【無了期唔知幾時完嘅武漢肺炎】國際疫情討論區09

98 new cases in Singapore

Worsening again.

42 new cases in New Zealand

Keep worsening!

南韓增1509宗確診 總理要求加強對外國人檢測

南韓新增1509宗新型肺炎確診個案，再多7名患者死亡，累積23萬9287人確診，2228人死亡。

當地單日感染個案較前一天增加超過90宗，韓聯社報道，受颱風影響，南部地區部分篩查診所運營時間縮短，而且週末檢測數量減少的影響，確診病例數高於預期，預計明日公布的個案將會更多。

另外，最近在南韓的外國人確診病例持續增加，總理金富謙要求加大針對外國人密集地區、外籍員工多的單位進行病毒檢測。

中方強烈譴責英國播放的病毒溯源專題片影射中國

中國駐英使館發言人強烈譴責英國播放的病毒溯源專題片影射中國。

英國電視四台日前播放題為《新冠肺炎病毒從中國一實驗室洩漏？》的專題片，中國駐英使館發言人批評，有關專題片以毫無根據的主觀臆測和道聽塗説為基礎，歪曲事實、混淆是非，公然挑戰國際社會和全球科學家共識，影射新冠病毒系來自中國武漢的實驗室，這是徹頭徹尾的違背事實、違反科學、附和政治操弄的報道，中方堅決反對，予以強烈譴責。

發言人強烈敦促英國電視四台遵守職業道德和操守，客觀公正報導新冠病毒溯源工作，停止炒作歪曲事實、混淆是非的資訊，停止誤導公眾，不要淪為反華勢力大搞政治操弄、散佈虛假資訊的工具。

https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1607301-20210824.htm?spTabChangeable=0

輝瑞BioNTech疫苗獲美當局全面批准

國食品及藥物管理局全面批准向16歲及以上人士注射兩劑輝瑞/BioNTech新冠疫苗，是首款獲當局批出有關驗證的公司。

管理局表示，在數百萬人已經安全接種新冠疫苗之際，當局批出有關認可，期望可以說服更多未打針人士有關疫苗是安全及有效，令他們有額外信心接種疫苗。

美國當局去年12月向16歲及以上人士批出緊急使用輝瑞疫苗的授權，今年5月再將使用授權降低至12歲及以上。今次的全面批准授權未有涵蓋12至15歲人士。報道指，美國目前有超過2億400萬人接種了輝瑞新冠疫苗。

陸姓作家接種高端疫苗隔天猝死 陳時中：初判為心肌梗塞

國產新冠肺炎高端疫苗昨天起首度開放接種，一名陸姓專欄作家昨天接種高端疫苗，今天猝逝。指揮中心指揮官陳時中今天證實此事，初判個案死因為心肌梗塞，但由於在到院前死亡，須進行司法相驗，由檢察官判定，但陳時中強調不會因此暫停施打高端疫苗。

端疫苗昨天正式開打，今天上午傳出一名陸姓網路專欄作家昨天施打後，今天早上出現不適症狀送醫，但到院前已死亡，與疫苗關聯性待釐清，桃園市政府衛生局今天證實此消息。

根據陸姓男子在臉書（Facebook）的發文，他昨天上午近11時，和兒女一同到某社區接種站接種高端疫苗，他在文內開心表示，「很榮幸，我們一家三口都和蔡總統同一梯打高端」，並附上施打照片，向朋友表示「支持國安工業高端，而且科學證實，高端最有效也最安全」。

指揮中心指揮官陳時中今天下午也在疫情記者會中說明此事，此為首例接種高端疫苗後死亡個案，據個案臉書發文來看，他在接種完疫苗後狀況還蠻穩定，但因個案過去曾有慢性病史，初判死因為心肌梗塞。

不過，陳時中說，由於個案到院前死亡，因此後續將進行司法相驗，由檢察官判定確切死因，但強調不會因此暫停施打高端疫苗。

關於國內疫苗施打後不良事件通報，指揮中心發言人莊人祥指出，根據最新統計，昨天共接獲45件疫苗接種後不良事件通報，其中23件為非嚴重不良事件、20件其他疑似嚴重不良事件，其中僅1件為接種高端疫苗後的非嚴重不良事件；死亡個案共新增2件，分別為接種AZ及莫德納疫苗，昨天並未新增這例接種高端疫苗後的死亡個案。

新冠肺炎今增1例本土、5例境外 添1死、累計829人病逝

中央流行疫情指揮中心今天公布國內新增6例COVID-19確定病例，分別為1例本土及5例境外移入；另確診個案中新增1例死亡。本土個案為新北市7旬男，在台北市醫院確診，Ct值為37.7，匡列家庭接觸者1人列居家隔離。

