That’s it from me, Samantha Lock, for today.
I’ll be back a bit later with a new Covid blog to bring you all the latest developments.
In the meantime you can follow along with all coronavirus news here.
Australia on track to vaccinate 80% of population in days
Australia is on track to reach the milestone of 80% of the population over 16 being fully vaccinated against Covid-19 in a matter of days.
The latest vaccine figures show 78.1% of over-16s are fully dosed, while more than 88% have received one dose.
Pressure has been mounting on states with zero Covid cases to boost their vaccination rates in order to reopen internal borders safely.
Covid-affected jurisdictions continue their vaccination surge, with NSW now on the cusp of 90% fully vaccinated.
There were more than 186,000 vaccines administered nationwide on Monday.
It coincides with American manufacturer Novavax submitting their vaccine to the Therapeutic Goods Administration for final approval.
If it gets given the green light by the regulator, it will become the fourth Covid vaccine to be made available in Australia.
No 10 concerned as 4.5 million eligible people fail to get Covid jab boosters
The UK government is increasingly worried that hospitalisations and deaths among double-vaccinated people could rise due to waning immunity as an estimated 4.5 million people have failed to get their booster shots despite being eligible.
Downing Street sources told the Guardian that the gap between those eligible and those jabbed was too wide, ranking it as their major concern ahead of the winter months.
They acknowledged more needed to be done to encourage take-up as waning immunity meant more double jabbed people could get sick and were at greater risk of dying without the extra protection of the boosters.
Read the full story here:
Hello from a very sunny morning over here in Sydney, Australia.
I’m Samantha Lock and I’ll be with you for the next short while.
Before I get going here are some case numbers out of Australia.
The state of Victoria reports 941 new Covid cases, the second day in a row with fewer than 1,000 infections. It’s good news for the state which just came out of lockdown.
NSW has reported 190 new cases overnight. A total of 93.6% of people aged 16+ have had one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and 88.3% of people aged 16 and over have had two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine
Summary
Here’s a round-up of this evening’s Covid news.
- The UK has had its highest number of daily Covid deaths reported since late February, as another 293 people have died within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test.
-
UK government is increasingly worried that hospitalisations and deaths among double-vaccinated people could rise due to waning immunity as an estimated 4.5 million people have failed to get their booster shots despite being eligible.
- China urges citizens to stockpile daily necessities, prompting panic-buying, amid surging vegetable prices linked to recent extreme weather, fears of supply shortages and an ongoing Covid outbreak.
-
Romania broke its daily death toll record, after another 591 people died from Covid. It has lagged behind on vaccinations and is well below the average within the EU.
- Greece has announced new restrictions on non-vaccinated people and increased fines for non-compliance.
- Public health officials in Ireland say that its case numbers are at their highest point since January, as another 3,726 were registered – 70% higher than a week ago.
- The Dutch government has reintroduced face masks in an attempt to stop rising Covid-19 cases. Prime minister Mark Rutte said the use of Covid passports would also be broadened out to include museums, gyms and outdoor terraces.
- A scientist has quit the UK government’s pandemic advisery body Sage, saying that the Covid crisis is “a long way from over”. Sir Jeremy Farrar, quit the body at the end of October.
- Children as young as 5 are one step closer to being vaccinated against Covid in the US, after the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) unanimously voted in favour of the broad use of Pfizer and BioNTech jabs for them.
- The UK government’s independent vaccine advisers recommended against Covid shots for healthy teenagers despite considering evidence that the jabs would reduce infections, hospitalisations and some deaths in the age group.
Updated
A UK politician has put a bill to the House of Commons ensuring that any further closures to schools would have to be approved by Parliament.
Robert Halfon, a Conservative MP who chairs the education select committee said the measure could avoid a repeat of the “disaster” of school closures.
He added: “These closures wielded a hammer blow for students’ education and wellbeing. Their effect was apocalyptic, threatening the futures of millions of pupils and students and stopping them climbing the ladder of opportunity.”
Vaccine approved for young children by US public health agency
Children as young as 5 are one step closer to being vaccinated against Covid in the US, after the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) unanimously voted in favour of the broad use of Pfizer and BioNTech jabs for them.
Shots could start going into arms of children aged from 5-11 from Wednesday, after the CDC said the benefits outweighed the risks of vaccination. Discussion looked at rare cases of heart inflammation which have been linked to the vaccine, Reuters reports.
CDC director Rochelle Walensky accept the panel’s ruling before it can start giving out the drug.
Updated
Member of UK advisory body Sage quits
A scientist has quit the UK government’s pandemic advisery body Sage, saying that the Covid crisis is “a long way from over”.
Sir Jeremy Farrar, quit the body at the end of October, Sky News has reported.
It said that he was advocating for a “vaccine plus” strategy to deal with the high levels of Covid cases in the UK.
Sir Jeremy, who is the director of the Wellcome Trust, a charity foundation health research, advocated for more mask wearing, ventilation and testing to tackle rising case numbers. Yet the government has not yet deviated from its current plans.
