Coronavirus digest: UK urges G7 to vaccinate world by 2022

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called upon members of the G7 group of nations to make a commitment to inoculate the world's population by the end of 2022. 

The UK is set to host a meeting with the leaders of Germany, France, the US, Italy, Japan, the European Union, and Canada next week.

It is the group's first in-person summit in almost two years. 

"I’m calling on my fellow G7 leaders to join us to end this terrible pandemic and pledge we will never allow the devastation wreaked by coronavirus to happen again," said Johnson. He added that inoculating the world by 2022 would be "the single greatest feat in medical history."

Britain has said it will donate any vaccine doses that it does not require for its population. 

Below are more COVID-19-related stories from around the world.

Europe

As Italy eases COVID restrictions, the country is expecting a 20% rise in tourists this summer compared to last year, said Italian trade union federation Assoturismo.

"Between June and August 33 million arrivals are forecast, along with 140 million nights spent in official (tourist) structures," said the federation. In spite of this, the tourism sector will not be able to come anywhere close to its pre-pandemic figures. 

Short trips are expected to drive the sector this year. Even though air travel is reopening, locals traveling to the coast and visiting popular cities such as Rome, Florence, and Venice are expected to drive growth.

The Robert Koch Institute said Germany added 2440 new cases, as the death toll rose by 74 on Saturday. The total number of cases now stands at 3,700,367, with 89,222 deaths so far.

Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa on Sunday slammed the UK's decision to remove Portugal from a COVID-19 quarantine-free travel list. Britons returning to the UK from Portugal will need to quarantine for 10 days upon their arrival.

The Portuguese government believes the decision by the UK is not justified and that it damages both the Portuguese and British economies. Costa urged the UK to adhere to a digital coronavirus certificate scheme that will be introduced by the EU.

Asia

A team of US senators visiting Taiwan announced that the country would be getting 750,000 doses of coronavirus vaccines as part of the first tranche of US donations. "It was critical to the United States that Taiwan be included in the first group to receive vaccines because we recognize your urgent need and we value this partnership," said Senator Tammy Duckworth. 

Afghanistan is in the middle of a deadly surge in cases, with a delayed vaccine plan, and the spread of the Delta variant. The country was told by the World Health Organization (WHO) that the doses it was due to receive in April would only be made available by August due to supply shortages.

"We are in the middle of a crisis. I've gotten diplomatic answers," but no vaccine doses, said health ministry spokesman Ghulam Dastigir Nazari. He added that only 35,000 vaccine doses remain in the country, thereby forcing authorities to stop giving first jabs.

India's western state of Maharashta intends to slowly ease its lockdown restrictions this week. New Delhi and other Indian cities are also looking at ways to reopen businesses.

India's seven-day-average of new cases was 130,648 as of Sunday. The country has recorded at least 347,000 deaths from the virus.

Africa 

Uganda enacted a strict nationwide lockdown on Sunday, closing down schools, suspending church services and putting some restrictions on travel. The lockdown will last 42 days, according to an announcement from Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

Infections have surged in Uganda, particularly among young people, with a nationwide average of 825 new infections per day. The new restrictions will hamper the country's economic growth. 

Morocco intends to reopen its airports for international passenger traffic on June 15. Travelers may only enter the country if they are vaccinated or present proof of a negative coronavirus test.

The new travel rules apply to both citizens and foreign nationals.

Asia-Pacific

In a meeting held between the Pacific Rim economies, officials discussed improved access to  vaccines and other tools needed for economic recovery from the pandemic.

The 21-member Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) includes economies all along the Pacific Rim, from the US to New Zealand. "The successful distribution of vaccines across our region will
be critical to our recovery," said New Zealand's Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O'Connor.

Australia's most populous state Victoria reported two more locally acquired cases. The state is going to start easing its lockdown from June 10. 

As daily cases are low, the restrictions in Melbourne are likely to be lifted on Thursday. Health authorities are still worried about the highly infectious delta variant, of which there are ten recorded cases.

tg, wd/rc (AFP, AP, Reuters)