The Latest On The Coronavirus Pandemic And The Omicron Variant

The Latest On The Coronavirus Pandemic And The Omicron Variant

Dr. Anthony Fauci clarified his remarks about the timeline for a Covid-19 vaccine for children under 5, saying, “we just don’t know.”

"We do know that the data are being collected by the companies who will submit it to the FDA and the FDA will make a judgment based on the safety and efficacy," Fauci told CNN's Wolf Blitzer Friday evening. "When I said it could be within a month or two or three we really don't know and I think when people push you, give an estimate of what you think. I hope in the next few months but I don't know for sure, Wolf."

Fauci said he is not privy to the information that companies will submit to the FDA for emergency use authorization.

"I can't give you a month, whether it's February or March, April or whenever," Fauci added. "We just don't know and that's just the reality."

Coronavirus Live: Japan And Taiwan Report Omicron Surges; Ireland Lifts Restrictions

Taiwan’s government said on Saturday restrictions would be tightened after a rare surge in domestic transmission of the Omicron variant, saying it needed to act now to prevent being overwhelmed, even though overall numbers remain quite low.

After months of no or few community infections, Taiwan has seen a small rise in local Covid-19 cases since the beginning of January, mainly linked to workers at the main international airport in the northern city of Taoyuan who were infected by arriving passengers, Reuters reports.

On Friday evening the government announced 60 new cases at a factory near the airport after testing 1,000 workers.

There have been no deaths and most of the cases have had only mild or no symptoms.

In a statement, premier Su Tseng-chang said that, even though this outbreak has brought no serious illness, steps needed to be taken. “If the pandemic cannot be contained, it will still cause a burden on the medical system,” he said.

New restrictions will include a ban on eating and drinking on public transport and limits on the number of people visiting temples, ahead of the week-long lunar new year holiday, which starts at the end of this month.

booster shot of the Covid-19 vaccine at a community center, in Taipei, Taiwan, on 17 January, 2022. Photograph: Ann Wang/Reuters

Testing will be expanded to reach the largest number of possible contacts, said the health minister, Chen Shih-chung.

“Of course we think this pandemic is threatening, so we must raise our vigilance,” he said.

Taiwan has been highly successful at controlling the pandemic due to early and strict border checks and an effective tracing system.

More than 70% of people in Taiwan have received two vaccine doses and booster shots are currently being rolled out, with about 15% of residents having received a third shot so far.

Coronavirus: Daily Update

Here are five things you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic this Saturday morning. We'll have another update for you tomorrow.

1. Booster jab gives 90% protection - study

Booster doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines offer improved protection against hospitalisations due to Covid variants, new studies show. Data released by the US Centres for Disease Control found a third dose is more than 90% effective against both the Delta and Omicron variants. The effectiveness of two doses was found to wane to 57% after six months. It comes as the Omicron variant has led to a record number of hospitalisations in the US.

About 1.6 million UK learner drivers had their tests every year before the pandemic, but that dropped to 436,000 in 2020-21. A shortage of examiners and instructors, coupled with the number of learners who could not have lessons or practical tests due to Covid rules or lockdowns, has left a backlog. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency says it is now offering tests on weekends and bank holidays and is urging recently retired examiners to return.

The Irish government has agreed to lift almost all of its restrictions from Saturday. The rules were tightened last month in response to the Omicron variant. The changes include an end to the requirement on customers at pubs to show proof of Covid status, and on restrictions on household gatherings. But masks will still be required on public transport and most public buildings.

The remote south Pacific island nation of Kiribati has gone into lockdown after passengers on the first international flight in 10 months tested positive for Covid. Some 36 people on the flight from Fiji - all were fully-vaccinated - have tested positive. Under the new measures, people have been told to stay at home and social gatherings are banned. Until last week, Kiribati had recorded just two Covid cases.

The World Harmony Orchestra was created to bring musicians across the UK together, to play for humanitarian causes. But when the pandemic hit the group started performing in communities where people were isolating. Nearly two years later the musicians are still providing entertainment.

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A combination of winter and the ongoing Covid pandemic is placing a huge strain on hospitals. Find out how the NHS is coping in your area.