{"id":174785,"date":"2020-12-17T22:57:47","date_gmt":"2020-12-17T20:57:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.arabtelegraph.com\/?p=174785"},"modified":"2020-12-17T23:16:25","modified_gmt":"2020-12-17T21:16:25","slug":"live-updates-us-confirms-record-high-coronavirus-death-toll-with-3656-new-fatalities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.arabtelegraph.com\/?p=174785","title":{"rendered":"Live Updates: US Confirms Record-High Coronavirus Death Toll With 3,656 New Fatalities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

According to Baltimore, Maryland’s Johns Hopkins University, the global death toll from the coronavirus infection has surpassed 1.64 million, while over 74 million COVID-19 cases have been reported worldwide.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At\n the moment, the worst-hit countries are the United States (almost 17 \nmillion cases, 307,000 deaths), India (9.9 million infections, more than\n 144,000 fatalities), and Brazil (over 7 million cases, and a death toll\n of over 183,000).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, countries are preparing for vaccinations, with Russia and the UK being the first to start mass campaigns, providing the Sputnik V and Pfizer\/BioNTech vaccines respectively to their citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

19:26<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Northern Ireland to Reportedly Enter Six-Week Lockdown on Boxing Day<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

According\n to a Sky News report, Northern Ireland will enter a six-week lockdown \non 26 December, also known as Boxing Day, amid rising COVID-19 cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new restrictions are due to come into force at 00.01 a.m., local time, on 26 December.19:12<\/p>\n\n\n\n

France’s Coronavirus Epidemic Trend Raises Concern \u2013 Health Official<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

PARIS\n (Sputnik) – Jerome Salomon, the French director for public health, said\n the evolution of the coronavirus outbreak in his country was \nconcerning, after incidence almost doubled since last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“In France, the evolution of the epidemic is concerning. There is a tendency toward increased circulation of the virus,” he told reporters at a weekly press conference.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

France recorded 18,254 new cases in the previous 24-hour period, up \nfrom a daily 10,000 seen last week. The French government hopes to \ncontain the spread of the virus at 5,000 new cases a day.18:17<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Macron Was ‘Very Likely’ Infected With COVID-19 During European Council, French Presidency Says<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

17:42<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peru to Ban Use of Private Transport on New Year as Part of Anti-COVID Measures<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The\n Peruvian authorities have banned the use of private vehicles during \nChristmas and New Year holidays as part of measures to curb the spread \nof COVID-19, according to a presidential decree published by the \nofficial gazette.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“To include … in the presidential decree on the state of emergency \ndeclared over … COVID-19 … the following: on December 24, 25 and 31,\n 2020 and January 1, 2021, the use of private transport is prohibited at\n the national level,” the decree read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peru has so far confirmed 989,457 cases of COVID-19 and 36,858 fatalities.17:05<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wife of French President Macron Tests Negative for COVID-19<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

15:47<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

UK to Extend COVID-19 Furlough Scheme Until End of April 2021<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The\n United Kingdom government has extended its COVID-19 furlough scheme \nuntil the end of April 2021 as part of efforts to support businesses \nthrough the ongoing coronavirus disease pandemic, the UK Treasury said \non Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The furlough scheme has been extended until the end of April 2021 \nwith the government continuing to contribute 80% towards wages \u2013 giving \nbusinesses and employees across the UK certainty into the New Year,” a \npress release published by the UK Treasury read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said that the UK government’s measures to \nsupport workers and businesses through the ongoing pandemic were some of\n the most generous in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Our package of support for businesses and workers continues to be \none of the most generous and effective in the world \u2013 helping our \neconomy to recover and protecting livelihoods across the country,” Sunak\n said in the press release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UK economy is projected to contract 11.3 percent in 2020 due to \nthe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sunak told the House of Commons in \nNovember.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government’s furlough scheme was first introduced to provide \nsupport to workers and businesses this past March, and has cost the \ngovernment an estimated 46.4 billion pounds ($63 billion).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Wednesday, the UK Department of Health and Social Care registered \n25,161 new positive tests for COVID-19, taking the country’s case total \nabove 1.9 million.14:56<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poland Introduces National Quarantine From December 28 to January 17<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Poland\n imposes a curfew on New Year’s holidays from 9 p.m. on December 31 to 6\n a.m. on January 1, as well as nationwide quarantine from December 28 to\n January 17 due to coronavirus epidemic, Polish Health Minister Adam \nNiedzielski said on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We are introducing nationwide quarantine from December 28 to January 17,” the minister said at a press conference in Warsaw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He explained that hotels, ski slopes, and shops other than grocery stores would not work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It will be possible to leave the house for urgent needs, for example,\n visiting a pharmacy or official duties, the minister added.14:32<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EU Might Purchase Up to 200Mln Doses of Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The\n European Commission has held preparatory talks with the pharmaceutical \ncompany Novavax to purchase up to 200 million doses of its coronavirus \nvaccine, the Commission  said in a press release on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Today, the European Commission concluded exploratory talks with the \npharmaceutical company Novavax with a view to purchasing its potential \nvaccine against COVID-19.The envisaged contract with Novavax would \nprovide for the possibility for all EU Member States to purchase 100 \nmillion doses, and they could further purchase up to 100 million more \ndoses,” the press release said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Tuesday, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced that it \nintends to hold a meeting to assess the Pfizer and BioNTech coronavirus \nvaccine on December 21; Moderna’s vaccine is scheduled to be considered \nby mid-January next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In November, the European Commission said that it secured the \npurchase of 1.2 billion doses of potential COVID-19 vaccines from \nvarious developers, including BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Johnson & \nJohnson, Sanofi-GSK, CureVac, Moderna. Negotiations are underway with \nother companies.13:51<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Putin Deems Int’l COVID-19 Vaccination Certificates Possible, But Stresses That More Study Needed<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

