Lockdown ineffective as 5th wave peaks in Iran – latest updates

Coronavirus pandemic has killed over 4.1 million people and infected over 194 million globally. Here are the coronavirus-related developments for July 25:

General view of a street in Tehran following the tightening of restrictions to curb the surge of Covid-19 cases, in Tehran, Iran July 21, 2021.
Majid Asgaripour

General view of a street in Tehran following the tightening of restrictions to curb the surge of Covid-19 cases, in Tehran, Iran July 21, 2021.

Sunday, July 25:

Lockdown ineffective as fifth wave peaks in Iran

As the fifth wave of the pandemic driven by the Delta variant peaks in Iran, top health officials have criticised the current lockdown measures and people's lack of adherence to health protocols in the country.

Iran on Sunday recorded 27,146 infections — the second-highest toll since the pandemic broke out last year, besides 268 deaths, taking the overall tally to 3.7 million cases and 88,800 deaths.

Dengue fever raises new challenge for Bangladesh amid pandemic

An alarming spike in seasonal dengue fever in Bangladesh has raised a new challenge for authorities in the South Asian country as it grapples with the threat of a rising coronavirus, according to official sources.

"It (dengue) has infected many people in the last couple of days and has become a new issue of tension for the government," Nazmul Islam, spokesman of the country's Directorate General of Health Services, said at a virtual press briefing.

According to the latest government health update released on Sunday evening, a total of 1,679 patients have been diagnosed with the dengue this year, including 102 over the last 24 hours.

Turkey administers over 66.1M vaccine shots so far

Turkey has administered over 66.1 million doses of vaccines since it launched a mass vaccination campaign in January, according to official figures.

The ministry also confirmed 14,230 new infections and 55 deaths in the last 24 hours, while as many as 5,211 more patients recovered.

Fauci: Some Americans likely to need vaccine booster

Top US infectious disease official Anthony Fauci has said that Americans who are immune compromised may end up needing vaccine booster shots.

"Those who are transplant patients, cancer chemotherapy, auto-immune diseases, that are on immunosuppressant regimens, those are the kind of individuals that if there's going to be a third booster, which might likely happen, would be among first the vulnerable," Fauci said during a CNN interview.

Libya starts walk-in vaccination after surge

Citizens and residents in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, have been getting vaccinated in an "exceptional" vaccination drive.

The campaign, which started on Saturday, targets everyone over 18.

It was coordinated between the Tripoli Administration of Health Services and the National Center for Disease Control after a recent alarming spike in virus cases.

Violent protests in Tunisia over the economy, virus spread

Violent demonstrations have broken out on in several Tunisian cities as protesters expressed anger at the deterioration of the North African nation's health, economic and social situation.

Thousands of people defied virus restrictions and scorching heat to demonstrate in the capital of Tunis and other cities. The largely young crowds shouted “Get out!” and slogans calling for the dissolution of parliament and early elections.

Indonesia extends movement curbs until August 2

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has said that restrictions would be extended from July 26 to August 2, though he said infections and hospital bed occupancy rates in some provinces in Java had declined.

Under the current curbs, he said the government would gradually adjust some restrictions on "some activities", while allowing traditional markets and restaurants with outdoor areas to open with some limitations.

French lawmakers seek deal on vaccine passports after protests

Lawmakers from France's upper and lower houses of parliament have sought to agree on a deal to allow the adoption of legislation making vaccine passports vital for French daily life.

The talks between members of the National Assembly and Senate come a day after France was again shaken by nationwide protests against the rules that saw over 160,000 rally and dozens arrested.

UK health minister apologises for virus tweet

Britain's Health Secretary Sajid Javid has apologised after he tweeted that the country need not "cower" in the face of the virus, having himself recovered from a bout of the disease.

"I was expressing gratitude that the vaccines help us fight back as a society, but it was a poor choice of word and I sincerely apologise," he said.

His initial tweet urged "please, if you haven't yet, get your jab, as we learn to live with, rather than cower from, this virus," sparking criticism that he was being disrespectful to those who died from the disease in Britain.

