COVID-19
News related to the outbreak, impact and efforts to combat the novel coronavirus COVID-19
May 21, 2022
New Covid-19 cases were reported in Shanghai outside the quarantined area after five days of zero-Covid. According to city officials, three new cases were found within the same family in Qingpu district. All the members were fully vaccinated.
May 18, 2022
The White House announced on Tuesday that US households could now begin ordering their third round of free Covid-19 tests. A fact sheet from the White House stated, "As the highly transmissible subvariants of Omicron drive a rise in cases in parts of the country, free and accessible tests will help slow the spread of the virus."
May 18, 2022
On Tuesday, Shanghai achieved "zero-COVID" status with no new COVID-19 cases reported outside of quarantine zones for three consecutive days. For most Chinese cities in lockdown, three consecutive days with no new community infections equates to a "zero-COVID" status, signalling the beginning of the easing of restrictions.
May 17, 2022
On Monday, North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un "strongly criticized" Cabinet and public health sector officials for their COVID-19 response, singling out their "irresponsible work attitude." The North Korean leader also condemned lapses in legal oversight that resulted in "several negative phenomena in the nationwide handling and sale of medicines."
May 16, 2022
North Korea has reported 50 Covid-19 related deaths, 8 of which occurred between the 14th and 15th of May. Kim Jong-un has ordered his military to stabilize the supply of medicines in the country's capital, Pyongyang.
May 15, 2022
North Korea has admitted that it is fighting an explosive Covid-19 outbreak as new deaths were reported. Concerns have been raised as the country has a weak health system, limited testing facilities, and no vaccine program.
May 13, 2022
On May 12th, President Joe Biden issued a statement marking the death of one million individuals in the US due to COVID-19. Biden stated, "In remembrance, let us draw strength from each other as fellow Americans. For while we have been humbled, we never give up. We can and will do this together as the United States of America."
May 12, 2022
North Korea has reported its first official case of Covid 19. This is Pyongyang's first acknowledgement of a Covid case in the country.
May 11, 2022
On Tuesday, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus openly criticized China's zero-tolerance policy toward Covid-19, referring to their protocols as unsustainable. Ghebreyesus said, "We don't think that it is sustainable considering the behaviour of the virus and what we now anticipate in the future."
May 7, 2022
The US health regulator Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has limited the use of Johnson & Johnson's Covid-19 vaccine for adults. The J&J vaccine can be used in cases where approved Covid-19 vaccines are not accessible or clinically appropriate or if an individual elects to receive the vaccine.