Europe

UK military to support coronavirus testing as business groups warn of food supply issues

Wed, 2020-12-23 09:25 — mike kraft

British military personnel will be supporting efforts to carry out coronavirus tests, beginning Wednesday, for hauliers currently stranded in Kent, near the Port of Dover, the UK Ministry of Defense said Wednesday.

"Starting today, 170 personnel will support COVID-19 testing for hauliers travelling to France from Kent," the MOD said in a tweet. "The support from our Armed Forces personnel will help to get hauliers moving again."

Police at the port told a CNN team there that some form of mobile coronavirus testing is also expected to arrive at the port in the next few hours, however they could not confirm where the testing would take place.

The announcement comes hours after the UK and France agreed to allow truck drivers to travel across the English Channel from the Port of Dover -- the UK’s main gateway to France and the Continent for freight transportation -- providing they have proof of a negative coronavirus test result.

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EU approves COVID-19 vaccine after agency gives safety OK

Tue, 2020-12-22 10:44 — mike kraft

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union on Monday gave official approval for the coronavirus vaccine developed by BioNTech and Pfizer to be used across the 27-nation bloc, raising hopes that countries can begin administering the first shots to their citizens shortly after Christmas.

The EU’s executive commission gave the green light just hours after the European Medicines Agency said the vaccine meets safety and quality standards. Brussels had been expected to take two or three days to endorse the market authorization move.

“As we have promised, this vaccine will be available for all EU countries at the same time, on the same conditions,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “This is a very good way to end this difficult year, and to finally start turning the page on COVID-19.”

Deliveries of the vaccine are expected to start this coming Saturday, with inoculations beginning across the EU between Dec. 27 and Dec. 29.

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Fauci says the new, fast-spreading UK coronavirus strain is likely already in the US

Tue, 2020-12-22 10:01 — mike kraft

Fauci says the new, fast-spreading UK coronavirus strain is likely already in the US The UK placed millions of people under new restrictions this past weekend over fears of a new virus strain that is thought to be more transmissible. YahooNews

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New coronavirus variant: What do we know?

Mon, 2020-12-21 18:52 — mike kraft

New coronavirus variant: What do we know? How has a new coronavirus variant become the most common form of the virus in parts of England? BBC News

The rapid spread of a new variant of coronavirus has been blamed for the introduction of strict tier four mixing rules for millions of people, harsher restrictions on mixing at Christmas in England, Scotland and Wales, and other countries placing the UK on a travel ban.

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