As many Asian countries battle their worst surge of COVID-19 infections, the slow flow of vaccine doses from around the world is finally picking up speed, giving hope that low inoculation rates can increase and help blunt the effect of the rapidly spreading delta variant.
With many vaccine pledges still unfulfilled and rates of infection spiking across multiple countries, however, experts say more needs to be done to help nations struggling with the overflow of patients and shortages of oxygen and other critical supplies.
Some 1.5 million doses of the Moderna vaccine arrived Thursday afternoon in Indonesia, which has become a dominant hot spot with record high infections and deaths.
The Health Ministry in Indonesia reported 54,517 confirmed new cases on Wednesday, up from about 8,000 a month ago. The country began its vaccine rollout in January, but only about 5.8 per cent of its 270 million people have received both shots.
‘Race between the vaccines and the variants’
The U.S. shipment follows three million other American doses of the Moderna vaccine that arrived Sunday, and 11.7 million doses of AstraZeneca that have come in batches since March through the UN-backed COVAX mechanism, the last earlier this week.
“It’s quite encouraging,” said Sowmya Kadandale, health chief in Indonesia of UNICEF, which is in charge of the distribution of vaccines provided through COVAX. “It seems now to be, and not just in Indonesia, a race between the vaccines and the variants, and I hope we win that race.”
Many, including the World Health Organization, have been critical of the vaccine inequalities in the world, pointing out that many wealthy nations have more than half of their populations at least partially vaccinated, while the vast majority of people in lower-income countries are still waiting on a first dose.
The International Red Cross warned this week of a “widening global vaccine divide” and said wealthy countries needed to increase the pace of following through on their pledges.
Vietnam, Thailand and South Korea have all imposed new lockdown restrictions over the past week as they struggle to contain rapidly rising infections amid sluggish vaccination campaigns.
While the majority of recent deliveries have been American, Japan was sending one million doses of AstraZeneca on Thursday each to Indonesia, Taiwan and Vietnam as part of bilateral deals, and Vietnam said it was receiving 1.5 million more AstraZeneca doses from Australia.
The Philippines is expecting a total of 16 million doses in July, including 3.2 million from the U.S. later this week, 1.1 million from Japan, 132,000 of Sputnik V from Russia, as well as others through COVAX. Japan is also sending 11 million through COVAX this month to Bangladesh, Cambodia, Iran, Laos, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and others.
Health workers administer shots of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine ata vaccination centre in Bangkok on Thursday. (Sakchai Lalit/The Associated Press)
Canada this week committed an additional 17.7 million surplus AstraZeneca doses to the 100 million already pledged through COVAX, which is co-ordinated by GAVI, a vaccine alliance. France delivered 1.7 million doses worldwide through June with COVAX and is sending millions more this summer.
In addition to distributing some donated vaccines, financial contributions to COVAX also help fund the purchase of doses to distribute for free to 92 low- or moderate-income nations.
Earlier this month, it took blistering criticism from the African Union for how long it was taking for vaccines to reach the continent, noting that just one per cent of Africans are fully vaccinated.
WATCH | CBC’s Adrienne Arsenault reports from Tokyo as Olympic preparations ramp up and COVID-19 cases climb:
No spectators, no fan zone, no Olympic cauldron viewing. The CBC’s Adrienne Arsenault has landed in Tokyo and reports on the tightening of restrictions that increasingly separate the Japanese from their own Olympic Games. (Hiro Komae/AP Photo) 6:49
-From The Associated Press and Reuters, last updated at 8:40 a.m. ET
What’s happening across Canada
As of 8:45 a.m. ET on Thursday, Canada had reported 1,421,837 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 4,837 considered active. The country’s COVID-19 death toll stood at 26,458. More than 43.8 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far across the country, according to a CBC News tally.
In Atlantic Canada on Wednesday, there were just three new cases of COVID-19. Health officials in Newfoundland and Labrador said the cases were found in people aboard one of the ships currently anchored off the coast.The provincial Department of Health said eight crew members from one ship have tested positive, and there are 14 cases aboard another vessel.
There were no new cases reported Wednesday in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick or Prince Edward Island, where some COVID-19 testing centres are closing.
In Quebec, where doctors are warning of overburdened emergency rooms and nursing staffing shortages, health officials reported no additional deaths and 75 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday.
Ontario health officials reported seven additional deaths on Wednesday and 153 new cases of COVID-19.
In the Prairie provinces, Manitoba saw no additional deaths on Wednesday 53 additional cases of COVID-19. The province is moving into the second stage of its reopening plan on Saturday — weeks earlier than planned.
Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba’s chief public health officer, said at a briefing that the vaccination efforts are “paying off” as he announced the changes, which will include easing of restrictions on indoor gatherings.
Saskatchewan, meanwhile, reported 18 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday and no new deaths.
WATCH | Canada lacks national standards for proof of COVID-19 vaccination:
Canada doesn’t have national standards for proof of a COVID-19 vaccination and as a result, there’s a ‘hodgepodge’ of methods created by provinces and businesses. 1:54
Health officials in Alberta reported one death Wednesday and 46 new COVID-19 infections.
Across the North, there were no new cases reported Wednesday in Nunavut or the Northwest Territories. In Yukon, where officials are expanding the number of people allowed to gather under COVID-19 restrictions, health officials reported six additional cases in a news release issued Wednesday.
In British Columbia, there were no new deaths recorded Wednesday and 41 new cases of COVID-19.
-From CBC News and The Canadian Press, last updated at 8:45 a.m. ET
What’s happening around the world
Artificial flowers adorn a cross at a gravesite in the COVID-19 section of the Chacarita cemetery in Buenos Aires, Argentina, earlier this week. (Victor R. Caivano/The Associated Press )
As of early Thursday morning, more than 188.4 million cases of COVID-19 had been reported around the world, according to a case-tracking tool maintained by U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University. The reported global death toll stood at more than four million.
