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Economic Times | 14 Aug, 2020 | 08.17AM IST
Coronavirus Latest Updates: Assam issues lockdown guidelines with relaxations
The Assam government on Thursday issued new COVID-19 lockdown guidelines with relaxations between August 16 and 31 while providing relaxations on August 15.
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Germany's confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 1,449 to 221,413
New Zealand virus outbreak spreads beyond Auckland
- New Zealand's resurgent coronavirus outbreak has spread beyond Auckland, health officials said Friday, in a major blow to efforts to contain the disease.
- Health Minister Chris Hipkins said there were 12 more cases of community transmission, and one probable, following the shock re-emergence of the virus in Auckland this week.
- He said two of the infections were found in the North Island town of Tokoroa, around 210 kilometres (130 miles) south of Auckland.
UK adds France, Netherlands to travel quarantine list
- Britain on Thursday said it will reimpose quarantine for travellers from France and the Netherlands, prompting Paris to quickly announce a "reciprocal measure".
- The UK government declared the change, which will likely spark a mass exodus among the estimated half a million British holidaymakers currently in France, after a rise in coronavirus cases there.
- "Data shows we need to remove France, the Netherlands, Monaco, Malta, Turks & Caicos & Aruba from our list of coronavirus Travel Corridors to keep infection rates DOWN," transport minister Grant Shapps wrote on Twitter.
Coronavirus vaccine developer CureVac raises $213 million in IPO
- CureVac BV raised $213 million in its initial public offering on Thursday, a person familiar with the matter said, setting the stage for the first stock market debut of a company developing a promising vaccine to combat the novel coronavirus.
- The German biotechnology firm sold 13.33 million shares at $16 apiece, the top end of its indicated price range, the source said, requesting anonymity ahead of an initial announcement. The company's shares are set to trade in New York on Friday.
Assam issues lockdown guidelines with relaxations for August 16-31
- The Assam government on Thursday issued new COVID-19 lockdown guidelines with relaxations between August 16 and 31 while providing relaxations on August 15 (Independence Day) subject to following of safety protocols.
- "All permitted activities mentioned in our earlier orders shall continue to be allowed between 5 am and 9 pm between Monday and Friday.
- Inter-District movement of passenger vehicles and people are allowed between Monday and Friday only. Inter-District movement of vehicles is allowed with 50 per cent capacity," the state government order read.
COVID-19 vaccine will be free for Americans: officials
- If a COVID-19 vaccine is proven effective, the US will ensure it's distributed for free to all Americans, officials said Thursday, underscoring there will be no shortcuts on safety.
- "We are not at all reducing the regulatory rigor with which we will evaluate and hopefully approve vaccines," Paul Mango, a senior health department official, told reporters.
- Washington has invested more than $10 billion in six vaccine projects and signed contracts guaranteeing the delivery of hundreds of millions of doses should they be approved following clinical trials.
Peru surpasses 500,000 coronavirus cases
- Peru surpassed half a million coronavirus cases and has the highest death toll in Latin America, according to health ministry data on Thursday, as the government struggles to contain a recent surge of infections.
- There have been 507,996 confirmed cases and 25,648 related deaths, vice health minister Luis Suarez said at a news conference.
- The Andean country has the highest coronavirus death rate in Latin America at 78.6 per 100,000 people, a Reuters tally shows, surpassing hard-hit regional neighbors Chile and Brazil.
Mexico surpasses 500,000 coronavirus cases
New Zealand to announce decision on coronavirus lockdown extension
- New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is due to announce on Friday whether a lockdown in its biggest city will be eased or extended, as officials said it appeared the country's first outbreak in more than three months was an imported strain.
- Ardern put Auckland, home to about 1.7 million people, into lockdown on Wednesday, just hours after a four new COVID-19 cases were discovered in a family living in the city. She also reinstated social distancing measures across the country.
- A further 13 infections have since been confirmed and linked to the Auckland family, raising some doubts over Ardern's eradication strategy for the pandemic as she heads into a general election next month.