"129,000 people who died didn't cower, they fought for their lives," wrote Labour MP Yvette Cooper.

Schools reopen in Afghanistan after months of closure

Schools and other educational institutions have started to reopen in Afghanistan after months of closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the health and education officials, the reopening would be gradual in provinces in relation to the prevalence of the virus.

Hamid Obaidi, an Education Ministry official, said the academic centres would be reopened in provinces where the ratio of positive cases is below 35 percent.

Pope hopes Olympic Games 'sign of hope' in pandemic

Pope Francis has said he hopes the Tokyo Olympics will be a sign of hope and "universal brotherhood" during the pandemic raging around the world.

"In this period of pandemic, let these games be a sign of hope, a sign of universal brotherhood and of a healthy competitive spirit," the pontiff said at the end of the Angelus prayer.

Unjabbed could face new curbs in Germany — Merkel aide

People who have not been vaccinated could face new restrictions if infections continue to rise in Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel's chief of staff said.

"Vaccinated people will definitely have more freedom than unvaccinated people," Helge Braun told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

Currently, Germans can use facilities such as restaurants, cinemas and sports venues if they are either fully vaccinated or able to provide a recent negative test.

Macron calls for unity after anti-vaccine protests

French President Emmanuel Macron has appealed for national unity and mass vaccination to fight the resurgent virus, and lashed out at those fuelling anti-vaccine sentiment and protests.

About 160,000 people protested around France on Saturday against a special pass for restaurants and mandatory vaccinations for health workers. Many marchers shouted “liberty!” and said the government shouldn’t tell them what to do.

Thousands across Italy protest 'green pass'

Thousands of people have gathered in several Italian cities to voice their opposition against a move that will require residents to have passes reflecting their health status to access many places.

Prime Minister Mario Draghi's government approved a decree on Thursday ordering the use of the so-called "green" passes starting on August 6.

2 virus patients die in Jordan hospital power outage

Two coronavirus patients have died after a power outage at a hospital in the Jordanian capital, Amman, according to local media.

The country’s health minister, Firas Al-Hawari, however, told reporters that one patient died 20 minutes before the power outage at the Gardens Hospital, while the second lost his life an hour and a half later.

He said an investigation has been launched into the cause of the deaths and that the results will be revealed within hours.

South Korea steps up curbs ahead of peak holiday season

South Korea has said it will tighten social distancing rules across most of the country this week, warning that its worst-ever wave might spread further in the summer holiday season.

The curbs will be increased to Level 3 on a four-level scale, which will mean a 10 pm dining curfew (1300 GMT) and ban on gatherings of more than four people, from Tuesday for two weeks for most areas except for some small counties.

Singapore reports 117 new local cases

Singapore's Health Ministry reported 117 new locally transmitted cases, slightly lower than the 127 cases reported the previous day.

Malaysia's total infections rise above 1 million

Malaysia's total cases since the start of the pandemic has surpassed 1 million after the country's health ministry reported a record 17,045 new coronavirus cases.

The total number of infections in the country stood at 1,013,438.

Russia reports 24,072 new  cases, 779 related deaths

Russia has reported 24,072 new cases, including 3,406 in Moscow, taking the official national tally since the pandemic began to 6,126,541.

The government coronavirus task force said 779 people had died of coronavirus-linked causes in the past 24 hours, pushing the national death toll to 153,874.

Russia has been in the grip of a surge in cases that authorities blame on the more contagious Delta variant, though some officials have suggested in recent days that cases, at least in Moscow, have started to decline.

Tokyo daily Covid-19 cases total 1,763 

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has reported 1,763 cases on Sunday, the third day since the Olympic Games began in the Japanese capital.

Infections have been on the rise in recent weeks, reaching 1,979 on Thursday, the highest since January. 

Australians may face longer lockdown after "reckless" mass protests

Australia's New South Wales has logged its second-highest daily increase of the year in locally acquired cases amid fears of a wave of new infections after thousands of people joined an anti-lockdown protest.

