Coronavirus Live News: Pfizer Vaccine Works in Brazil Variant; US Airlines Call on Biden to Endorse Covid Travel Guidelines | World News

Hello and welcome to today’s live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic with me, Helen sullivan.

I’ll bring you the latest developments as they happen over the next few hours. I’ll also be posting some fun stories (headless slugs; daddy’s long legs are poisonous) to give everyone a much-needed break.

So rest assured that you will be informed and entertained.

You can find me on twitter @helenrsullivan if you believe that I am not meeting my obligations as stated.

To the news of the day.

The Covid vaccine from Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE was able to neutralize a new variant of the coronavirus that spreads rapidly in Brazil, according to a laboratory study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Monday.

And major U.S. aviation, travel and aerospace groups joined airline unions on Monday in urging the Biden administration to help establish temporary Covid health credentials to boost travel, which has been seen very affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Other key recent developments include:

• The reopening of schools in England will have an impact on infection rates that could affect the roadmap to lift restrictions, Prime Minister Boris johnson has warned, even though the number of new cases registered in the UK has fallen to its lowest total since the end of September.
• Fully Vaccinated Americans May Meet Other Vaccinated People Indoors without wearing a mask or social distancing.
• The pandemic has had an “extremely unfair” impact on women’s income and economic opportunities. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Monday.
• Most of the Dutch coronavirus restrictions should remain in place for now, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Monday, with the overnight curfew running through March 31 and foreign travel advised against until mid-April.
• The death toll from coronavirus in Italy surpassed 100,000 on Monday, as prime minister Mario draghi He reiterated his commitment to accelerate the vaccination program.
• Italy approved the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for people over 65 on Monday, after the Italian government had initially blocked the use for those over 65 due to doubts about the efficacy of the vaccine in those age groups and the lack of data.
• Preliminary data from a study in Brazil indicates that the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Sinovac Biotech Ltd of China is effective against the P1 variant of the virus first discovered in Brazil.
• The EU executive criticized Belgium on Monday for extending its blanket ban on non-essential travel to and from the country. despite being asked by the European Commission to ease movement restrictions.
• The US federal government should be able to launch the delivery of checks for $ 1,400 to about 160 million American households almost immediately after Congress finalizes the new coronavirus aid bill and President Joe Biden signs it.
• New York City high schools will welcome students into the classroom for in-person instruction on March 22.Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday.