Coronavirus updates, December 10: Latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic from Pakistan and around the world
Nationwide confirmed coronavirus cases jump past 429,000; death toll crosses 8,600 global death toll tops 1,568,000
Updated Thursday Dec 10 2020
Pakistan's COVID-19 tally rose to 429,280 on Thursday after 3,138 new cases were detected in the past 24 hours across the country.
The province-wise break up of the total number of cases as of 9:00 am, December 10, is as follows:
Total confirmed cases: 429,280
• AJK: 7,517
• Balochistan: 17,604
• Gilgit-Baltistan: 4,765
• Islamabad Capital Territory: 33,695
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 50,762
• Punjab: 125,250
• Sindh: 189,687
Deaths: 8,603
• AJK: 183
• Balochistan: 171
• Gilgit-Baltistan: 98
• Islamabad Capital Territory: 348
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 1,439
• Punjab: 3,265
• Sindh: 3,099
More than 68,848,383 infections have been confirmed globally with over 1,568,734 deaths, according to the John Hopkins University tally.
11:55pm — Paris, France — Govt pauses plan to ease COVID-19 lockdown
France will not reopen museums, cinemas and theatres on Dec. 15 as planned because COVID-19 infection rates are not falling as fast as the government had hoped, Prime Minister Jean Castex said.
11:38pm — London, UK — UK to boost COVID-19 testing among children as cases rise in London
Every secondary school student in certain London boroughs and parts of the south-east will be tested for COVID-19 as the capital had the highest prevalence of the virus in England in recent days, Britain said.
Case rates per 100,000 people in London stood at 191.8, according to Public Health England, putting the city ahead of regions in the highest level of tier 3 restrictions.
"I am particularly concerned about the number of cases in London, Kent and Essex. Cases are rising and in many areas, already high," health minister Matt Hancock said at a news conference.
10:47pm — Ankara, Turkey — Coronavirus cases total 1.749 mln since outbreak began
The total number of coronavirus cases in Turkey, including asymptomatic ones, since the outbreak began is 1.749 million, health ministry data showed, announcing such figures for the first time.
For four months, Ankara only reported daily symptomatic cases, but has reported all cases since Nov. 25. On Wednesday, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said the government would publish historical data for all cases starting Thursday.
Earlier, the ministry reported a record 220 deaths and 30,424 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours.
10:16pm — Brasilia, Brazil — Health regulator sets rules for COVID-19 vaccine emergency use
Brazil's health regulator Anvisa decided on Thursday to allow temporary emergency use authorizations for COVID-19 vaccines and set rules for companies to apply for the option that did not exist in the country.
The decision will potentially allow emergency use of vaccines that are being tested in Brazil by AstraZeneca, Pfizer Inc, Johnson & Johnson's pharmaceutical subsidiary Janssen, and China's Sinovac Biotech.
9:34pm — London, UK — Britain records 20,964 new cases of COVID-19, highest since mid-November
Britain recorded 20,964 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, the highest daily increase since mid-November, government data showed.
The figure is a sharp increase from 16,578 the day before. The data also showed 516 deaths on Thursday, compared to 533 on Wednesday.
7:54pm — Karachi, Pakistan — Sindh registered 10 more deaths, another 1,559 infections
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said that coronavirus had taken 10 more lives and infected another 1,559 people in the province.
The chief minister said that the death toll stood at 3,109, while the overall cases had risen to 191,246.
7:20pm — London, UK — England's test and trace reaches 86% of contacts, helped by change in method
England's COVID-19 test and trace system reached a higher proportion of contacts of positive cases in the first set of comparable data since a change in methodology boosted the numbers from record lows.
The test and trace system has stopped trying to contact under-18s separately to ask them to self-isolate if a parent says they will tell their child, helping to boost the proportion of contacts of cases successfully traced from record lows around 60%.
The system reached 85.7% of the 195,355 people who came into close contact with a positive COVID case in the week to Dec 2., up from 72.5% last week, in the first set of figures which both used the same method for contacting families.
6:47pm — Stockholm, Sweden — Sweden registers record 7,935 new COVID-19 cases
Sweden, whose unorthodox pandemic strategy placed it in the global spotlight, registered a record 7,935 new coronavirus cases, Health Agency statistics showed.
The increase compared with a previous high of 7,240 daily cases recorded on Nov. 20.
Sweden registered 58 new deaths, taking the total to 7,354. Sweden's death rate per capita is several times higher than that of its Nordic neighbours but lower than some larger European countries.
6:00pm — Copenhagen, Denmark — Govt widens coronavirus lockdown measures after registering record daily infections
Denmark will expand tighter lockdown measures currently in place to cover almost 80% of the population after the country registered its highest number of new daily infections.
"There is widespread infection throughout society and incipient pressure on the hospital system," Health Minister Magnus Heunicke told reporters on Thursday, adding a further rise in infections in the coming days is expected.
