Corona ... more than 105 million infections and the exclusion of the hypothesis that the virus had leaked from a laboratory

The number of new infections with the new Corona virus (Covid-19) has reached more than 105 million and 400 thousand infections, and while United Nations experts investigating the Chinese city of Wuhan have ruled out the hypothesis that the virus has leaked from a laboratory, the Red Cross warned of the inability of poor countries to obtain vaccines.

According to the World Meters website, which specializes in monitoring statistics related to the Corona virus around the world, the number of infections reached 105 million and 422 thousand and 292 at 10:00 Mecca time (07:00 GMT).

Statistics indicate that 77 million and 114 thousand and 957 cases were recovered, while the number of deaths reached two million 294 thousand and 534.

The United States remains in the first place in terms of the number of injuries and deaths, with 27 million and 273 thousand and 890 injuries, and 466 thousand and 988 deaths.

India records the highest number of injuries in the world after the United States of America (Getty Images)

Numbers and losses

And in India - which ranks second in terms of the number of infections in the world with 10 million 803 thousand and 533 injuries, and the third with the number of deaths by 154 thousand and 862 - the Medical Association of India said yesterday, Thursday, that the number of doctors who died from the Corona virus is 4 times the number announced by the government .

The association added that 734 doctors have died from the virus, and not 162, as the government reported to Parliament.

Doctors and health care workers have borne the brunt of the outbreak of the Corona virus in India, which has a population of 1.3 billion, and this comes at a time when the authorities are working to strengthen the process of vaccinating health care workers against the Corona virus to contain the outbreak of the Corona virus.

Hypothesis and exclusion

In parallel with these developments, WHO experts who are investigating the Chinese city of Wuhan regarding the source of the Corona virus have begun to exclude the hypothesis that the virus has leaked from a laboratory.

The chief WHO expert in Wuhan said in an interview with Agence France-Presse yesterday that the team had "very frank" and useful discussions with Chinese scientists to understand their "position" regarding a number of statements and allegations that everyone saw and read about in the news.

Two days ago, the team of experts visited the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which former US President Donald Trump accused of having leaked the virus from one of his laboratories, but there is no evidence so far to prove this hypothesis.

It seemed that the chief WHO expert rejected some of the hypotheses, describing it as much of the speculation that they would be "excellent scenarios for good films and series for the coming years."

In the poorest 50 countries, only 0.1% received anti-virus vaccines (Reuters)

Anxiety and danger

At a time, more than 105 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been given in at least 82 countries and regions, the Red Cross warned of the inability of poor countries to obtain vaccines.

A study conducted by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies showed that nearly 70% of the vaccine doses used so far were from the 50 richest countries in the world, while 0.1% were injected in the poorest 50 countries.

"It is alarming because it is unfair, and because it will prolong this terrible epidemic and may make it worse," Federation Secretary-General Jagan Shapagan said during a press conference.

Therefore, the Red Cross launched a € 92.5 million plan to help immunize 500 million people among the most vulnerable.

A number of European countries have questioned the effectiveness of the "AstraZeneca" vaccine for those over 65 years old (Reuters)

Criticism and defense

In Europe, Britain - which has been criticized by several leaders for using the vaccine, "AstraZeneca" in its vaccination campaign - defended itself, believing that these criticisms may feed suspicion among its population and may endanger their health in the long term.

And health authorities in several European countries indicated the lack of sufficient data on the effectiveness of the vaccine developed by the Swedish British laboratory in the elderly.

Like France, Germany and Sweden, Norway and Denmark announced on Thursday that the "AstraZeneca" vaccine will be intended for people under the age of 65.

In order to limit the spread of the epidemic, the British government announced that citizens and residents of the United Kingdom - who arrive from countries where the epidemiological situation is dangerous - will, starting from February 15 this year, quarantine a hotel for a period of 10 days, in order to avoid the spread of copies of the virus Corona is potentially resistant to vaccines.

This procedure concerns citizens and residents of the United Kingdom who return to it from 33 countries where copies of the virus "pose a threat" are spread, such as South Africa, Portugal and several countries in South America.

Israel extended the isolation until tomorrow, Sunday (European)

Healed and isolated

In Mexico, the Mexican government said that the results of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's tests were negative, less than two weeks after he was infected with the Corona virus.

"I am in good health and recovering," the 67-year-old president said in a video message from the presidential palace.

Mexico has one of the highest death rates from the disease in the world, and Obrador's administration of the Corona pandemic crisis is raising constant criticism from his political opponents and health experts.

But despite this, opinion polls revealed that the president's popularity increased during the pandemic, despite his being accused of greatly underestimating the size of the crisis and putting himself at risk unnecessarily.

In Israel, the government announced in a statement that it has extended the third general isolation in the country to combat Covid-19 until tomorrow, Sunday, after which it will gradually ease restrictions.

The decision was issued today, Friday, hours before the end of the general isolation period, in the wake of disagreements between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition partner, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, over the term of the isolation, its effectiveness and irregular application.