The US FDA grants emergency approval for the anti-virus pill Paxlovid from the pharmaceutical company Pfizer. According to earlier information from the Biontech partner, the tablet shows an effectiveness of almost 90 percent in preventing hospital stays and death in high-risk patients. It is the first such tablet to be approved in the United States. (12/22/2021)
Medicines against Covid-19: No “game changers” in sight (SZ Plus)
Great Britain: More than 100,000 corona cases in one day
In the UK, more than 100,000 coronavirus infections have been recorded in a single day for the first time, with exactly 106,122 new cases, according to the government website.
Despite the worrying development, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ruled out stricter corona measures for the festive season for the part of England, which can be decided on by the central government in London. Johnson wants to wait until there are clear data on whether the number of hospital admissions will increase with the sharp increase in infections. However, experts warn that it may be too late by then. In addition, staff shortages in hospitals and in public transport are increasingly causing difficulties because many employees become infected and self-isolate. The government therefore announced on Wednesday that it would shorten the duration of isolation from ten to seven days.
The regional governments in Scotland and Wales, however, had announced further restrictions. For example, from Boxing Day in Scotland there are upper limits on the number of visitors to sporting events. For Wales, the government announced a limit of 30 people for indoor events and 50 people for outdoor events. (12/22/2021)
Israel wants to vaccinate people over 60 for the fourth time
In view of the spread of the omicron variant of the coronavirus, people over the age of 60 and those working in the health system should receive a fourth dose of vaccine in Israel. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett instructed, according to his office, the health insurance companies to prepare for another broad vaccination campaign. This will help “overcome the omicron wave that is flooding the world,” said Bennett. The Corona cabinet also decided on new restrictions for school classes and in retail. Israel has already passed the fourth corona wave, but the number of infections has recently increased again. Only around 59 percent of the 9.4 million Israelis are still considered fully vaccinated. 32 percent of the population are not vaccinated at all, with nine percent the vaccination has expired. (December 21, 2021)
Study from South Africa suggests a milder course due to Omikron
A South African study confirms the assumption that Omikron infections are less severe than previous coronavirus variants. The analysis comes to the result that hospitalization for people infected with Omikron is 80 percent less likely. In addition, according to the paper, vaccinated Omikron patients have a 70 percent chance of avoiding treatment in the intensive care unit.
For the study, the authors evaluated data that were collected up to the end of November. Cheryl Cohen of South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) says it is “very encouraging”. However, she warns that the data are still early and that more studies are needed. (12/22/2021)
Olympia takes place without the ice hockey professionals from the NHL
Olympia will probably have to do without the ice hockey stars from the NHL again. According to consistent information from the AP news agency, the Washington Post and the New York Times participation will probably be canceled because too many games would have to be postponed due to Corona. The media relied on previously anonymous sources. There was initially no official statement from the National Hockey League, allegedly this was planned for Wednesday. The Winter Olympics will take place in Beijing from February 4th to 20th.
The Olympic dream of the German national players Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton Oilers), Philipp Grubauer (Seattle Kraken), Moritz Seider (Detroit Red Wings) and Tim Stützle (Ottawa Senators) has probably burst as well as the hope of Augsburg’s Nico Sturm (Minnesota Wild ) on a debut in the national jersey.
The NHL and the players’ union had agreed in the collective agreement before the start of the season that, unlike in 2018, the professionals from the North American professional league may again participate in the Olympics – but the league may withdraw until January 10 if the risk posed by the Corona -Pandemic or the number of games postponed because of it become too large.
It was only on Monday that the NHL extended the Christmas break and prohibited all 32 teams from using their training grounds from December 22nd to 25th. Teams will not be allowed to travel or train in the afternoon until December 26th. So far, a total of 50 games have been canceled. Even without a break from the Olympics in February, making up for these matches will not be easy – many of the NHL teams’ halls have been booked for other events during the Games.
Even before the official announcement of the decision, which the NHL reported to the players’ union on Tuesday, the NHL stars expressed their disappointment. Defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning’s Swede Victor Hedman, who like Draisaitl has never been to the Olympics, said: “This is something you’ve been looking forward to for a long time. That we can’t go there will hurt for a while. ” Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who won the 2010 and 2014 Olympic gold medals with Canada, said, “These are opportunities and life experiences that you don’t get many of as an athlete, you might just get one.” (12/22/2021)
Biden wants to distribute half a billion self-tests
US President Joe Biden sees his country ready for a violent wave of omicrons. “Covid is a tough opponent. We have shown that we are tougher. We will get through this,” said Biden in a speech. The president also announced his intention to support hospitals with more military personnel, to create more vaccination facilities and to expand testing capacities. 500 million additional corona self-tests are to be distributed to the people in the country.
Biden again emphasized the importance of vaccination in the fight against the virus, as it protects against serious illness. Those who have been vaccinated can spend the holidays as planned, the president said. The problem is people who do not want to be vaccinated. “Your decision not only affects you, but also other people. You are putting other people at risk. Your relatives, your friends, neighbors, strangers you meet,” said Biden. directed. Regarding the Omicron variant, he said there were signs in South Africa that the number of hospitalizations was rapidly declining. But there is no certainty on this issue. (December 21, 2021)