• Guangzhou, China has entered a neighborhood lockdown to contain 26 cases of coronavirus that may have originated in a dim sum restaurant. Source
• Paraguay has become home to the world’s highest weekly per capita death rate, and the P.1 variant is continuing to spread since only 3.5 percent of the population has gotten a first dose, and only 0.7 percent are fully vaccinated. Although the country purchased 2 million doses of Bharat Biotech’s vaccine, shipments are likely to be delayed. Paraguay still recognizes Taiwan, making it difficult for it to purchase vaccines from China. Source
• As the official count of coronavirus cases in Nepal surpasses 500,000, the country is considering declaring a health emergency to allow it to limit people’s movements. A limited supply of tests – 40 percent of which have had positive results- make it difficult to know the true severity of the epidemic. Nepal relies on India, but it has been unable to help- it has already said it cannot deliver a million doses of vaccines that it promised, nor can it supply urgently needed equipment and medicines. Nepal’s Prime Minister, K.P. Sharma Oli, has called for international help, which has arrived from China, Spain, the US and Nepali workers in Persian Gulf nations. Source
• South Africa’s Aspen Pharmaceutical Holdings is expanding its vaccine production capacity and seeking technology transfers and licenses. During a visit to South Africa, French President Emmanuel Macron said that France is in favor of removing intellectual property barriers so that Africa can produce its own vaccines. Source