Joe Biden tests positive for Covid:&nbsp;US President Joe Biden tested positive for Covid-19 following his initial event in Las Vegas, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Wednesday (July 17).&nbsp;

President Biden, who is vaccinated and also had a booster dose, is experiencing mild symptoms and will return to Delaware to self-isolate while continuing to fulfill his presidential duties, according to the White House.

<h2>Joe Biden tests positive for Covid</h2>

Jean-Pierre assured the public that the President remains in good spirits despite experiencing mild symptoms.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pass-the-torch-biden-faces-strongest-call-so-far-to-step-aside-from-white-house-race-741841">Biden faces strongest call so far to drop out of White House race</a>

"The White House will provide updates on the President’s health status as he will continue his full duties of the office while being in isolation," she said.

According to a note from the President's doctor, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, Biden exhibited upper respiratory symptoms, including a runny nose, a non-productive cough, and general malaise. Although he initially felt well enough to attend his first event, Biden later underwent point-of-care testing for Covid-19, which came back positive.

The US president has begun treatment with his first dose of Paxlovid and will self-isolate at his home in Rehoboth, Delaware, following CDC guidelines for symptomatic individuals. PCR confirmation testing is pending, the note added.

<h2>Biden Campaign pressure</h2>

The cancellation of the Las Vegas event comes amid increasing pressure from donors and elected Democrats in Washington for Biden to withdraw from the campaign following his disastrous performance in a debate against Donald Trump last month.

<h2>Biden faces strongest call to drop out of race</h2>

Top Democrat leader Adam Schiff on Wednesday (Jul 17) publicly urged United States President Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race for another candidate. House Representative Schiff became the most heavyweight Democrat so far to ask Biden to make way for somebody else to face Donald Trump.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-should-be-removed-impeachment-trial-276268" target="_blank">Donald Trump 'should be removed': Adam Schiff</a>

Schiff stated that he doubts that the 81-year-old incumbent can defeat Trump, whom he described as a threat to "the very foundation of our democracy."

Schiff called Biden "one of the most consequential presidents in our nation's history."

"A&nbsp;second Trump presidency will undermine the very foundation of our democracy, and I have serious concerns about whether the president can defeat Donald Trump in November," said&nbsp;Schiff

Biden should "secure his legacy" by stepping aside, he further said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Joe Biden tests positive for Covid: US President Joe Biden tested positive for Covid-19 following his initial event in Las Vegas, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Wednesday (July 17).

Joe Biden tests positive for Covid: US President Joe Biden tested positive for Covid-19 following his initial event in Las Vegas, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Wednesday (July 17). President Biden, who is vaccinated and also had a booster dose, is experiencing mild symptoms and will return to Delaware to self-isolate while continuing to fulfill his presidential duties, according to the White House. Joe Biden tests positive for Covid Jean-Pierre assured the public that the President remains in good spirits despite experiencing mild symptoms. Also read: Biden faces strongest call so far to drop out of White House race "The White House will provide updates on the President’s health status as he will continue his full duties of the office while being in isolation," she said. According to a note from the President's doctor, Dr. Kevin O'Connor, Biden exhibited upper respiratory symptoms, including a runny nose, a non-productive cough, and general malaise. Although he initially felt well enough to attend his first event, Biden later underwent point-of-care testing for Covid-19, which came back positive. The US president has begun treatment with his first dose of Paxlovid and will self-isolate at his home in Rehoboth, Delaware, following CDC guidelines for symptomatic individuals. PCR confirmation testing is pending, the note added. Biden Campaign pressure The cancellation of the Las Vegas event comes amid increasing pressure from donors and elected Democrats in Washington for Biden to withdraw from the campaign following his disastrous performance in a debate against Donald Trump last month. Biden faces strongest call to drop out of race Top Democrat leader Adam Schiff on Wednesday (Jul 17) publicly urged United States President Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race for another candidate. House Representative Schiff became the most heavyweight Democrat so far to ask Biden to make way for somebody else to face Donald Trump. Also read | Donald Trump 'should be removed': Adam Schiff Schiff stated that he doubts that the 81-year-old incumbent can defeat Trump, whom he described as a threat to "the very foundation of our democracy." Schiff called Biden "one of the most consequential presidents in our nation's history." "A second Trump presidency will undermine the very foundation of our democracy, and I have serious concerns about whether the president can defeat Donald Trump in November," said Schiff Biden should "secure his legacy" by stepping aside, he further said. (With inputs from agencies)

Joe Biden tests positive for Covid, cancels event in Las Vegas

Oscar-winning Hollywood superstar, Matthew McConaughey, is of the opinion that children should not be obligated to get the COVID-19 vaccine. In fact, in a recent interview with The New York Times, he confirmed that his own three children are not vaccinated.&nbsp;

 
"I couldn’t mandate having to vaccinate the younger kids. I still want to find out more information," the actor was quoted as saying.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-travis-scotts-astroworld-tragedy-timelines-are-major-focus-in-investigation-of-houston-concert-deaths-428388" hreflang="en">Timelines are major focus in investigation of Houston concert deaths</a>

 
"There will come a time where you’re going to have to roll the dice one way or the other and go: ‘Where are the numbers in my favor?’" he went on to add, reportedly.&nbsp;

 
McConaughey shares his three kids--Levi, Vida and Livingston--with wife Camila Alves.&nbsp;

 
The 'Dallas Buyers Club' actor explained that he is not against the idea of children getting vaccinated but doesn’t see the need to make it mandatory. He also added that he won't be vaccinating his own children at this point in time.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/raja-kumari-divine-kaam-bhaari-bag-nominations-at-mtv-europe-music-awards-428393" hreflang="en">Raja Kumari, DIVINE, Kaam Bhaari bag nominations at MTV Europe Music Awards&nbsp;</a>

 
"Right now I’m not vaccinating mine, I’ll tell you that," he said.

