Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:
Pfizer Gets Full Approval
The US Food and Drug Administration fully approves Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, a move expected to trigger a new wave of vaccine mandates as the Delta variant batters the country. Around 52 percent of the American population is fully vaccinated, but health authorities have hit a wall of vaccine hesitant people, impeding the national campaign.
"This FDA approval should give added confidence that this vaccine is safe and effective. If you're not vaccinated yet, now is the time," tweeted President Joe Biden.
Starting With The Pentagon...
The Pentagon says it will order all active and reserve troops to be vaccinated for COVID-19 after the full approval of the Pfizer vaccine.
New York City also said it would require all its department of education employees to receive at least one dose of vaccine by September 27, without the option for regular testing instead.
China: Zero Local Cases
China reported no new domestic coronavirus cases Monday, and Beijing appears poised to bring to heel the pandemic's most serious resurgence in months – driven by the highly contagious Delta variant – with mass testing and targeted lockdowns.
The latest outbreak, which began in mid-July when cleaners at a Nanjing airport tested positive, is the most severe since COVID-19 first surfaced in the central city of Wuhan.
Catalonia Curfew
A Spanish court rejected Monday a request by the regional government of Catalonia to reimpose a virus curfew in Barcelona and dozens of other cities, arguing the measure was "disproportionate" as infections have fallen.
The Catalan government on Friday sought court approval to impose a nightly curfew in municipalities of 20,000 residents or more where infection rates exceed 125 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over a seven-day period.
Jabbing In The Future
Britain on Monday announced it will take delivery of another 35 million doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine in the second half of next year to "future-proof" its jabs rollout.
"While we continue to build this wall of defence from COVID-19, it's also vital we do everything we can to protect the country for the future too – whether that's from the virus as we know it or new variants," said health minister Sajid Javid.
Lebanon To Reopen Classrooms
Students in Lebanon will return to the classroom starting next month, the education minister said Monday, amid fears an accelerating economic crisis and the coronavirus pandemic would prevent schools from reopening.
Rights groups have decried an "education catastrophe", with more than a million children in Lebanon out of school since the country's COVID-19 outbreak began in February last year.
School Jabs In Israel
Israel said Monday it would offer COVID-19 vaccinations to students on school grounds as it announced the school year would open on time next week, despite surging coronavirus cases.
"Pupils... will be vaccinated on school grounds during school hours, subject to parental approval," a government statement said, confirming classes would begin on 1 September.
Changing Of The Guard Back
Soldiers in bearskin hats and red tunics marched outside Buckingham Palace in London on Monday for the first Changing of the Guard ceremony since the pandemic began.
The elite 1st Battalion Coldstream Guard soldiers performed the colourful tradition in the palace courtyard for the first time since March 2020, when it was halted to avoid spreading infection.
Forces News reported that this was the longest pause in holding the ceremony since World War II.
But Not The Prague Marathon
Prague Marathon organisers said Monday they had cancelled this year's edition of the race because of local COVID rules.
"With current restrictions due to the pandemic: start in waves, social distance, limited technical area, control of testing and vaccination... it is not feasible to guarantee an event on a level you expect from us," organisers said in a statement.
The 2020 edition was cancelled amid the first COVID-19 wave, while the 2021 race originally scheduled for May was postponed until 9 October.
More Than 4.4 Million Dead
The coronavirus has killed at least 4,430,846 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to an AFP compilation of official data.
The US is the worst-affected country with 628,503 deaths, followed by Brazil with 574,527, India with 434,756, Mexico 253,155 and Peru 197,879. – AFP