COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 8 February

World Economic Forum

• This daily round-up brings you a selection of the latest news and updates on the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, as well as tips and tools to help you stay informed and protected.
• Top stories: Early data on AstraZeneca vaccine and South African variant; UK says booster and annual vaccinations likely; Bangladesh launches national vaccination drive.

1. How COVID-19 is affecting the globe

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have now passed 106.1 million globally, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. The number of confirmed deaths stands at more than 2.31 million.

China has reported no new locally-transmitted mainland COVID-19 cases for the first time in nearly two months, according to official data.

Japanese bank deposits increased at a record annual pace last month, an indication that companies and households continue to hold cash to guard against prolonged damage from the pandemic.

It’s too soon for Germany to lift its lockdown, Bavarian premier Markus Soeder said yesterday. Chancellor Angela Merkel and the leaders of Germany’s 16 federal states are set to meet virtually on Wednesday to discuss whether to ease the restrictions from 15 February or extend a lockdown that began in mid-December.

France reported a fall in new COVID-19 infections yesterday – the fourth successive day of falls. 19,175 new cases were reported yesterday.

Australia reported no new local COVID-19 cases on Sunday, as tennis players prepared for the first Grand Slam of the year, which starts today.

Bangladesh has launched a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive. It hopes to inoculate 3.5 million in the first month.

2. Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine less effective against South Africa variant

AstraZeneca has reported that its vaccine, developed with the University of Oxford, appears to only offer limited protection against mild disease caused by the South African variant of COVID-19, based on early data from a trial.

A spokesperson for the company said in a small phase I/II trial, early data shows “limited efficacy against mild disease primarily due to the B.1.351 South African variant”.

“However, we have not been able to properly ascertain its effect against severe disease and hospitalisation given that subjects were predominantly young healthy adults,” the spokesperson said.

The company said it believed its vaccine could protect against severe disease, but that it has started adapting the vaccine against the variant.

3. UK says booster and annual vaccinations probable

A COVID-19 vaccine booster in the autumn and then annual vaccinations are very probable, Britain’s vaccine deployment minister Nadhim Zahawi told the BBC’s Andrew Marr show yesterday.

“We see very much probably an annual or a booster in the autumn and then an annual (vaccination), in the way we do with flu vaccinations where you look at what variant of virus is spreading around the world,” he said.

It comes as the UK confirmed it had injected over 12 million first doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

The minister also said Britain was not considering introducing a vaccine passport.