The overall number of global coronavirus cases has crossed the 113-million mark, while the deaths have increased to more than 2.5 million, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
Here are the top 10 developments this morning:
- US President Joe Biden on Friday (local time) ensured that undocumented immigrants will be able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine without fear of being targeted by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
- Bangladesh reported 407 new COVID-19 cases and 5 new deaths on Saturday, making the tally at 545,831 and the death toll at 8,400, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said.
- A US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel on Friday endorsed Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine and recommended the agency grant emergency authorization.
- The US House of Representatives on Saturday (local time) approved President Joe Biden’s USD 1.9 trillion coronavirus aid package by a majority of votes.
- Hundreds of civil society groups in the US, along with several progressive lawmakers, are keeping up the pressure on the Biden administration to support India’s TRIPS waiver on COVID-19 vaccines, reported Inside US Trade – an online news service.
- Ethiopia registered 935 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 157,047 as of Friday evening, the country’s Ministry of Health said.
- Russia registered 11,534 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, up from 11,086 the day before, and the total count reached 4,234,720, the coronavirus response center said on Saturday.
- Noting the fact that the pandemic’s impact on the people of Gaza has been particularly severe due to fragile healthcare infrastructure, India on Saturday assured Palestine of providing the second batch of medicines and also facilitate an early supply of vaccines to Palestine as COVID-19 assistance, said Nagaraj Naidu, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of India’s Mission at UNSC on Saturday.
- The UN Security Council on Friday unanimously passed a resolution calling on all member states to support a “sustained humanitarian pause” to local conflicts, in order to allow for COVID-19 vaccinations.
- Morocco registered 480 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, taking the total tally in the North African country to 482,994, the health ministry said in a statement.
(With ANI inputs)