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According to Johns Hopkins University, the global coronavirus death toll has topped 2.407 million, while more than 109 million cases of the infection have been confirmed.

The United States, India, and Brazil are the worst-hit in terms of the number of registered coronavirus cases, while the highest number of COVID-19-related deaths has been observed in the United States, Brazil, Mexico, and India, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Meanwhile, compulsory hotel quarantine rules for citizens arriving from 33 high-risk countries went into effect in the UK on Monday; a new coronavirus strain was detected in Great Britain in December 2020.

Follow Sputnik’s feed to find out more.     

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03:56 GMT 17.02.2021

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The number of new global cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is decreasing, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a statement.

"The number of global new cases reported has continued to fall, with 2.7 million new cases last week, a 16% decline over 500,000 fewer new cases compared to the previous week. The number of new deaths reported also fell, with 81,000 new deaths reported last week, a 10% decline as compared to the previous week," the WHO said.

"A total of five out of six WHO regions reported a double-digit percentage decline in new cases, with only the Eastern Mediterranean Region showing a 7% rise. Europe and the Americas continue to see the greatest drops in absolute numbers of cases. Meanwhile, the number of new deaths declined in all regions," it said.

02:55 GMT 17.02.2021
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks to members of the media as he departs for travel to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, U.S., February 16, 2021. - Sputnik International, 1920
Biden Falsely Says There Was No COVID-19 Vaccine When He Entered White House
02:14 GMT 17.02.2021
01:48 GMT 17.02.2021

HELSINKI (Sputnik) - Residents of Finland will be able to receive a certificate of vaccination against coronavirus by the end of April, the country's government said in a statement.

"The government has received a report on the stage of preparation of the electronic certificate of vaccination. The certificate of vaccination can be, for example, a barcode or QR code displayed on the phone, and can also be printed on paper. The preliminary cost estimate [of the project] is 3.5 million euros. It is to be completed by the end of April," the government said.

00:34 GMT 17.02.2021

BELGRADE (Sputnik) - Serbian authorities will donate 2,000 doses of Sputnik V, a Russian-made coronavirus vaccine, to Montenegro on Wednesday, the Montenegrin Ministry of Health said.

The ministry told Sputnik on Tuesday it was negotiating with representatives of the Russian government and the Gamaleya Center the supply of Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine from Russia. Earlier, the Montenegrin state regulator approved the import of the Russian-made vaccine.

"The first batch of 2,000 doses of Sputnik V vaccine, as a donation to Serbia, is arriving in Podgorica tomorrow," the ministry said on Facebook.

21:54 GMT 16.02.2021

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US state of California opened its first two community centers under a new federal program targeting people in underserved and historically marginalized communities, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said.

"Acting FEMA Administrator Bob Fenton is attending the opening of the first Community Vaccination Center in California today - at California State University in Los Angeles," FEMA said in a press release on Tuesday. "Another pilot Community Vaccination Center is also opening today in Oakland, California."

FEMA explained that both centers are part of a recently announced Biden administration's $3.38 billion program to extend coronavirus vaccinations beyond typical distribution sites such as hospitals and pharmacy chains.

20:56 GMT 16.02.2021
A virucidal protective face mask to fight the spread of the coronavirus Covid-19 is pictured at Lille's university headquarters on Fabruary 16, 2021. - Sputnik International, 1920
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20:37 GMT 16.02.2021

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – US airline passenger traffic in December fell 62 percent below pre-coronavirus pandemic levels in a year earlier, the Transportation Department reported on Tuesday.

“The large airlines carried 30 million passengers in December 2020 (preliminary), compared to 79 million passengers in December 2019 and up from 3 million in April 2020, which was the lowest monthly total in BTS [Bureau of Transportation Statics] records dating back to 1974.  The previous low was 14.6 million passengers in February 1975,” the Transportation Department said in a press release.

The data is based on reports to BTS filed monthly by 22 major US airlines, which carry 90 percent of passengers, the release said.

19:39 GMT 16.02.2021
19:32 GMT 16.02.2021

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A new wave of coronavirus infections is possible if people loosen their vigilance given that herd immunity is still some way off, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Russia Melita Vujnovic said Tuesday.

"The second wave... is now showing a decline all over the world. There is not enough herd immunity yet, the level is not yet reached. If we are not careful, yes, a third wave is possible. It depends on the behavior of people,” Vujnovic said in a televised appearance.

