At least 74.4 million people have been infected by the coronavirus that has claimed more than 1.6 million lives around the world.
US sees record single-day spike
The United States has set a grim double record notching more than 3,700 deaths and over 250,000 new Covid-19 cases during the past 24 hours, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University.
The country has seen a spectacular spike in Covid infections for more than a month now, with some 113,000 people currently hospitalised due to the virus, according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services.
South Korea marks deadliest day with more than 1,000 new cases
South Korea has added more than 1,000 infections to its coronavirus caseload for the second straight day amid growing fears that the virus is spreading out of control in the greater capital area.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on Thursday said the Covid-19 death toll was now at 634 after 22 patients died in the past 24 hours, the deadliest day since the emergence of the pandemic. Among 12,209 active patients, 242 are in serious or critical condition.
Nearly 800 of the 1,014 new cases were reported from the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area, where health officials have raised alarm about a looming shortage in hospital capacities.
Thursday marked the 40th consecutive day of triple digit daily jumps, which brought the national caseload to 46,453.
Mexico reports 10,297 new cases, 670 more deaths
Mexico’s health ministry has reported 10,297 new cases of coronavirus infection and 670 more fatalities, bringing the country’s totals to 1,277,499 cases and 115,769 deaths.
The government says the real number of infected people is likely significantly higher than the confirmed cases.
Novavax enters deal with New Zealand for 10.7 mln doses of vaccine candidate
Biotechnology company Novavax Inc has said it had entered an agreement with the government of New Zealand for 10.7 million doses of its Covid-19 vaccine candidate.
“Under the terms of the agreement, Novavax will manufacture NVX-CoV2373 with a target of delivering initial doses by mid-2021,” it said in a statement on Thursday.
The company will work with New Zealand’s regulatory agency, Medsafe for approvals, it added.
The statement did not disclose further terms of the agreement.
Brazil’s infections cross seven million mark
Brazil has registered over 70,000 new cases of the coronavirus, a daily record, bringing the country’s total caseload above 7 million as a second wave of infections slams the South American country.
Brazil has the second-deadliest Covid-19 outbreak in the world, behind only the United States, with over 180,000 deaths from the highly contagious respiratory virus. Wednesday’s record came without even the daily numbers from Sao Paulo state, the nation’s most populous, which has been the epicenter of the outbreak.
In a statement, the Sao Paulo state government said it had been unable to upload the data because of technical issues.
After reaching a peak in late July, daily coronavirus cases and deaths in Brazil fell steadily until early November. But in the last month, cases and deaths have spiked.
Epidemiologists consulted by Reuters blamed the second wave on the relaxation of social distancing measures and decreased mask usage among Brazilians.
The nation registered 70,574 new infections on Wednesday, bringing the number of total confirmed coronavirus cases to 7,040,608.
Biden, Pence set to get vaccine soon
President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President Mike Pence are set to receive the Covid-19 vaccine soon.
According to two transition officials familiar with the matter, Biden will receive the vaccine publicly as early as next week. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss it publicly.
The White House says Pence and his wife, Karen, will receive the vaccine publicly on Friday.
Biden said on Tuesday that Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious-disease expert, advised him to get the vaccine “sooner than later.” Biden has said that he wants to keep front-line health care workers and vulnerable people as the top priority as the vaccine is rolled out throughout the country.
But he’s also noted the importance of him getting the vaccine publicly to build confidence among Americans to get vaccinated.
