A woman wearing a face mask waits for bus at a bus stop with an information sign reminding people to practice social distancing in Stockholm, Sweden, June 26, 2020. (STINA STJERNKVIST / TT NEWS AGENCY VIA AP)
MEXICO CITY / SAO PAULO / PARIS / MILAN / LONDON / SANTIAGO / BUCHAREST / BERLIN / OTTAWA / QUITO / LA PAZ / RABAT / KAMPALA / ADDIS ABABA / TBILISI / MOSCOW - Moderna Inc. plans to request clearance for its coronavirus vaccine in the US and Europe on Monday, after a new analysis showed the vaccine was highly effective in preventing COVID-19, with no serious safety problems.
The primary analysis, which included 196 cases, found the vaccine was 94.1 percent effective, in line with preliminary findings released earlier this month. None of the participants in the trial who’d received the vaccine developed severe COVID-19. All 30 severe cases observed in the study occurred in participants who received placebo shots, according to a company statement.
The shares extended their gains to as much as 12 percent before US markets opened, hitting a record of US$142.85. They have risen more than sixfold since the year began.
The new results put the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based biotechnology company on track to have one of the first Covid-19 vaccines to be cleared in the US. A similar vaccine from Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE was submitted to US regulators earlier this month and is scheduled to be reviewed ahead of Moderna’s shot.
Global tally
Coronavrius cases worldwide has surpassed 62.7 million while the global death toll topped 1.45 million, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
Africa tally
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases recorded across the African continent has reached 2,150,439, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said on Sunday.
The death toll has risen to 51,481 as of Sunday afternoon, the Africa CDC added.
Algeria
Algeria's COVID-19 tally on Sunday rose by 1,009 to 82,221.
The country has recorded 2,410 deaths and 53,264 recoveries in the pandemic.
Bolivia
Bolivia will begin a new phase of social reopening on Dec 1 with the resumption of cultural, sports, recreational and religious activities, according to Supreme Decree 4404 published on Sunday by the government of President Luis Arce.
Minister of Health Edgar Pozo said at a press conference that the reopening would be gradually carried out.
The new regulatory framework will be in force until Jan 15 next year, when another evaluation will be made on the possibility of a second wave of infections.
Bolivia has registered 144,592 cases and 8,949 deaths so far, according to the Ministry of Health.
Brazil
Brazil has registered 24,468 additional coronavirus cases over the last 24 hours and 272 more deaths, the Health Ministry said on Sunday.
The South American country has now registered 6,314,740 total confirmed coronavirus cases and 172,833 deaths.
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Volunteers spray disinfectant in an alley to help contain the spread of the new coronavirus. At the Santa Marta slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Nov 28, 2020. (BRUNA PRADO / AP)
Canada
Canada will extend its restrictions for all travelers entering the country, except from the United States, until Jan 21, the government said on Sunday, in a move to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Restrictions for US citizens and foreign nationals arriving from the United States will continue until Dec 21 and may be extended at that time, Health Minister Patty Hajdu said in a statement.
Canada said it is also amending its order and creating a framework for considering applications from sport organizations seeking to hold International Single Sport Events.
As of Sunday evening, Canada has reported a total of 370,278 COVID-19 cases and 12,032 deaths, according to CTV.
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is expected to announce billions of additional funding in a fiscal update Monday, with dozens of new measures that could include topping up existing benefits to families and business along with teeing up money for infrastructure, daycare and climate change.
Chile
Chile said Sunday that the COVID-19 tally has decreased in at least eight regions of the country for the past seven days, while nine regions experienced a reduction in new cases for the past 14 days.
Minister of Health Enrique Paris said that the southern Magallanes region which continues to report the highest number of new cases has seen a downward trend.
In the past 24 hours, Chile registered 1,489 new infections and 34 more deaths, bringing the tally to 550,430 and the death toll to 15,356, the Ministry of Health reported.
Ecuador
All of Ecuador's 24 provinces have registered an increase in COVID-19 infections, with 1,208 cases reported nationwide in the last 24 hours for a total of 192,117 cases, the Ministry of Public Health (MSP) said on Sunday.
Another 51 deaths were also reported, raising the number of deaths to 8,989.
The Ecuadorian provinces of Azuay, Canar, Galapagos, Pichincha, and Santa Elena registered the greatest increase of cases this week compared to last week.
A man wearing a face mask leaves a florist, in Lille, northern France, Nov 29, 2020. (MICHEL SPINGLER / AP)
France
France’s top health advisory body said on Monday it had recommended COVID-19 vaccinations should target retirement homes residents and their staff first when doses reach the country.