On Monday, the government announced a partial shutdown of 38 municipalities, including the capital Copenhagen, after seeing signs of a rapid rise in infections, resulting in the closure of bars, restaurants and museums.
5:30pm — Sao Paulo, Brazil — Govt aims to vaccinate entire population against COVID-19 in 2021
Brazilian Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello said during a radio interview that the government plans to vaccine the country's entire population against COVID-19 in 2021.
He said that vaccine candidates that receive approval from health regulator Anvisa may be used to immunize Brazilians.
5:00pm — Moderna begins study of COVID-19 vaccine in adolescents
Moderna said it has dosed the first participant in a mid-to-late stage study testing its COVID-19 vaccine candidate in adolescents aged 12 to less than 18.
4:00pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — PM Imran Khan to address nation today: Dr Nausheen
PM Imran Khan will address the nation today to take them into confidence regarding the coronavirus measures, said PTI lawmaker Dr Nausheen Hamid.
The lawmaker said that the PM will address the nation after the NCC meeting today and will speak on the rising number of coronavirus cases.
3:15pm — Berlin, Germany — COVID-19 infections and deaths in Germany likely to rise further: RKI
Coronavirus infections and related deaths in Germany are likely to rise further in the coming weeks, a senior health official at the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases (RKI) said on Thursday.
The current rise in COVID-19 infections is worrying, especially in the federal states of Thuringia, Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt, the head of RKI's surveillance unit, Ute Rexroth, said.
2:45pm — Jakarta, Indonesia — Indonesia secures 155.5 mln doses of coronavirus vaccines, seeks 116 mln more
Indonesia has secured 155.5 million doses of coronavirus vaccines and is seeking another 116 million through deals with Pfizer, AstraZeneca and global vaccine programme COVAX, government data showed on Thursday.
If the deals are agreed, Indonesia, Southeast Asia's most populous country with more than 270 million people, would have 271.5 million doses of vaccines, above its target of 246.6 million.
It has already secured 125.5 million doses from China's Sinovac Biotech Ltd and 30 million from Novavax Inc , according to data presented to parliament by Budi Gunadi Sadikin, chief of an economic recovery task force.
It is in talks with Pfizer and AstraZeneca to buy 50 million doses each and expects to get 16 million doses from the COVAX global vaccine distribution scheme, which is backed by the World Health Organization.
It also plans to hold talks this week with vaccine developer Moderna, Budi said.
A first batch of 1.2 million doses of Sinovac's vaccine arrived this week with another 1.8 million due next month, as authorities await emergency authorisation to begin using the vaccine.
A spokesman for Bio Farma, Sinovac's local partner, said this week that vaccination might start in February, depending on the results of the phase 3 trials now being conducted.
2:15pm — How much would Pfizer, Moderna and Oxford vaccines cost in Pakistan?
1:15pm — Karachi, Pakistan — District East reports highest number of deaths due to COVID-19 in Sindh
Karachi’s East District has reported the highest number of deaths due to coronavirus in the province, said the Sindh Health Department on Thursday.
The health department said that District East has reported 904 deaths, while District Central is in second place with 551 deaths.
In District South, 382 people have lost their lives due to coronavirus, while District Korangi has lost 303 people to the coronavirus. While in District West 258 people have lost their lives to coronavirus.
1:00pm — Lodhran, Pakistan — 24 shops fined for SOP violations
Authorities in Lodhran fined 24 shops and shopping malls and sealed two hotels and seven shops in the area for violating the coronavirus SOPs, said the assistant commissioner.
12:45pm — Gates Foundation pledges $250 mln more for battle against COVID-19
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on Thursday pledged an additional $250 million to support the development of low-cost and easier to deliver treatments and vaccines against COVID-19.
The Gates Foundation's latest contribution, its largest till date, comes on top of the $70 million funding that it added in November. This brings its total commitments to the global pandemic response to $1.75 billion, the foundation said.
"Whether (the world) gets better for everyone depends on the actions of the world's leaders and their commitment to deliver tests, treatments and vaccines to the people who need them," said Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Gates Foundation.
The contribution will also support the delivery of tests and vaccines in low and middle-income countries, the foundation added.
12:30pm — Berlin, Germany — Germany's confirmed coronavirus cases rise by 23,679
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 23,679 to 1,242,203, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Thursday.
The reported death toll rose by 440 to 20,372, the tally showed.
12:15pm — Mumbai, India — India records 31,521 new coronavirus cases
India recorded 31,521 new coronavirus cases, data from the health ministry showed on Thursday.
The country has a total of 9.77 million infections, the second-highest in the world after the United States, but the daily tally has been slowly dropping since hitting a peak in September.
Deaths rose by 412, with the total now 141,772.
12:00pm — Islamabad, Pakistan — Asad Umar lauds outgoing NDMA chairman Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal
Head of the National Command and Operation Centre Asad Umar lauded the outgoing chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal for his services during the coronavirus pandemic.