 
But, McConaughey made it clear that he firmly believes in the power of vaccination to keep Coronavirus at bay.

 
"Do I think that there’s any kind of scam or conspiracy theory? Hell no, I don’t. We all got to get off that narrative. There’s not a conspiracy theory on the vaccines," he said.

 
He pointed out that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has only approved Pfizer’s vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 just a few days back, adding, “we just said we can vaccinate kids.” 
“I’m vaccinated. My wife’s vaccinated. I didn’t do it because someone told me I had to — [I] chose to do it,” he said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-woah-tom-hanks-volleyball-in-oscar-nominated-cast-away-sold-for-an-unbelievable-sum-428464" hreflang="en">Woah! Tom Hanks' volleyball in Oscar-nominated 'Cast Away' sold for an unbelievable sum</a>

 
Mathew McConaughey also said that he is in a place where he can “quarantine harder” and can undergo regular and periodic Covid-19 testing and recognises that not everyone can do that. “I’m in a position, though, where I can do that, and I understand that not everyone can do that," the actor signed off.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Oscar-winning Hollywood superstar, Matthew McConaughey, is of the opinion that children should not be obligated to get the COVID-19 vaccine. In fact, in a recent interview with The New York Times, he confirmed that his own three children are not vaccinated.

Oscar-winning Hollywood superstar, Matthew McConaughey, is of the opinion that children should not be obligated to get the COVID-19 vaccine. In fact, in a recent interview with The New York Times, he confirmed that his own three children are not vaccinated. "I couldn’t mandate having to vaccinate the younger kids. I still want to find out more information," the actor was quoted as saying. Also read: Timelines are major focus in investigation of Houston concert deaths "There will come a time where you’re going to have to roll the dice one way or the other and go: ‘Where are the numbers in my favor?’" he went on to add, reportedly. McConaughey shares his three kids--Levi, Vida and Livingston--with wife Camila Alves. The 'Dallas Buyers Club' actor explained that he is not against the idea of children getting vaccinated but doesn’t see the need to make it mandatory. He also added that he won't be vaccinating his own children at this point in time. Also read: Raja Kumari, DIVINE, Kaam Bhaari bag nominations at MTV Europe Music Awards "Right now I’m not vaccinating mine, I’ll tell you that," he said. But, McConaughey made it clear that he firmly believes in the power of vaccination to keep Coronavirus at bay. "Do I think that there’s any kind of scam or conspiracy theory? Hell no, I don’t. We all got to get off that narrative. There’s not a conspiracy theory on the vaccines," he said. He pointed out that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has only approved Pfizer’s vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 just a few days back, adding, “we just said we can vaccinate kids.” “I’m vaccinated. My wife’s vaccinated. I didn’t do it because someone told me I had to — [I] chose to do it,” he said. Also read: Woah! Tom Hanks' volleyball in Oscar-nominated 'Cast Away' sold for an unbelievable sum Mathew McConaughey also said that he is in a place where he can “quarantine harder” and can undergo regular and periodic Covid-19 testing and recognises that not everyone can do that. “I’m in a position, though, where I can do that, and I understand that not everyone can do that," the actor signed off.

Mathew McConaughey's not in for mandatory COVID vaccine for kids: Need to know more

The US government has cancelled a multimillion-dollar contract with a Maryland-based COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer where 15 million doses of the Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine were found to be contaminated earlier this year due to unsanitary plant conditions.

According to New York Times, the company, Emergent BioSolutions, disclosed the development on Thursday in a conference call discussing its latest financial results.

Emergent said it will forgo about $180 million due to the contract’s termination.

Emergent BioSolutions played a role in the Trump administration’s effort to speed up vaccine development and distribution. But after winning a contract from the previous administration, Emergent quickly ran into production problems.

Troubles began for Emergent in March 2021, when the ingredients intended for use in producing the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine shots contaminated 15 million doses of the Johnson &amp; Johnson single-shot vaccine in its Baltimore plant.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-demands-replacement-of-60-million-contaminated-jj-vaccine-doses-391456">Germany demands replacement of 60 million contaminated J&amp;J vaccine doses</a>

&nbsp;The lapses at the Bayview factory hampered J&amp;J’s efforts to be a major player in vaccinating people, particularly in remote areas and poor countries.

