Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:
Origins Research 'Stalled'
Scientists charged by the United Nations (UN) with tracking down the origins of COVID-19 say the search has "stalled" in a comment in the journal Nature, warning that "the window of opportunity for conducting this crucial enquiry is closing fast".
The statement comes less than two weeks after the World Health Organization (WHO), in a bid to revive the probe, urged China to hand over information on the earliest COVID-19 cases – with Beijing pushing back earlier this month.
Meanwhile US media says a classified US intelligence report delivered to the White House was inconclusive on the origins of the pandemic, in part due to a lack of information from China.
Japan Expands Emergency
Japan decides to extend a virus state of emergency to eight more regions, a day after the Paralympic opening ceremony, as rising infections put hospitals under pressure. The step comes with summer school holidays ending and top infection experts suggesting delaying the start of classes to reduce contagion risks.
The country has been recording more than 20,000 new cases a day in recent weeks as the more infectious Delta variant spreads.
Waning Protection
Protection from two doses of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines wanes within less than six months, according to a study of phone app data, suggesting that booster shots may be needed to ensure prolonged coverage.
The latest finding comes as several countries are rolling out additional jabs for the fully vaccinated, a move slammed by the WHO as millions in the world have yet to receive a single dose.
Delta Against Jabs
Johnson & Johnson said Wednesday a second dose of its COVID-19 vaccine boosted immunity beyond the first dose. In two clinical studies that have not yet been peer-reviewed, the additional shot evoked a nine-fold increase in antibodies to the coronavirus, the company said in a news release.
According to a large study of US health workers, the effectiveness against infection of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines dropped from 91 percent before the Delta variant became dominant to 66 percent afterwards. But protection against severe COVID-19 and deaths has remained more stable, exceeding 90 percent according to most studies.
Oregon Masks Up Outside
Masks will have to be worn outside in Oregon, the state's governor announces, making the north-western state the first in the US to re-introduce the rule. The mandate, will take effect on Friday.
"The Delta variant is spreading fast and wide, throwing our state into a level of crisis we have not yet seen in the pandemic," said Governor Kate Brown.
Unvaccinated Must Pay At Delta
US carrier Delta Air Lines will start charging unvaccinated employees a US$200 per month insurance surcharge from November, its CEO says, adding that the payments are "necessary to address the financial risk the decision to not vaccinate is creating for our company". It was the latest move by a major American company to encourage vaccinations, some of which have gone as far as mandating the shots.
While the air carrier said 75 percent of its workforce has been vaccinated against the coronavirus, the new, more infectious Delta variant is creating new issues for the company.
China Reopens Key Terminal
China reopens a key terminal at the world's third-busiest cargo port, after a two-week shutdown to control the virus caused major backlogs elsewhere and worsened exports already hit by extended delays caused by the pandemic. Several cargo aircraft workers at Shanghai Pudong International Airport tested positive for the coronavirus in the past week, sparking a suspension in freight operations.
That has led to a spike in air freight rates of "around 30 percent", SEKO Logistics said.
Costly Slow Rollout
The slow rollout of COVID-19 vaccines will cost the global economy US$2.3 trillion in lost output, a newly released report by the Economist Intelligence Unit finds. The report comes as advanced nations move towards providing booster shots to their populations while the international effort to provide vaccines for poorer nations remains inadequate.
The study showed that countries which fail to vaccinate 60 percent of their populations by mid-2022 will suffer the losses, equivalent to two trillion euros, over the 2022-2025 period.
Gun Lobby Conference Scrapped
The National Rifle Association, the powerful US gun rights group, says it is cancelling its annual meeting slated to be held in Texas next week because of a rise in infections. The big conference was slated to be held in Texas next week, but the group decided scrap it "after analysing relevant data regarding COVID-19 in Harris County, Texas."
"The NRA’s top priority is ensuring the health and well-being of our members, staff, sponsors, and supporters," the Virginia-based group said in a statement.
More Than 4.4 Million Dead
The coronavirus has killed at least 4,451,888 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 630,816 deaths, followed by Brazil with 575,742, India with 435,758, Mexico 254,466 and Peru 197,944. – AFP