"Contribution of NDMA under his (Lt Gen Afzal's) command during the COVID crises will be remembered as one of the key cornerstones of Pakistan's successful effort to deal with COVID," tweeted Umar with a picture of him presenting a memento to the Lt Gen at the NCOC.
The federal minister said that Lt Gen Afzal "delivered when the nation needed it most".
11:45am —Karachi, Pakistan — Saeed Ghani says positivity ratio high in Karachi
Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani said that the positivity ratio in Karachi in the last 10 days was much higher than the national average being reported.
The minister, while speaking on Geo Pakistan, urged people to reduce their activities due to the rising number of coronavirus cases. He also added that the situation in hospitals was not that bad and informed that the medical facilities did have ventilators available.
11:30am — Tokyo, Japan — Japan gov't to buy 10,500 freezers for coronavirus vaccines
The Japanese government will buy 10,500 deep freezers to store coronavirus vaccines as part of its preparation for nationwide vaccinations, the Health Ministry said on Thursday.
Japan has agreed to buy a total 290 million doses of the vaccines from Pfizer Inc, AstraZeneca Plc and Mordena Inc.
11:15am — Mexico City, Mexico — Mexico registers 11,974 new coronavirus cases, 781 more deaths
Mexico's health ministry on Wednesday reported 11,974 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infection and 781 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 1,205,229 cases and 111,655 deaths.
The government says the real number of infected people is likely significantly higher than the confirmed cases.
11:00am — Peshawar, Pakistan — District administration seals 127 restaurants, shops
District administration on Thursday shut down 127 restaurants, fast food and other shops across Peshawar for violating the coronavirus SOPs.
The deputy commissioner of Peshawar while sharing some updates of the sealed places said 17 restaurants were sealed in Hayatabad, 13 restaurants and nine shops were sealed on University Road.
He added that 11 restaurants and shops were sealed in Saddar and 22 shops were sealed on Charsadda Road.
10:30am — Seoul, South Korea — S Korea reports 682 new coronavirus cases
South Korea reported 682 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said.
The daily tally continued to inch closer to 700, a level not seen in nine months, despite stricter social distancing rules.
10:15am — London, UK — UK medicine regulator says people with anaphylaxis risk should not take Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine
The UK's medicine regulator said anyone with a history of anaphylaxis to a medicine or food should not get the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, giving fuller guidance on an earlier allergy warning about the shot.
"Any person with a history of anaphylaxis to a vaccine, medicine or food should not receive the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine. A second dose should not be given to anyone who has experienced anaphylaxis following administration of the first dose of this vaccine," said June Raine, chief executive of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Earlier it had warned that people with a "significant allergic reaction" to those things should not take the shot, without specifying anaphylaxis.
9:45am — Lahore, Pakistan — Authorities seal 36 hotels, cafes for violating SOPs
District Administration Lahore sealed 36 hotels, cafes and restaurants across the provincial metropolis for not implementing corona SOPs here on Wednesday.
DC Lahore Mudassar Riaz Malik said that 36 hotels, cafes and restaurants had been sealed. Around 36 vehicles were found violating corona SOPs and were ticketed Rs35,700 fine while a vehicle was impounded.
He said that eight marriage halls, 54 shopping malls, markets and shops were also sealed for corona violation. The DC said that the district administration was fully mobilised to implement the corona SOPs.
9:30am — Shanghai, China — Mainland China reports 12 new COVID-19 cases vs 15 a day earlier
Mainland China reported 12 new COVID-19 cases on December 9, down from 15 cases a day earlier, the national health authority said on Thursday.
The National Health Commission said in a statement 11 of the new cases were imported infections originating from overseas. The commission said one locally transmitted case was reported in the Inner Mongolia region.
The number of new asymptomatic cases, which China does not classify as confirmed cases, rose to five from one a day earlier.
The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Mainland China now stands at 86,673, while the death toll remained unchanged at 4,634.
9:15am — Lahore, Pakistan — IGP orders making mask part of police uniform
IGP Inam Ghani has issued ordered that mask must be the part of the police uniform during duty.
The decision has been taken after the news of violation of Covid-19 SOPs and rising number of positive cases in the provincial police force.
Additional IG Finance and Welfare in a letter to all the police formations expressed sorry over noncompliance of SOPs. He said wearing mask must be made part of the police uniform during duty.
The IGP said easy availability of masks and sanitisers must be made available in every police office.
9:00am — Brasilia, Brazil — Brazil reports highest daily cases of coronavirus since mid-August
Brazil reported 53,453 additional confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours, the highest daily rate since mid-August, and 836 deaths from COVID-19, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday.
The South American country has now registered 6,728,452 cases since the pandemic began, while the official death toll has risen to 178,995, according to ministry data, in the world's third worst outbreak outside the United States and India.
