Leaders in the United States (US) have struck a pessimistic tone about the COVID-19 pandemic in recent weeks amid rapid spread of the Omicron variant.Janet Woodcock, acting commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), recently testified before Congress that “most people are going to get COVID”.

The COVAX scheme aimed at equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines hit a "key milestone" Saturday when it delivered its one billionth dose, one of its key backers said.The COVAX facility was set up in 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO), Gavi the Vaccine Alliance and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to ensure that poorer countries can access the vaccines needed to battle the pandemic."COVAX has delivered its first billionth dose of COVID-19

Myanmar's ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi was "indispensable" to restoring democracy to the country, the Philippines foreign minister said Sunday, echoing condemnation of her recent sentencing by a junta court.The Nobel laureate, who has been detained since the 1 February coup last year, was convicted on 10 January of three criminal charges and sentenced to four years in prison.The junta court has since hit Suu Kyi, 76, with five new corruption charges – adding to a sle

An Omicron case has been detected in Beijing, officials in the Chinese capital said Saturday, as the country battles multiple outbreaks of the highly transmissible coronavirus variant ahead of the Winter Olympics.The announcement comes a day after the southern city of Zhuhai imposed travel restrictions on residents as a mass testing drive uncovered seven infections.Millions of people across the country have been ordered to stay home in recent weeks, with scores of domestic flights cancelled a

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:UK PM Johnson's Problems Deepen The United Kingdom (UK) government apologises to Queen Elizabeth II, after revelations Prime Minister Boris Johnson's staff broke coronavirus restrictions by partying on the eve of Prince Philip's funeral, where she had to sit alone in church.Australia To Detain DjokovicAustralia says it will detain unvaccinated Novak Djokovic this weekend after again stripping him of his visa, i

Using traditional technology that can be scaled widely and cheaply, Corbevax offers a potential solution to vaccine inequity.

The number of COVID-19 cases continued to soar around the world this week, with the death rate taking off again and rising 12 percent.Here is the global state of play from an AFP database:44-Percent Increase The average number of new daily coronavirus cases climbed to a record 2.78 million, a 44-percent increase compared to the previous week, according to an AFP count to Thursday.The confirmed cases only reflect a fraction of the actual number of infections, with varying counting pra

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:Johnson's Troubles Deepen Revelations of more boozy lockdown gatherings at Downing Street rock embattled British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, including one just hours before Queen Elizabeth II had to sit alone in church at her late husband Prince Philip's memorial service.Djokovic Visa Cancelled Australia cancels Novak Djokovic's visa for a second time in a new attempt to deport the unvaccinated Serbi

The Philippine government on Thursday defended a controversial ban on unvaccinated people using public transport in the capital Manila where Omicron is fuelling a record surge in cases.The rule, announced by the Department of Transportation this week and expected to take effect Monday, comes after President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to arrest people not vaccinated against COVID-19 who refused to stay at home.Passengers will have to show proof of vaccination before boarding public buses, jeep

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:Omicron 'Dangerous' For Unjabbed The Omicron variant is dangerous and especially so for those who have not been vaccinated, the World Health Organization (WHO) warns.Half Hospital Risk People infected with Omicron are half as likely to be hospitalised and about 75 percent less likely to need intensive care compared to those with the Delta variant, a preliminary United States (US) study of nearly 70,000 peop