Mexico exceeds 2 million cases of Covid-19

Of the total confirmed cases, 1,563,992 people have managed to overcome the disease, while, on the contrary, there are 175,986 fatalities that the pandemic has claimed, with 1,329 deaths in the last day.

The Ministry of Health of Mexico has reported 8,683 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, bringing to 2,004,575 the total of confirmed positives since the pandemic broke out.

However, health authorities estimate that about 2,199,226 cases of Covid-19 have been registered in the country, of which 55,901, five percent, are currently active , according to the director of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health, José Luis Alomía, at the daily press conference to report on the evolution of the pandemic in the country.

Of the total confirmed cases, 1,563,992 people have managed to overcome the disease, while, on the contrary, there are 175,986 fatalities that the pandemic has claimed, 1,329 in the last day.

Regarding hospital occupancy, the country maintains all its states below 70 percent, with a full 38 percent in general places and 41 percent in critical units nationwide.

On the other hand, the country continues its mass vaccination campaign, with the inoculation this Tuesday of 101,598 people over 60 years of age , with which there are already 915,383 doses administered by the Mexican authorities.

In this sense, the Undersecretary of Prevention and Health Promotion, Hugo López-Gatell, has thanked the Mexican people for the solidarity response in vaccinating the elderly , since, so far, the established shifts have been respected, reports' Milenio '.

Japan Officially Approves Pfizer Vaccine for the COVID-19 Vaccination Program

The Japanese Ministry of Health announced that it would officially approve the Pfizer Inc vaccine on Sunday (14/2). The country's first agreement was made to fight the third wave of the corona virus and prepare for the upcoming July Olympics.

As reported by Reuters on Sunday (17/2/2021) this step was taken after a government panel recommended approval after the arrival of the Pfizer vaccine at Narita Airport, Japan, last Friday (12/2).

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said vaccinations will start from the middle of next week, starting with about 10,000 health workers. The government hopes to secure sufficient supplies for the entire population - about 126 million people - by the middle of the year.

Local media reported the first phase vaccine arrived at Narita International Airport, Tokyo, amid concerns about vaccine supplies.

The European Commission said on Thursday that it has approved all requests so far for the export of the COVID-19 vaccine, including to Japan, to monitor vaccine shipments since January 30.

Pfizer submitted Japan's application for approval in December for a COVID-19 vaccine, to which the United States, Singapore and other parts of the world have already given approval.

The Japanese government will buy 144 million doses to inoculate its 72 million inhabitants, from a vaccine made by US-made and German partner BioNTech. Japan also has vaccine deals with AstraZeneca Plc, Moderna Inc, and Novavax Inc.

Most of Japan remains in a state of emergency after the third and deadliest wave hit the country late last year. Cases and deaths have tended to be lower in recent weeks and Tokyo recorded nearly 400 cases in the capital as of Sunday.

Japan has so far recorded around 410,000 coronavirus cases nationwide and 6,772 deaths. The Olympics will start on 23 July.

Prioritizing health workers, Lebanon begins a COVID-19 vaccination program

 Lebanon started its first coronavirus or COVID-19 vaccination program for doctors and medical personnel on Sunday (14/2). This was done to overcome the number of COVID-19 transmission in the country.

As reported by AFP on Sunday (14/2/2021) the head of the intensive care unit of the Rafif Hariri Hospital, Mahmoud Hassoun, became the first person in Lebanon to receive the vaccination.

"Hopefully this will be the start for an end to the outbreak in this country," Hassoun told AFP.

He received the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine, a day after the first 28,500 doses landed at Beirut airport.

Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab visited Beirut hospitals and praised the health workers' hard work. He said he was still waiting for his turn to be vaccinated.

"Today is not my turn," said the 61-year-old Prime Minister.

"The priority is the health sector, which has made great sacrifices, and we must provide all possible protection so that they can carry out their mission and protect society," he said.

Health workers at three Beirut hospitals will receive their first vaccine on Sunday (14/2) wherein vaccination targets will be prioritized for people over 75 years of age.

The World Bank has allocated $ 34 million (Rp. 475 billion) to inoculate two million of Lebanon's six million population.