Daily COVID Tracker: Infections drop globally as Africa records 25 percent decline

Here are five updates about the pandemic this Thursday.

Canada imposes COVID vaccine mandate on federal employees

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada will place unvaccinated federal workers on unpaid leave while air, train and ship passengers will also be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Federal employees will be mandated to declare their full vaccination status through an online portal by October 29, in what is considered to be one of the world’s strictest COVID measures.

“These travel measures, along with mandatory vaccination for federal employees are some of the strongest in the world,” Trudeau said.

“If you’ve done the right thing and gotten vaccinated, you deserve the freedom to be safe from COVID.”

Pfizer to vaccinate Brazilian town against COVID

Pfizer says it will study the efficacy of its vaccine against COVID by vaccinating an entire population in a town in Brazil.

The company said the study will be conducted in Toledo town, Parana state, southern Brazilian with 143,000 population.

Pfizer said the study will examine the transmission of COVID-19 in a “real-life scenario” after the population has been vaccinated.

“The initiative is the first and only of its kind to be undertaken in collaboration with the pharmaceutical company in a developing country,” Pfizer said.

WHO: COVID cases decline globally

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths have continued to decline globally.

The agency said 3.1 million new cases and just over 54,000 deaths were reported last week, representing a nine percent decrease compared to the previous week.

WHO said the trend has remained the same since August.

In the week of September 27 to October 3, WHO said all continents reported a decline in the number of new cases apart from Europe.

The agency said the largest decline in weekly deaths was reported from Africa with a 25 percent.

Also, the largest decrease in new weekly cases was reported in Africa with 43 percent decline, followed by the Eastern Mediterranean, 21 percent.

Sweden, Denmark pause use of Moderna COVID vaccine for younger people

Sweden and Denmark have paused the use of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for younger age groups after reports of possible rare cardiovascular side effects.

The Swedish health agency said it would suspend using the shot for people born in 1991, adding that data shows an increase of myocarditis and pericarditis among youths and young adults that had been vaccinated.

“The connection is especially clear when it comes to Moderna’s vaccine Spikevax, especially after the second dose,” the health agency said.

In Denmark, people below the age of 18 will not receive the vaccine out of precaution, the Danish health authority said.

About 1.6 million COVID vaccines in Afghanistan to expire soon, says WHO

WHO says about 1.6 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines in Afghanistan should be urgently used as the shots will soon expire.

The agency said testing and vaccination against COVID-19 had significantly declined in the country since the beginning of August.

WHO added that despite difficulties in the country, it is working with partners to increase testing and vaccination in 16 provinces.