Vaccination not sufficient to keep COVID-19 under check: UK scientists

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson (right) gestures during a visit to AstraZeneca in Macclesfield, Chesire, northwest England on Tuesday. Pic/AFP

A group of scientists which advise the UK government over the handling of the Coronavirus outbreak have warned against lifting restrictions as the coming weeks "may lead to a small surge of cases and deaths".

Minutes from a meeting with members of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) published on Tuesday warned there could be a rise in cases "of a similar scale to January 2021 after later stages" of the route out of lockdown, reports dpa news agency.

The warning was made despite the UK's success with its vaccine rollout, which has seen more than 31.5 million people receive their first dose of the vaccine and 5.4 million receive both doses so far.

Scientists from the university Imperial College London said due to eligibility, vaccine hesitancy and the high transmissibility of the circulating COVID-19 variant, "vaccination alone will not be sufficient to keep the epidemic under control".

They advised the best way for Britain to keep hospitalisations and deaths at a low level would mean keeping restrictions at stage two, the planned easing beyond April 12, but it depends on people sticking to the rules.

Stage two allows for groups of six people to meet outdoors, non-essential retail to reopen, pubs and restaurants to reopen outdoors only, gyms and salons to reopen. However, international travel is not allowed and events, such as plays and concerts, remain suspended. England is due to enter stage two on April 12, while Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have already allowed some businesses to reopen.

Only vaccinated pilgrims to get Umrah permits

Only pilgrims and worshippers who have been vaccinated against the novel Coronavirus or have recovered will be allowed into the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced. Permits for Umrah (Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca) and to visit the Grand Mosque will be granted to those who have received two COVID-19 vaccine jabs; those who have received a first dose at least 14 days before their visit to Medina and Mecca; and those who have had the virus and recovered, Arab News quoted the Ministry as saying on Monday.

COVAX has shipped over 36 mn doses

COVAX, a WHO-led initiative aimed at ensuring equal access to COVID-19 vaccines, has so far shipped more than 36 million doses of the jabs to 86 countries, a UN spokesman said. "Algeria received over 36,000 doses over the weekend from COVAX. These doses will help accelerate the vaccination campaign already underway in the country," Xinhua news agency quoted Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, as saying.

Australian PM welcomes NZ's decision on travel

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday welcomed New Zealand's decision to open its borders to travellers from the country. Earlier in the day, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that Australians will be allowed to enter the country without mandatory quarantine from April 19. It comes about six months after Australia opened its borders to New Zealand travellers in October 2020.

2,83,672
No. of new cases reported globally in the past 24 hours

13,19,44,345
Total no. of cases worldwide

28,63,045
Total no. of deaths worldwide

Source: WHO/Johns Hopkins

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