Buzz
Today, the number of COVID-19 cases in the United States has officially crossed the 30 million mark, reaching nearly 10% of the country's population. In India, scientists have identified several hundred cases of dual variant infections, raising concerns about the virus spreading faster than the vaccination rate. AstraZeneca, after facing criticism in the U.S. for providing outdated information, has now released a comprehensive report on the effectiveness of the vaccine, affirming its safety and efficacy.
Situation in Vietnam
- Yesterday, the vaccination campaign continued with nearly 2 thousand healthcare workers receiving the vaccine. Over 31 thousand personnel have been vaccinated so far.
- This morning, there was news of a woman in Hanoi testing positive for the virus despite not having traveled anywhere. After confirmatory testing, the Tropical Diseases Hospital announced the result as negative.
- This afternoon, we recorded 2 new cases in Hai Duong and 1 new case involving an individual who recently returned to the country.
Global Situation
- The European Union is gearing up to introduce new measures aimed at gaining more control over significantly reducing the amount of vaccines allowed for export to other regions. - AstraZeneca is disputing a report from Italy regarding 29 million doses of their vaccine at their factory near Rome being earmarked for export to the UK. The company states that current export efforts are focused solely on European countries and those in the Covax program. - The pharmaceutical company mentioned above has just released the latest results on the efficacy of the vaccine, showing an efficacy rate of 76% against symptomatic cases. Initial results previously reported 79% efficacy against symptomatic cases, with 100% effectiveness in preventing severe outcomes and death. - In a recent study in the UK, 7 out of 10 recovered patients still haven't fully recovered even after being discharged for up to 5 months. - After a week of temporary suspension for investigation, Spain has resumed administering the AstraZeneca vaccine. - The capital Vienna and 2 neighboring provinces will once again enter lockdown ahead of the Easter holiday. The Austrian Ministry of Health warns that the number of beds allocated for COVID patients is rapidly decreasing due to the high infection rate. - A recent survey in Denmark reveals that up to 1/3 of respondents would refuse the AstraZeneca vaccine. Denmark was among the first countries to suspend the use of this vaccine amid concerns about blood clotting issues.Today, Brazil reports over 300,000 COVID-19 related deaths, and the country is still in chaos as there is no effective control over the spread of the virus.
- Finland is considering lockdowns for 5 cities, including the capital Helsinki, allowing people to leave their homes only for essential reasons. They have also resumed administering the AstraZeneca vaccine after a temporary halt pending investigation, but now only for those above 65 years old.
- Luxembourg is reopening part of its service industry, with plans to allow cafes and restaurants to welcome outdoor customers starting from April 7.
- Switzerland reports that over 50 soldiers working at a nuclear and biochemical training center have tested positive for the virus.
- Iceland will implement a 3-week lockdown starting tomorrow. Schools, swimming pools, gyms, and bars will be required to close during this period.India announces the detection of a new double variant in the country.
- The Canadian Ministry of Health continues to support the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine, though additional information on the risk of blood clotting is included in the advisory before usage.
- Several Caribbean nations (excluding Cuba) have requested the United States to share vaccines to help them overcome the crisis caused by the ongoing pandemic.
- Brazil has surpassed the grim milestone of 300,000 deaths due to the virus. The country now stands as the epicenter of the pandemic, with a quarter of global deaths reported here. The new Health Minister is working to expedite the vaccination process, aiming to administer 1 million vaccine doses daily to curb the spread.
- Sudan announces the receipt of 250,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine. Previously, they received 828,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine through the Covax program.
- This year's Oscar ceremony will take place without a live broadcast on Zoom. Many nominees are concerned about the strict travel regulations in various countries, making it difficult for them to attend in person. The anticipated date for the Oscars this year is April 25.