Updated
The government’s independent vaccine advisers recommended against Covid shots for healthy teenagers despite considering evidence that the jabs would reduce infections, hospitalisations and some deaths in the age group.
Modelling reviewed by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) in June showed that fully vaccinating 80% of 12- to 17-year-olds would lead to “large reductions” in infections and a “substantial reduction” in hospitalisations in the age group.
The modelling from the University of Warwick was considered alongside calculations from Public Health England that found vaccinating healthy young people in an overlapping age group – those aged 15 to 19 – could reduce intensive care admissions and prevent two deaths per million in those who received the shots.
The Dutch government has reintroduced face masks in an attempt to stop rising Covid-19 cases.
Prime minister Mark Rutte said the use of Covid passports would also be broadened out to include museums, gyms and outdoor terraces.
Infections have been rising for a month since most social distancing measures were lifted in late September. Cases have reached their highest levels since July, in the last week.
In a televised press conference, Rutte called on all Dutch to stick to basic hygiene rules and to stay at home if they had a potential infection.
Updated
Ireland records highest cases since January
Public health officials in Ireland say that its case numbers are at their highest point since January, as another 3,726 were registered – 70% higher than a week ago.
The surge is despite more than 90% of adults now being vaccinated according to data released in late October by chair of the Irish vaccination task force Brian MacCraith.
The 14-day incidence stood at 695 cases per 100,000 people, up 18% compared to last week.
The country has dropped most of its restrictions to tackle coronavirus, but requires vaccine passports to enter bars and restaurants.
Updated
Following Greece reporting a record-high number of new Covid cases, health officials have announced tighter rules for non-vaccinated people and heavier fines for people who do not comply.
From Saturday, anyone who has not been vaccinated will have to provide a negative Covid test before they can enter public buildings, shops and banks, AFP reports.
Workers in the public and private sectors will have to provide negative tests twice a week at their own expense.
Fines for shops and restaurants which don’t follow the rules have been doubled to €5,000 (£4,253).
Updated
Romania breaks its daily Covid deaths record
Another country breaking its daily death toll records is Romania, as it registered another 591 deaths.
The eastern European country has had a persistently low vaccination rate, according to Associated Press, and its health care system has become overwhelmed.
The number of vaccinated adults is still well below the EU average of 75% at just 37%. Only its southern neighbour, Bulgaria has got a smaller share of its population vaccinated.
Romanian authorities said on Tuesday that 541 of the latest 591 deaths were unvaccinated. More than 1,800 coronavirus patients are in intensive care.
Harry Taylor here bringing you the latest coronavirus updates from the UK and around the world for the rest of tonight.
If you have any comments, tips or suggestions - drop me an email or via Twitter.
Updated
UK has highest daily death toll since February
The UK has had its highest number of daily Covid deaths reported since late February, as another 293 people have died within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test.
The amount has been distorted by data from NHS England which was not provided on Monday, giving an artificially low number of deaths – 38 – but today’s figure is the largest amount since 21 February, when 325 deaths were recorded.
Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show there has now been more than 166,000 deaths registered with Covid-19 on the death certificate.
Another 33,865 new coronavirus cases were confirmed earlier on Tuesday.
The Dutch health council has advised the government to begin giving Covid-19 vaccine booster shots to everybody 60 and older and residents of nursing homes.
The council said it was seeing indications that Covid protection was waning among older people.
“To get ahead of an increase in serious illness, the council advises the health minister to start offering boosters now,” the council said.
The government, which was set to reimpose some Covid preventive measures on Tuesday, usually follows the health council’s advice.
Greece reports record-high daily Covid cases
In Greece, the public health body (EODY) has just announced an all-time record of 6,700 new coronavirus cases over the last 24 hours.
This follows a record-breaking 5,449 new infections the previous day.
An additional 59 Covid-related fatalities brought the death toll to 16,050 in a population of around 11 million. On 6 October, the country crossed the grim milestone of 15,000 deaths.
Of the 434 people on life support, 370 (85.25%) are unvaccinated, or only partially inoculated with epidemiologists speaking of an “epidemic” amongst those who have yet to be fully jabbed.
Alarmed by the steep rise in transmission rates the Greek health ministry is poised to unveil further restrictive measures for those who remain unvaccinated. An estimated 60.5 % of citizens in Greece have had the shot.
Updated
The Netherlands health council has advised the Dutch government to begin giving Covid-19 vaccine booster shots to everybody 60 and older and residents of nursing homes, adding it was seeing indications that protection was waning among older people, AP reports.
“To get ahead of an increase in serious illness, the council advises the health minister to start offering boosters now,” the council said.
The government, which was set to reimpose some Covid-19 preventive measures later on Tuesday, usually follows the health council’s advice.
Other European countries already have begun giving booster shots. France started giving boosters to people over 65 two months ago.
