Coronavirus

- A + A LONDON (Aug 9): The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has started a rolling review of a variant-adapted Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech, it said on Tuesday. The so-called bivalent vaccine targets two strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus behind Covid-19 — the original strain first identified in China, and the Omicron offshoots BA.4/5 that are currently behind most cases in Europe. A rolling review means the EMA assesses the data as it becomes available, and the process continues until there is enough data for a formal marketing application. Last month, the EMA said it had begun a rolling review of another version of the companies' shot which targets the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and Omicron subvariant BA.1. While existing coronavirus vaccines continue to provide good protection against hospitalisation and death, vaccine effectiveness has taken a hit as the virus has evolved. European Union officials plan to use bivalent shots in their autumn … [Read more...] about EU regulator begins review of Pfizer-BioNTech’s variant-adapted Covid-19 shot

(CNN) Data obtained by CNN from New York's largest health-care provider indicates you're very unlikely to become severely ill with Covid-19 if you're under age 60, up to date on your Covid-19 vaccines and don't have underlying health problems, backing up a government plan expected to be announced this week that will ease up on coronavirus restrictions . If you're young, healthy and vaccinated, "you're going to be in a pretty good place," said Dr. William Schaffner, a vaccine adviser to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "You're going to be well-protected." CDC expected to ease Covid-19 recommendations, including for schools, as soon as this week The data from Northwell Health shows that of the nearly 2,000 people hospitalized there for Covid-19 in May, June and July, about 80% were over 60. Nearly 90% had an underlying health problem such as hypertension or diabetes. Vaccination status was also critically important. … [Read more...] about Under 60, healthy, vaccinated and boosted? ‘You’re in a pretty good place’ with Covid-19

GAS LINES IN AMERICA… Four Governors Declare States Of Emergency Due To Gasoline Shortage Four governors declared states of emergency in response to gas shortages brought on by the Colonial Pipeline hack. Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency on Monday due to his state’s gas shortage. Republicans Govs. Brian Kemp of Georgia and Ron DeSantis of Florida, and Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam declared states of emergency on Tuesday. Republican South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster announced that he would not declare a new state of emergency because the state was already in one due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kemp suspended Georgia’s gas taxes, while Cooper eliminated transportation regulations. McMaster instituted anti-price gouging laws. Virginia Republicans called on Northam to suspend the state’s gas tax. CBS NEWS… The South was being hit hardest. Late Monday, almost 6.5% of gas stations in Virginia were out of fuel, … [Read more...] about Editor Daily Rundown: Governors Declare States Of Emergency In Response To Gas Shortages

Tens of thousands of music fans are flocking to Pattaya Music Festival this month in the eastern province of Chon Buri. The festival is held every Friday and Saturday of the month at stages in several locations in Pattaya, kicking off at 5pm. Entry is free. Festival goers are more than ready to party after the festival was postponed in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Mayor of Pattaya Poramet Ngamphichet attended the festival’s opening event on Friday at the main stage at Central Pattaya Junction. The opening weekend, spanning three stages attracted a mixed crowd of young, old, Thai, and foreign music fans. The main attraction next weekend (August 12-13) will be held at Jomtien Beach Stage between Soi 7-8. Friday is a public holiday – Mother’s Day – in Thailand, so it’s expected to be bustling. The third weekend of the festival (August 19-20) and the fourth weekend (August 26-27) will be held at the Pattaya Central Beach stage. LINE UP… Friday, August 12 … [Read more...] about Fans flock to free entry Pattaya Music Festival held every weekend of August

Representative Image REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo The Union health ministry is expected to soon approve Biological E's Corbevax as a precaution dose for people above 18 years who are double vaccinated with either Covishield or Covaxin, official sources said on Tuesday. The approval will be based on the recommendations made by the COVID-19 Working Group of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) last week, the sources told PTI. If approved by the government, this would be the first time a booster dose of a Covid vaccine different from the one used for primary vaccination would be allowed in the country. "Corbevax will be considered as a precaution dose after completion of 6 months or 26 weeks from the date of administration of the second dose of either Covaxin or Covishield vaccines for those aged above 18 years enabling use of Corbevax as a heterologous COVID-19 vaccine for precaution dose administration in this age group," a source said. … [Read more...] about Government nod for Corbevax as booster for adults vaccinated with Covishield, Covaxin soon