13:49<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Putin Notes Russia is Not Planning to Impose Coronavirus Lockdown<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

13:43<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Irish PM Martin Restricts His Activities After Macron Diagnosed With Coronavirus<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The\n Taoiseach and President Macron were both attendees at the EU Council \nmeeting in Brussels last week. The Taoiseach is limiting his contacts \nthis afternoon as a precaution while he is tested”, a government \nspokesman said.13:22<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saudi Arabia Starts COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

DOHA\n (Sputnik) \u2013 Medical centres across Saudi Arabia on Thursday launched a \nnationwide vaccination campaign against the novel coronavirus, according\n to the Ministry of Health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minister of Health Tawfiq Al-Rabiah said the step marks the beginning\n of the resolution of COVID-19 crisis by means of the largest campaign \nin the kingdom’s history. He stressed that the vaccination is \nnon-mandatory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saudi citizens and foreign residents will be able to receive the free\n vaccine at 550 clinics spread across the kingdom, with people aged over\n 65 and individuals with chronic diseases getting vaccinated first.13:15<\/p>\n\n\n\n

US Confirms Record-High Coronavirus Death Toll With 3,656 New Fatalities<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

12:29<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

German Chancellor Merkel Tested Negative for Coronavirus After EU Summit With Macron<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The\n chancellor took a PCR test a few days after the EU summit, as usual. \nThe result was negative”, the government spokesperson said, adding that \nMerkel was taking all necessary precautions during the summit.12:18<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘National Shame’: Indian Ex-PM\u2019s Aide Calls for Apology to Foreign Muslims Over COVID Crackdown<\/strong><\/p>

null<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

11:59<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Germany Sets Daily Record With 30,000 New Coronavirus Cases<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

11:54<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Argentina to Receive 600,000 Russian Sputnik V Vaccine Doses on 23 December, Reports Say<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

11:49<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

UK to Apply Tier 3 Measures Across Wider Areas in East and South-East England, Health Minister Announces<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

“It\n is therefore necessary to apply tier 3 measures across a much wider \narea of the east and southeast of England”, Health Secretary Matt \nHancock said.11:35<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Russia to Reopen Border as Soon as Doctors Allow, President Putin Says<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

11:34<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Portuguese PM Costa Cancels Activities After Meeting With Macron<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

MOSCOW\n (Sputnik) – Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa has put off all \ninternational visits in the near future after his contacts with French \nPresident Emmanuel Macron who has tested positive for COVID-19, the \nPortuguese government said on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A statement released by the government said Costa has decided to \ncancel his visits to Saint Thomas and Prince and to Guinea-Bissau, \nscheduled for 18-20 December, adding that other meetings that will not \nrequire physical presence will be carried out remotely.11:17<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EU Concludes Preliminary Negotiations With Novavax on Purchasing 200 Mln Vaccine Doses<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

“The\n envisaged contract foresees the possibility for member states to buy \n100 million doses with the option of buying another 100 million doses,” \nthe spokesman said.11:12<\/p>\n\n\n\n

French PM Castex Tested Negative for Coronavirus<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

11:00<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

EC President von der Leyen Announces Launch of Vaccination in EU on 27-29 December<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n

It's Europe's moment.

On 27, 28 and 29 December vaccination will start across the EU.

We protect our citizens together. We are #StrongerTogether<\/a>#EUvaccinationdays<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/6VxDumysBL<\/a><\/p>— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) December 17, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>