Country,	Total	New	Total
Other	Cases	Cases	Deaths
World	241,456,216	301,992	4,913,949
USA	45,792,532	17,947	744,546
India	34,081,049	14,289	452,321
Brazil	21,644,464	5,738	603,324
UK	8,449,165	45,140	138,584
Russia	7,992,687	34,303	223,312
Turkey	7,654,277	24,114	67,623
France	7,089,052	3,778	117,265
Iran	5,784,815	11,396	124,075
Argentina	5,272,551	400	115,666
Spain	4,984,386		86,974
Colombia	4,981,532	1,299	126,865
Italy	4,717,899	2,437	131,541
Germany	4,393,221	6,807	95,454
Indonesia	4,234,758	747	142,952
Mexico	3,755,063	5,203	284,321
Poland	2,939,590	2,523	76,112
South Africa	2,916,593	414	88,612
Philippines	2,720,368	6,913	40,675
Ukraine	2,635,170	11,288	60,633
Malaysia	2,390,687	6,145	27,921
Peru	2,190,009	844	199,843
Netherlands	2,047,711	3,672	18,248
Iraq	2,035,453	1,716	22,756
Thailand	1,783,701	10,863	18,273
Japan	1,714,308	509	18,092
Czechia	1,708,925	1,157	30,545
Canada	1,679,869	1,353	28,493
Chile	1,670,750	1,514	37,609
Bangladesh	1,565,488	314	27,768
Romania	1,457,260	11,546	41,781
Israel	1,316,317	839	7,999
Belgium	1,279,869		25,747
Pakistan	1,264,384	720	28,269
Sweden	1,161,933		14,916
Portugal	1,079,806	465	18,097
Serbia	1,048,835	5,077	9,105
Morocco	942,132	269	14,544
Cuba	934,965	2,197	8,058
Kazakhstan	916,504	1,805	11,727
Vietnam	864,053	3,193	21,194
Switzerland	854,590		11,171
Jordan	841,489	1,372	10,879
Hungary	833,115		30,351
Nepal	805,037	385	11,284
Austria	775,782	2,242	11,167
UAE	738,586	99	2,120
Tunisia	710,906	133	25,098
Greece	693,886	1,689	15,375
Georgia	662,334	4,581	9,468
Lebanon	633,909	554	8,425
Guatemala	588,069	1,751	14,330
Belarus	571,987	1,981	4,402
Costa Rica	551,144		6,797
Saudi Arabia	547,931	41	8,763
Bulgaria	540,619	1,000	22,274
Sri Lanka	531,648	578	13,484
Ecuador	513,026		32,899
Bolivia	506,477	327	18,832
Azerbaijan	502,207	1,896	6,765
Myanmar	487,853	1,002	18,359
Panama	470,264	102	7,291
Paraguay	460,529	188	16,228
Slovakia	437,385	1,735	12,846
Croatia	427,914	1,301	8,896
Palestine	417,966	440	4,317
Ireland	415,114	1,380	5,306
Kuwait	412,332	35	2,457
Venezuela	392,762	1,349	4,719
Uruguay	391,044	129	6,069
Honduras	372,179		10,097
Dominican Republic	370,451	751	4,087
Denmark	368,651	591	2,685
Lithuania	368,641	2,002	5,439
Ethiopia	359,247	508	6,217
Libya	349,990	780	4,883
S. Korea	342,396	1,418	2,660
Mongolia	338,405	1,897	1,542
Egypt	318,456	871	17,970
Moldova	316,529	1,115	7,241
Slovenia	308,136	632	4,638
Oman	304,054	10	4,105
Armenia	281,991	1,697	5,778
Bahrain	276,118	88	1,391
Kenya	252,033	74	5,223
Bosnia and Herzegovina	243,914		11,110
Qatar	237,929	62	608
Zambia	209,521	16	3,658
Nigeria	209,298	125	2,837
Algeria	205,286	87	5,872
North Macedonia	197,091	329	6,940
Norway	196,351	209	884
Latvia	185,614	2,377	2,890
Botswana	181,856		2,386
Uzbekistan	180,958	392	1,287
Kyrgyzstan	179,845	70	2,634
Albania	177,971	435	2,820
Estonia	172,514	1,119	1,426
Afghanistan	155,764	25	7,243
Mozambique	151,102	5	1,926
Finland	149,897		1,116
Australia	143,135	2,102	1,532
Suriname	46,447	134	1,022

 

Retrieved from:  https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

 

 

 

Merck COVID-19 pill sparks calls for access for lower income countries

By Francesco Guarascio and Michael Erman

 

An experimental COVID-19 treatment pill called molnupiravir being developed by Merck & Co Inc and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP, is seen in this undated handout photo released by Merck & Co Inc and obtained by Reuters May 17, 2021. Merck & Co Inc/Handout via REUTERS

 

The plan to roll out Merck & Co's (MRK.N) promising antiviral pill to treat COVID-19 risks repeating the inequities of vaccine distribution, potentially leaving the nations with the greatest need once again at the back of the line, international health groups say.