"In relation to yesterday's protests, can I say how absolutely disgusted I was. It broke my heart," Gladys Berejiklian, the premier of the country's most populous state, told reporters.

"I hope it won't be a setback, but it could be," she said.

There were 141 cases reported, down from 163 a day earlier. The outbreak, which began in June, is being driven by the highly contagious Delta variant of the virus, and has now infected 2,081 people in New South Wales. There are 43 people in intensive care, up from 37 a day earlier.

Under fire for a slow vaccine rollout, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said more vaccine supply was not going to ensure New South Wales gets out of lockdown, but what was needed was an effective, properly enforced lockdown.

"Let me be clear - there's not an alternative to the lockdown in New South Wales to get this under control. There is no other magic bullet that's going to do that," Morrison told reporters at a televised media conference.

He called the anti-lockdown protests in Sydney reckless and self-defeating. 

India reports 39,742 new cases in last 24 hours -govt

India has reported 39,742 new cases in the last 24 hours, a government statement said.

The  death toll rose by 535 deaths in the last 24 hours, with the total reaching 420,551, health ministry data showed. 

Two Covid patients die after power outage at Jordan hospital

Two coronavirus patients have died at a hospital in the Jordanian capital of Amman after a short circuit knocked out power at the facility's intensive care unit, the country's health minister said.

The private Gardens Hospital is being rented by the Jordanian government to treat coronavirus patients.

Health Minister Firas Al Hawari told state media that two people were confirmed dead at the hospital after the incident, and that investigators were determining the cause of the accident and whether the power outage was responsible for the deaths .

Angry people gathered outside the hospital and security forces cordoned off the facility and prevented relatives of patients from entering.

Vietnam says more US vaccine donations expected after first 5 mln doses

The United States is considering giving more vaccines to Vietnam, its ambassador to the United States said as the Southeast Asian country struggles to control outbreaks of the fast-spreading Delta variant of the virus.

Vietnam took delivery of a shipment of 3 million Moderna doses from the United States on Sunday, taking the amount given by the United States, via the global Covax vaccine scheme, to 5 million doses.

"The US side has said it is also considering more vaccine donations to Vietnam soon," the ambassador to the United States, Ha Kim Ngoc, said speech posted on a government web site.

Vietnam is also in talks with the United States on domestic production of mRNA vaccines, its foreign ministry said on Thursday, adding that production could begin in the fourth quarter or early in 2022.

Indonesia prepares more ICU units, waits to see if curbs will be extended

Indonesia is preparing more intensive care units after logging several days of record-high deaths last week, while the country waits to see whether the government will extend or loosen tough restrictions due to expire on Sunday.

Buckling under a Delta variant-driven wave of the virus, Indonesia has become Asia's epicentre with hospitals deluged, particularly on the densely populated island of Java.

"Deaths have risen due to a number of factors: full hospitals, patients admitted with low saturation, or dying unmonitored in self-isolation," Senior Minister Luhut Pandjaitan said in a statement late on Saturday.

Indonesia last week reported record-high deaths on four separate days, the last of which was Friday's 1,566 fatalities, bringing cumulative deaths to more than 82,000. 

Total case infections have climbed to over 3.1 million, though health experts say both deaths and case numbers have been undercounted.

Germany's confirmed cases rise by 1,387 - RKI

The number of confirmed cases in Germany has increased by 1,387 to 3,755,898, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Sunday. 

The reported death toll rose by 4 to 91,524, the tally showed. 

Libya steps up Tripoli jab drive as virus caseload rises

Libyan authorities have stepped up their vaccination campaign around the capital Tripoli, as coronavirus cases rise across the country.

The health ministry has set up temporary centres in six districts of the capital, and AFP journalists saw long queues outside the tents on Saturday morning.

"The campaign will continue until all the available doses are used," doctor Rawad Behelille told AFP in central Tripoli.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah issued a decree instructing cafes and restaurants to close due to rising infections, while also susp ending university lectures and weddings.