Just under 80% of adults in the Netherlands are fully vaccinated. The government already has begun giving booster shots to people with severely compromised immune systems.
Covid-19 cases have been rising sharply for weeks in the Netherlands. The country’s public health institute reported Tuesday that infections rose 39% compared to the week earlier and hospital admissions were up 31% amid a weeks-long rise that began soon after the government ended most remaining lockdown restrictions in late September.
Updated
More than 50 million first doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been delivered in the UK, new figures show.
A total of 41,928,327 doses had been given in England as of November 1, along with 4,320,370 in Scotland, 2,446,430 in Wales and 1,329,893 in Northern Ireland.
The overall number of first doses – 50,025,020 – is the equivalent of 87.0% of people aged 12 and over in the UK, or 74.6% of the entire population.
The figures have been published by NHS England, Public Health Scotland, Public Health Wales and the Northern Ireland Department of Health.
Updated
Austria’s army has successfully trained two dogs to sniff out Covid, it said on Tuesday, adding to a mass of evidence that dogs can be deployed to identify carriers of the virus.
Trials across the world from Thailand to the UK have found dogs can use their powerful sense of smell to detect the coronavirus with a high degree of accuracy, suggesting they could be regularly deployed as an additional line of safety at large events and border entry points.
Airports in Finland began deploying dogs to screen arrivals for Covid last year.
Austrian authorities have now fully trained two dogs, a Belgian Shepherd and a Rottweiler, to detect the scent of Covid after sniffing more than 3,000 samples including from used face masks, with a success rate “far above 80%”, the defence minister Klaudia Tanner said.
“We have long known that our service dogs can sniff out various materials… But what we have achieved here is something very special,” she told a news conference.
It takes a dog with previous sniffer experience for other materials around two weeks to be able to tell which samples have Covid, and a further three months to fully train it, the head of the army’s dog-training centre, Colonel Otto Koppitsch, told the news conference.
Austria has no specific plans to deploy dogs trained to detect Covid, but will help train people in other countries how to teach dogs this skill, Tanner said.
This is from Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, calling for countries to pull together to get a greater number of people around the world vaccinated.
At least 5 million lives lost to #COVID19 in under 2 yrs. Each tragic milestone represents a collective failure to act. Massive effort is needed NOW to vaccinate 40% of the population of all countries by year end & 70% by mid next year. Let’s turn words into action #VaccinEquity https://t.co/enDdp9Zf8v
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) November 2, 2021
More than 5 million people are known to have died of Covid-19 worldwide, 19 months since the pandemic began, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Updated
Schools in England will struggle to keep classrooms open if staff absences due to Covid continue to rise, headteachers have warned, as government data revealed that one in 50 teachers were absent with confirmed or suspected Covid infections before the half-term break.
The figures from the Department for Education show that Covid cases among staff and students continued to rise to record levels within England’s state schools.
Paul Whiteman, the general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said:
These figures show just how bad things got at the end of last term, with both pupil and staff absence at their highest levels so far this year.
As we enter the second half of the autumn term, school leaders are worried that unless the government does more, disruption is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
The survey of attendance up to 21 October found that 248,000 children – 3.2% of all pupils – were missing school for Covid-related reasons, a rise of 39,000 compared with the DfE’s previous survey on 14 October.
That included 214,000 children with confirmed or suspected cases, compared with 192,000 the previous week.
The overall absence rate at state schools climbed to 12% from 10% previously, and remained markedly worse at secondary schools where fewer than 86% of pupils were present.
Whiteman said:
A particular concern for school leaders is the ongoing impact of staff absence linked to Covid. We know that schools are finding it increasingly hard to cover staff absence and in many cases they simply cannot afford the cost of so many supply teachers.
At the very least the government needs to re-establish the workforce fund that it abandoned last autumn. Without this crucial support there is a real risk that schools will struggle to keep all classes open as we move into the winter months.
Mary Bousted, the joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
As we enter the winter months, the government in England must adopt measures currently in place in Scotland on improved vaccination rates for the over-12s, masks in secondary schools, investments in ventilation, isolation of close contacts and increased [lateral flow] testing.
Updated
MPs told to wear masks in parliament amid rising Covid cases
MPs and peers are being told to wear face masks and tours of parliament have been cancelled amid a rise in Covid infections on the parliamentary estate.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said there was a greater risk of coronavirus transmission in parliament at the moment and has tightened up its restrictions.
Face coverings are already compulsory for staff, contractors and journalists – although not MPs – and committee chairs will be urged to take a stronger role in ensuring MPs comply with the rule.
People in parliament will also be asked to observe social distancing, particularly in committees where the risk of transmission is believed to be higher, and MPs’ staff are being advised to work home.
All non-parliamentary business such as banqueting events and tours have been cancelled for the next fortnight.
The UKHSA said the changes are effective immediately and will be reviewed in two weeks.
Last week, face coverings became mandatory for staff employed by the House of Commons, unless they are exempt, but it was left up to individual MPs to decide whether to wear one or not.