For example, only about 5% of Africa’s population is immunized, creating an urgent need for therapeutics that could keep people out of hospitals. That compares with more than a 70% inoculation rate in most wealthy nations.

Merck on Oct 11 applied for U.S. emergency clearance of the first pill for COVID-19 after it cut hospitalizations and deaths by 50% in a large clinical trial. The medicine, made with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, could gain authorization as soon as December.

The U.S. drugmaker has taken the unusual pandemic step of licensing several generics of its antiviral molnupiravir before its branded version was even authorized for marketing.

But international health officials said even that is not enough for the medicine to reach many in low- and middle-income countries in large enough numbers, while noting shortcomings and red tape among global organizations that could further slow distribution.

Merck this year plans to produce 10 million treatment courses of the pill, which is taken twice a day for five days, and another 20 million next year.

In addition, its licensing deals with eight Indian drugmakers will allow cheaper generic versions for 109 low- and middle-income countries including in Africa, a move international groups acknowledge is a positive concession.

But as wealthy nations secure molnupiravir supply deals - the United States has already locked up 1.7 million courses with an option for 3.5 million more by January of 2023 at about $700 per course - concerns grow over who might be left out.

NOT MOVING QUICKLY ENOUGH

Merck said it has worked on the technology transfer needed to start generic manufacturing, in contrast to vaccine makers who continue to resist calls to waive patents or allow for generic versions to boost supplies.

But a recent report prepared for the United Nations' Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator program tasked with buying COVID-19 therapeutics for poor countries cited concerns that U.N. agencies were not moving quickly enough to secure adequate volumes of potential new treatments ahead of time, including Merck's drug.

Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), a United Nations-backed public health organization, has 24 companies signed up and willing to make the drug if Merck agrees to expand the licenses.

“If you're not in the license, you're relying on Merck, and it looks to us that that could mean a potential supply shortfall as well as overpricing," said Peter Maybarduk of Public Citizen, who sits on the MPP governance board. He suggested that could lead to wealthy countries outbidding poor nations for the medicine.

It is unclear how many generic pills will be available or when. The licensed Indian manufacturers including Aurobindo Pharma (ARBN.NS), Cipla Ltd (CIPL.NS), Dr. Reddy’s Labs (REDY.NS), Emcure Pharmaceuticals, Hetero Labs, Sun Pharmaceuticals (SUN.NS), and Torrent Pharmaceuticals (TORP.NS) declined to provide details on production plans.

In addition, manufacturing for low-income countries in many nations also requires World Health Organization (WHO) approval, a regulatory process that typically takes months.

Merck said it is committed to providing timely access to its drug globally with plans for tiered pricing aligned with a country’s ability to pay. A spokesperson confirmed it is in discussions about expanding licenses for generic molnupiravir "to build sufficient global supply of quality-assured product to meet orders globally."

But middle-income countries will be hard pressed to negotiate against the richest nations, another MPP official said.

The governments of Australia, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia said they already had deals or were negotiating supply contracts with Merck. The EU is considering buying the pill after Merck applies for authorization in Europe.

The eight generic manufacturers chosen by Merck all have WHO pre-qualified facilities to allow them to supply buyers like the Global Fund, according to Paul Schaper, Merck's executive director of global public policy. They will set their pricing and decide how much they plan to manufacture.

“What we are anticipating and hoping for is that they will compete with each other on pricing,” Schaper said.

 

Retrieved from: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/merck-covid-19-pill-sparks-calls-access-lower-income-countries-2021-10-17/

 

 

 

Boeing workers stage protest near Seattle over U.S. vaccine mandate

By Eric M. Johnson

 

Boeing employees and others line the street to wave signs and American flags to protest the company's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine mandate, outside the Boeing facility in Everett, Washington, October 15, 2021. REUTERS/Lindsey Wasson

 

Waving signs like "coercion is not consent," and "stop the mandate," some 200 Boeing Co (BA.N) employees and others staged a protest on Friday over the planemaker's COVID-19 vaccine requirement for U.S. workers.

