Two days ago UK reports 31,933 new COVID-19 cases and 120 deaths
Britain on Friday reported 31,933 new cases of COVID-19 and another 120 deaths within 28 days of a positive test, according to government data. The number of cases has fallen 20% in the last seven days compared with the previous seven days, while deaths have fallen 18%.
COVID-related diabetes may be temporary; racial disparities widen with Omicron infections
The following is a summary of some recent studies on COVID-19. They include research that warrants further study to corroborate the findings and that has yet to be certified by peer review. COVID-related diabetes may be temporary
Drug distributors, J&J agree to finalize $26 billion opioid settlement
The three largest U.S. drug distributors and drugmaker Johnson & Johnson have agreed to finalize a proposed $26 billion settlement resolving claims by states and local governments that they helped fuel the U.S. opioid epidemic. Distributors McKesson Corp, AmerisourceBergen Corp and Cardinal Health Inc along with J&J had until Friday to decide whether enough cities and counties nationally had opted to join the landmark settlement to justify moving forward with it.
New U.S. COVID guidelines allow most Americans to go mask-free indoors
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday dramatically eased its COVID-19 guidelines for when Americans should wear masks indoors, including in schools, a move that means 72% of the population will reside in communities where indoor face coverings are no longer recommended. The new masking guidelines shift from a focus on the rate of COVID-19 transmission to local hospitalizations, hospital capacity and infection rates.
Japan's Shionogi seeks approval for COVID-19 pill
Drugmaker Shionogi & Co Ltd has applied for approval to make and sell its oral COVID-19 treatment in Japan, the firm said on Friday. Known as S-217622, the drug would become the country's third antiviral pill approved for coronavirus patients, following those developed by Pfizer Inc and Merck & Co.
EMA panel backs 3 month interval for Moderna booster
The advisory committee to the European Union's drug regulator on Friday said it has recommended reducing the interval between the second dose and booster dose of Moderna Inc's COVID-19 vaccine from six months to three months. Several countries including Greece and France have previously shortened the interval between the first two doses and the booster dose of COVID-19
vaccines, in the face of rising cases due to the Omicron variant. Some also authorised a fourth shot for the vulnerable.
France's Valneva expects recommendation on COVID-19 vaccine by end-March
Valneva expects to start delivering its vaccine in Europe soon after it is recommended for conditional approval by the end of March, the French vaccine maker said on Friday as it received an initial regulatory assessment. Valneva has received a list of questions on its VLA2001 vaccine from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) and should respond in the coming days, it said in a statement.
There have been 18.8 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK and more than 161,000 people have died, government figures show.
However, these figures include only people who have died within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus. So far, 92% of people aged 12 and over in the UK have had their first vaccine dose, 85% have had their second and 66% have had a booster.