指揮中心表示，今日新增之1例本土病例（案16044），為本國籍70多歲男性，8月22日因其他原因就醫，採檢後於今日確診（Ct值37.7） ；衛生單位已啟動醫院及社區調查與防治，目前匡列家庭接觸者1人，列居家隔離，其餘接觸者匡列中。

指揮中心說明，今日新增1例死亡個案（案15877），為80多歲女性，具慢性病史及其他確診個案接觸史，7月27日出現食慾不振症狀，並於同日死亡；後因同住家人確診（案15851），故於8月5日進行採檢，8月6日確診（Ct值23.8）。

指揮中心指出，近期確診個案解隔離情形，5月11日至8月22日累計公布14,727位確診個案中，已有13,621人解除隔離，解隔離人數達確診人數92.5%。

今日新增5例境外移入個案均為男性，年齡介於10多歲至40多歲，分別自日本（案16043、16045、16048）、印度（案16046）、土耳其（16047）入境，均持有搭機前3日內檢驗陰性報告，入境日介於8月12日至8月22日。

指揮中心統計，截至目前國內累計2,524,269例新型冠狀病毒肺炎相關通報（含2,507,456例排除），其中15,938例確診，分別為1,378例境外移入，14,507例本土病例，36例敦睦艦隊、2例航空器感染、1例不明及14例調查中；另累計110例移除為空號。2020年起累計829例COVID-19死亡病例，其中821例本土，個案居住縣市分布為新北市408例、台北市314例、基隆市28例、桃園市26例、彰化縣15例、新竹縣12例、台中市5例、苗栗縣3例、宜蘭縣及花蓮縣各2例，台東縣、雲林縣、台南市、南投縣、高雄市及屏東縣各1例；另8例為境外移入。

日本廣島和滋賀縣要求中央頒布緊急事態宣言

日本廣島縣與滋賀縣的知事分別召開記者會，說由於疫情擴大，要求中央政府發布緊急事態宣言。

內閣官房長官加藤勝信說，已實施防止蔓延等重點措施的16個道縣中，不僅廣島和滋賀，還收到多個縣要求進入緊急事態，加藤表示將加緊探討。

廣島縣內單日新增感染人數連續4天創新高，縣知事說，擔憂醫療體制告急，有必要盡快實施更強力的應對措施。

滋賀縣知事則說，全部13個市已實施防止蔓延等措施，但病床使用率徘徊在90%，認為有必要採取全縣應對。

So many people in this Texas town got Covid-19 that the school district shut down and then the city essentially closed

Long essay at https://us.cnn.com/2021/08/23/us/texas-town-covid-outbreak/index.html

The number of patients with Covid-19 in hospital in England hit 6,000 for the first time in more than five months.

以色列係咪打完疫苗都頂唔住delta？

https://lihkg.com/thread/2671165/page/1

Nearly 5,000 cases linked to single festival as infections rise across UK

The organisers of Boardmasters Festival in Cornwall say they are working with public health officials after 4,700 coronavirus cases emerged which are suspected to be linked to the event.

Health officials are investigating the positive PCR results, where people reported they had been to the 50,000-person festival, held between August 11 and 15 in the Newquay area.

Three-quarters of the infections were among those aged 16 to 21 and most were spread across the country, with 800 based in Cornwall.

Festival organisers said it had gone "above and beyond national guidelines" but "no event is able to eliminate risk entirely", notwithstanding the "much-needed economic benefit" large events provide.

A spokesperson said: "These included use of the NHS Covid Pass as a condition of entry, which was introduced during the Government Events Research Programme earlier this year and is being recommended as best practice at other large events."

This system detected more than 450 people "who would otherwise have been at risk of passing on the virus" so did not attend or left early, a statement added.

Covid-linked hospital patients in England highest in five months

The number of patients with Covid-19 in hospital in England has hit 6,000 for the first time in more than five months.

The figure, which is a snapshot of patients as of 8am on August 23, is up 11 per cent on the previous week but remains much lower than previous waves, with the vaccine weakening the link between infection and serious illness.

Patient levels have not been this high since March 14 - when the total stood at 6,039, according to data published by NHS England.

Hospital numbers have been rising slowly for the last few months as a result of the third wave of coronavirus, which began in England in late May, following behind cases.

The increase had appeared to level off at the end of July and showed signs of a small drop, but numbers have started climbing again in recent weeks, now rising in all regions of England.

Indonesia to allow restaurants and shops to reopen in Bali

Indonesia will from Tuesday start to allow the partial reopening of restaurants, shopping malls and places of worship in some areas, President Joko Widodo said on Monday.

This will include the capital Jakarta and the holiday island of Bali.

Places of worship and restaurants will be allowed to operate at 25 per cent capacity while shopping malls will be allowed to operate at 50 per cent capacity in those areas, the president told reporters.

Since a peak of new infections of Covid-19 in Indonesia on July 15, new cases have fallen 78% per cent he added.

