Worldwide COVID news at a glance

1 South Africa introduced vaccine passport

South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa has announced plans to introduce Covid-19 “vaccine passports” amid widespread scepticism of the jab.In a televised announcement on Sunday, Ramaphosa stressed that an immunised adult population was key to fully reopening the economy and avoiding a fourth infection wave, ahead of an easing of restrictions this week, AFP reports.

After sluggish vaccine procurement and a delayed roll out, Africa’s worst-hit country for Covid is now struggling with low take-up, particularly among men. The government will “be providing further information on an approach to ‘vaccine passports’, which can be used as evidence of vaccination for various purposes and events”, he said.

2 UK will scrap vaccine passport plan

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will set out on Tuesday his plans to manage the COVID-19 pandemic in the winter months, announcing a decision to scrap the introduction of vaccine passports and steps to end some emergency powers.

Mr Johnson, under fire from some in his governing Conservative Party for raising taxes to fix a health and social care crisis, looks set to try to soothe those critics by ditching plans to introduce passports despite an increasing number of coronavirus cases.Speaking to broadcasters, UK’s Health Minister Sajid Javid said he did not anticipate more lockdowns and that the vaccine passports would not be introduced in England, as the government depends instead on vaccines and testing to defend the public.

3 More than 100,000 vaccines from Italy to Iraq

Iraq has received a donation of more than 100,000 AstraZeneca doses from Italy via the Covid-19 vaccine-sharing scheme Covax, according to UNICEF.

More than four million people, around ten per cent of Iraq’s population, have already received at least one coronavirus vaccine jab, AFP reports. Widespread scepticism over vaccines, a result of misinformation and public mistrust in the state, has hampered healthcare workers.

Covax is backed by WHO, the Gavi vaccine alliance and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and it aims to ensure equitable distribution of Covid-19 vaccines, particularly to low-income countries. It is Iraq’s third vaccine delivery under the program.

4 Denmark lifts restrictions as vaccinations top 80%

Denmark’s high vaccination rate has enabled it to become one of the first EU countries to lift all domestic restrictions, after 548 days with curbs in place to limit the spread of Covid-19. The return to normality has been gradual, but as of Friday, the digital pass – a proof of having been vaccinated – is no longer required when entering nightclubs, making it the last virus safeguard to fall.

More than 80% of people above the age of 12 in the Scandinavian country have had the two shots, leading the Danish government to declare as of midnight it no longer considers Covid-19 a “socially critical” disease.

5 US podcast star taking deworming drug ivermectin for Covid

The popular US podcast host Joe Rogan has tested positive for Covid-19 and is taking a drug more commonly used as a veterinary deworming agent to treat it.

The standup comedian, who attracted controversy for suggesting the young and healthy should not get vaccinated, said he had been treated with ivermectin, which has not been approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration. It is not known whether he is vaccinated. After he faced a backlash over his vaccine comments, he later clarified: “I’m not an anti-vax person.”

6 Canadian anti-vaxxers hit Justin Trudeau

Justin Trudeau has been hit by a handful of gravel as anti-vaccination protesters targeted the Canadian prime minister’s campaign for re-election. A CTV camera captured what appears to be white gravel hitting Trudeau and one of his bodyguards as he walked toward his campaign bus in London, Ontario. 

Trudeau played down the incident, later saying he may have been hit on the shoulder and adding that once he had pumpkin seeds thrown at him. About 74% of eligible Canadians are fully vaccinated, but a fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic is currently building, mostly among the unvaccinated.