Boeing said on Tuesday it will require its 125,000 U.S. employees to be vaccinated by Dec. 8 under an executive order issued by President Joe Biden for federal contractors.

As the pandemic has continued to rage, Biden announced the requirement in September because a large swath of Americans have resisted vaccination even though the shots are free, widely available and declared safe by regulators.

"It's my choice and it's my body," one avionics engineer said, his voice nearly drowned out by anti-Biden chants and trucks honking to show support along the busy street outside Boeing's factory in Everett, north of Seattle.

"It's an experimental drug given under a pseudo-emergency," he added.

Another worker, an assembly mechanic, said: "This is America. We don't just do what we're told because one person says to."

Earlier this week, Boeing said employees must either show proof of vaccination or have an approved reasonable accommodation based on a disability or sincerely held religious belief by Dec. 8.

"Boeing is committed to maintaining a safe working environment for our employees," a spokesperson said. "Advancing the health and safety of our global workforce is fundamental to our values and a core priority every day."

Major U.S. airlines including American Airlines (AAL.O) have said they will also meet the deadline imposed on federal contractors, as has aircraft parts manufacturer Spirit AeroSystems (SPR.N).

"Now that he has issued the Executive Order, it is our responsibility to comply with that order," Spirit Chief Executive Officer Tom Gentile wrote in a memo to employees and seen by Reuters on Friday.

Spirit was calling back former employees as it prepares for what Gentile characterized as "one of the fastest increases in production rates in the history of our industry."

Boeing has said its mandate does not apply immediately to its sites in Texas, where Republican Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order on Monday barring COVID-19 vaccine mandates by any entity, including private employers. 

 

Retrieved from:  https://www.reuters.com/world/us/boeing-workers-stage-protest-over-vaccine-mandate-2021-10-15/

 

 

 

Russia's reports record-high daily COVID-19 infections

 

A medical specialist walks by an ambulance outside a hospital for patients infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Moscow, Russia October 6, 2021. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

 

Russia reported 34,303 cases of new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, a record-high number since the start of the pandemic, data from the state coronavirus task force showed on Sunday.

It also reported 997 deaths from the disease, five fewer than the daily record-high of 1,002 reported the previous day. 

The latest coronavirus deaths brought the official national death toll to 223,312, with a total of almost 8 million cases.

Russian authorities blame a slow vaccination campaign for the sharp rise of infections and deaths, which forced the health ministry to ask retired, vaccinated medics to return to hospitals.

 

Retrieved from:  https://www.reuters.com/world/russias-reports-record-high-daily-covid-19-infections-2021-10-17/

 

 

 

Fauci urges police officers to get vaccinated.

By Stephanie Nolen

 

Police officers and others responsible for public safety should view vaccination against Covid-19 as a key part of their role, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease doctor, said during an interview on Fox News Sunday.

“Think about the implications of not getting vaccinated when you’re in a position where you have a responsible job, and you want to protect yourself because you’re needed at your job, whether you’re a police officer or a pilot or any other of those kinds of occupations,” said Dr. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Police unions in cities across the country are urging members to resist Covid vaccine requirements for their jobs. In Chicago, the head of the police union told officers to ignore a city order to report their vaccination status by the end of the day Oct. 15. Vaccinations are not required for city workers, but employees who are not vaccinated will be subject to twice-weekly testing. John Catanzara, the president of the Fraternal Order of Police in Chicago, released a video last week predicting that Chicago police officers would not report to work because of the vaccination policy.

In Seattle, the union said that the city’s shortage of police officers would worsen because of a vaccine mandate. On Sunday, Dr. Fauci said that employees in public service who resisted vaccination were misguided.

“I’m not comfortable with telling people what they should do under normal circumstances, but we are not in normal circumstances right now,” Dr. Fauci said. “Take the police: We now know the statistics, more police officers die of Covid than they do any other causes of death. So it doesn’t make any sense to not try to protect yourself, as well as the colleagues that you work with.”

 

Retrieved from:  https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/10/17/world/covid-delta-variant-vaccine#fauci-police-vaccine

 

 

 

Italy braced for unrest as Covid pass becomes mandatory for all workers

By Angela Giuffrida in Rome

 

Strictest vaccine mandate in Europe expected to bring fresh protests and leave some industries struggling with staff shortages

An employee at an optician shop shows her Covid-19 ‘green pass’ a day before it becomes obligatory for all workers either to show proof of vaccination, a negative test or recent recovery from infection to access their workplaces. Photograph: Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters

 

Italy is bracing itself for further unrest and labour market mayhem as the strictest vaccine mandate in Europe takes effect on Friday.