Most opposition MPs have opted to wear masks during Commons debates, but many Conservatives have refused.
As MPs are not employed by the Commons authorities they can’t be forced to wear masks – but they have been encouraged to do so by the Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle as well as unions representing parliamentary workers.
The health secretary, Sajid Javid, has also suggested that MPs should wear them to set an example to the country. However, the Leader of the Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg, has claimed Conservatives did not need to wear masks because they knew each other well, and this meant they were complying with government guidance.
The current advice says people in England should cover their faces around “people you don’t normally meet”.
In a statement, a parliamentary spokesperson said “recent increases in Covid across the country … are also being reflected in parliament” and that their priority was “to ensure that those on the estate are safe”.
The [UKHSA] has determined that the risk of transmission on the Parliamentary Estate is now greater. As a consequence, some further action is being taken to ensure that case numbers do not continue to rise.
Updated
The proportion of children absent from school for Covid-related reasons in England rose in the week before half-term, UK government figures show.
The Department for Education estimates 3.2% of all pupils – about 248,000 children – did not attend class for Covid-related reasons on 21 October, up from 2.6% (approximately 209,000 children) on 14 October.
Among pupils absent, the main reason for absence was a confirmed case of coronavirus, with around 127,000 pupils off for this reason, compared to around 111,000 a week before.
Overall, some 88.2% of students were in class on 21 October, which is down from 90% on 14 October.
Updated
The US drugmaker Pfizer has lifted its 2021 forecast for revenues from its Covid vaccine to $36bn (£26.3bn), after bumper sales in the third quarter, Julia Kollewe reports.
The Covid jab, called Comirnaty and developed with Germany’s BioNTech, contributed $13bn of revenues in the three months to 30 September. That was more than half of Pfizer’s total revenues of $24bn in the quarter, which rose 134% from a year earlier. In the first six months of the year, Corminaty revenues were $11.3bn.
Pfizer raised its 2021 forecast for Corminaty sales from $33.5bn in July, as it expects to deliver 2.3bn doses this year. Together with BioNTech, it continues to expect to manufacture 3bn doses by the end of December, although not all of them will be delivered by then.
Together with the US biotech Moderna, Pfizer accounts for the lion’s share of the pharma industry’s global revenues from Covid vaccines. Moderna will report its Covid vaccine revenues on Thursday, followed by Pfizer’s partner BioNTech and the UK’s biggest drugmaker, AstraZeneca, next week.
Many western countries including the US, UK and Germany have started giving booster shots to elderly and vulnerable people. However, booster shots are controversial because in low-income countries only 3.7% of people have received at least one dose of a Covid vaccine. About 7.1bn doses have been administered globally, and nearly half the world’s population has received at least one jab.
Read the full story here:
US could give children aged 5-11 Pfizer jab from Wednesday
The US could begin administering the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid vaccine to children aged five to 11 as soon as Wednesday after a panel of outside experts votes on Tuesday on how broadly the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) should recommend its use in the age group.
The US Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorisation of the vaccine in the age group on Friday, but the CDC director Rochelle Walensky must make her recommendations before it can be rolled out.
While the vote from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) will be considered by Walensky, she disregarded their advice last month, when she issued a broader recommendation for booster doses of the Pfizer Covid vaccine than the panel had supported.
After the FDA authorisation, the US government and Pfizer began distributing the vaccine in preparation for a broad rollout for children, many of whom are back in school for in-person learning.
“Over the next couple of days, several million doses will start arriving at local paediatricians and family doctors offices, pharmacies, children’s hospitals, community health centres, rural health clinics and other locations,” White House coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients said at a press briefing on Monday.
Zients said the US had enough supply of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for all 28 million children aged five to 11. While some children may be able to get their first shots as soon as Wednesday, Zients said the US paediatric vaccine programme would be running at full strength by next week.
The FDA authorised a 10-microgram dose of Pfizer’s vaccine in young children. The original shot given to those age 12 and older is 30 micrograms.
Advisers to the FDA last week said the lower dose could help mitigate some of the rare side effects. At their meeting, they paid close attention to the rate of a heart inflammation called myocarditis that has been linked to the vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, primarily in young men.
The FDA has not yet authorised Moderna’s vaccine in teenagers as it works to understand the rate of myocarditis linked to that vaccine. Moderna said on Sunday it will delay seeking authorisation of its vaccine in younger kids while the FDA completes its review for 12- to 17-year-olds that may take until January
Myocarditis concerns will also be discussed during Tuesday’s ACIP meeting.
While the rate of severe illness from Covid in children is much lower than in adults, it is still the eight highest killer of children in the age group in the United States this year, according to CDC data.
Only a few other countries, including China, Cuba and the United Arab Emirates, have so far cleared Covid vaccines for children in this age group and younger.
In the US, around 58% of the population is fully vaccinated, lagging other nations such as the UK and France.
