A trial of a plant-based COVID-19 vaccine conducted by GSK and Medicago shows an overall 71% efficacy against disease caused by the predominant SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern observed during most of 2021, and 75% efficacy specifically against disease caused by Delta. The study excludes the Omicron variant, which was not in circulation at the time of the clinical trials. 2021-12-7
Austrian chancellor Alexander Schallenberg announces a full nationwide lockdown for the entire population starting on 22 November, amid a surge in new COVID-19 cases that has overwhelmed hospitals. Schallenberg also announces that COVID-19 vaccinations will become mandatory as of 1 February 2022. 2021-11-19
Lockdown restrictions are eased in England, Wales, and Scotland with museums, cinemas, children's play areas, and hotels reopening. Pubs, bars, and restaurants can now serve customers indoors again with social distancing rules in place. In England, people can now gather in groups of 30 outdoors and meet indoors in groups of up to six. A ban on international travel is also lifted. 2021-05-17
China approves BBIBP-CorV made by Sinopharm for general use, after the vaccine was considered to be 79.34% effective. 2020-12-31
Iraq signs a preliminary deal to receive 1.5 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine Tozinameran. Ministry of Health spokesman Seif al-Badr says troops and the elderly will be prioritized for vaccinations. 2020-12-22
Minnesota Senator Jerry Relph dies from COVID-19 complications. 2020-12-18
Melbourne enters Stage 4 lockdown, which is Australia's toughest lockdown yet, following a spike of COVID-19 cases within the city and surrounding Victoria. 2020-08-6
Alaska confirms its first presumptive case of COVID-19, with the patient identified as a foreign national residing in Anchorage. 2020-03-12
In Josefstadt, Vienna, students at Albertgasse high school have been prohibited from leaving the school after one of their instructors was flagged as potentially carrying the virus since he had recently returned from a trip to Northern Italy. 2020-02-26