Daily COVID Tracker: Nigeria receives 3.9m vaccine doses and Brazil records highest single-day deaths

March 03

08:00 2021

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It was a significant milestone for Nigeria on Tuesday as the country received 3.94 million doses of vaccine from the COVAX programme. Here are five updates about the pandemic this Wednesday.

Brazil records highest single-day deaths

Brazil on Tuesday recorded its highest single-day deaths from COVID-19.

At least 1,641 people died on Tuesday, surpassing the single-day deaths of 1,595 recorded in late July 2020.

According to the country’s ministry of health, more than 257,000 people have died in Brazil, making it the second country with the most COVID-19 deaths globally — after the United States.

COVAX to deliver 237 million doses of vaccine by May

The COVAX vaccine-sharing programme says it will deliver 237 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to 142 countries by the end of May.

COVAX, which is co-led by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and GAVI Alliance, was launched in 2020 to mobilise resources to ensure that low and middle-income countries have equitable access to vaccines.

“Following the publication of an interim distribution forecast, and based on current knowledge of supply availability, this first round of allocations provides information on provision of doses of the AstraZeneca(AZ)/Oxford vaccine to COVAX Facility participants, through May 2021,” COVAX said in a statement.

“This first round allocation outlines delivery of 237 million1 doses of the AZ/Oxford vaccine – manufactured by AstraZeneca (AZ) & licensed and manufactured by Serum Institute of India (SII/AZ) – to 142 Facility participants.”

Texas governor lifts COVID-19 restrictions

Normal daily activities are returning in the US.

Greg Abbott, governor of Texas, on Tuesday, lifted most of the state’s COVID-19 restrictions, allowing businesses to reopen at full capacity from March 10.

The governor also told residents that masks were no longer mandatory.

“I just announced Texas is open 100 percent,” Abbott said in a tweet.

I just announced Texas is OPEN 100%.

EVERYTHING.
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I also ended the statewide mask mandate.

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) March 2, 2021
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Many states in the US have begun lifting restrictions imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19 after recording a sharp decline in infections.

Nigeria receives first batch of COVID-19 vaccine

Nigeria has now become the third African country to benefit from the COVAX programme after Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.

Nigeria on Tuesday received its first batch of 3.94 million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine through the COVAX programme.

Boss Mustapha, chairman of the presidential task force (PTF) on COVID-19, said the arrival of the vaccines marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s response to the pandemic.

He said the country received the vaccine through the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, domestic stakeholders, and the international community.

Paris mayor rejects weekend lockdown

Anne Hidalgo, Paris mayor, has opposed the government’s proposal to impose a weekend lockdown in the French capital.

Hidalgo said most residents live in cramped spaces, adding that imposing a weekend lockdown will amount to being inhumane.

“I disagreed with this proposal. A proposal that I find difficult, hard and even inhumane,” she said.

“Many residents here live in cramped apartments with no outdoor space, sometimes there are several generations under the same roof.”

President Emmanuel Macron is expected to hold a defence council meeting on Wednesday to discuss new restrictions.