Regulators in the UK have identified 30 cases involving rare blood clot events after the use of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine. The new number is 25 more than was reported in the past.
Some countries have restricted the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, as authorities investigate reports of rare, and in some cases severe, blood clots in patients who have received the jab.
However, officials believe that the benefits of the vaccine far outweigh any possible risk of blood clots.
Last month, the UK medicines regulator had registered five cases of a rare brain blood clot among the 11 million doses administered. The number has risen to 22 reports of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, an extremely rare brain clotting ailment, as well as eight blood clotting cases associated with low blood platelets.
The regulators said they had received no such reports after the use of the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine.
Here is an overview of the latest coronavirus news from around the world.
Europe
The European Union has agreed upon a deal to distribute nearly 3 million doses of the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine to members that are “most in need” — Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, and Slovakia.
While Austria, Slovenia and the Czech Republic insisted on receiving their full quota of shots under the bloc’s general shareout system, the main group of 19 states — including Germany, France, Italy and Spain — decided to share 6.66 million vaccines.
Ireland has added 26 countries and territories to its mandatory hotel quarantine list to control the spread of the virus. The advisory requires travelers to “book accommodation for mandatory hotel quarantine at least 48 hours in advance of travel.”
The 26 countries, including Israel, Albania and Monaco, join the “Category 2” list, which now has 58 countries and territories. Mauritius has been removed from that list.
“Any passenger who has been in any of these Category 2 countries in the previous 14 days, even if only transiting through one of these countries and even if remaining airside, is legally required to quarantine at a designated facility,” the travel advisory said.
France has imposed a ban on alcoholic drinks in French parks and other outdoor public spaces under the country’s limited nationwide lockdown.
Prime Minister Jean Castex also told the National Assembly that under the new restrictions, authorities would disperse groups of more than six people on riverbanks or squares, as many could be seen drinking and enjoying the springtime sun in cities like Paris and Lyon.
Police dispersed some 2,000 people gathered for a fake concert dubbed “La Boum” (the party) in the “Bois de La Cambre” park in Brussels in defiance of Belgium’s coronavirus lockdown.
Organizers promised a lineup of singer and producer Calvin Harris and a one-off reunion of French band Daft Punk, before announcing on social media that it was…
Read More: Coronavirus digest: UK finds 30 blood clot cases after AstraZeneca jab |