Experts believe that herd immunity can be reached if around 60 percent of a population is immune, making the chances of an infected individual passing the virus to another vanishingly small.

Asked whether she can estimate when the pandemic will end, Vujnovic described the set of criteria necessary that must be met.

"There will be several criteria, this is number of cases decreasing simultaneously in all parts of the world to a level below an epidemiological threshold. But in fact, when the burden on the health system is not such that it interferes with the normal operation of the health care. When this will be, it is hard to say," the official said, speaking to state news broadcaster Rossiya 1.

19:29 GMT 16.02.2021

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The Biden administration is stepping up the supply of coronavirus vaccines to 13.5 million doses per week, White House Press Secretary Jan Psaki said on Tuesday.

The administration was averaging just over 1.5 million shots a day or 10.5 million per week as of last week.

"We are increasing the vaccine supply to 13.5 million doses per week," Psaki said at a press briefing. "That will go out to all the states. This is a 57 percent increase from the amount states received when the president was inaugurated."

Biden, on entering office on January 20, had promised to administer 100 million COVID-19 vaccines by his 100th day in office. His administration has revamped the delivery mechanism for vaccines and boosted the number of medical personnel who can given out shots.

"We've increased the number of vaccinators and we've also increased the number of vaccination sites," Psaki said. "We’re putting a plan in place to have several hundred community health centers for vaccinations to be distributed and working with states on mass vaccination centers and working to get vaccines in the hands of pharmacies."

The administration’s approach is also being helped by a decline in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in recent days, after a surge from December through January.

18:27 GMT 16.02.2021

The archbishop of Prague raised eyebrows in the Czech Republic after a video of a sermon in which he referred to the coronavirus as China’s biological weapon was widely shared online.

Dominik Duka, 77, delivered the controversial sermon at the St. Vitus Cathedral earlier this month, according to the CNN Prima News channel.

"The Chinese virus is the worst. It is a leaked biological weapon. All military experts around the world are convinced of this, but they are either afraid to or do not dare say it," the cardinal said.

Vaclav Horejsi, a renowned Czech immunologist, told the channel that Duka’s allegations were "absolutely scandalous."

"The cardinal is spreading fake news. As a Catholic, I am ashamed and embarrassed that this man heads our church," he said.

International experts who traveled to China earlier in February to investigate the origins of the virus told reporters that it was extremely unlikely that COVID-19 leaked from a lab in Wuhan, where the outbreak began.

17:39 GMT 16.02.2021

South Africa should resell the 1 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to the African Union, after its rollout was put on hold over doubts about its efficacy against coronavirus mutations, a spokesman for the Health and Other Services Personnel Trade Union said on Tuesday.

"These AstraZeneca vaccines can be used elsewhere. If South Africa does not want to use AstraZeneca then we must sell it to other African nations. We can sell them to Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo or Zambia as part of the African Union," Kevin Halama said.

The rollout was halted abruptly last week after a study revealed that the viral vector vaccine offered only minimal protection against mild and moderate cases caused by a viral mutation that accounts for 90 percent of COVID-19 cases in South Africa.

The Economic Times reported on Tuesday that the South African government was seeking to return the vaccines, which expire in April, to the drug maker, the Serum Institute of India. Halama argued that it would be more ethical if the seller took the shipment back.

The South African Health Ministry has confirmed to Sputnik that the AstraZeneca rollout remained on hold. Instead, the government plans to offer a vaccine produced by Johnson & Johnson.

"We will not be using AstraZeneca. But we will be using the Johnson & Johnson vaccines due to arrive today," Health Ministry spokesman Popo Maja said.

The South African Medical Association has said it is ready to roll out the Johnson & Johnson vaccines from Wednesday. The first 80,000 doses are to arrive in the country on Tuesday. Frontline health care workers will be first in line to get a shot.