The Biden administration then put Johnson &amp; Johnson in direct control of vaccine production there.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-tells-jj-millions-of-vaccine-doses-from-troubled-plant-cant-be-used-390950">US tells J&amp;J millions of vaccine doses from troubled plant can't be used</a>

In June, the Food and Drug Administration issued a 13-page report about the plant, highlighting sanitary and production issues.

The FDA inspectors in their report stated that unsealed bags of medical waste were observed, along with&nbsp;peeling&nbsp;paint and damaged floors and walls&nbsp;that could inhibit proper cleaning.&nbsp;

The report also says that the employees were not properly trained and failed to properly handle ingredients.

The government had already stopped making payments under the contract, which was created in May 2020 and worth over $600 million, the Times reported.

(With inputs from agencies)

The US government has cancelled a multimillion-dollar contract with a Maryland-based COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer where 15 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine were found to be contaminated earlier this year due to unsanitary plant conditions.

The US government has cancelled a multimillion-dollar contract with a Maryland-based COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer where 15 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine were found to be contaminated earlier this year due to unsanitary plant conditions. According to New York Times, the company, Emergent BioSolutions, disclosed the development on Thursday in a conference call discussing its latest financial results. Emergent said it will forgo about $180 million due to the contract’s termination. Emergent BioSolutions played a role in the Trump administration’s effort to speed up vaccine development and distribution. But after winning a contract from the previous administration, Emergent quickly ran into production problems. Troubles began for Emergent in March 2021, when the ingredients intended for use in producing the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine shots contaminated 15 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson single-shot vaccine in its Baltimore plant. Also read | Germany demands replacement of 60 million contaminated J&J vaccine doses The lapses at the Bayview factory hampered J&J’s efforts to be a major player in vaccinating people, particularly in remote areas and poor countries. The Biden administration then put Johnson & Johnson in direct control of vaccine production there. Also read | US tells J&J millions of vaccine doses from troubled plant can't be used In June, the Food and Drug Administration issued a 13-page report about the plant, highlighting sanitary and production issues. The FDA inspectors in their report stated that unsealed bags of medical waste were observed, along with peeling paint and damaged floors and walls that could inhibit proper cleaning. The report also says that the employees were not properly trained and failed to properly handle ingredients. The government had already stopped making payments under the contract, which was created in May 2020 and worth over $600 million, the Times reported. (With inputs from agencies)

US cancels contract with Covid vaccine maker whose plant contaminated 15 million J&J jabs

&nbsp;With coronavirus and flu putting pressure on the NHS, as the UK prepares for what PM Boris Johnson, described as a "difficult winter", Downing Street has confirmed that starting next week, Covid vaccination appointments for children will be made available. &nbsp;

Following the latest death toll, which has risen to 223, a record high since early March, echoing the NHS England chief executive, Amanda Pritchard's concern, the prime minister’s spokesperson said that in order to drive up vaccination rates, people need to be reminded the virus is still there.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bring-back-covid-regulations-urge-health-experts-as-cases-in-uk-rise-again-422313">'Bring back Covid regulations', urge health experts as cases in UK rise again</a>

It is important that we get that message out, the spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Defending the vaccination programme for 12- to 15-year-olds, which has been criticized for being too slow, he said it would be extended beyond the schools. Parents and guardians of eligible children will receive a text or letter inviting them to make an appointment through the national booking service or call 119.

Johnson's spokesperson explained that children will soon be able to get vaccinated at existing vaccine centres, including general practices, pharmacies, and other local sites.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/unvaccinated-people-can-get-infected-by-coronavirus-every-16-months-experts-422374">Unvaccinated people can get infected by coronavirus every 16 months: Experts</a>

As for offering vaccinations in schools, he called this approach a "tested and proven" approach. He maintained, however, that the government wants to do everything possible to provide these vaccinations as effectively and safely as possible.

The fortnightly Department for Education attendance statistics shows that the number of English pupils missing school due to Covid has risen again. There were 209,000 Covid-related absences on 14 October, up from 204,000 when the data was last released; 111,000 of these were confirmed cases, an increase of 9,000.

Watch |&nbsp;Covid cases witness stubborn high in UK; daily cases above 40,000 for a week now

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/covid-cases-witness-stubborn-high-in-uk-daily-cases-above-40000-for-a-week-now-422362/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

There was a marginal increase in attendance over the past fortnight, from 89.5% on 30 September to 90%, but Covid-related absence in state schools also increased from 2.5% to 2.6%.

According to James Bowen, director of policy for the school leaders’ union NAHT, covid-related absence in schools has hit record levels, and the government cannot simply ignore the escalating numbers of cases among school-age children.

With coronavirus and flu putting pressure on the NHS, as the UK prepares for what PM Boris Johnson, described as a "difficult winter", Downing Street has confirmed that starting next week, Covid vaccination appointments for children will be made available.

