France reports a new strain of SARS-CoV-2, known as lineage B.1.X or B.1.640, which was first found on 15 October in a school in Bannalec in the north-western region of Brittany, where 24 people got infected; but it was only identified to be a separate strain until much later. The origin of the Bannalec outbreak seemed to be a man in Nantes who had come from abroad a few days before. No cases related to the strain were reported since October 26, but it remains under surveillance. ([https:--www.jpost.com-health-and-wellness-coronavirus-new-covid-variant-found-in-france-reason-for-panic-or-not-quite-yet-684878 "Jerusalem Post"])2021-11-11
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni announces that schools will be reopened in January after being closed for almost two years due to the pandemic, while the rest of the economy will be reopened in the same month. 2021-10-28
Fiji announces the beginning of the vaccination campaign for children between the ages of 15 to 17 using the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. 2021-09-18
The European Union launches the EU Digital COVID Certificate that contains a proof of vaccination, a negative test, or proof of recovery from COVID-19, and is designed to allow Europeans to resume travel across the bloc without quarantine in order to boost tourism. 2021-07-1
The French Haute Autorité de Santé approves the use of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. 2021-03-12
Saudi Arabia confirms that it will ease COVID-19-related restrictions in entertainment and events and will reopen cinemas, gyms, and sport centres beginning on March 7. 2021-03-6
Mexico receives the first shipment of 200,000 doses of Sputnik V vaccine. 2021-02-22
Turkey announces that CoronaVac is 91.25% effective in preventing COVID-19 based on data in interim studies. These initial results follow Phase III trials that involved 7,371 volunteers. 2020-12-24
The number of recovered patients in Indonesia surges by 4,510 to reach 214,947. This is the largest single-day increase of recoveries since the beginning of the outbreak. 2020-09-30