Reuters, Ap, Afp and Xinhua
Newspaper La Jornada
Friday April 22, 2022, p. eleven
Washington. The World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday reported almost 5.59 million new cases between April 11 and 17, 24 percent less than the previous week, which continues the decline that began in late March. The number of new deaths fell by 21 percent to 18,215.
The WHO added that new infections fell in all regions, although the decline was only 2 percent in the Americas. These trends should be interpreted with caution, as several countries are progressively changing their covid-19 testing strategies, leading to lower numbers of tests performed and consequently lower numbers of detected cases.
the agency noted.
Meanwhile, the WHO recommended the antiviral paxlovid, from the American laboratory Pfizer, for covid-19 patients with mild symptoms, but with increased risk of hospitalization
. However, the organism was very worried
because, as has happened with vaccines, the poorest countries have difficulties in accessing this medicine.
Cuba acknowledged yesterday that it faces a little delay
in obtaining WHO endorsement for its Abdala vaccine, due to a change in the production plant.
To date, the Cuban regulatory authority has authorized the emergency use of the Abdala, Soberana 02 and Soberana Plus vaccines, while local scientists are advancing in the final trials of two other candidates: Soberana 01 and Mambisa (the only one that is administered through nasal spray.
After several weeks of being in strict confinement, Shanghai will start a series of campaigns today aimed at breaking all the transmission chains of covid-19 in the communities as soon as possible, local authorities reported.
The community control measures by levels will be applied to minimize the movement and concentration of people, in accordance with the provisions of the municipal committee of the Communist Party of China and the local government.
The United States government said yesterday that it is expanding the requirement for non-US citizens who cross the land or ferry terminals on the southern border with Mexico and in the north with Canada to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.
The requirements were first adopted last November as part of the reopening of the United States to land crossings by foreign tourists after the borders were closed to most visitors since March 2020. The vaccination requirements expired yesterday and they were extended.
International air travelers over the age of two, regardless of citizenship, must test negative for the virus before arrival, and non-US citizens must also show proof of vaccination. Those traveling by land or by ferry do not need to present a negative test.
