According to a comprehensive report from China News Service on February 1, according to data from Johns Hopkins University in the United States, as of 6:22 on February 1, Beijing time, the cumulative number of confirmed cases of new crown worldwide exceeded 102 million, with more than 2.22 million people died from the new crown.
The currently emerging three new coronavirus variants have spread to 77 countries and regions around the world; the United Kingdom and the European Union have disputes over the supply of vaccines, and US experts recommend adjusting vaccination strategies.
On January 26, local time, a pedestrian wearing a mask on the streets of Manhattan, New York, USA.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Liao Pan
Three mutant viruses have spread to 77 countries and regions
Another U.S. state reports a mutant virus found in South Africa
According to surveys by British universities and other surveys, the three allegedly highly infectious new coronaviruses found in the UK, South Africa, and Brazil have spread to at least 77 countries and regions around the world.
At present, the effect of existing vaccines on mutated viruses is still unclear, and it may not prevent the increase of dead and severely ill patients even if they are vaccinated.
Countries are stepping up their preparations to develop new vaccines that can deal with mutated viruses.
According to reports, the mutant new coronavirus found in the UK has spread to about 70 countries and regions; the mutant virus found in South Africa has spread to about 30 countries and regions; the virus found in Brazil has been found in 8 countries and regions.
According to analysis, these three viruses have increased infectivity due to the mutation of the "spike protein" that plays an important role in the virus infecting the human body.
The virus found in South Africa is 1.5 times more infectious than the previous new coronavirus, and the virus found in the United Kingdom is up to 1.7 times more infectious.
The virus found in Brazil has been re-infected.
According to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Japan, the existing vaccines are said to be effective against viruses found in the UK, but it has not been confirmed whether they are effective against viruses found in South Africa and Brazil.
Vaccine manufacturers’ opinions that they should be prepared for improvement for the sake of prudence have heated up. AstraZeneca stated that it has begun to improve the virus found in South Africa.
At present, the number of confirmed cases of new coronary pneumonia in the United States has exceeded 26.17 million, and the death toll has exceeded 440,000.
The United States, which has the largest number of infections in the world, has also discovered three mutated new coronaviruses.
After South Carolina, Maryland announced on January 30 local time that the first case of infection with the mutant new crown virus found in South Africa was found in the state, and community transmission is presumed to have occurred.
Contact tracing work is ongoing.
The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Varensky previously stated that the mutant new coronavirus discovered in South Africa has begun to spread in American communities.
On January 4, at the Rocky Health Center in Dundee, Scotland, a nurse injected an 82-year-old man with the new crown vaccine.
US experts say vaccine strategy should be adjusted immediately
Britain and Europe dispute over vaccine supply
On January 31, local time, an epidemiologist, Michael Osterholm, who had advised US President Biden’s transition team, warned that a new wave of infections is coming and the US should adjust its vaccination. Strategies to save more lives.
Osterholm said that before the number of cases of the mutated virus found in other countries surges in the United States, the government should try to vaccinate as many people as possible, especially those over 65, to reduce the number of people in the future. Severe cases and deaths within the week.
He suggested to postpone the second injection time.
Because according to the data, people who get the second dose later may have better results.
According to reports, in recent weeks, the introduction of the US federal vaccine has been slow.
Biden previously promised to reach the goal of 100 million doses within the first 100 days of taking office.
On the other hand, the United Kingdom and the European Union have recently disputed over the supply of new crown vaccines and export control issues. Although the two sides have shown confidence that they can resolve the dispute, the tension has not eased.
AstraZeneca in the United Kingdom was unable to deliver the vaccine to the EU on time and in quantity due to insufficient supply of vaccines, but was able to fulfill its contract with the UK, which caused strong dissatisfaction with the EU.
The European Union immediately launched an emergency plan to control the export of vaccines to ensure the supply of vaccines within the European Union.
French Minister of European Affairs Byrne pointed out on January 31st local time that if the vaccine supply is affected by a production line problem, people can understand it, but if it is due to special preferential treatment in the UK that leads to insufficient supply, "it will become a problem."
The German government warned that it would take legal action against pharmaceutical companies that did not provide vaccines to the EU under the contract.
In response to the EU’s emergency plan to ban the export of vaccines produced in the EU, the British Foreign Minister said: “The whole world is paying attention, and only through international cooperation can we overcome this pandemic.”
He also said that the vice president of the European Union assured him in a meeting that Brussels had no intention of preventing vaccine suppliers from fulfilling their contracts to supply vaccines to the UK.