Daily reported cases have reached several thousand in the past week, in a country with a population of around seven million.

Libya has recorded over 229,600 coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic, including over 3,340 deaths.

Fewer than 500,000 people have been vaccinated since the war-torn country's inoculation campaign started in April.

Germany's cases rise by 1,387

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany has increased by 1,387 to 3,755,898, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed. 

The reported death toll rose by 4 to91,524, the tally showed.

Olympics-Organisers report 10 more cases

Olympics organisers have reported 10 new Olympics-related Covid-19 cases, bringing the disclosed total to 132. 

Mexico posts 15,823 more cases, 362 additional deaths

Mexico's health ministry has recorded 15,823 new confirmed coronavirus cases and 362 fatalities, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 2,741,983 and the reported death toll to 238,316. 

Britain reports another 31,795 cases 

Britain has reported 31,795 further cases of Covid-19 and 86 deaths within 28 days of a positive test, according to official data. 

Brazil reports 1,108 new deaths

Brazil has reported 1,108 new deaths from Covid-19, the health ministry said, bringing the total fatalities to 549,448.

Cases rose by 38,091 to 19,670,534. 

Russia sends Covid-19 aid to Cuba

Russia has sent a shipment of coronavirus-related humanitarian assistance to Cuba, including 1 million medical masks, the defence ministry said on Saturday, adding President Vladimir Putin had given instructions for the aid.

Cuba, which kept coronavirus infections low last year, earlier this week reported the highest rate of contagion per capita in Latin America. That has strained its healthcare sector and helped stoke rare anti-government protests earlier this month on the Communist-run island.

Two military planes carrying 88 tonnes of aid - including food and personal protective equipment, including over 1 million medical masks, departed from an airfield near Moscow on Saturday, the defence ministry said in a statement.

The Cuban government has blamed the protests mostly on what it calls US-financed "counter-revolutionaries" exploiting economic hardship caused by decades-old US embargo. Government critics say the island's economic woes are caused largely by the inefficiencies of the state-run system.

Mexico said on Thursday it would send to Cuba two navy ships loaded with medical and food supplies, including syringes, oxygen tanks and masks, along with powered milk, cans of tuna, beans, flour, cooking oil and gasoline.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has bla med the US embargo for fomenting the unrest in Cuba.

With a population of 11 million, Cuba reported nearly 4,000 confirmed coronavirus cases per million residents over the last week, nine times more than the world average, in an outbreak fuelled by the arrival of the more contagious Delta variant on the island. 

Jordan to open Covid vaccinations for 12-year-olds

Jordan's health ministry has announced that Covid-19 vaccines will now be available for children aged 12 and above.

The ministry "has decided to lower the Covid-19 vaccination age to 12 years, starting from Sunday July 25" and without requiring an appointment, the ministry said in a statement on its Facebook page on Saturday.

"Vaccination will be optional, and those under 18 will be able to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine with the consent of their guardian," the statement added.

Jordan, a country of 10 million people, has officially recorded more than 763,900 coronavirus cases, including over 9,900 deaths, since the start of its outbreak.

Some 1.9 million people have been fully inoculated against Covid-19, while 2.7 million have received an initial vaccine dose.

First delta variant case confirmed in Colombia

Colombia has its first case of the highly transmissible Covid-19 Delta variant strain, Colombian President Ivan Duque has confirmed.

The first case of this new infectious variant in the country was an international traveller who arrived in Cali from the United States.

The president stressed the fact that the new variant comes at a relatively positive time for the country, given the decrease in cases.

Authorities called to be more careful with biosecurity protocols and urged citizens to get vaccinated.

Health officials are concerned, however, that the infectious variant could spread quickly through the unvaccinated population.

So far, 21.63 percent of the Colombian population has been fully vaccinated, according to the Johns Hopkins University track.

According to the World Health Organisation, as of 20 July, the delta variant, which was first detected in India in October 2020, has spread over more than 100 countries.

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