RationalWiki:What is going on with the coronavirus?/March 2021

March 2021
Emmanuel Macron announces a 3 week closure of schools amid a third wave of infections. Other measures include closing all non-essential shops and banning people from travelling more than 6 miles away from their homes. [https://independent.ie/entertainment/religious-tv-channel-loveworld-fined-after-airing-covid-conspiracy-theories-40260400.html Christian satellite TV channel Loveworld is fined ₤125,000 by the media watchdog for airing "potentially harmful" conspiracy theories about Covid. Among other things, they said it was caused by 5G technology, that it was a planned event organized by the "deep state" and that vaccines contain "nanochips" to control and hurt people.] Even though the European Medicines Agency says its benefits outweigh any risks, Germany has stopped routinely giving the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to people aged under 60 because of concerns about those blood clots. Facebook temporarily freezes the account of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro after he claims, without any evidence, that there is a herbal cure for Covid. Conman Televangelist John Hagee, who claimed "Jesus is our vaccine," busted getting actual vaccine. Several prominent black British celebrities sign an open letter urging black Britons to get vaccinated. So as to be better prepared next time, the leaders of twenty nations call for an international pandemic treaty. Covid-19 was made in a Wuhan lab, claims idiot former head of the CDC [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-56559173 The "stay-at-home" order is lifted in England. Groups of up to six people can meet outside, including in private gardens. More than six people can meet if they come from only two households. Outdoor sports venues reopen and organized outdoor sports can resume. Weddings can be held if they are attended by no more than six people.] Mexico revises its death toll to over 320,000, 60% higher than previously feared. Russia releases its third Covid vaccine. [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-56542593 Travel restrictions within Wales are lifted. Organized outdoor sports for children under 18 can resume. Libraries can reopen as can some outdoor historic sites and gardens.] [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56529868 European Union leaders have decided not to ban vaccine exports to the rest if the world. But they insist on AstraZeneca catching up on its vaccine deliveries to EU countries before any can be sent elsewhere.] Having already met the target of 100 million vaccines, Joe Biden announces he's now aiming to distribute 200 million vaccine doses in his first 100 days in office. The, Scotland's highest civil court [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56511585 rules that the Scottish government went beyond its powers by closing all churches because that interfered with freedom of religion as guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights. They did not, however, rule that all churches should reopen at once.] And remember, you can't just pray the virus away. How Europe and the United States lost to Covid-19 For Easter, Germany was going to go into an extra strict lockdown with a ban on big family gatherings and all in-person religious services cancelled. But Angela Merkel, has now caved in to demands not to impose that lockdown, scrapped it and called it a "personal mistake". A US trial of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, containing some 32,000 participants, has found the vaccine to be 79% effective against preventing symptomatic Covid-19 cases and 100% effective at preventing severe illness and hospitalisation. There was also no evidence that the vaccine causes blood clots. Scientists and vets are warning of a possible link between a new variant of coronavirus B117 [the Kent variant], and heart problems in cats and dogs after an increase in pets presenting with at a specialist veterinary hospital in Buckinghamshire during the pandemic’s second wave. International spectators will not be allowed at the delayed Olympic and Paralympic games this summer. Remember when Idaho held that fun mask-burning protest? Guess which state's legislature just shut down because of a Covid outbreak. Based on a statistical analysis, a Russian demographer estimated that the actual total number of COVID deaths in Russia is now at 450,000 — almost 5 times the official reported number of deaths. The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, has tested positive for Covid. He received his first vaccine dose 2 days prior but it likely hasn’t been enough time for his immunity to build up. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago partially closed due to COVID outbreak. The Swedish Medical Products Agency is investigating two deaths, a man and a women in their 60s, which could be linked to AstraZeneca vaccine. However, the SMPA have said "so far, we have neither been able to prove nor disprove a connection between these deaths and the vaccine." Estonian authorities are also investigating after the death of a man in his early 30s who received the AZ jab. Various European countries will resume the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. French Prime Minister Jean Castex has said he will receive the vaccine to boost confidence in it. In the UK, Boris Johnson has also stated he will recieve the AstraZeneca jab. Paris back in lockdown amid fears of a third wave of infections. COVID denialist Tanzanian President John Magufuli is dead, likely of COVID. Although the EU says there's no indication the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is connected to blood clots, concerns that is have led to the suspension of its use in Denmark, Iceland, Norway, [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56391818 the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland. It will still be used in Northern Ireland.] At the César Awards, French equivalent of the Oscars, actress Corinne Masiero stages a naked protest to demand more government support for the arts during the pandemic. Two adults from two different households and four teenagers from up to four different households can now meet up outside in Scotland. In Wales, four adults from two different households can meet up outside, the requirement to stay at home is replaced by one to stay local and barbers and hairdressers can reopen. New research shows that exposure to pollen can raise risk of contracting COVID-19, even if you don't have allergy Tanzanian President John Magufuli reported to be in India being treated for Covid-19. His previous relationship with covid is mostly famous for being a complete denial that it existed in Tanzania! Freeman on the land, sovereign citizen and other items of pseudolaw [https://www.bbc.com/news/56295261 have been unsuccessfully cited by non-essential business owners as an excuse to stay open during lockdown. Often cited is Article 61 of the 1215 Magna Carta, which gave some barons the right to decide which laws didn't apply to them. It was stricken from the Magna Carta before the end of 1216.] President Assad and his wife test positive for Covid Children start to return to school in England for the first time in more than two months. [https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-care-homes-allow-indoor-visits-from-nominated-friends-and-family-12239571 And care home residents can nominate one person who will be allowed to visit them indoors. Hugging and kissing, however, won't be permitted.] [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56279202 Italy blocks the export of 250,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Australia on the grounds that the company hasn't met its obligations to the EU. Australia says it's not a problem because they'll start domestic production of the vaccine soon.] Angela Merkel says there's now enough evidence that the Oxford- AstraZeneca vaccine is effective for people of all ages and Germany will approve its use for those over 65. Fake Covid vaccine distribution network broken up, after arrests in China and South Africa. Just over a month after all social distancing measures on the island were lifted, the Isle of Man starts a 21-day circuit-breaker lockdown after a sudden surge in cases that can all be traced back to a single infected ferry crew member. In spite of warnings against complacency from the Center for Disease Control, the governors of Mississippi and Texas have both announced that most Covid restrictions, including the obligation to wear masks, are about to be lifted. Trump and Melania vaccinated in January before leaving White House but kept it quiet. Although Emmanuel Macron had earlier dismissed it as "quasi ineffective" for older people, France has now approved use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for people aged 65 to 74. Having the first dose dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine or the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine reduces the chance of needing hospital treatment by more than 80%, according to studies in England.