With coronavirus and flu putting pressure on the NHS, as the UK prepares for what PM Boris Johnson, described as a "difficult winter", Downing Street has confirmed that starting next week, Covid vaccination appointments for children will be made available. Following the latest death toll, which has risen to 223, a record high since early March, echoing the NHS England chief executive, Amanda Pritchard's concern, the prime minister’s spokesperson said that in order to drive up vaccination rates, people need to be reminded the virus is still there. Also read | 'Bring back Covid regulations', urge health experts as cases in UK rise again It is important that we get that message out, the spokesperson said on Tuesday. Defending the vaccination programme for 12- to 15-year-olds, which has been criticized for being too slow, he said it would be extended beyond the schools. Parents and guardians of eligible children will receive a text or letter inviting them to make an appointment through the national booking service or call 119. Johnson's spokesperson explained that children will soon be able to get vaccinated at existing vaccine centres, including general practices, pharmacies, and other local sites. Also read | Unvaccinated people can get infected by coronavirus every 16 months: Experts As for offering vaccinations in schools, he called this approach a "tested and proven" approach. He maintained, however, that the government wants to do everything possible to provide these vaccinations as effectively and safely as possible. The fortnightly Department for Education attendance statistics shows that the number of English pupils missing school due to Covid has risen again. There were 209,000 Covid-related absences on 14 October, up from 204,000 when the data was last released; 111,000 of these were confirmed cases, an increase of 9,000. Watch | Covid cases witness stubborn high in UK; daily cases above 40,000 for a week now There was a marginal increase in attendance over the past fortnight, from 89.5% on 30 September to 90%, but Covid-related absence in state schools also increased from 2.5% to 2.6%. According to James Bowen, director of policy for the school leaders’ union NAHT, covid-related absence in schools has hit record levels, and the government cannot simply ignore the escalating numbers of cases among school-age children.

Coronavirus in UK: Starting next week, vaccination centres in England will accept bookings for children

The vaccines were supposed to be the ticket out of the pandemic. But in Singapore, things did not go according to plan.

The Southeast Asian city-state was widely considered a success story in its initial handling of the coronavirus. It closed its borders, tested and traced aggressively and was one of the first countries in Asia to order vaccines.

A top politician told the public that an 80 per cent vaccination rate was the criterion for a phased reopening. Singapore has now fully inoculated 83 per cent of its population, but instead of opening up, it is doing quite the opposite.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/singapore-trials-patrol-robots-to-deter-bad-social-behaviour-411229">Singapore trials patrol robots to deter bad social behaviour</a>

In September, with cases doubling every eight to 10 days, the government reinstated restrictions on gatherings. The United States said its citizens should reconsider travel to the country. Long lines started forming at the emergency departments in several hospitals. People were told once again, they should work from home.

The country’s experience has become a sobering case study for other nations pursuing reopening strategies without having had to deal with large outbreaks in the pandemic. For the Singapore residents who believed the city-state would reopen once the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">vaccination</a> rate reached a certain level, there was a feeling of whiplash and nagging questions about what it would take to reopen if vaccines were not enough.

“In a way, we are a victim of our own success, because we’ve achieved as close to zero COVID as we can get and a very, very low death rate,” said Dr. Paul Tambyah, an infectious diseases specialist at National University Hospital. “So we want to keep the position at the top of the class, and it’s very hard to do.”

Singapore’s careful, some say overly cautious, approach to reopening contrasts with that of the United States and Europe, where vaccinated people are already gathering at concerts, festivals and other large events. But unlike Singapore, both of those places had to manage substantial outbreaks early in the pandemic.

Also read |&nbsp;​​​​​​​<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/singapore-to-ease-virus-curbs-for-migrant-workers-411907">Singapore to ease virus curbs for migrant workers</a>

Lawrence Wong, Singapore’s finance minister and a chair of the country’s <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a> task force, said the lesson for “COVID-naive societies” like Singapore, New Zealand and Australia is to be ready for large waves of infections, “regardless of the vaccine coverage.”

“Once you open up, more social interactions will happen,” he said. “And given the inherently highly transmissible nature of the delta variant, you will get big clusters emerging.”

The vaccines have worked to keep most of the population out of the hospital, with 98.3 per cent of cases presenting mild or no symptoms. The deaths have occurred mostly in seniors, usually with comorbidities, and account for 0.2 per cent of the cases over the past 28 days. But the shots cannot protect against infection, especially when up against the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/covid-19-delta-variant-increases-the-risk-of-death-by-133-per-cent-418711">delta variant</a>, Wong said.

“In Singapore, we think that you cannot just rely on vaccines alone during this intermediate phase,” he said. “And that’s why we do not plan an approach where we reopen in a big bang manner, and just declare freedom.”

In Wong’s vision of how the pandemic will play out in Singapore, people will continue to wear face masks. Travel is unlikely to be entirely free. Social distancing will remain, perhaps until 2024.

He stressed that Singapore was still on a path toward living with COVID and said he recognized that any form of tightening, no matter how small, would be met with anger and frustration because people are anxious to move on. “But we have to adjust based on the realities, based on the situation we are facing,” he said.

Also read |&nbsp;​​​​​​​<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/singapore-patrol-robots-seeking-undesirable-social-behaviour-spark-privacy-concerns-418598">Singapore: Patrol robots seeking 'undesirable social behaviour' spark privacy concerns</a>

Last month, officials scrambled to set up community treatment facilities equipped with oxygen tanks and asked those with mild or no symptoms to recover at home. Many Singaporeans said there was confusion about what to do and that the government appeared ill-prepared.