The share of young children who receive the shots may be even lower. The US vaccination rate for 12- to 15-year-olds trails other age groups at roughly 47%, and even some fully vaccinated parents may be reticent to inoculate their younger kids.
US states with the highest adult Covid vaccination rates are planning a big push to get children inoculated compared to states where hesitancy remains strong, potentially widening the gaps in protection nationwide, public health officials and experts have said.
Updated
The Irish prime minister Micheál Martin has said he is unable to guarantee Ireland will avoid the return of Covid restrictions.
A further 2,855 cases were confirmed in Ireland on Monday. The latest figures indicate there are 515 Covid-positive patients in hospital, with 91 in intensive care.
Speaking from the Cop26 climate conference in Glasgow, Martin acknowledged the rise in cases is a concern.
Asked whether it was possible to say restrictions will not be reintroduced, the taoiseach said:
It is possible, but there are no guarantees in relation to Covid-19. And the modelling we receive from Nphet (National Public Health Emergency Team) was looking at a situation peaking towards the end of November.
Updated
The Chinese government has told families to keep daily necessities in stock in case of emergencies, after Covid outbreaks and unusually heavy rains that caused a surge in vegetable prices raised concerns about supply shortages, Reuters reports.
The commerce ministry directive late on Monday stirred some concern on domestic social media that it may have been triggered by heightened tensions with Taiwan, while some said people were rushing to stock up on rice, cooking oil and salt.
“As soon as this news came out, all the old people near me went crazy panic buying in the supermarket,” wrote one user on Weibo.
Local media has also recently published lists of recommended goods to store at home including biscuits and instant noodles, vitamins, radios and flashlights.
The public response forced state media on Tuesday to try to soothe fears and clarify the ministry’s statement.
The Economic Daily, a Communist party-backed newspaper, told netizens not to have “too much of an overactive imagination” and that the directive’s purpose was to make sure citizens were not caught off guard if there was a lockdown in their area.
The People’s Daily said the ministry issues such notices every year, but had issued its instruction earlier this year because of natural disasters, the surge in vegetable prices and recent Covid cases.
The ministry’s statement late on Monday urged local authorities to do a good job in ensuring supply and stable prices, and to give early warnings of any supply problems.
The government typically makes extra efforts to boost fresh vegetable and pork supplies before China’s most important holiday, Lunar New Year, which in 2022 falls in early February.
But this year those efforts have become more urgent after extreme weather in early October destroyed crops in Shandong – the country’s biggest vegetable growing region – and as outbreaks of Covid cases stretching from the north-west to the north-east of the country threaten to disrupt food supplies.
Last week, prices of cucumbers, spinach and broccoli had more than doubled from early October. Spinach was more expensive than some cuts of pork at 16.67 yuan ($2.60) a kilogram, a vegetable price index in Shouguang, a trading hub in Shandong, indicated.
Although prices have eased in recent days, economists expect a significant year-on-year increase in consumer price inflation for October, the first in five months.
The pandemic has brought an increased focus on food security, with the government drafting a food security law and outlining efforts to curb food waste.
The commerce ministry said local authorities should buy vegetables that can be stored well in advance and also strengthen emergency delivery networks. Information about prices and supply and demand of commodities should be released in a timely manner to stabilise people’s expectations, it added.
China also plans to release vegetable reserves “at an appropriate time” to counter rising prices, according to a state TV report late on Monday. It is not clear which vegetables China holds in reserves and how big those reserves are.
The state planning body has called for the timely replanting of vegetables, urging local governments to support fast-growing produce, according to the report.
China has about 100m mu (6.7m hectares) planted with vegetables, the agriculture ministry has said.
Updated
While shielding advice in England ended on 15 September, the Office for National Statistics has found that a huge number of clinically extremely vulnerable people were still taking extra precautions as of 11-16 October as Covid case levels remain high.
New analysis on the behaviours and well-being of those previously identified as clinically extremely vulnerable to #COVID19 shows many were still shielding or taking extra precautions between 11 and 16 Oct 2021, despite shielding guidance ending on 15 Sept https://t.co/WYTt9XVgJ6 pic.twitter.com/gy4OgQOipz
— Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) November 2, 2021
A higher proportion of clinically extremely vulnerable people reported feeling lonely often or always (10%) than the general adult population of England (6%) https://t.co/Uv7Iq0Ujqm pic.twitter.com/QEfb236XCg
— Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) November 2, 2021
Good morning from London. I’m Lucy Campbell, I’ll be bringing you all the latest global developments on the coronavirus pandemic for the next eight hours. Please feel free to get in touch with me as I work if you have a story or tips to share! Your thoughts are always welcome.
Email: lucy.campbell@theguardian.com
Twitter: @lucy_campbell_
Summary
- Japan has relaxed restrictions on mass gatherings and is poised to reduce quarantine for business travellers following a dramatic decline in cases of Covid-19.
