Britain to launch new health security agency to battle pandemics

Britain will launch a new health security agency next week to better prepare for and tackle pandemics by bringing together its testing, analytical and scientific capabilities, health minister Matt Hancock said on Wednesday.

After backlash, Merkel to drop Easter closure plans: sources

Chancellor Angela Merkel and leaders of Germany's federal states are set to ditch a plan agreed on Tuesday for two extra "rest-days" around the Easter holidays to try to break a third wave of the coronavirus pandemic, government sources said on Wednesday.

Kaleido Biosciences says oral drug cuts COVID-19 recovery time, hospitalizations

Kaleido Biosciences said on Wednesday its experimental oral treatment cut recovery time as well as hospitalizations and emergency room visits in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19, in an early trial.

Capitalism and greed gave Britain its vaccine success, PM Johnson says

Capitalism and greed gave Britain its success in vaccinating its population, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told lawmakers in a closed meeting, a remark that could rile up Brussels at a time when Britain faces an EU threat to block vaccine imports.

What you need to know about the coronavirus right now

(Reuters) -Here's what you need to know about the coronavirus right now:

Poland reports daily record of almost 30,000 new coronavirus cases

Poland reported a record 29,978 new daily coronavirus cases on Wednesday as the government prepares to toughen restrictions amid a worsening third wave of the pandemic.

Taiwan to help allies buy vaccines, but not from China

Taiwan will help its handful of remaining diplomatic allies buy COVID-19 vaccines but on the condition that Taiwanese money is not used to obtain Chinese vaccines, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said on Wednesday.

Factbox-Latest on the worldwide spread of the coronavirus

(Reuters) -AstraZeneca will publish up-to-date results from its major U.S. COVID-19 vaccine trial within 48 hours after health officials publicly criticized the drugmaker for using "outdated information" to show how well the immunization worked.

Papua New Guinea records 351 new COVID-19 cases

Papua New Guinea recorded 351 new coronavirus cases and two deaths on Tuesday, as 8,000 vaccines arrived from Australia to assist health workers in overburdened hospitals.

Hong Kong halts BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines, investigates packaging

Hong Kong authorities halted the use of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by Germany's BioNTech on Wednesday, citing defective packaging, in a move that triggered scenes of confusion in inoculation centres across the city.

Ukraine reports record high coronavirus deaths for second day in a row

KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine reported a record daily number of coronavirus-related deaths for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, along with a record number of hospitalisations as the more transmissable British strain of the virus sweeps through the country.

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