“If the health care system gets overwhelmed, that’s when we know from experience everywhere that doctors are unable to cope and you have death rates start to go up,” Wong said. “So we are trying very hard to avoid that.”

Several doctors have disputed the government’s claim that the health care system is under immense strain. Tambyah, who is also chair of an opposition party that recently drew up an alternative strategy for dealing with the pandemic, said there was enough of a buffer in hospitals because Singapore had canceled all elective surgeries.

The problem for Singapore’s leaders, he said, is that they are “essentially doing a transition from zero COVID toward living with the virus.”

For many, the repeated tweaks to the restrictions have taken a toll. The number of suicides in 2020 was the highest since 2012, a trend that some mental health experts have attributed to the pandemic. People have called on the government to consider the mental health concerns caused by the restrictions.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-pandemic-took-hold-suicide-rose-among-japanese-women-365653">As pandemic took hold, suicide rose among Japanese women</a>

“It’s just economically, sociologically, emotionally and mentally unsustainable,” said Devadas Krishnadas, CEO at Future-Moves Group, a consultancy in Singapore. Krishnadas said the decision to reintroduce restrictions after reaching such a high vaccination rate made the country a global outlier.

“And, importantly, it moves Singapore in a complete 180 degrees, opposite direction from where the rest of the world is headed,” he said. “That brings us to the strategic question of where will this leave Singapore — if we don’t get off what I call the hamster wheel of opening and closing.”

Sarah Chan, a deputy director at Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research, said she had a fleeting taste of what normal life was like when she arrived in Italy last month to visit her husband’s family.

No masks were required outdoors, vaccinated people could gather in groups without any restrictions, and Chan and her son could bop their heads to music in restaurants. In Singapore, music inside restaurants has been banned based on the notion that it could encourage the spread of the virus.

Chan said she was so moved by her time in Italy that she cried.

“It’s almost normal. You forget what that’s like,” she said. “I really miss that.”

The vaccines were supposed to be the ticket out of the pandemic. But in Singapore, things did not go according to plan. The Southeast Asian city-state was widely considered a success story in its initial handling of the coronavirus.

The vaccines were supposed to be the ticket out of the pandemic. But in Singapore, things did not go according to plan. The Southeast Asian city-state was widely considered a success story in its initial handling of the coronavirus. It closed its borders, tested and traced aggressively and was one of the first countries in Asia to order vaccines. A top politician told the public that an 80 per cent vaccination rate was the criterion for a phased reopening. Singapore has now fully inoculated 83 per cent of its population, but instead of opening up, it is doing quite the opposite. Also read | Singapore trials patrol robots to deter bad social behaviour In September, with cases doubling every eight to 10 days, the government reinstated restrictions on gatherings. The United States said its citizens should reconsider travel to the country. Long lines started forming at the emergency departments in several hospitals. People were told once again, they should work from home. The country’s experience has become a sobering case study for other nations pursuing reopening strategies without having had to deal with large outbreaks in the pandemic. For the Singapore residents who believed the city-state would reopen once the vaccination rate reached a certain level, there was a feeling of whiplash and nagging questions about what it would take to reopen if vaccines were not enough. “In a way, we are a victim of our own success, because we’ve achieved as close to zero COVID as we can get and a very, very low death rate,” said Dr. Paul Tambyah, an infectious diseases specialist at National University Hospital. “So we want to keep the position at the top of the class, and it’s very hard to do.” Singapore’s careful, some say overly cautious, approach to reopening contrasts with that of the United States and Europe, where vaccinated people are already gathering at concerts, festivals and other large events. But unlike Singapore, both of those places had to manage substantial outbreaks early in the pandemic. Also read | Singapore to ease virus curbs for migrant workers Lawrence Wong, Singapore’s finance minister and a chair of the country’s COVID-19 task force, said the lesson for “COVID-naive societies” like Singapore, New Zealand and Australia is to be ready for large waves of infections, “regardless of the vaccine coverage.” “Once you open up, more social interactions will happen,” he said. “And given the inherently highly transmissible nature of the delta variant, you will get big clusters emerging.” The vaccines have worked to keep most of the population out of the hospital, with 98.3 per cent of cases presenting mild or no symptoms. The deaths have occurred mostly in seniors, usually with comorbidities, and account for 0.2 per cent of the cases over the past 28 days. But the shots cannot protect against infection, especially when up against the delta variant, Wong said. “In Singapore, we think that you cannot just rely on vaccines alone during this intermediate phase,” he said. “And that’s why we do not plan an approach where we reopen in a big bang manner, and just declare freedom.” In Wong’s vision of how the pandemic will play out in Singapore, people will continue to wear face masks. Travel is unlikely to be entirely free. Social distancing will remain, perhaps until 2024. He stressed that Singapore was still on a path toward living with COVID and said he recognized that any form of tightening, no matter how small, would be met with anger and frustration because people are anxious to move on. “But we have to adjust based on the realities, based on the situation we are facing,” he said. Also read | Singapore: Patrol robots seeking 'undesirable social behaviour' spark privacy concerns Last month, officials scrambled to set up community treatment facilities equipped with oxygen tanks and asked those with mild or no symptoms to recover at home. Many Singaporeans said there was confusion about what to do and that the government appeared ill-prepared. “If the health care system gets overwhelmed, that’s when we know from experience everywhere that doctors are unable to cope and you have death rates start to go up,” Wong said. “So we are trying very hard to avoid that.” Several doctors have disputed the government’s claim that the health care system is under immense strain. Tambyah, who is also chair of an opposition party that recently drew up an alternative strategy for dealing with the pandemic, said there was enough of a buffer in hospitals because Singapore had canceled all elective surgeries. The problem for Singapore’s leaders, he said, is that they are “essentially doing a transition from zero COVID toward living with the virus.” For many, the repeated tweaks to the restrictions have taken a toll. The number of suicides in 2020 was the highest since 2012, a trend that some mental health experts have attributed to the pandemic. People have called on the government to consider the mental health concerns caused by the restrictions. Also read | As pandemic took hold, suicide rose among Japanese women “It’s just economically, sociologically, emotionally and mentally unsustainable,” said Devadas Krishnadas, CEO at Future-Moves Group, a consultancy in Singapore. Krishnadas said the decision to reintroduce restrictions after reaching such a high vaccination rate made the country a global outlier. “And, importantly, it moves Singapore in a complete 180 degrees, opposite direction from where the rest of the world is headed,” he said. “That brings us to the strategic question of where will this leave Singapore — if we don’t get off what I call the hamster wheel of opening and closing.” Sarah Chan, a deputy director at Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research, said she had a fleeting taste of what normal life was like when she arrived in Italy last month to visit her husband’s family. No masks were required outdoors, vaccinated people could gather in groups without any restrictions, and Chan and her son could bop their heads to music in restaurants. In Singapore, music inside restaurants has been banned based on the notion that it could encourage the spread of the virus. Chan said she was so moved by her time in Italy that she cried. “It’s almost normal. You forget what that’s like,” she said. “I really miss that.”