Haute Autorite de la Sante (HAS) suggested rolling out the campaign in stages and on a voluntary basis, like in many other countries.
President Emmanuel Macron said last week that vaccines could start to be administered as soon as the end of the year in France, if approved by regulators, after hopes were raised of a quick roll-out following promising results from trials of several candidates.
France added 9,784 new COVID-19 cases Sunday, with the seven-day average falling to 11,1182, the lowest since Oct 2.
The rate of positive tests fell to 11.1 percent, just over half of where it was in early November.
The number of patients in intensive care continued to decline by another 21 to 3,756 and the number of daily deaths fell to 198 from 213 on Sunday, health ministry data showed. It was the smallest daily increase in the toll in a month.
In total, France has recorded 2,218,483 confirmed cases and 52,325 deaths.
France's State Council, the country's highest court, on Sunday ordered the government to review a law limiting the number of people in churches during religious services to 30. The Council said in a statement that the measure was not proportionate to coronavirus infection risks.
Georgia
Georgia reported 3,216 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, bringing its national tally to 135,584.
Among the new cases, 1,622 cases were confirmed in the capital city of Tbilisi, said the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health.
As of Monday, 113,986 patients have recovered from the disease, while 1,267 others have died, said the center.
Georgia reported 4,426 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday.
Germany
The number of COVID-19 infections is still much too high in most German regions and people must do more to reduce their contacts to slow the spread of the disease, German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier told public broadcaster Deutschlandfunk on Monday.
Coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 11,169 to 1,053,869 while deaths rose by 125 to 16,248, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed earlier in the day.
With ministers due to meet later Monday to discuss further responses to the greatest public health crisis in a century, Altmaier added that pandemic relief aid for companies cannot be extended indefinitely.
While he promised that taxes would not be raised before the national election due late next year, Altmaier's warnings on the economy echoed those of Chancellor Angela Merkel's chief of staff Helge Braun, who said no amount of government aid could fully cushion companies.
On Sunday, the premier of the state of North-Rhine Westphalia said Germany will decide in early January which coronavirus curbs can be lifted, urging people to observe hygiene and distancing rules to help bring case numbers down.
Italy
Italy’s government has approved a fourth stimulus package worth 8 billion euros (US$9.6 billion) to support businesses hit by the latest restrictions to stem the spread of the coronavirus, according to a statement published Monday. It delays tax deadlines for companies and expands cash handouts for workers in tourism and the arts, which have been severely disrupted by the pandemic.
Italy reported 541 COVID-19-related deaths on Sunday, against 686 the day before, and 20,648 new infections, down from 26,323 on Saturday, the health ministry said.
Italy has seen 54,904 COVID-19 fatalities since its outbreak emerged in February, the second highest toll in Europe after Britain. It has also registered 1.585 million cases to date.
Daily figures on Sunday confirmed a decline seen in recent days in the number of new cases.
Italy is expected to adopt next week a new set of measures to contain the virus during Christmas holidays. The upcoming decree would limit people movement across regions and would maintain a nightly curfew, Regional Affairs minister Francesco Boccia told Italian daily Avvenire on Sunday.
Boxes containing negative (left) and positive COVID-19 rapid tests are pictured at a testing post set up by health authorities in Mexico City, Nov 28, 2020. (EDUARDO VERDUGO / AP)
Mexico
Mexico reported 6,388 newly confirmed coronavirus infections and 196 additional deaths on Sunday, health ministry data showed.
The latest figures brought the official number of cases to 1,107,071 with a total death toll of 105,655.
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Moldova
Moldova re-entered a nationwide state of public health emergency Monday amid a spike in COVID-19 infections.
The state of public health emergency, which is slated to end Jan 15 next year, was re-imposed as the average daily growth of the country's COVID-19 infections has been more than 1,000 since the start of November.
According to the latest data released Sunday by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection, a total of 1,165 new cases were recorded in the last 24 hours, bringing the cumulative number of confirmed cases to 107,017 in the country of 3.5 million.
The death toll rose to 2,290 after 21 more fatalities were registered, according to the ministry.
Morocco
Morocco registered 4,115 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, taking the tally to 353,803, the health ministry said in a statement.
The death toll rose to 5,789 after 50 more fatalities were registered during the last 24 hours.
The total number of recoveries increased by 3,740 to 302,314, while there were 1,041 people currently in intensive care units.
Poland
Poland registered 11,483 new infections in the last 24 hours, the least since Oct 26, taking the total number of cases in the country of 38 million to 985,075, the Health Ministry said on Sunday.
It also reported 283 additional deaths, taking the COVID-19 toll past 17,000.