15:49 GMT 16.02.2021
15:19 GMT 16.02.2021
Empty vials of the Sputnik V (Gam-COVID-Vac) vaccine are pictured at the San Martin hospital, in La Plata, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina January 18, 2021 - Sputnik International, 1920
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14:50 GMT 16.02.2021
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14:31 GMT 16.02.2021
In this handout photo released by Hungarian Foreign Ministry, a laboratory assistant holds a phial with Russia's coronavirus vaccine Gam-COVID-Vac, trade-named Sputnik V, in Budapest, Hungary - Sputnik International, 1920
Montenegro Negotiates Supply of Russia's Sputnik V Vaccine With Moscow, Health Ministry Says
13:52 GMT 16.02.2021
11:55 GMT 16.02.2021
11:01 GMT 16.02.2021

Russia's coronavirus response centre announced it would keep the air travel with the United Kingdom suspended through 16 March.

"The response centre preventing the import and spreading of the novel coronavirus infection on the Russian territory made a decision to extend the suspension of the air travel with the UK. To ensure protection of the public health, the restrictions are extended to 23:59 on 16 March 2021," the coronavirus response center told reporters.

Russia suspended flights with the UK in December, after a new coronavirus strain was discovered there. Restrictions were previously extended through 16 February.

10:56 GMT 16.02.2021
Laboratory workers work in the pilot production phase of Russia's Sputnik V Coronavirus vaccine for COVID-19 at the pharmaceutical company Uniao Quimica in Brasilia, Brazil, Monday, Jan. 25, 2021. - Sputnik International, 1920
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10:51 GMT 16.02.2021

Japan will start its coronavirus vaccination campaign by inoculating about 40,000 medical employees on Wednesday, Taro Kono, the cabinet minister in charge of the country's vaccination efforts, said on Tuesday.

"We will start the preliminary vaccination of about 40,000 medical employees from approximately 100 medical institutions tomorrow," Kono said at a press conference.

According to the minister, vaccinated medical employees will constantly keep a diary to explore the safety of the vaccine before receiving the second shot three weeks later.

On 12 February, Japan received the first batch of 400,000 doses of the vaccine from Pfizer's factory in Belgium. Kono said that next week, Japan would receive its second shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine from Europe.

Kono added that the authorities were planning to start vaccinating elderly people in April.

Earlier in February, Japan formally greenlighted the first coronavirus vaccine — the one jointly developed by the US' Pfizer and Germany's BioNTech — for domestic use.

10:34 GMT 16.02.2021

Sixty-four percent of Australians will "definitely" receive a coronavirus vaccine, while 27 percent are unsure, The Guardian reported on Tuesday, citing a fresh government poll.

Another nine percent will "definitely not" get the vaccine, the poll found.

The top three concerns that hold Australians back are unknown long-term side effects, extremely quick development of the vaccines, and a possible allergic reaction.

The three most commonly cited reasons to back the vaccine are to protect oneself from contracting the coronavirus, to keep the country safe form the pandemic, and shield the elderly and other high-risk groups.

The survey was conducted among 4,001 Australians aged over 16.

Australia has so far logged nearly 29,000 COVID-19 cases, just 43 of them are active, while 909 deaths have been attributed to the disease. The country has approved Pfizer/BionNTech and AstraZeneca/Oxford coronavirus vaccines, with the rollout set to begin on 22 February.

09:33 GMT 16.02.2021
08:51 GMT 16.02.2021

Azerbaijan will start vaccinating people over 50 years old on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the country's health ministry told Sputnik.

"On 17 February 2021, Azerbaijan will start vaccination against the novel coronavirus infection of persons aged 50 and over, in accordance with the strategy for immunization against COVID-19 in the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2021-2022. These persons must register online on a website ... and join the queue. There is no need to re-register for the second dose of the vaccine 28 days after receiving the first shot, since the first registration remains in place," the spokesperson said.

The health ministry noted that persons who have difficulties with online registration can contact a clinic at the place of registration.

In January, the first stage of COVID-19 vaccination started in Azerbaijan, with medical workers being first to receive shots, after the country took delivery of the first batch of CoronaVac vaccine, developed by the Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech.

08:06 GMT 16.02.2021

Russia recorded 13,233 coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, which is the lowest daily increase since 10 October, and 17,627 recoveries, the federal response centre said Tuesday.

A cumulative total of 4,099,323 cases and 3,624,663 recoveries have been registered in Russia since the start of the pandemic.

Moscow recorded 1,409 new cases, St. Petersburg 1,082, the Moscow region 643.

In the same period, 459 COVID deaths have been recorded across the country, 60 of them in Moscow.