In the Americas, Argentina has reported more than 100,000 deaths from COVID-19, a heavy blow to a country that intermittently imposed some of the most severe lockdowns in the world, only to see erratic compliance by many people.
Recent coronavirus variants have helped spread the disease even faster and the vaccine program, while making progress, is still falling short.
The Health Ministry said Wednesday that 614 people died from the disease in the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 100,250.
In Africa, Senegal is experiencing an “unprecedented” surge in infections, after reporting a new daily record of 733 cases.
In the Asia-Pacific region, Australia reported a slowdown in new COVID-19 cases in Sydney on Thursday, while Melbourne and the rest of the state of Victoria was ordered into a five-day lockdown on Thursday following a spike in COVID-19 infections. The country’s two main population hubs have been battling outbreaks of the delta variant.
In Europe, daily coronavirus cases in Britain have risen above 40,000 for the first time in nearly six months. Government figures showed another 42,302 infections, the highest daily figure since Jan. 15 when the country was in strict lockdown following a lethal second wave of the pandemic.
WATCH | Caution urged as England prepares to lift most COVID-19 restrictions:
England is set to lift most of its COVID-19 restrictions on Monday, including mask requirements and physical distancing. But with cases on the rise, some experts say the move is reckless. 2:02
Cases are expected to spike higher, with the government warning an unprecedented 100,000 daily infections may be possible this summer.
The sharp uptick in cases in recent weeks from the more contagious delta variant has prompted concerns about the coming easing of restrictions on Monday in England, which will remove legal limits on social contact and mask-wearing.
In the Middle East, Kuwait reported 11 deaths on Wednesday and 1,623 new cases of COVID-19, local media reported.
-From The Associated Press and Reuters, last updated at 7:05 a.m. ET
Have questions about this story? We’re answering as many as we can in the comments.
MONTREAL – One expert says entry-level pay under the tentative deal between Air Canada and its pilots could be a stumbling block ahead of a union vote on the agreement.
Under their current contract, pilots earn far less in their first four years at the company before enjoying a big wage increase starting in year five.
The Air Line Pilots Association had been pushing to scrap the so-called “fixed rate” provision entirely.
But according to a copy of the contract summary obtained by The Canadian Press, the proposed deal announced Sunday would merely cut the four-year period of lower pay to two years.
John Gradek, who teaches aviation management at McGill University, says as many as 2,000 of Air Canada’s roughly 5,200 active pilots may earn entry-level wages following a recent hiring surge.
After the airline averted a strike this week, Gradek says the failure to ditch the pay grade restrictions could prompt pushback from rank-and-file flight crew and jeopardize the deal, which is up for a vote next month.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 18, 2024.
ROME (AP) — Salvatore “Totò” Schillaci, the Italy striker who was top scorer at its home World Cup in 1990, has died. He was 59.
Schillaci had been hospitalized in Palermo following treatment for colon cancer.
The Palermo Civico hospital said in a statement that Schillacci died on Wednesday morning after being admitted 11 days ago.
Schillaci scored six goals for Italy during the 1990 World Cup. He came on as a substitute during Italy’s opener against Austria, scored in a 1-0 victory, and went on to earn the Golden Boot awarded to the tournament’s top scorer. He only scored one other goal for Italy in his career.
Italian soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina announced that a minute of silence would be held in memory of Schillaci before all games in the country for the rest of the week.
“The uncontrollable celebrations, in which his face was the symbol of shared joy, will remain forever part of Italian soccer (history),” Gravina said. “Totò was a great player, a symbol of tenacious desire and redemption. … His soccer was full of passion. And that fearless spirit made everyone appreciate him and will make him immortal.”
Schillaci also won the Golden Ball award at the 1990 World Cup as the tournament’s top player ahead of Lothar Matthaus and Diego Maradona.
Schillaci played for Messina, Juventus, Inter Milan and Japanese team Jubilo Iwata during his club career.
“You made an entire nation dream during the Magical Nights of Italia ’90,” Inter said on its social media channels.
West Germany won the 1990 World Cup, beating Argentina in the final, while Italy beat England for third place with a winning penalty kick from Schillaci.
Roberto Baggio, who scored Italy’s opening goal in the third-place match, wrote on Instagram, “Ciao my dear friend.”
Having been born and raised in Palermo, the Palermo soccer team announced that it would hold a public viewing of Schillaci at its Renzo Barbera stadium ahead of the funeral, the Gazzetta dello Sport reported.
French soccer player Wissam Ben Yedder will stay free ahead of his trial on charges of sexual assault while intoxicated, one of his lawyers told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
Marie Roumiantseva said Ben Yedder will remain under strict judicial supervision after a woman filed a lawsuit for sexual assault earlier this month.
The 34-year-old Ben Yedder, a prolific striker in the French league, was briefly detained then released after the alleged incident in his car on the French Riviera. Ben Yedder had been stopped by police after he first refused to do so. He was then put in a jail cell.
After he was summoned to appear in court on Oct. 15 and placed under judicial supervision, the Nice prosecutor’s office appealed the decision not to remand the player in custody. The investigative chamber of the Court of Appeal of Aix-en-Provence did not grant this request and kept Ben Yedder under judicial supervision.
Ben Yedder attended a hearing Tuesday during which he offered to go to rehab. He has admitted he drove while under the influence of alcohol but has denied any sexual assault.
In a separate legal case last year, Ben Yedder was charged with “rape, attempted rape and sexual assault” over another alleged incident in the south of France.
Ben Yedder has been without a club since his contract with Monaco expired at the end of last season.
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