At the moment, the most affected countries are the US, India, and Brazil, but many other nations have also confirmed massive outbreaks, particularly in Latin America and Europe. Many countries have had to re-impose travel bans and pandemic restrictions to curb the spread of the virus.
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MOSCOW, September 15 (Sputnik) - The trial of pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine has not resumed in the United States yet, Reuters reported citing sources.
According to the sources, the tests remain on hold in the United States pending a US probe into a side effect in the UK, but other trials of the vaccine are ongoing.
The Stat News website reported earlier in September that a Phase 3 study of a vaccine against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) being developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford had been put on hold because of a suspected adverse reaction in a participant in the UK.
AstraZeneca then announced on September 12 that it had resumed the clinical trials for its COVID-19 vaccine, after receiving permission from UK health regulators, following a pause triggered by a sudden illness in one of the participants.
MOSCOW, September 14 (Sputnik) - Moscow has registered 13 deaths of patients infected with COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, bringing the Russian capital's death toll to 5,006, the city's coronavirus response center said in a statement on Monday.
"Another 13 patients, who were diagnosed with pneumonia and tested positive for the coronavirus infection, died in Moscow," it said.
In the previous day, 11 people infected with the coronavirus died in Moscow.
WASHINGTON, September 14 (Sputnik) - The United States has lifted a “do not travel” advisory for China, the State Department announced on Monday, acknowledging improved coronavirus conditions in the country.
“The Department of State updated the Travel Advisory Level for China to Level 3 – Reconsider Travel on September 14, 2020. This replaces the previous Travel Advisory issued on June 5, 2020,” the State Department said in a statement.
The city’s health officials have established a limit, allowing no more than 10 people to sit together in parks and on beaches.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The European Commission plans to extend the airport slot waiver until late March as the air travel industry is not expected to make a recovery anytime soon amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Transport Commissioner Adina Valean said on Monday.
Airline slot waiver envisions a suspension of the rule that requires airlines to use at least 80 percent of their airport slots or vacate them. the International Air Transport Association first urged aviation regulators to introduce the slot waiver in March, and has been calling to extend it until next year. Earlier in September, airlines, airports and slot coordinators have agreed to keep the suspension in force for the upcoming winter season.
"To address the need for certainty and responding to traffic data, I intend to extend the slot waiver for the 2020/2021 winter season, until 27 March 2021," Valean said, as quoted in the commission’s press release.
The official also praised the air travel industry stakeholders for agreeing on the waiver’s extension and said that the move helped many airlines avoid financial losses and "ghost flights."
Valean also said that the air traffic remains low in the European Union and is not likely to recover this year.
MOSCOW(Sputnik) - Thousands of Australian pilots are facing effective disqualification, as they have not been able to complete the required number of takeoffs and landings due to the pandemic, and may not be ready to get back to work once borders are open, national media reported on Monday.
According to the 9News outlet, another option for such pilots is to complete expensive flight simulator training.
The pilots' trade union has already urged the government to help pay for pilot training and avert the crisis once travel resumes.
"I will continue to work on this. I've told the speaker I'm available anytime to negotiate, no conditions," he told CNBC in an interview, referring to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
"We now have a very serious concern about the backlog of test results being faced by the UK lab network," Sturgeon told reporters. "This apparent delay in turnaround is causing us concern."
"This morning Keir Starmer was advised to self-isolate after a member of his household showed possible symptoms of the coronavirus. The member of his household has now had a test. In line with NHS guidelines, Keir will self-isolate while awaiting the results of the test and further advice from medical professionals," Starmer's spokesman told the LBC radio.
"We have a number of weeks to be able to get to a position where we can recover some of the ground with a return to effective social distancing, with a return to respecting the rules we have in place to save people’s lives or we will be forced into greater local lockdowns and the potential for another national lockdown", Vaughan Gething told the BBC.
"I said to myself, with satisfaction, 'You have got away with it again'", Berlusconi told reporters.
The former prime minister was hospitalised on 3 September after testing positive for the coronavirus.
17 members of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian parliament, have tested positive for COVID-19. The members had to undergo mandatory tests before the monsoon session, which started on Monday morning.
The tests were carried out on Sunday, 13 September, and on Monday, according to reports.
Among those who tested positive were 12 from the governing Bharatiya Janata Party, while the rest were from regional parties.
New Zealand's restrictions will remain at level 2 until 23:59 local time (11:59 GMT) on 21 September, Ardern said on Monday, at a press conference broadcast on Facebook.
The city of Auckland will remain at alert level 2.5 until 23 September, the prime minister said.
A Cabinet meeting will be held next Monday to review the coronavirus situation in New Zealand and confirm the planned restriction easing, down to level 1.
According to Ardern, starting from this Monday, physical distancing requirements on planes and public transport are being eased, but face masks still need to be worn.
