Trends - COVID19 - Business Recorder

World

US Interior Secretary Bernhardt tests positive for COVID-19

Bernhardt was asymptomatic and would continue to work while in quarantine.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 09:23am

Markets

Gold near 1-week high on growing prospects of US stimulus

Britain and the European Union have moved closer to sealing a new trade deal but it was still unclear if they would succeed, the bloc's chief executive said on Wednesday.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 08:48am

Markets

Australia shares set to open higher as miners poised to ride iron ore rally

The local share price index futures rose 0.4%, a 26.8-point premium to the underlying S&P/ASX 200 index close.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 08:43am

Technology

Twitter bans harmful false claims about COVID-19 vaccinations

The social media company said in a blog post that users could be required to remove tweets with false claims that suggest vaccines are "used to intentionally cause harm to or control populations.
The policy, announced the same week that the first Americans received COVID-19 vaccinations as part of a mass immunization campaign.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 02:09am

World

Americas report 5 million Covid cases in a week: PAHO

Deaths have surpassed 300,000, a milestone that underscores the human toll of this crisis," PAHO director said.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 01:57am

World

US health worker has serious allergic reaction to Pfizer vaccine

The US regulator issued an emergency approval with the warning that people who had known allergies to ingredients inside the vaccine should avoid it.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 01:45am

World

France to get 1.16 million Covid vaccine doses by year end

France has ordered a total of around 200 million doses, which would be enough to innoculate 100 million people.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 01:38am

World

India may need to spend $1.8bn on COVID-19 vaccines in first phase, documents show

India, which has the world's second highest caseload of coronavirus behind the United States, plans to inoculate 300 million people over the next six to eight months.
On the other hand, if India received a lower allocation of 95-125 million doses, then the cost to the government of procuring additional shots would go up to $1.8 billion.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 01:34am

World

State Dept says Pompeo to quarantine after contact with COVID-positive person

Secretary Pompeo has been identified as having come into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID.
"The secretary has been tested and is negative. In accordance with CDC guidelines, he will be in quarantine.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 01:32am

World

WHO vaccine scheme risks failure, leaving poor countries no COVID shots until 2024

COVAX faces "very high" risk of failure, hired Citi for advice.
Scheme plans to deploy 2 bln shots in poor states in 2021.
Failure could delay vaccinations until 2024 in poor countries.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 01:25am

World

COVID-19 surge, depleted fiscal stimulus depress US retail sales

Retail sales fall 1.1% in November; October revised down.
Core retail sales drop 0.5%; dip 0.1% in October.
November decline in sales almost across the board.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 01:16am

World

Ecuador prepares for COVID-19 vaccination campaign with private sector

The government of the Andean nation has set aside $200 million to purchase vaccines from seven companies.
There is a coalition that seeks to integrate various sectors (public and private) so that the purchase.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 12:54am

World

Some vaccine doses kept too cold, Pfizer having manufacturing issues, US officials say

At least two trays of COVID-19 vaccine doses delivered in California needed to be replaced after their storage temperatures dipped below minus 80 Celsius.
We will ensure that by whatever mechanism, that we provide them full support to ensure that they can produce for the American people.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 12:19am

World

Nigeria expects to get its first COVID-19 vaccine doses in January

Africa's most populous nation has not been as hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic as others on the continent such as South Africa.
We have 200 million citizens. We need to have a way to be able to get enough to be able to take care of our citizens.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 12:17am

World

US Congress could vote on $900bn COVID-19 aid bill by Thursday

They are nearing a deal as rates of COVID-19 infections are soaring to new highs, even as the United States starts to vaccinate people.
Congressional leaders made substantial progress toward compromising on a new coronavirus aid plan during talks that stretched into the night on Tuesday.

Published 17 Dec, 2020 12:08am

World

State Dept says Pompeo to quarantine after contact with COVID-positive person

"Secretary Pompeo has been identified as having come into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 09:36pm

World

UK PM Johnson says would be ‘inhuman’ to ban Christmas

"I want to be clear we don't want to, as I say, to ban Christmas, to cancel it," he told a media conference.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 09:33pm

World

France may start COVID-19 vaccinations in last week of Dec: PM

Castex told parliament that the vaccine campaign in France would then be stepped up in January, with the elderly and other more vulnerable groups coming first in the queue.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 09:30pm

World

Potential $900bln U.S. COVID-19 bill to include checks for individuals –reports

The potential agreement could come as early as later on Wednesday morning, according to Politico and the Washington Post, which both cited multiple sources involved in or briefed on the ongoing talks.
Unemployment benefits would also be extended as part of the package, the reports said.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 09:20pm

Business & Finance

Aramco may have to sell assets, borrow more to maintain Saudi dividend

Aramco, the world’s largest oil producer, listed in 2019 in a record $29.4 billion share sale, but the government still owns 98.2% of the group.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 09:06pm

Pakistan

Govt initiates working for purchase of COVID-19 vaccine: Dr. Faisal

Dr. Faisal said that specific amount has been allocated for purchase of Corona vaccine and dispelled the impression that private sector will soon start purchasing Corona vaccine.

Updated 16 Dec, 2020 09:42pm

Pakistan

USAID assistance to help reduce infectious diseases’ mortality: Dr. Faisal

Executive Director National Institute of Health (NIH) Maj Gen Aamer Ikram explained importance of such units which would now be connected to their respective provinces.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 08:34pm

World

Medical staff could receive coronavirus vaccine this month, Polish PM's aide says

Medical staff in Poland could start getting vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as this month, the Polish prime minister's top aide Michal Dworczyk said on Wednesday.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 08:20pm

World

Germany aims to offer COVID-19 vaccine to the willing by summer: minister

Germany aims to be able to vaccinate everyone seeking a COVID-19 inoculation in the country by summer, Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Wednesday.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 08:16pm

World

Italy expects to begin COVID vaccinations between Xmas and New Year

Germany, France, Italy and five other European states announced they would coordinate the start of their COVID-19 vaccinations.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 08:06pm

World

Daily U.S. COVID-19 deaths again top 3,000 as officials scurry to distribute vaccine

The case load of 16.7 million infections represented roughly 5% of the U.S. population.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 07:55pm

Markets

Wall Street set to tick higher as stimulus hopes grow

Technology shares pushed Wall Street higher on Tuesday, with the Nasdaq ending at a record high, with investors viewing the sector as more resilient to the pandemic.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 07:06pm

World

WHO vaccine scheme risks failure, leaving poor countries no COVID shots until 2024

The World Health Organization’s COVAX programme is the main global scheme to vaccinate people in poor and middle income countries around the world against the coronavirus.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 06:49pm

World

Indonesia reports 6,725 new COVID-19 cases, 137 new deaths

According to the ministry, 5,328 more patients were discharged from hospitals, bringing the total number of recoveries to 521,984.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 05:41pm

World

WHO vaccine scheme risks failure, leaving poor countries no COVID shots until 2024

COVAX programme is the main global scheme to vaccinate people in poor and middle income countries around the world against the coronavirus.
“The risk of a failure to establish a successful COVAX Facility is very high,” says an internal report to the board of Gavi.

Published 16 Dec, 2020 05:33pm