Health

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong suspended use of the Pfizer vaccine Wednesday after its Chinese distributor informed the city that one batch had defective bottle lids.

The city’s government said the suspension was immediate while the matter is investigated by distributor Fosun Pharma and BioNTech, the German company which created the vaccine with American pharmaceutical firm Pfizer.

BioNTech and Fosun Pharma have not found any reason to believe the product is unsafe, according to the statement. However, vaccinations will be halted as a preventive and safety measure.

New Delhi, Mar 21 (PTI) India saw 43,846 new coronavirus infections in a day, the highest single-day rise recorded so far this year, taking the nationwide COVID-19 tally to 1,15,99,130, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Sunday

Registering an increase for the 11th day in a row, the total active caseload has increased to 3,09,087, which now comprises 2.66 per cent of the total infections, while the recovery rate has further dropped to 95.96 per cent, the data stated.

20 Mar 2021; MEMO: Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has tested positive for COVID-19, his office confirmed on Saturday, Anadolu Agency reports.

Khan is self-isolating at home, the premier's office said on Twitter.

The news comes just days after the prime minister received his first dose of the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine on Thursday.

Islamabad, Mar 20 (PTI) Pakistan on Saturday recorded its highest single-day increase in the coronavirus infections this year with 3,876 new cases as the positivity rate reached 9.4 per cent in the country.

The national tally of cases reached 623,135 while the death toll jumped to 13,799 as 40 patients died in the last 24 hours, the health ministry said.

The data showed that 579,760 people recovered so far but some 2,122 were in a critical condition.

Bhopal, Mar 19 (PTI) In view of the spurt in coronavirus cases, the Madhya Pradesh government has announced lockdown in Indore, Bhopal and Jabalpur cities every Sunday till further orders, an official said here.

The lockdown will be in force from Saturday 10 PM to Monday 6 AM.

Besides, all educational institutions will remain closed in these three cities till March 31, said a public relations department official on Friday.

Madhya Pradesh on Friday reported 1,140 new COVID-19 cases and seven deaths.

New Delhi, Mar 20 (PTI) India saw 40,953 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, the highest single-day rise recorded in 111 days, taking the nationwide COVID-19 tally to 1,15,55,284, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday

Registering an increase for the tenth day in a row, the total active caseload has reached 2,88,394, which now comprises 2.49 per cent of the total infections, while the recovery rate has further dropped to 96.12 per cent, the data stated.

New Delhi, Mar 19 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday alleged that lakhs of families have suffered pain due to the government's "incompetence and myopia" as the unplanned lockdown continues to haunt the country.

The government had imposed a nationwide lockdown on March 24 last year to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Gandhi has been attacking the government for the lockdown, saying the poor and migrants have suffered due to it.

"The unplanned lockdown disaster continues to haunt the country," he said on Twitter.

New Delhi, Mar 19 (PTI) India saw 39,726?new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, the highest single day rise recorded so far this year, taking the nationwide COVID-19?tally of cases to 11,514,331,?according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday

The daily rise in infections (39,726) was the highest recorded in 110 days, while the death toll increased to 159,370 with 154 daily new fatalities, the data updated at 8 am showed.

WASHINGTON (AP) — With the U.S. closing in on President Joe Biden’s goal of injecting 100 million coronavirus vaccinations weeks ahead of his target date, the White House said the nation is now in position to help supply neighbors Canada and Mexico with millions of lifesaving shots.

The Biden administration on Thursday revealed the outlines of a plan to “loan” a limited number of vaccines to Canada and Mexico as the president announced the U.S. is on the cusp of meeting his 100-day injection goal “way ahead of schedule.”

16 Mar 2021; MEMO: Turkey plans to welcome British holidaymakers this summer without requiring evidence of vaccination, Minister of Tourism Mehmet Ersoy said on Monday. "Turkey is looking forward to welcoming British tourists with open arms," said the minister.

According to CNN Turk, the Turkish authorities will also re-evaluate whether visitors must produce evidence of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of their departure after April 15.