The World Health Organization warns of the danger of a new wave in Africa due to the slow pace of vaccination

A dispute between Berlin and Washington threatens to lift patents on vaccines

A dispute between the United States and Germany threatens to lift the patents on vaccines against the Coronavirus proposed by Washington, while the World Health Organization has warned of a new wave of the "Covid-19" epidemic in Africa due to the slow pace of vaccination.

At the same time, 80 days before the Tokyo Olympics, Japan extended the state of emergency in Japan, which was imposed again at the end of April in four provinces, including Tokyo, to limit the spread of Corona, on Friday, for three weeks, until May 31.

The President of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, welcomed the announcement of the United States yesterday, and encouraged India and South Africa, standing behind this proposal, which aims to accelerate the production and distribution of vaccines, to present a revised text in this regard quickly, which is more acceptable to all.

After WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who saw in the proposal last Wednesday a "historic decision", a spokesperson for the international organization welcomed this initiative, which "could significantly increase supplies of the Kovacs system for sharing vaccines with poor countries."

But the European Union, which opposes such a move in the first place, appeared less enthusiastic.

But he said in the words of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that he is "ready to discuss any proposal that addresses the crisis effectively and practically."

However, Berlin warned that "the protection of intellectual property is the source of innovation, and it must remain so in the future."

The German laboratories, "Biontech", confirmed that this would not have an impact "in the short and medium terms" because patent protection is not the factor that limits the production and supply of its developed vaccine with the American company Pfizer, whose president Albert Burla told AFP that he "does not support at all." Raise patents.

Through the creation and financing of the Kovacs program, which is a system for exchanging vaccines against "Covid", countries, international organizations and personalities such as Bill Gates have helped provide 50 million doses to poor countries, but "two billion doses are needed," according to the French-American economist.

"Economic efforts to help poor countries will be minimal," she added.

Providing these countries with two billion doses of vaccines requires 29 billion dollars, and if we raise this number to four billion, the cost becomes a little more than 50 billion, and this is nothing compared to the trillions of dollars that the United States alone invests in the recovery plan.

All these statements came after the American Trade Representative, Catherine Tay, announced that "to end this epidemic, (the United States government) supports a temporary lifting" of these patents.

Russian President Vladimir Putin affirmed that his country, which recently approved the use of the "Sputnik Light" vaccine, which is limited to a single dose, "will support an approach of this kind," while his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, who was hesitant before, said that he "supports" this idea.

For his part, the African Union said, "History will remember the decision taken by the United States government as the right thing at the right time to face this terrible challenge."

For his part, the WHO Regional Office for Africa warned in a statement in Brazzaville about the risk of a new wave of the spread of the Coronavirus in the continent, due to the increasing delay in vaccination campaigns compared to the rest of the world.

He said that "due to the postponement of the delivery of doses of (Covid-19) vaccines made by the Serum Institute in India to Africa, the slow spread of vaccines and the emergence of new mutants, the risk of a new wave of infection is still high in Africa."

He added that Africa "no longer represents only 1% of the vaccine doses that are administered in the world, compared to 2% a few weeks ago."

"The tragedy of India should not happen here in Africa, and we must all remain on high alert," the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Machidisu Moeti, said in the statement, stressing that "if we demand equality in vaccines, Africa must also make efforts and benefit the maximum." Limit what we have.

We must use all the doses available to us to vaccinate people. ”

In Asia, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced yesterday that the state of emergency in Japan, which was imposed again at the end of April in four provinces, including Tokyo, to limit the spread of Corona, will be extended for three weeks until May 31.

India is still witnessing a spread of the virus, recording, the day before yesterday, record numbers of deaths (3,980) and injuries (412,262).

This brought the total toll to more than 230,000 deaths and 21 million injuries.

For his part, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that he would not extend his controversial decision to prevent his citizens from returning from India.

Morrison was this week banning entry to all arrivals from India, where more than 9,000 Australians were suspended upon their arrival on Australian soil threatening to impose heavy fines and prison sentences on those who violate this measure by entering illegally through other countries.

Tunisia imposes a complete closure throughout the week of Eid Al-Fitr

Yesterday, Tunisian Prime Minister Hicham El Mechichi announced the imposition of a complete closure in the country throughout the week of Eid al-Fitr to combat the resurgence of the Coronavirus, warning that the health sector is threatened with "collapse".

Al-Meshishi said in a press conference, that approving the complete closure from 9 to 19 May is a preventive measure, pointing out that “health institutions will collapse and this is a danger that we fear.”

Doctors are on the verge of a psychological breakdown. ”

This measure is "to preserve the health system and the health of the citizen who did not adhere to the procedures," according to al-Mashishi.

Movement is prohibited accordingly, except in extreme cases, and markets and places of worship are closed, and movement between governorates is prohibited.

In the press conference, Hasna Bin Sulaiman, the official spokeswoman for the government, explained that celebrations and gatherings will be prevented throughout the next week, starting from tomorrow, Sunday, and that leaving the homes will not be allowed except for necessities.

The authorities closed schools and colleges and imposed a night curfew for weeks, but the health crisis continues.

Government hospitals in major governorates are experiencing overcrowding, and the resuscitation and oxygen departments in some have reached their maximum capacity.

Tunisia - AFP

Saudi Arabia: Only those who have been vaccinated are allowed to come to work

Saudi Arabia announced yesterday that it will require receiving the "Covid-19" vaccine to attend workplaces in the public and private sectors, less than a week after it allowed only immunized citizens of its citizens to travel abroad.

The Kingdom has provided more than 10 million doses of the Coronavirus vaccines that it has approved, namely Pfizer / Biontec, AstraZeneca and Moderna, to its population of about 32 million people since the start of the vaccination process.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development said in a statement, that “obtaining a Coronavirus vaccine will be a mandatory condition for the attendance of male and female employees in all sectors (public, private, and non-profit) to workplaces.”

She added that it will clarify the mechanism of action and the date of the application start soon, without providing any details about the fate of unvaccinated employees.

The Ministry of Human Resources called on all sectors to "urge male and female employees to start procedures for obtaining the vaccine, to return to workplaces in a safe and healthy way."

Riyadh - AFP

Berlin warned that "the protection of intellectual property is the source of innovation, and it must remain so in the future."

Biontech: Patent protection is not the factor limiting the production and supply of our vaccine developed with Pfizer.

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