International COVID-19 Megathread

[rosin]

A Chinese woman from Wuhan took medication to hide certain undetermined virus symptoms from French Border Police, and has since been touring Paris and Lyon, eating in restaurants and boasting about it on social media. The Chinese embassy in Paris wants to talk to her.
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3047334/chinese-told-comply-airport-coronavirus-checks-after-woman

At least two cases of the virus now confirmed in France and more are expected. If connected, she is in a ton of trouble.
https://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2020/01/24/coronavirus-deux-premiers-cas-confirmes-en-france-a-bordeaux-et-paris_6027158_3244.html

I doubt there is any connection: both newly confirmed infected people have recently been in China, (at least) one of them in Wuhan.

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-outbreak-hospital-to-be-built-in-five-days-as-death-toll-rises-in-china-11916211

(yes, it is the right link, even though its title is misleading)

[rosin]

After several recent new cases of the COVID-19-virus, the authorities in Vietnam have quarantined the community of  Son Loi, with app. 10,000 inhabitants.

https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2020/02/565216/vietnam-quarantines-area-10000-residents-over-coronavirus

[rosin]

According to AP, all professional sports events in Italy are halted at least until April 3.

LONDON (AP) — All sports in Italy were expected to be halted on Monday because of the virus outbreak, including games in the country’s top soccer division and preparatory events for the Tokyo Olympics.

The Italian Olympic Committee, which oversees all sporting events in the country, said in a statement that the suspension will last until April 3 and that it would request a government decree to impose its decision.

https://apnews.com/eadffad2de0652ee16e02e63ff90ba16

[rosin]

Wow - it looks like things are very much going the wrong way in Singapore!

According to worldometer has 1426 new cases been reported today, an increase of cases of more than 21%(!).

From what I have read, this "second wave" is mainly among migrant workers, who are legally forced to live very cramped together, in ways where social distancing simply isn't possible.

And thereby we arrive again at the sad truth: diseases highlighting social inequalities (in one of the world's richest countries).

[rosin]

Mhmm....

AstraZeneca pulls out of EU meeting about vaccine supplies

Pharmaceutical company AstraZenca has pulled out of a scheduled meeting with European Union officials to discuss vaccine supplies, an EU official says.

The company behind one of the world's top Covid vaccines is in the middle of a row with the EU over supplies of the jab.

The EU had ordered 600 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine ahead of expected approval for roll-out across the bloc.

But the company says it has supply issues and is trying to solve them as quickly as possible - it says the late EU decision to purchase doses left little wiggle room for supply.

The EU official says the bloc continues to ask AstraZeneca to explain why vaccine deliveries to the EU have been cut.

The EU is behind some others in the race to vaccinate populations, including Israel, the UK and the US.

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/uk-55823064

Some more development in the story:

Whether the meeting originally was cancelled or not (AZ denies it were), both parts now agree that it will be held this evening at 18:30 CET

It has been rumored that a possible solution of the conflict might involve the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi cooperating with AstraZeneca to add more vaccine production to lessen the vaccine shortcomings.

https://www.euronews.com/2021/01/27/covid-19-vaccine-astrazeneca-boss-hits-back-at-eu-criticism-over-supply-delays

[rosin]

https://twitter.com/SCMPNews/status/1560204869343985664

What???

It's likely a way health workers try to fulfill the quotas of how many tests they have to perform.