They had the vaccines and a plan to reopen. Instead they got cold feet.

Berlin introduces the best way to get the jab - a party

The&nbsp;UK&nbsp;government announced Wednesday it will offer <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a> vaccinations to all 16 and 17-year-olds, but not to younger healthy teenagers as in many other Western countries.&nbsp;

The move follows updated guidance from British health regulators that the country's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">vaccine</a> drive should be extended to those aged 16 and 17 without underlying health issues after a review of the latest data.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-more-than-220000-children-inoculated-with-first-dose-of-covid-vaccine-402885">UK: More than 220,000 children inoculated with first dose of Covid vaccine</a>

However, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) made no change to its current advice to the government that only 12 to 15-year-olds deemed vulnerable should be jabbed.

This contrasts with the United States, which announced in May that younger teens would be vaccinated, and the European Union's medicines regulator which has approved two shots for all over-12s.

Britain's health secretary Sajid Javid confirmed he had accepted the&nbsp;UK&nbsp;experts' latest recommendations and asked the state-run National Health Service (NHS) "to prepare to vaccinate those eligible as soon as possible".

"JCVI will continue to review data and provide updates on at risk groups aged 12-15 and whether any additional groups will be added," he said in a statement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/long-term-covid-symptoms-very-rare-in-children-study-confirms-402937">Long term Covid symptoms very rare in children, study confirms</a>

The older teenagers eligible will receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, which has been approved for use in Britain for people aged 12 and over.

Regulators have not yet decided when they should get their second doses, with a further recommendation likely in the coming weeks.

England's deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam said at a televised briefing to announce the change that he wanted the NHS to begin jabbing 16 and 17-year-olds "as fast as practically possible".

"It has been preparing for multiple permutations and options for very many weeks now, and I would expect this programme will start in a very short number of weeks," he added.

Health experts welcomed the move, with Russell Viner, Professor of Child and Adolescent Health at University College London, calling it a "sensible step".

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/science/universal-coronavirus-vaccine-scientists-make-unique-discovery-that-may-help-prevent-future-pandemics-393371" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/science/universal-coronavirus-vaccine-scientists-make-unique-discovery-that-may-help-prevent-future-pandemics-393371&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwigubKuqpfyAhUQzjgGHd1KCx4QFjABegQICRAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw3BRw2pt4_bvB6RzdFhGch6" dir="ltr" href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/science/universal-coronavirus-vaccine-scientists-make-unique-discovery-that-may-help-prevent-future-pandemics-393371&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwigubKuqpfyAhUQzjgGHd1KCx4QFjABegQICRAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw3BRw2pt4_bvB6RzdFhGch6" target="_blank">Universal&nbsp;coronavirus vaccine? Scientists make unique discovery</a>

"There are important social and educational benefits for protecting young people and reducing transmission in the upper years of secondary school," he said.

Britain's fast-paced vaccination programme has seen nearly 89 per cent of adults given at least one dose, while close to two-thirds are now fully jabbed.

Since easing all virus curbs in England on July 19, the number of new daily cases has declined, prompting hopes the vaccines are succeeding in defeating the pandemic in Britain.

The UK government announced Wednesday it will offer coronavirus vaccinations to all 16 and 17-year-olds, but not to younger healthy teenagers as in many other Western countries.