- In China, a notice posted on the website of the Ministry of Commerce late Monday urged “families to store a certain amount of daily necessities as needed to meet daily life and emergencies” while instructing authorities to take steps to ensure adequate food supplies.
- Zhong Nanshan, a respiratory disease expert who helped formulate China’s Covid strategy in early 2020, has told state media the country will not give up on its zero-tolerance policy towards local Covid-19 cases any time soon.
- New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern had to abruptly halt a media conference after being continuously interrupted and heckled by at least two people, who appeared to be anti-vaxxers. The confrontation came as authorities planned to seal off the northern tip of New Zealand with police cordons, as they enforce a lockdown in the region over fears of an undetected community transmission of Covid-19 there.
- The rules about visiting the Houses of Parliament in London are changing, with increased Covid security being put in place, and all banqueting and tour events cancelled for a fortnight. The move comes as the UK government continues to take no further action over rising Covid cases.
- The UK’s Office of National Statistics (ONS) has said that the week ending 22 October deaths were above the five-year average in all UK countries. Deaths involving Covid-19 accounted for around 1 in 13 deaths (7.5%).
- The situation in Bulgaria continues to be a cause of concern for authorities. Yesterday, Bulgarian state media reported that all but two districts in the country are being classified as in the “dark red” zone, with infection rates above 500 infections per 100,000 people.
- In Russia, head of the Russian Association of Tour Operators Maya Lomidze said foreign visitors were being deterred because tourist attractions and venues do not recognise QR codes from vaccine passports using foreign vaccines.
- Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has tested positive for Covid-19.
- Two producers of Covid-19 tests in the UK said they had pulled some of their tests from the market after a new review system came into force, which has not yet granted approval for their previously accepted products.
- In New York 9,000 public workers have been put on unpaid leave for refusing Covid vaccine.
- Cambodia’s prime minister, Hun Sen, declared the country open and ready for a new way of life after hitting vaccination targets that made it one of the most vaccinated countries in south Asia.
- Greece has recorded 5,449 new coronavirus infections in the latest 24 hour period, the highest single-day figure since the pandemic began. Officials are poised to implement a new round of restrictive measures for those who remain unvaccinated.
That is your lot from me today. I will be back tomorrow. Next up is Lucy Campbell.
Updated
The Moscow Times is reporting today that the tourist industry is suffering there over Russia’s refusal to recognise vaccines manufactured and approved abroad. They write:
The Russian Association of Tour Operators (ATOR) head Maya Lomidze said foreign visitors vaccinated with non-Russian jabs are not allowed to visit popular tourist destinations like museums and theatres in certain cities.
“Most of the foreign tourists coming to Russia are vaccinated. But in Russia, QR codes don’t work for those who have received foreign vaccines,” Lomidze told Interfax.
She added that Moscow allows foreigners to receive QR codes after submitting a negative PR test, but other regions have not made that option publicly available.
“You can’t guarantee that QR codes won’t be required upon arrival at hotels. It’s unknown what sights foreign tourists will be able to visit and what documents they’ll need,” Lomidze said.
Russia is in the grip of a surge of cases and deaths which are regularly setting daily records, as the country struggles with a low vaccination rate of around one-third of adults, despite being one of the first countries in the world to licence a domestically-produced vaccine.
Two producers of Covid-19 tests in the UK said they had pulled some of their tests from the market after a new review system came into force, which has not yet granted approval for their previously accepted products.
Kate Holton reports for Reuters that Avacta and France-based Novacyt say they submitted documentation for review prior to a 1 September deadline but were still awaiting responses.
Novacyt said two of its products have appeared on a temporary UK list that can continue to be sold, but it is waiting for an update on an additional nine products. Avacta said it has suspended further sales of its AffiDX SARS-CoV-2 Lateral Flow Rapid Antigen Test in the UK.
A quick note from our political correspondent Aubrey Allegretti in Westminster, that the rules about visiting the Houses of Parliament in London are changing, with increased Covid security being put in place.
New Covid rules around the Commons as UKHSA says "the risk of transmission on the parliamentary estate is now greater".
— Aubrey Allegretti (@breeallegretti) November 2, 2021
- Those who don't need to be in asked to wfh
- All tours and banquets for next two weeks cancelled
- Social distancing encouraged, particularly in committees
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has issued some data in the UK, suggesting that the number of Covid deaths is raising. The bulletin states:
The number of deaths from all causes in the UK in the week ending 22 October 2021 (Week 42) was 12,935, 15.4% above the average for the corresponding week in 2015 to 2019. Deaths were above the five-year average in all UK countries.
Of all deaths registered in the week ending 22 October, 974 involved coronavirus (Covid-19), 82 more than the previous week (a 9.2% increase). Deaths involving Covid-19 accounted for around 1 in 13 deaths (7.5%).
11,308 deaths were registered in England and Wales in the week ending 22 October 2021 (Week 42).
— Office for National Statistics (ONS) (@ONS) November 2, 2021
This was
▪ 131 more than the previous week
▪ 1,443 (14.6%) more than the five-year average.