The government, which shut all schools and reduced traffic in shops earlier this month, allowed shopping malls and furniture stores to reopen as of Nov 28.
Russia
Russia reported 26,338 new coronavirus cases on Monday, including 6,511 in Moscow and 3,691 in St Petersburg, taking the national total to 2,295,654 cases since the pandemic began.
Authorities also reported 368 deaths in the last 24 hours, pushing the official death toll to 39,895.
Sweden
Sweden’s government expects the pandemic to continue through 2021 even if vaccines become available, according to Dagens Nyheter (DN).
“The pandemic will not go away just because we get a vaccine,” Elisabeth Backteman, the government’s crisis coordinator, said in an interview with the newspaper.
Sweden’s COVID-19 planning stretches into the spring of 2022, according to internal planning documents seen by DN.
The documents show that the government is open to the possibility of adding more restrictions, including quarantine-like measures, to stop regional cluster infections. Sweden is also looking into a pandemic bill, which may be passed by the summer of 2021 at the latest. Such legislation would allow the government to force restaurants and shops to close, DN reported.
The report seen by DN lists the heightened risk of bankruptcies, rising unemployment and increased segregation following a resurgence of the virus. What’s more, Sweden’s defense capability might be affected by a severe outbreak, which could lead to “vulnerabilities that are exploited by foreign powers,” DN reported.
Tunisia
Tunisia's COVID-19 tally on Sunday rose to 96,251 after 1,271 new cases were added.
A total of 3,219 patients have died from the disease in the North African country, while 69,624 patients have recovered.
Uganda
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said late Sunday on TV that he has tested negative for COVID-19 for the second time after developing flu-like symptoms.
Museveni in July said he tested negative for COVID-19 after developing a sore throat and hoarse voice.
Meanwhile, Museveni also said Sunday that Ugandan scientists have developed two COVID-19 diagnostic tests kits, antivirals and a bronchodilator in efforts to fight the virus.
Museveni said one of the two diagnostic test kits can give results in 30 minutes after taking the saliva sample, while the bronchodilator, a drug that will keep a patient's lung airways open without using ventilators, is being used now.
Earlier in the day, the Ministry of Health reported 201 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 20,145 with 201 deaths.
UK
Up to 100 lawmakers in Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party are unhappy with his COVID-19 tiered lockdown measures so the government may have to rely on the Labour Party to get it through parliament, Environment Secretary George Eustice said on Monday.
Ministers on Monday will publish analysis of the health, economic and social impacts of the pandemic and the measures taken to suppress the disease, before a scheduled vote on Tuesday over England’s return to a three-tier system of coronavirus restrictions to replace the lockdown on Dec 2.
COVID-19 infections have fallen by 30 percent during England's monthlong national lockdown that was imposed on Nov 5 and the virus is now in retreat, a large-scale study of more than 100,000 volunteers showed earlier Monday.
Levels of infection fell 30 percent, with 96 people per 10,000 infected between Nov 13 and Nov 24, according to interim results of the study by Imperial College London and Ipsos MORI. The last iteration of the research, carried out between Oct 16 and Nov 2, showed 130 infections per 10,000 people.
Britain reported 12,155 new cases on Sunday and 215 additional deaths within 28 days of positive COVID-19 test, government data showed.
The government hopes to begin rolling out vaccination program before Christmas if regulators approve the shots in time, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said.
Travelers wait to check-in for their flights as a sign stating face coverings are required is displayed in Terminal 3 at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, the United States, Nov 29, 2020. (NAM Y. HUH / AP)
US
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said schools in the city will begin the process of reopening on Dec 7, despite the 3 percent positive test rate for COVID-19 he had set for closing the schools.
He said the reopening would begin with pre-kindergarten classes through elementary school. Special education would begin three days later. He said the city “is just not ready” to begin opening middle and high schools.
The United States on Sunday reported more than 100,000 new COVID-19 cases for the 27th consecutive day, with more than 135,000 cases counted by Johns Hopkins University from 0000 GMT Sunday to 0000 GMT Monday.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a total 13,142,997 cases of new coronavirus, an increase of 143,333 from its previous count, and said the number of deaths had risen by 1,210 to 265,166.
The US may see "surge upon a surge" of COVID-19 cases in the weeks after Thanksgiving due to cold weather and travel, US top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said Sunday.
Fauci's warning came as more than 90,000 COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalized across the United States, with over 18,000 in intensive care units, according to the COVID Tracking Project.
Vaccines are likely to begin rolling out in the US before the end of December, US Surgeon General Jerome Adams and Fauci said.