The UK government announced Wednesday it will offer coronavirus vaccinations to all 16 and 17-year-olds, but not to younger healthy teenagers as in many other Western countries. The move follows updated guidance from British health regulators that the country's vaccine drive should be extended to those aged 16 and 17 without underlying health issues after a review of the latest data. UK: More than 220,000 children inoculated with first dose of Covid vaccine However, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) made no change to its current advice to the government that only 12 to 15-year-olds deemed vulnerable should be jabbed. This contrasts with the United States, which announced in May that younger teens would be vaccinated, and the European Union's medicines regulator which has approved two shots for all over-12s. Britain's health secretary Sajid Javid confirmed he had accepted the UK experts' latest recommendations and asked the state-run National Health Service (NHS) "to prepare to vaccinate those eligible as soon as possible". "JCVI will continue to review data and provide updates on at risk groups aged 12-15 and whether any additional groups will be added," he said in a statement. Also read | Long term Covid symptoms very rare in children, study confirms The older teenagers eligible will receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, which has been approved for use in Britain for people aged 12 and over. Regulators have not yet decided when they should get their second doses, with a further recommendation likely in the coming weeks. England's deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam said at a televised briefing to announce the change that he wanted the NHS to begin jabbing 16 and 17-year-olds "as fast as practically possible". "It has been preparing for multiple permutations and options for very many weeks now, and I would expect this programme will start in a very short number of weeks," he added. Health experts welcomed the move, with Russell Viner, Professor of Child and Adolescent Health at University College London, calling it a "sensible step". Also read | Universal coronavirus vaccine? Scientists make unique discovery "There are important social and educational benefits for protecting young people and reducing transmission in the upper years of secondary school," he said. Britain's fast-paced vaccination programme has seen nearly 89 per cent of adults given at least one dose, while close to two-thirds are now fully jabbed. Since easing all virus curbs in England on July 19, the number of new daily cases has declined, prompting hopes the vaccines are succeeding in defeating the pandemic in Britain.

UK to offer Covid vaccine to healthy 16 and 17 year-olds

A central Russian region on Saturday suspended <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">COVID-19 vaccinations</a> for two days due to a shortage of doses, local officials said, as the country reported its highest daily increase in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a> cases since mid-January.

Russia is facing a surge in new cases that authorities blame on the highly infectious Delta variant and slow progress on vaccinating people, with deaths hitting a new record in the capital, Moscow, on Friday.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-moscow-orders-work-from-home-amid-rise-in-delta-variant-cases-394002">COVID-19: Moscow orders work-from-home amid rise in Delta variant cases</a>

Following shortages that suspended inoculation campaigns from Friday at some centres in the Bashkiria and Khabarovsk regions, health officials in the central Udmurtia region said vaccinations would stop until Monday due to a supply crunch.

The Kremlin said the issue would be resolved in the coming days, and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced additional health spending of 25 billion roubles ($346.80 million) for the care of COVID-19 patients.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said cases of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kappa-delta-who-releases-greek-nomenclature-for-covid-variants-including-ones-found-in-india-388657">Delta variant</a>, which was first detected in India, were on the increase in the city.

"To drastically solve the issues, you need people to get vaccinated or head to lockdowns and shut down everything," he told state TV.

So far, 21 million of Russia's 144 million people have received at least one vaccine dose, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said on Friday.

By the end of this month, 2.5 million doses of the country's Sputnik Light single-dose vaccine will be put into circulation, he said on Saturday.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-registers-record-high-covid-19-cases-deaths-393736">Russia registers record high COVID-19 cases, deaths</a>&nbsp;

Russia reported 21,665 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, more than a third of them in Moscow, taking the official national tally since the pandemic began to nearly 5.5 million.

The government's coronavirus task force said 619 people had died of COVID-19-linked causes in the past 24 hours, the highest number since late December and pushing the overall death toll to 132,683.

St Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, saw a record daily death toll from the novel coronavirus of 107 in the past 24 hours.

A central Russian region on Saturday suspended COVID-19 vaccinations for two days due to a shortage of doses, local officials said, as the country reported its highest daily increase in coronavirus cases since mid-January.

A central Russian region on Saturday suspended COVID-19 vaccinations for two days due to a shortage of doses, local officials said, as the country reported its highest daily increase in coronavirus cases since mid-January. Russia is facing a surge in new cases that authorities blame on the highly infectious Delta variant and slow progress on vaccinating people, with deaths hitting a new record in the capital, Moscow, on Friday. Also read | COVID-19: Moscow orders work-from-home amid rise in Delta variant cases Following shortages that suspended inoculation campaigns from Friday at some centres in the Bashkiria and Khabarovsk regions, health officials in the central Udmurtia region said vaccinations would stop until Monday due to a supply crunch. The Kremlin said the issue would be resolved in the coming days, and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced additional health spending of 25 billion roubles ($346.80 million) for the care of COVID-19 patients. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said cases of the Delta variant, which was first detected in India, were on the increase in the city. "To drastically solve the issues, you need people to get vaccinated or head to lockdowns and shut down everything," he told state TV. So far, 21 million of Russia's 144 million people have received at least one vaccine dose, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said on Friday. By the end of this month, 2.5 million doses of the country's Sputnik Light single-dose vaccine will be put into circulation, he said on Saturday. Also read | Russia registers record high COVID-19 cases, deaths Russia reported 21,665 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, more than a third of them in Moscow, taking the official national tally since the pandemic began to nearly 5.5 million. The government's coronavirus task force said 619 people had died of COVID-19-linked causes in the past 24 hours, the highest number since late December and pushing the overall death toll to 132,683. St Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, saw a record daily death toll from the novel coronavirus of 107 in the past 24 hours.