-- (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta   ● Wed, January 6, 2021 2021-01-06 20:24 580 559f5bc8c5224ad06a25184c0a061d4a 1 National COVID-19,pandemic,vaccine,vaccination,economic-recovery,budget-deficit Free A successful COVID-19 vaccination drive could help the government reach its target of reducing the budget deficit to under 3 percent in three years, a state official has said. "The government target could be reached by controlling and reducing coronavirus cases," Regional Representatives Council (DPD) speaker La Nyalla Mattalitti said in a written statement on Wednesday. "If the government is successful in controlling COVID-19 cases through vaccination, it would have a huge effect on national economic recovery." La Nyala said curbing the spread of COVID-19 must be a priority for the government to reach the target. Otherwise, he added, if it cannot control the pandemic, it would be difficult to reduce case numbers and reduce the budget deficit. The DPD … [Read more...] about Successful vaccination could reduce budget deficit to 3%: DPD speaker

- A + A (Aug 10): Talk that SoftBank Group Corp would be better off as a private company has re-surfaced after the Japanese investment powerhouse posted a record US$23 billion loss. SoftBank has evolved rapidly over the last ten years from a telecom company and strategic investor to the world’s biggest pool of tech capital. It’ll look even more like a pure investment house as it continues to buy back its own stock and sell or pare assets, including its stake in Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. “There is little reason to be listed on the stock market,” SMBC Nikko analyst Satoru Kikuchi wrote. “We think changes in the very form of the company, for example an MBO, could be coming in the not-too-distant future.” SoftBank founder Masayoshi Son — the company’s top shareholder with a near-28% stake as of end-March — has debated the idea of going private with his inner circle for at least five years. When SoftBank’s shares tumbled in 2020 at the outset of the coronavirus … [Read more...] about SoftBank buyout talk resurfaces after record loss piques market

FILE PHOTO: A teacher and her students learn together at the Pedro Cruz Elementary School in San Juan City as it reopened its face-to-face classes on Thursday, February 10, 2022. INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE MANILA, Philippines – As schools return to in-person learning, the Department of Education (DepEd) said over 18 million learners have so far enrolled for School Year 2022 – 2023. According to DepEd spokesperson Michael Wesley Poa, this figure is around 65 percent of the department’s target of 28.6 million enrolled learners for the upcoming school year – which is set to begin on August 22. READ: S chool year 2022-2023 to start August 22 — DepEd “Meron na po tayo as of 7 a.m. today, naitatalang 18.6 million enrolled learners,” he said during a joint press conference with the Office of the Vice President on Wednesday. (We have recorded 18.6 million enrolled learners as of 7 a.m. today.) Poa then appealed for parents not to delay the enrollment of their children to … [Read more...] about DepEd: Over 18 million students enrolled for SY 2022-2023 so far

IMAGE: Daniella Marie Agacer MANILA, Philippines—While Octa Research initially expected a two-month COVID-19 wave, it said on Monday (Aug. 8) that the surge is taking longer than expected. Dr. Guido David, an Octa Research fellow, said 20 provinces—15 in Luzon and five in the Visayas—registered high positivity rates, which were above 20 percent, on Saturday (Aug. 6). He said “very high” positivity rates were logged in Capiz (64), Camarines Sur (48.7), Isabela (47.6), Tarlac (41.9), Aklan (40.1), Nueva Ecija (38.4), Pampanga (35), and Laguna (33.2). Positivity rates in Cagayan (30.5), La Union (29.4), Zambales (28.6), Albay (28.2), Bohol (26.9), Quezon (25.1), Pangasinan (25), Negros Oriental (23.4), Benguet (22), Cavite (21.1), Palawan (20.4), and Rizal (18.8) were also deemed concerning. David said he expected a two-month wave because of the Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5: “We’ve already had two months (June to August) but we’re not yet at the peak, so it’s taking … [Read more...] about Latest COVID wave: When waning immunity, expired vaccines, new strains mix

U.S. President Joe Biden adjusts his glasses as he delivers remarks during a signing event for the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, U.S., August 9, 2022. REUTERS WASHINGTON — U.S. President Joe Biden continues to test negative for COVID-19 but is suffering its lingering effects, the White House press office said on Tuesday, after he coughed repeatedly through a speech on the South Lawn. Biden spoke to dozens of Congress members, including Republicans, as well as business executives and members of his Cabinet, in sweltering midday heat before signing the a $53 billion bill aimed at boosting the U.S. semiconductor industry. His persistent congestion forced him to stop the speech at several points to turn aside and cough into his hand or sip water, drawing the attention of supporters and detractors alike on social media. The 79-year-old president recently suffered his second bout of COVID-19, and was isolated for over two weeks in … [Read more...] about Former asthma sufferer Biden has cough, but not COVID-19, White House says