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Christmas illuminations are seen above shoppers on Regent Street in the main high-street shopping area of London on December 15, 2020 ahead of fresh measures for the capital amid rising novel coronavirus infection rates. The British capital faces tougher Covid-19 measures within days, the UK government said on December 14, with a new coronavirus variant emerging as a possible cause for rapidly rising infection rates.(DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) Hopes for an end to the pandemic were boosted by positive assessments of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine, but a study warned that at least a fifth of the world's population in poorer nations may not have access to vaccines until 2022. With the virus resurgent in Europe, Germany closed non-essential shops and schools, swathes of England came under tighter curbs, and Denmark extended its restrictions. "It's very good that we're closing the shops, it's for our health. We can't wait for things to fall apart," said shopper Jurgen in Berlin, where people were rushing to finish their Christmas purchases before the shutdown. Germany had coped relatively well with the first wave in the spring, but it has struggled to contain a resurgence in recent months and its health minister said it wanted the European Union to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine "before Christmas". Calls have been growing for the EU health regulator to speed up its vaccines decision process, with the bloc lagging behind a growing number of nations that have authorised the drug. Britain has already started using it, but high infection numbers forced London on Wednesday to join large parts of central and northern England under tough, economically painful restrictions. Pubs, bars, restaurants and other hospitality sites will close, apart from takeaways, as will theatres and other entertainment venues. "The hospitality business needs this week, and it's devastating. It is devastatingly awful," said Lesley Lewis, owner of The French House, a London pub. …

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The Hanoitimes - Danang continues to thoroughly implement measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The Vietnamese Ministry of Transport has decided to allow providers to resume all passenger transport services to and from Danang from 0:00am of September 7 as Covid-19 has been put under control in the beach city. Passenger transport services are resumed to and from Danang from September 7. Photo: Vietjet Air To prevent the spread of the virus, passengers are requested to wear face mask, declare health status, and those having smart phones should install Bluezone, a domestically developed contact-tracing mobile app, to alert people about those who have come in close contact with Covid-19 carriers. Regarding air services, from September 7 to September 10, every day, Vietnam Airlines will operate a two-way flight between Hanoi and Danang, departing from Hanoi at 16:05 and from Danang at 18:05; one round trip flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Danang, departing from Ho Chi Minh City at 16:05 and from Danang at 18:20. After September 11, the airline will update the flight schedule according to the disease situation and the authorities' requests. Low-cost carrier Vietjet will also operate one flight from Danang to Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City daily from September 8. Earlier, from September 5, the city’s authorities eased social distancing by allowing public passenger transport within the city to operate again, but vehicles are not permitted to carry more than half of their capacity. Authorities in Danang and neighboring Quang Nam province have agreed to reopen passenger bus routes between the two localities. The two localities also agreed on measures to manage and supervise the health conditions of permanent and temporary residents. Restaurants, shops, food and drink establishments are allowed to resume their business but only for attending take-out orders. Gatherings of more than 20 people at public places and social settings, …

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The Hanoitimes - Most of the seriously ill patients were infected in the community and are linked to the Covid-19 outbreak in Danang. Vietnam has recorded 24 Covid-19 patients with severe clinical conditions as of August 17, accounting for 5.1% of those under treatment, Zing.vn reported, citing the Treatment Subcommittee under the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control. Of the 24 severely ill patients, five must use respiratory support such as mechanical ventilation or oxygen; two are on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Most of the seriously ill patients were infected in the community and are related to the Covid-19 outbreak in hotspot Danang. Illustrative photo. Regarding treatment, 20 cases are in very severe prognosis, of them seven are at risk of fatality. Most of the seriously ill patients were infected in the community and are linked to the Covid-19 outbreak in Danang. The Health Center of Hoa Vang district in Danang city is treating 177 cases, the largest number of active Covid-19 patients. Currently, Vietnam has recorded 639 Covid-19 patients who have been infected in the country. Of them, the number of new cases linked to Danang from July 25, the day when the first locally-transmitted infection was confirmed after more than three months, is 499. 467 out of 983 Covid-19 patients have been cured, accounting for 49% of the positive cases. Vietnam has also recorded 24 Covid-19 fatalities. They all have many pre-existing diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, blood pressure, kidney failure, cancer, among others. Talking to local media on July 31, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son said that when infected with Covid-19, people at high risk of aggravation are the elderly (over 60 years old) with existing diseases, obesity or exhaustion. Son said that this group of people with Covid-19 will see their immunity weaken, enabling the virus to grow in the body and damage their organs …

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