The number of coronavirus cases in the US continues to decline after a winter wave
The Latest: Cases of US Coronavirus Continue to Decline By The Associated Press The Associated Press
ATLANTA – The number of coronavirus cases continues to decline in the US after a winter wave.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University say the seven-day average of new coronavirus cases in the country dropped below 100,000 on Friday for the first time since Nov. 4. It stayed below 100,000 again on Saturday.
The seven-day average was well above 200,000 for much of December, dropping to about 250,000 in January, when the pandemic came back after being tamed in some places over the summer.
THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:
Scientists say it is too early to predict the future of the coronavirus, but many doubt it will ever disappear altogether. Germany is tightening border controls to keep virus variants out. Japan has formally approved its first COVID-19 vaccine. China fires back at US COVID probe charges. A tight supply is causing reluctance towards federal vaccination sites.
Follow AP’s entire pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic, https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
HERE’S WHAT ELSE HAPPENS:
PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron is pushing for more international efforts to get vaccines to poor countries, and for China and Russia to become more involved.
While France’s own vaccination program is suffering from delivery delays and bureaucratic problems, Macron told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper in an interview published Sunday that “African countries are right to ask us about their access to vaccines.”
In recent days, Macron has met with global pharmaceutical CEOs and vaccine experts to discuss programs to combat vaccine inequality, help end the pandemic, and revive economies faster. One such program is UN-backed COVAX, which has had a slow start due to funding shortages and a lack of commitment from some major world powers.
“We need to further accelerate this effort because every week counts,” Macron said. He also said vaccines made in China and Russia should be “integrated into this major multilateral effort against the pandemic”.
BELGRADE, Serbia – Serbian police say they have arrested three people for organizing a party with about 1,000 guests at a Belgrade nightclub, in violation of the new coronavirus rules.
Police said on Sunday that the three are suspected of “failing to comply with health regulations during an epidemic.” The statement states that suspects have been placed in detention for two days and will be brought before a prosecutor.
Bars, restaurants and clubs in Serbia are allowed to operate with limited capacity and remain open until 8pm. as part of antivirus measures. But health officials have recently warned of the widespread disregard for the rules and announced tighter controls.
Local media reported that on Saturday evening, police broke into a packed club in central Belgrade that was open after hours. Videos of the scene showed people in the club with loud music playing in the background.
Serbia has reported more than 400,000 cases of infection with the novel coronavirus and more than 4,000 confirmed virus-related deaths.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Saudi Arabia has extended meeting, entertainment and indoor dining restrictions for an additional 20 days to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
Measures to be extended on Sunday also include the closure of cinemas and gyms.
Earlier this month, the kingdom suspended parties and weddings and closed shopping malls and sports centers to combat an increase in infections. The country also stopped the entry of foreigners from 20 countries.
Saudi Arabia saw a spike in coronavirus cases in June. The kingdom brought daily reported cases to under 100 in early January, but reported 337 cases and four deaths on Saturday, according to government statistics.
BEIRUT – Lebanon delivered its first injections of COVID-19 vaccine on Sunday, with an intensive care physician and a 93-year-old comedian being the first to receive Pfizer-BioNTech doses.
Lebanon launched its vaccination campaign one day after receiving the first batch of the vaccine – 28,500 doses from Brussels, close to where Pfizer has a manufacturing facility. More were expected in the coming weeks.
The rollout will be monitored by the World Bank and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to ensure safe handling and fair and equitable access for all Lebanese.
Lebanon’s political, economic and health crises have converged, increasing the country’s troubles and public anger and distrust of the long-serving ruling class. The government did not provide social safety nets or structural reforms to get international aid.
BELGRADE, Serbia – Serbia donated a first batch of 8,000 doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines to North Macedonia on Sunday, which has yet to deliver its first shots.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and North Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev attended a ceremony to hand over the shipment at the border posts, praising the friendship between the two neighboring Balkan states.
Serbia, a country of 7 million inhabitants, has vaccinated about 600,000 people so far, mainly with the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine and Russian Sputnik V, and to a lesser extent with the Pfizer shot. The country has been one of the most successful in Europe in terms of the speed with which the vaccine has been rolled out to its population.
In contrast, North Macedonia, like most other countries of the Western Balkans, does not yet have a single dose of the coronavirus vaccine for its 2.1 million inhabitants.
LOS ANGELES – Officials in Los Angeles County say Northridge Hospital Medical Center violated county regulations when it provided coronavirus vaccines to teachers and staff at North Hollywood Wesley School. Teachers and school personnel are not currently authorized to receive doses of the vaccine.
Wesley School interim principal Julie Galles says the school did not look for the vaccines, but did not clarify how the vaccinations took place.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the incident raised concerns about the fairness of vaccine distribution in the county, especially as shortages and other logistical issues hamper distribution. Parents at the school include Douglas Brown, Northridge Hospital Medical Center’s chief financial officer.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – According to the Arkansas Department of Health, the number of people hospitalized in Arkansas with the coronavirus dropped below 700 on Saturday.
There were 690 hospital admissions for viruses, 22 fewer than Friday, the department reported, while the number of virus cases reported increased by 954 and an additional 40 deaths were due to COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
There have been a total of 312,562 cases and 5,252 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
Arkansas had the sixth most new cases per capita in the country at 631.92 per 100,000 residents, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, while the moving averages of new cases and deaths in the past two weeks have dropped from 1,597 new cases per day to 983 and from 40 deaths per day to 23, according to Johns Hopkins data.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand: In a significant setback to New Zealand’s efforts to prevent the coronavirus from spreading in the community, three people from one family have tested positive with unknown source of the infections, health officials announced Sunday.
The news has prompted Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to cancel appointments and return to Wellington for further briefings and decision-making.
Officials say they are open to how Auckland’s mother, father and daughter contracted the disease. They said the mother works at an airline catering company, and officials are investigating whether there is a link with returning passengers who are infected.
Officials said the daughter’s high school will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays as a precaution, but so far they have not announced wider restrictions.
OKLAHOMA CITY – The number of reported coronavirus cases in Oklahoma is more than 400,000.
The state health service reported 2,053 new cases on Saturday. Another 51 deaths raised the confirmed death toll to 3,761.
Data from Johns Hopkins University shows that Oklahoma was fourth in the nation in the number of new cases per capita, with 855 cases per 100,000 residents. The data shows that the seven-day moving average of deaths in the state has dropped from 37 to 34 deaths per day over the past two weeks.
According to the federal Centers for Disease Control, more than half a million Oklahoma residents have received the coronavirus vaccine, including 114,208 who received both doses.
MARSEILLE, France – It has been a difficult year for the performing arts in most countries, with virus locks canceling shows and shutter venues.
But the world’s best circus festival has found a way to thrive among the cracks in the rules – even without the huge crowds that would normally have attended.
At the end of Saturday in the Mediterranean port city of Marseille, the fourth edition of the Circus Biennale (BIAC), held every two years in the south of France, is celebrated with the injury-defying and dazzling arts that fuel the legendary spectacle .
More than 110,000 people attended the last BIAC, in 2019. This year it had as many as 2,000 visitors, all professionals who work in the circus or want to buy shows.
Even that is a testament to the persistence and determination of the organizers, who have expertly adapted their festival to the rules and regulations of the French authorities.