All workers will be obliged to present a coronavirus health pass before entering their workplaces, a move that is expected to leave some industries struggling with staff shortages.

The measure, an expansion of the “green pass” introduced in August, will require public and private sector workers to have had at least one dose of the vaccine, to show proof of a negative test taken within the previous 48 hours or of having recently recovered from Covid-19.

Those who flout the rules face being suspended without pay or fined up to €1,500 (£1,270). Employers face fines for failing to check if staff are complying.

More than 80% of the population over the age of 12 has been double-vaccinated and the majority of Italians have taken the green pass – also required for dining inside restaurants, entering museums, theatres and cinemas, and for use on planes and long-distance trains – in their stride.

However, protests over the workplace rule have gathered pace in recent weeks, with a demonstration in Rome last weekend turning violent as neofascist groups exploited the discontent.

The motive behind Italy’s green pass is to boost inoculations and contain infections in the hope of avoiding another lockdown.

Although there was an increase in the number of people booking vaccinations when the measure was first announced, especially among young people, an estimated 2.5 million workers have not yet had the jab. The majority of those refusing the vaccination are over the age of 50.

The issue has caused divisions among workers, with some vaccinated people choosing to stay away from the workplace due to the presence of non-vaccinated colleagues.

Confindustria, the Italian business lobby, strongly supports the workplace measure. However, various industries are envisaging staff shortages from Friday as workers hold strikes or simply choose to stay home.

Port workers across Italy have threatened to go on strike, while the transport sector is facing a potential shortage of 130,000 workers.

“Out of 400,000 drivers, we estimate that 30% do not have the green pass,” said Ivano Russo, the director general of Confetra, the transport and logistics federation. “On top of that, we fear for the foreign workers, many of whom have been vaccinated with Sputnik or other vaccines not approved by the European or Italian medicines agencies. We therefore foresee a risk of severe blockage in the sector.”

The agriculture sector is facing a similar dilemma with foreign farm workers, the majority coming from eastern Europe, who have had the unapproved Sputnik vaccine.

Meanwhile, an estimated 20% of Italy’s police force are unvaccinated, as are between 10% and 20% of public transport workers.

Bar and restaurant workers also require the pass, although industry officials say vaccine take-up has been high in a sector that was severely affected by lockdowns.

Green pass opponents are planning further protests over the next few days. Meanwhile, CGIL, Italy’s oldest trade union, has organised a demonstration against fascism in Rome on Saturday after its headquarters were ransacked by neofascists during the green pass protests last weekend.

The violence prompted calls for the extreme right party Forza Nuova and other neofascist movements to be banned.

 

Retrieved from:  https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/14/italy-braced-for-unrest-as-covid-pass-becomes-mandatory-for-all-workers

 

 

 

Summary

 

Here is a round-up of today’s top coronavirus news stories from the UK and around the world:

· The UK recorded 45,140 new infections, the highest jump in Covid cases since mid-July

· Cases surged in Russia as 34,303 new positive Covid tests and 997 deaths were reported

· England is planning to launch walk-in vaccine clinics within weeks for children aged 12 to 15, after its inoculation rate for this age group severely lags Scotland

· Australian city Melbourne announced it will lift stay-at-home orders this week, ending what local media dubbed the longest lockdown in the world

· Former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged an emergency Covid vaccine airlift to Africa, saying it could save 100,000 lives

· Italy announced 2,437 new Covid cases and 24 deaths, following its introduction of workplace vaccine mandates on Friday

· The laywer of American convicted murderer Robert Durst said the real estate mogul has Covid and is on a ventilator, just days after he was sentenced to life in prison without parole

· Aid organisation World Vision warned the fallout of the pandemic could provoke a rise in child stunting in the Pacific as job losses and rising food prices threaten malnutrition

· Egypt announced new Covid requirements for public sector employees from 15 November, who will have to be vaccinated or take a weekly Covid test to work in government buildings.

That’s all from me, Jem Bartholomew, and for the blog today. Thanks for following.

 

Retrieved from:  https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2021/oct/17/covid-news-live-gordon-brown-vaccines-africa-uk-cases-coronavirus-latest