Russian regions run low on vaccines as COVID-19 cases jump

American surgeon general Dr Vivek Murthy has warned that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fauci-calls-delta-variant-greatest-threat-to-eradicating-covid-19-pandemic-393420">Delta variant</a> of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a> is significantly more transmissible and dangerous. Reported in over 85 countries, the variant which now makes up for 90 per cent of all new cases causes a more severe illness as compared to other variants.

Talking to MSNBC Dr Murthy said, "We have seen how quickly it has taken over in the United Kingdom, where it’s getting close to 100 per cent of new COVID cases, Delta. And we have seen a surge here too. So, I am worried,".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/delta-variant-reported-in-85-countries-globally-expected-to-become-dominant-lineage-warns-who-393572">Delta variant reported in 85 countries globally, expected to become dominant lineage, warns WHO</a>

"I'm quite worried about the Delta variant. It is more transmissible, significantly more transmissible. It also may be more dangerous in terms of the severity of illness that it causes,” he added.

Showing concern for the unvaccinated people he added that if people are completely <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus-vaccine">vaccinated</a>, they are well protected against hospitalisations and deaths.

"The worry is if you're not vaccinated, that you're at even greater risk than you were before. So, what I don't want to see is a growing divide in our country between the unvaccinated and vaccinated. We've got to close that gap. That's why we're working so hard to get people vaccinated everywhere,” he responded to a question.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-delta-variant-now-in-20-of-us-cases-393225">COVID-19 Delta variant now in 20% of US cases</a>

The vaccination rate in the US stands at 62.5 per cent for children aged 12 and older, while for adults over 18 years of age, it is 65.4 per cent, an approximate 55.9 per cent of Americans are now fully vaccinated against the virus and 65.4 per cent have received at least one shot.

"Your level of risk, your kid's level of risk really depends on where you live and how high the community vaccination rates are. And this is why we always say - and I say this as a dad who's got two young kids, three and four, whose - we don't have a vaccine available for kids that young. So, I'm worried about my kids, just like any other parents are,” said Dr Murthy.

Dr Murthy laid stress on the need of getting vaccinated, which he said "is an effort more than just about protecting yourself". According to him, "it's about protecting those around you, as even those who are not seriously ill are capable of transmitting the infection to others."

American surgeon general Dr Vivek Murthy has warned that the Delta variant of COVID-19 is significantly more transmissible and dangerous. Reported in over 85 countries, the variant which now makes up for 90 per cent of all new cases causes a more severe illness as compared to other variants.

American surgeon general Dr Vivek Murthy has warned that the Delta variant of COVID-19 is significantly more transmissible and dangerous. Reported in over 85 countries, the variant which now makes up for 90 per cent of all new cases causes a more severe illness as compared to other variants. Talking to MSNBC Dr Murthy said, "We have seen how quickly it has taken over in the United Kingdom, where it’s getting close to 100 per cent of new COVID cases, Delta. And we have seen a surge here too. So, I am worried,". Also read | Delta variant reported in 85 countries globally, expected to become dominant lineage, warns WHO "I'm quite worried about the Delta variant. It is more transmissible, significantly more transmissible. It also may be more dangerous in terms of the severity of illness that it causes,” he added. Showing concern for the unvaccinated people he added that if people are completely vaccinated, they are well protected against hospitalisations and deaths. "The worry is if you're not vaccinated, that you're at even greater risk than you were before. So, what I don't want to see is a growing divide in our country between the unvaccinated and vaccinated. We've got to close that gap. That's why we're working so hard to get people vaccinated everywhere,” he responded to a question. Also read | COVID-19 Delta variant now in 20% of US cases The vaccination rate in the US stands at 62.5 per cent for children aged 12 and older, while for adults over 18 years of age, it is 65.4 per cent, an approximate 55.9 per cent of Americans are now fully vaccinated against the virus and 65.4 per cent have received at least one shot. "Your level of risk, your kid's level of risk really depends on where you live and how high the community vaccination rates are. And this is why we always say - and I say this as a dad who's got two young kids, three and four, whose - we don't have a vaccine available for kids that young. So, I'm worried about my kids, just like any other parents are,” said Dr Murthy. Dr Murthy laid stress on the need of getting vaccinated, which he said "is an effort more than just about protecting yourself". According to him, "it's about protecting those around you, as even those who are not seriously ill are capable of transmitting the infection to others."

US Surgeon General warns against Delta Variant, says it's more transmissible

The Joe Biden administration announced its framework for sharing at least 80 million US vaccine doses globally by the end of June and the plan for the first 25 million doses.

Biden administration unveils strategy for global vaccine sharing