➡️ https://t.co/kH4s0cvYma pic.twitter.com/7VGzF1HiMI
Zero-Covid policy in China to remain 'for a very long time'
Zhong Nanshan, a respiratory disease expert who helped formulate China’s Covid strategy in early 2020, has told state media the country will not give up on its zero-tolerance policy towards local Covid-19 cases any time soon. President of the Chinese Medical Association from 2005 to 2009 and currently the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Thoracic Disease, he said:
The policy will remain for a long time. How long it will last depends on the virus-control situation worldwide.
Reuters remind us that due to local outbreaks, since 23 October travel agencies in China have not been allowed to organise tourism between certain provinces, with such restrictions affecting trips to nearly one-third of the mainland’s 31 province-level regions including Beijing.
Many cities with infections have also closed indoor entertainment and cultural venues. A flurry of marathons, theatrical performances and concerts have been delayed or cancelled.
Zhong told state media CGTN that the current 2% death rate of the disease globally, despite vaccination, is not tolerable in China. “Zero tolerance costs a lot indeed, but letting the virus spread costs more,” Zhong said.
Updated
Here’s the video clip of how New Zeland prime minister Jacinda Ardern ended her press conference after being heckled by people who appeared to be protesting about Covid vaccinations.
The situation in Bulgaria continues to be a cause of concern for authorities. Yesterday, Bulgarian state media reported that all but two districts in the country are being classified as in the “dark red” zone, with infection rates above 500 infections per 100,000 people. Montana has the highest rate at 1,425 cases per 100,000 people, with capital Sofia in second place.
Prof Mira Kozhuharova, an advisor to the caretaker minister of health, warned over risks to the healthcare system on national television, saying:
Six-to-eight-thousand hospital beds, occupied by people not in intensive care, is still acceptable. During the previous wave there was a short period of time when approximately 10,000 beds were occupied. The healthcare system will probably not be able to cope with more than this limit, simply because there is not enough staff.
Updated
Gulf state Bahrain has approved the Pfizer Covid vaccine for emergency use for children aged between 5 and 11 years, the government media office said.
The decision came after a study involving 3,100 children aged between 5 and 11 who were administered with the vaccine found it to be 90.7% effective in that age group, said the statement, citing the National Health Regulatory Authority.
None of the children involved in the study showed severe side effects, it said.
Reuters report that Bahrain will be supplied with doses from the manufacturer for the 5-11 age group from the start of 2022.
New Zealand's PM Ardern ends press conference early after being heckled over vaccines
New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern wasn’t phased by an earthquake the other week while she was making a media appearance, but today had to abruptly halt a media conference after being continuously interrupted and heckled by at least two people, who appeared to be anti-vaxxers.
Praveen Menon reports for Reuters that one could be heard singing during the event, while another asked Ardern to identify a person who died in August after receiving the Pfizer vaccine, and accused her of lying to the public. The New Zealand Herald wrote:
Ardern was answering questions from reporters outside, saying that she had seen multiple people getting vaccinated. She was being heckled throughout the press conference by a female member of the public, as well as having her answers interrupted by a man claiming to be a journalist.
“Sir I will shut down the press conference if this continues,” Ardern told the man at one point during the exchange.
The man continued interrupting, asking Ardern “why is the vaccine not working in Israel? And you are still pushing it”.
For context, Israel has recently passed through a third wave of Covid infections, and is currently recording a seven day average of around 600 new daily cases, compared to a peak of around 11,000 daily infections in September. No vaccine currently on the market claims to be 100% effective at preventing transmission – clinical studies have shown that vaccines reduce the likelihood of transmission, and reduce the severity of infection, reducing the need for hospitalisations.
The confrontation comes as authorities planned to seal off the northern tip of New Zealand with police cordons, as they enforce a lockdown in the region over fears of an undetected community transmission of Covid-19 there.
Part of the Northland region, about 270 km (168 miles) from the biggest city of Auckland, is to begin a level 3 lockdown from midnight, said Chris Hipkins, the minister coordinating the response to coronavirus. The move follows two cases in the region that lacked a link to any known cases.
“It’s unclear how they could have possibly picked up the virus,” Hipkins told a news conference. “There could be undetected community transmission in Northland right now.”
Vaccination rates there are among the lowest in the country, with just 64% of Northland’s eligible population fully vaccinated.
Updated
A quick snap from Reuters here that Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has tested positive for Covid-19, the foreign ministry’s spokesman said.
“His general condition is good and he continues working from quarantine,” Saeed Khatibzadeh told state media, adding that the minister’s agenda of visits had changed.
Hello, it is Martin Belam here in London with you for the next four hours. The UK media round is being done for the government by environment secretary George Eustice today, which suggests all the questioning will be about Cop26 again. I’ll bring you any Covid lines that do emerge. Here’s the latest UK data:
Japan eases Covid curbs
Japan has relaxed restrictions on mass gatherings and is poised to reduce quarantine for business travellers following a dramatic decline in cases of Covid-19.
