now has the second-highest COVID-19 death toll in the world after the US.
Powered by WPeMatico
