Is COVID still a threat? Here is a worldwide update on the coronavirus pandemic

The UK medicines regulator (MHRA) has given the primary approval of a variant-adapted vaccine by U.S. drug firm Moderna that targets each the unique and Omicron model of the virus.

Demise and Infections

* Eikon customers, click on on COVID-19: MacroVitals for a case tracker and abstract of stories.

CORONAVIRUS MAP | FOX NEWS

Asia-Pacific

* About 2.3 million folks within the Philippines had been pushed into poverty between 2018 and 2021, rising to a complete of virtually 20 million, or 18.1% of the inhabitants, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) mentioned.

* China’s monetary hub Shanghai mentioned on Sunday it could reopen all faculties together with kindergartens, main and center faculties on Sept. 1 after months of closures.

* Greater than 60,000 folks thronged Sydney’s streets on Sunday for an annual highway operating occasion and mass celebration that returned for the primary time because the COVID-19 pandemic started.

* North Korea has dropped a face masks mandate and different social distancing guidelines as chief Kim Jong Un declared victory over COVID-19 this week, state media mentioned on Saturday, three months after its first acknowledgement of the virus outbreak within the remoted nation.

* Mainland China reported 2,478 new COVID circumstances for Aug. 14, of which 770 had been symptomatic and 1,708 had been asymptomatic, the Nationwide Well being Fee mentioned on Monday.

* Shanghai reported 5 new domestically transmitted asymptomatic circumstances for Aug. 14, the identical as a day earlier, whereas one native symptomatic case was reported, up from zero the day earlier than, the town authorities mentioned on Monday.

DEATH RATES SOAR IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AS COVID-19 WAVE SPREADS

America

* U.S. CDC says Omicron subvariant BA.5 represents 88.8% of complete circumstances within the nation, as of week ended Aug. 13.

Financial Affect

* China’s central financial institution reduce key lending charges in a shock transfer to revive demand as information confirmed the financial system unexpectedly slowing in July, with manufacturing unit and retail exercise squeezed by Beijing’s zero-COVID coverage and a property disaster.

* Asian shares turned combined on Monday after China’s central financial institution trimmed key lending charges after financial information missed forecasts, underlining the necessity for extra stimulus to assist the world’s second largest financial system. [MKTS/GLOB]

* China’s financial system unexpectedly slowed in July, with exercise indicators from industrial output to retail gross sales lacking forecasts by massive margins, pointing to a shaky restoration as Beijing reveals no signal of easing its zero-COVID coverage.

* New financial institution lending in China fell greater than anticipated in July whereas broad credit score development slowed, as recent COVID flare-ups, worries about jobs and a deepening property disaster made firms and customers cautious of taking over extra debt.

* Japan’s financial system rebounded at a slower-than-expected tempo within the second quarter from a COVID-induced droop, information confirmed on Monday, highlighting uncertainty on whether or not consumption will develop sufficient to bolster a much-delayed, fragile restoration.

* Thailand’s financial system expanded on the quickest tempo in a 12 months within the second quarter as eased restrictions boosted exercise and tourism.

COVID-19 PANDEMIC TRIGGERED ‘ECONOMIC CONTAGION,’ COSTING WORLD’S ECONOMY $3.8T AND LEAVING 147M UNEMPLOYED

Medical Affect

* Round 25 million kids world wide missed out on routine vaccinations that defend in opposition to life-threatening ailments in 2021, the United Nations Youngsters’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Well being Group (WHO) discovered. The 2 organizations mentioned the shortfall was the results of disruption to well being care globally throughout the pandemic.

* Novavax mentioned it had submitted an software with the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration looking for authorization for booster doses of its vaccine.

* India’s Bharat Biotech has accomplished scientific growth for Section III trials and booster doses for intranasal vaccine.

NOVAVAX COVID-19 VACCINE FOR ADULTS ENDORSED BY CDC