Vaccinated people arriving for business will have to self-quarantine for three days, rather than the current 10, according to public broadcaster NHK, which added that the change could come as early as Monday. The country’s cap on international arrivals will increase from 3,500 a day to 5,000, it said.
Limits on attendance at big events such as sports and concerts were relaxed on Monday as part of attempts to bring social and economic activity back up to pre-pandemic levels.
Venues can now allow up to 5,000 people or 50% of capacity - whichever is larger - while bigger stadiums are no longer subject to a cap of 10,000 people. On Wednesday, about 30,000 people are expected to watch a J-League football match between Yokohama F Marinos and Gamba Osaka at Nissan Stadium, which has a capacity of 72,000.
The government lifted emergency measures that included restrictions on restaurant and bar opening hours and a ban on alcohol in early October, although establishments were encouraged to close early until the end of the month.
The easing of restrictions has been made possible by plummeting Covid-19 cases in Japan, where more than 70% of the 125m population has been double vaccinated.
On Monday, it reported 84 new infections - the lowest number since June last year - compared with more than 25,000 in late August. Tokyo, meanwhile, recorded nine cases. While caseloads are typically lower on Mondays due to fewer tests being conducted over the weekend, the capital had 13 fewer cases than the same day the previous week.
Hi and thanks for joining us today as we bring you all the latest Covid developments from all corners of the world.
I’m Samantha Lock reporting to you from Sydney, Australia, and I’ll be with you for the next short while.
Governments across the world are in constant flux as they adjust their advice in line with changing Covid concerns.
In China, a notice posted on the website of the Ministry of Commerce late Monday urged “families to store a certain amount of daily necessities as needed to meet daily life and emergencies” while instructing authorities to take steps to ensure adequate food supplies, AFP reports.
The country is adopting increasingly tight measures and a Covid-zero strategy to contain its latest outbreak. The directive made no mention of a food shortage or of whether the instructions were motivated by fears that Covid measures could disrupt supply chains or leave locked-down citizens in need of food.
Meanwhile in neighbouring Japan, restrictions on mass gatherings have been relaxed and the nation is poised to reduce quarantine for business travellers following a dramatic decline in cases of Covid-19.
Vaccinated people arriving for business will have to self-quarantine for three days, rather than the current 10, according to public broadcaster NHK, which added that the change could come as early as Monday. The country’s cap on international arrivals will increase from 3,500 a day to 5,000, it added.
Summary
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Eastern Europe is grappling with its worst outbreak since the pandemic started. Moscow is currently under its strictest lockdown measures in more than a year as the daily tally of cases and deaths nationwide hit new highs.
But many Russians have decided that now is an ideal time to fly off for a foreign holiday, with a sharp increase in bookings to destinations where Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine is recognised or where Covid entry requirements are cheap and easy. - The United States is rolling out Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccines for children aged 5 to 11 this week, but most of the 15 million shots being shipped initially are unlikely to be available before next week.
- In New York 9,000 public workers have been put on unpaid leave for refusing Covid vaccine.
- Cambodia’s prime minister, Hun Sen, declared the country open and ready for a new way of life after hitting vaccination targets that made it one of the most vaccinated countries in south Asia.
- In the United States, as deadlines for jabs approach, military leaders are wrestling with the decision of how to treat soldiers who choose not to be vaccinated.
- A total of 49,987,325 first doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been delivered in the UK by 31 October, a rise of 27,402 on the previous day, government figures show.
- The UK recorded 40,077 new positive Covid tests on Monday, up from 38,009 the previous day.
- Of the 377 local areas in the UK, 64 have seen a week-on-week rise in rates while the majority – 313 – have seen a fall.
- Greece has recorded 5,449 new coronavirus infections in the latest 24 hour period, the highest single-day figure since the pandemic began. Officials are poised to implement a new round of restrictive measures for those who remain unvaccinated.
- The Netherlands will impose new coronavirus restrictions this week in a bid to curb a recent surge in infections, Health Minister Hugo de Jonge said.
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Thailand, Australia and Israel eased international border restrictions significantly on Monday for the first time in 18 months.
- As Australia begins to reopen its international borders for fully vaccinated citizens, politicians are debating about the ongoing restrictions on internal travel.
- The US government has begun assembling and shipping millions of Covid-19 vaccines in preparation for getting the go-ahead to jab children aged five to 11.
- China’s leisure and tourism businesses are struggling under the country’s zero tolerance for Covid-19 as cities with infections, or have concerns about the virus, close entertainment venues, restrict tourism or delay cultural events.
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China locks down Shanghai Disneyland and tests 34,000 visitors after a single Covid case.
- Indonesia has given the world’s first emergency use authorisation for the Covid vaccine produced by Novavax. The company’s protein-based vaccine could prove hugely important for lower-income countries and the WHO-backed vaccine access scheme Covax.
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