China News Service, March 18, according to a comprehensive report, according to real-time statistics from Johns Hopkins University in the United States, as of 7:26 on the 18th, Beijing time, the cumulative number of confirmed cases of new crown worldwide has exceeded 120 million, and the cumulative number of deaths More than 2.67 million cases.
The US government announced a new US$2.25 billion plan to solve the medical inequity under the new crown.
Due to the occurrence of thrombosis after vaccination, more than 10 countries in Europe have suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine. The WHO said that the vaccine's anti-epidemic effect outweighs the risk, and it is recommended to continue vaccination.
On March 12, local time, signs reminding people to wear masks were erected at the Ferris wheel line in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California, USA.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Liu Guanguan
U.S. government announces new funding plan
Solve the issue of COVID-19 medical equity
On the 17th local time, the Biden administration of the United States announced a new US$2.25 billion plan to solve medical inequities related to the new crown.
This funding will be funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to expand health services and help reduce the medical gap related to the new crown.
The funds will be used to improve and increase projects for vulnerable groups including residents of colored communities and rural communities to receive testing and tracing contacts.
These communities have been underserved and the risk of contracting the new crown is higher.
Funds will also be used to improve infection control, projects that can promote health equity, etc.
Wallensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a statement: "Every American should have an equal opportunity to stay as healthy as possible." "This investment is central to making fairness the United States' response to the new crown." Significantly, it is also a crucial step in providing resources and paying attention to the long-standing health inequality in the United States."
The funding will be provided within two years.
In addition, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced on the 17th that it will allocate 10 billion US dollars to states to help implement new coronavirus surveillance tests in K-12 schools across the country.
This is part of the Biden administration's plan to help schools reopen safely.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also issued new guidelines for the proper use of surveillance tests in schools and other public places.
On December 27, 2020 local time, in Palermo, Italy, people were vaccinated orderly to prevent the new crown in the hospital.
Image source: ICphoto
WHO says "the benefits outweigh the risks"
It is recommended to continue to use AstraZeneca vaccine
Recently, some countries have successively reported that some people have thrombosis after vaccination with AstraZeneca, and in severe cases, they may even die.
More than 10 European countries, including Germany, Italy, and France, have announced the suspension of the vaccine until the drug regulatory agency completes the evaluation.
The World Health Organization said on the 17th that although many countries have temporarily stopped the AstraZeneca new crown vaccine as a preventive measure, it is recommended to continue vaccination in view of the anti-epidemic effect brought by the vaccine is greater than the potential risk.
The WHO stated that vaccination with the new crown vaccine will not reduce disease or death caused by other causes, and thromboembolic events often occur.
The statement stated that in large-scale vaccination activities in various countries, it is common practice to signal potential adverse events after vaccination, but this does not mean that it is related to vaccination itself.
But it is a good practice to investigate these incidents.
The WHO stated that it maintains regular contact with the European Medicines Agency and regulatory agencies around the world to obtain the latest news about the safety of the new crown vaccine.
The New Crown Subcommittee of the WHO Global Vaccine Safety Advisory Committee is also carefully evaluating the latest safety data available for AstraZeneca vaccines.
Once the review is completed, the results of the investigation will be notified to the public immediately.
The President of the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Francis Collins, also said on the 17th that the possibility of AstraZeneca's new crown vaccine causing blood clots seems "quite small", and he was surprised that so many countries have suspended the use of the vaccine.
A senior French hospital health official said that the AstraZeneca vaccine currently out of use in the country is as effective as the Pfizer vaccine.
"Maybe people are too cautious."
The European Medicines Agency previously stated that it will further review the vaccination information of AstraZeneca and will hold a special meeting on the 18th to announce the final conclusions and the "next action plan" for the vaccine.