Tag Archives: Covid-19

Morning News: Delta Variant In Africa, China Ride-Hailing Giant DIDI

A.M. Edition for June 30. WSJ Africa Deputy Bureau Chief Gabriele Steinhauser on how the region is dealing with a surge of the more-transmissible Delta variant. 

Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi is set to begin trading today in the U.S. And, differing stances on vaccine passports. Marc Stewart hosts.

Covid-19: mRNA Vaccines Do Not Change Your DNA

With so many myths about COVID-19 vaccines regarding their impact on our health, many people don’t know what to believe. In our fact check, find out what you need to know about the mRNA vaccines — as we expose the myths and reveal the facts.

Analysis: The Hunt For Covid-19’s Origins (WSJ)

More than a year into the pandemic, scientists are still debating Covid-19’s origins. WSJ breaks down key events in three locations in China – a seafood market, a lab and a mine – to piece together how the global health crisis might have started. Photo composite: George Downs

News: Top 5 Stories For June 17, 2021 (Reuters)

Five stories to know for June 17, 2021:

1. The Biden-Putin summit in Geneva highlighted huge differences but also small gains. Russia said arms control talks agreed with the U.S. should start within weeks.

2. U.S. Senate Democrats are scrambling to unite around a sweeping election reform bill that they aim to bring to a vote next week, in the face of Republican opposition and state moves to pass laws placing new restrictions on voting.

3. Biden is set to sign a bill declaring Juneteenth a federal holiday commemorating the end of legal enslavement of Black Americans.

4. Chinese state media quoted a disease expert saying the COVID-19 origins probe should shift to the United States after a study showed the disease could have been circulating there as early as December 2019. China’s top diplomat, said the idea that coronavirus escaped from a Wuhan laboratory is an “absurd story.”

5. Five hundred Hong Kong police officers sifted through reporters’ computers and notebooks at pro-democracy tabloid Apple Daily, alleging that Apple Daily articles violate the national security law

News: Top 5 Stories For June 16, 2021 (Reuters)

Five stories to know for June 16, 2021:

1. U.S. President Joe Biden meets Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva for their first face to face since he took office. Disagreements remain between the U.S. and Russia. Expectations for any breakthroughs are low.

2. Israeli airstrikes hit Gaza after Hamas launched fire balloons at Israel earlier in the day, which sparked fires. Tensions are high after an Israeli nationalist march in Jerusalem

3. The U.S. Senate voted to establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday.

4. Taiwan reported a record incursion of Chinese aircraft after the G7 scolded Beijing and called for peace in the Taiwan Strait.

5. Fireworks lit up New York state as COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. NY reported that 70% of adults have received at least one vaccine dose.

Covid-19: Are Vaccine Incentives Paying Off?

Across the country, states are shelling out incentives ranging from free beer to $1 million lotteries to encourage residents to get their Covid-19 shots. But is the effort to boost vaccination rates working? And is it worth the cost? Photo composite: Adam Falk/The Wall Street Journal

Covid-19: Vaccination Is Key To Curbing Mutants

Almost 2 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered worldwide to date. But is it enough to wipe out Sars-CoV-2? Of course, those shots are not evenly spread across all continents. In terms of sheer numbers,

North America and Europe managed about 370 million shots each. South America with Covid-stricken countries like Brazil has a lot of catching up to do. Africa and its more than 1.3 billion people only received 34 million doses so far while Asia is storming ahead with more than 1 billion shots. But that doesn’t mean Asia is fully vaccinated. Far from it.

There are huge gaps, like in Vietnam, a country that has long been praised for its response to the pandemic. Now it is faced with new outbreaks and a new variant.