08:01 GMT 16.02.2021

"We're not looking at the domestic use of vaccine passports, that's not in our planning. As the prime minister described, it'll be the national vaccination programme combined with rapid testing that I think is the way forward," vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said.

07:46 GMT 16.02.2021
Evaluation of the effectiveness of the Sputnik V vaccine in the Gemotest laboratory - Sputnik International, 1920
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07:18 GMT 16.02.2021

The first batch of Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine will be delivered to Malaysia on 21 February, allowing the nation to launch the mass vaccination campaign on February 26, Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced on Tuesday.

"The rollout of the programme will begin on 26 Feb," Muhuyiddin Yassin said while presenting the national COVID-19 immunization plan, as quoted by The Star newspaper.

The prime minister noted that he would be the first person to receive the vaccine in the country in order boost public confidence in the safety of the vaccine.

The Malaysian leader also announced the launch of the www.VaksinCovid.gov.my website, where every citizen can find the national vaccination plan and relevant instructions.

The slogan of the vaccination program is "protect yourself, protect all."

In late 2020, Malaysia inked a deal with Pfizer on procurement of 12.8 million doses of its vaccine, and later agreed to purchase additional 12.2 million doses.

Kuala Lumpur also signed a deal with China’s Sinovac to purchase its COVID-19 vaccine and to manufacture it domestically. The country plans to start administering Sinovac’s vaccine shots in early March. In addition, Malaysia plans to use Russia’s Sputnik V and the vaccine developed by UK drugmaker AstraZeneca.

As of now, Malaysia has reported over 266,000 COVID-19 cases, more than 218,000 recoveries and 975 deaths.

05:38 GMT 16.02.2021

Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) said on Tuesday that it had formally approved the coronavirus vaccine by AstraZeneca Pty Ltd pharmaceutical company for mass use in the country.

"The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has granted provisional approval to AstraZeneca Pty Ltd for its COVID-19 vaccine, making it the second COVID-19 vaccine to receive regulatory approval in Australia," the TGA said in a press release.

The two-dose vaccine will be administered to people over 18 years of age with the interval between first and second shots of 12 weeks, the regulator added.

Under the agreement, as many as 20 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be delivered to Australia this year.

In late January, the Australian regulator granted approval to the coronavirus vaccine developed by the US Pfizer and Germany's BioNTech pharmaceutical companies. In 2021, the country is set to receive 20 million doses of the vaccine.

The Australian government has also agreed with the Navavax pharmaceutical company on the additional supplies of 11 million doses of the manufacturer's COVID-19 vaccine.

05:11 GMT 16.02.2021

South Korea has agreed to additionally purchase coronavirus vaccines for another 23 million people, which includes Pfizer vaccines for another 3 million people and Novavax vaccines for 20 million people, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said at a government meeting.

"The government, in addition to the already approved vaccine supplies for 56 million people, added vaccines for another 23 million people and ensured a total purchase of vaccines for 79 million people," the prime minister, whose speech was shown on YTN TV, said.

He said the country's government was doing everything to ensure that there was enough vaccines to vaccinate the entire population and create herd immunity by November, which was South Korea's goal. At the same time, due to supply disruptions and fierce competition for the vaccine, "uncertainty is gradually increasing" about vaccine supply in the first half of this year.

"In this regard... we signed a contract to supply the Pfizer vaccine for another 3 million people in the second quarter and agreed to postpone vaccine delivery for 500,000 people to March from the volume that was contracted to arrive in the second half of the year ... The receipt of Novavax vaccines for 20 million people has been approved, from the second quarter we will begin to vaccinate people with it," Chung said.

04:32 GMT 16.02.2021

Israel's Corona Cabinet has approved a new round of quarantine easing, in particular regarding the operation of shopping centers and markets, the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Health said in a joint statement.

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened the Corona Cabinet to continue discussing the plan for exiting from the lockdown and the Green Badge outline. The Cabinet approved in principle the second and third phases of the Health Ministry exit plan," the statement said.

"The second phase will begin at 07:00 on Sunday, 21 February 2021... Malls, open shopping centers and markets, street stores, museums and libraries will be allowed to open according to the stringent Purple Badge. Houses of worship will also be permitted to open (10:20, according to the choice of the house of worship)," it said.

People who have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine + one week and people who have recovered will be allowed to attend gyms and studios, cultural and sports events, fairs, houses of worship, hotels and swimming pools.

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