Australia’s woes deepen as new lockdowns hit economy

Australia’s Covid-19 nightmare worsened on Monday as its latest wave of lockdowns deepened the economic damage suffered by businesses.

Financial data firm IHS Markit’s latest snapshot of manufacturers and services firms for August - where a score over 50 signals growth - sank from 45.2 to 43.5 in the worst performance since May 2020.

The figures came as tighter restrictions were imposed on Sydney where masks must now be worn outdoors and evening curfews are now in place in 12 areas in a bid to stop the spread of the delta variant.

The latest shutdowns have hit the states of New South Wales and Victoria, accounting for around half of the country’s output and population, forcing prime minister Scott Morrison to review the struggling "zero Covid" strategy of closed borders and lockdowns.

Australian officials shoot dogs to stop people 'spreading Covid' to pick them up

An Australian council fearful of the spread of coronavirus has sparked outrage after shooting dead a number of rescue dogs to stop volunteers at an animal shelter travelling to pick them up.

An investigation has been launched into Bourke Shire Council, in New South Wales, following an outcry from animal rights groups.

The council killed “several” dogs last week in order to prevent the risk of staff at a rescue centre in Cobar travelling across the state and possibly spreading Covid-19, the Office of Local Government said.

The state government agency is now examining the incident to determine whether companion animal and cruelty prevention laws were broken.

Take more Covid patients. Tokyo hospitals told

The Japanese and Tokyo governments have appealed to hospitals in the capital to accept more coronavirus patients amid soaring cases.

Health Minister Norihisa Tamura, stood with Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, said: "The Delta variant's strong infectiousness just isn't comparable to previous ones.

"We would like to have further support from the medical community to secure hospital beds for coronavirus patients."

This was the first time the national government had issued such a request based on the infectious diseases control law, Tamura said.

With infections showing no sign of slowing down, the government is considering expanding areas covered by state of emergency measures, the Kyodo news agency said. Emergency measures are now in force in 13 prefectures, including Tokyo.

One in 20 Irish schoolchildren tested positive during school year

A total of four per cent of schoolchildren tested positive for coronavirus in schools in the last academic year, figures show.

A HSE study, published on Monday, shows that since the start of the pandemic in March 2020 and July 10 2021, a total of 46,470 cases of Covid-19 were reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).

The study also found that the proportion of close contacts of a confirmed case that later tested positive for Covid-19 was significantly lower in schools, compared to the general population.

Cases falling in Russia

Russia has reported 19,454 new COVID-19, the first time the daily tally has dipped below 20,000 since June 23 as authorities blamed a case surge on the infectious delta variant.

The government coronavirus task force also reported 776 coronavirus-related deaths in the last 24 hours nationwide.

Cow festival amid a pandemic

Not even the traditional Gai Jatra (Cow Festival) procession is immune from the impacts of coronavirus, with people forced to take precautions as they hit the streets of Kathmandu, Nepal.

Children were seen wearing PPE alongside traditional garb as Nepalese Hindus celebrated the religious festival, where they ask for salvation and peace for family members who have passed away in the past year.

Children participating in the procession often dress as cows, holy animals according to Hindu belief, who help departed souls to reach heaven.

Minister questions New Zealand strategy

The arrival of the Delta strain in New Zealand has prompted one minister to question whether the "Covid zero" elimination strategy is unviable.

New Zealand's strategy - which has resulted in just 26 deaths in a population of five million - has relied on strict border controls backed by hard lockdowns when any cases do slip through.

But in the face of the highly transmissible new variant, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said the strain raised “big questions about the long-term future of our plans”.

“Delta does raise some big questions that we’re going to have to grapple with, you know less than a 24-hour period for someone getting it and passing it on to others … that’s like nothing we’ve dealt with in this pandemic so far, and it does change everything,” he said.

Despite his fears, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she believed in it "absolutely".

"Our plan has worked before and together we can make it work again," she said.

Ardern has previously announced plans to relax restrictions next year when vaccination rates are higher.

Vietnam deploys troops to enforce lockdown in largest city

Vietnamese soldiers on Monday were deployed on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City to help enforce a lockdown in the country's business hub, which has become the epicentre of its worst coronavirus outbreak so far during the pandemic.

Panic-buying broke out at supermarkets in the city of nine million people over the weekend ahead of the tighter lockdown, which started on Monday and prohibits residents from leaving their homes.

Vietnam's toughest order yet comes amid a spike in fatalities and infections.

Soldiers on Monday were checking permits of residents on the streets and delivering food, according to witnesses and photographs on state media.

The city has recorded a total of 176,000 infections and 6,670 deaths, accounting for half of the Southeast Asian country's overall cases and 80 per cent of fatalities, according to the health ministry.

30,838 new cases and 174 new deaths in the United Kingdom

Keep worsening

63 new cases in New Zealand

Keep worsening!

2,433 new cases and 6 new deaths in Mongolia

Keep worsening.