[Epoch Times December 22, 2021](Epoch Times reporters Chen Ting, Li Yan, Yan Shu comprehensive report) According to statistics from Johns Hopkins University, as of Wednesday morning, Eastern Time (December 22) At 8:21, the total number of CCP virus (Wuhan virus, New Coronavirus, COVID-19) cases worldwide exceeded 276 million (276,349,017) cases, and the death toll exceeded 5.37 million (5,372,275) people.
The following are statistics on the number of newly confirmed cases and deaths in a single day in some countries on December 21 (Tuesday) (some data are adjusted according to worldometers):
172,072 cases were confirmed in the United States, and 2,093 people died;
11,824 confirmed cases in Canada and 24 deaths;
5,531 cases were confirmed in Australia and 8 people died;
89,609 cases were confirmed in the UK and 173 people died;
72,882 confirmed cases in France and 229 deaths;
64,949 confirmed cases and 510 deaths in Germany;
6,317 confirmed cases and 318 deaths in India;
Brazil has 3,621 confirmed cases and 75 deaths;
25,655 confirmed cases in Russia and 998 deaths;
16,325 confirmed cases and 250 deaths in Vietnam;
218 cases were confirmed in Japan and 2 people died;
7,450 cases were confirmed in South Korea and 78 people died;
14 cases were confirmed in Taiwan and 0 people died.
The following is a real-time update on the CCP virus epidemic:
The number of new cases in a single day in the UK breaks 100,000 for the first time
The UK recorded 106,122 new Covid cases on Wednesday (December 22). This is the highest number of new cases in a single day since the beginning of the epidemic, and it is also the first time that it has exceeded 100,000. Wednesday’s record was more than 13,000 more than last Friday’s record of 93,045 at the time.
The total number of new cases last week increased by 58.9% from the previous week.
Since the beginning of the epidemic, the total number of confirmed cases in the UK has reached 11,647,473.
According to data from the British government, 140 people have died from the epidemic, bringing the total death toll to 147,573.
Data from the British government also showed that 171,801 people mentioned COVID-19 as the cause of death on the registered death certificate.
Compared with the previous week, the number of daily deaths in the past 7 days has dropped by 2.7%.
As of Tuesday, a total of 8,008 people have been hospitalized due to the new coronavirus. This is the highest number since November 22, an increase of 4% from a week ago.
Prime Minister confirms that Spanish families can celebrate Christmas
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez confirmed that Spanish families will be able to celebrate Christmas together.
The Spanish Ministry of Health reported a record 49,823 cases and 94 deaths on Tuesday, but compared with the previous wave, the number of hospitalizations and intensive care is still quite low.
In a speech to Parliament today, Sanchez said: “Parents and mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers will be able to get together with their children and grandchildren.”
According to data released yesterday, Omicron accounts for about 47% of the total infections.
South Korean small business owners rally to protest blockade restrictions
Hundreds of South Korean small business owners gathered in the capital on Wednesday to call for the curfew and strict COVID-19 restrictions imposed on restaurants, cafes, gyms and other facilities to be lifted.
The demonstrators waved their fists and shouted: “Guarantee the right to survive!” and “Remove restrictions on business operations!”
When legislators stepped onto the podium to explain the aid plan proposed by the ruling party’s presidential candidate, some laughed. But there were no major violent incidents or clashes with the police.
According to South Korea’s current social distancing guidelines, up to 299 people are allowed to participate in the rally, but everyone must be vaccinated.
On Saturday, South Korea re-implemented the strictest social distancing regulations in an attempt to control a record-breaking surge in cases of the Chinese Communist Party virus. Most of the new cases in South Korea are still delta variants, but health officials say that the new omicron variants may become the main strain within a few months.
Re-implemented restrictions include the prohibition of private gatherings of five or more people, the imposition of a curfew at 9 p.m. in restaurants, coffee shops and karaoke venues, and the need for vaccination certificates to enter restaurants and other businesses.
On Wednesday, health authorities reported 7,456 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, which continues to show an upward trend. A record 1,063 patients are in a severe or critical state.
South Korea has confirmed 234 new cases of omicron variants.
Israel provides the world’s first fourth dose of vaccine
According to the recommendations of the Israeli Epidemic Expert Group, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (Naftali Bennett) said on Tuesday (December 21) evening that people over 60 and medical staff will be eligible to receive a second booster shot of the vaccine.
The plan for people who had a third shot at least four months ago is awaiting approval from the Ministry of Health, but it is expected to take place in the next few days.
“Israeli citizens are the first people in the world to receive the third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, and we will continue to be the first to receive the fourth dose,” Bennett said in a speech relayed by his office.
A year ago, due to a special agreement reached with pharmaceutical manufacturer Pfizer/BioNTech, Israel started the world‘s first vaccination campaign. On the premise of sharing health data about the impact of vaccines, Israel received an early vaccine supply.
German Minister of Health: A fourth shot may be needed to deal with Omicron
The new German Minister of Health, Karl Lauterbach, suggested that a fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine may be needed to deal with the Omicron variant.
At the press conference this afternoon, Lauterbach stated that Omicron will become the main strain in Germany within three weeks. Germany has ordered 80 million doses of vaccines specifically designed to deal with the Omicron variant, which will be delivered in April or May next year.
Germany reported 45,659 new cases on Wednesday (December 22), a decrease of 5,642 from the same day a week ago, while the death toll increased by 510.
WHO European Office: Omicron pandemic may strike
The European Regional Office of the World Health Organization warned on Wednesday (December 22) that with the spread of the Omicron variant, countries should prepare for the upcoming “significant surge” in the number of cases, and urge everyone to administer additional doses.
The Central News Agency reported that Hans Kluge, director of the WHO European Office, said at a press conference in Vienna that since the Omicron variant of COVID-19 was found in late November, 53 countries in the WHO European region have at least There have been cases of infection in 38 countries, and it has become the main epidemic strain in countries such as Denmark, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.
Kruger said: “We can see another storm is coming.” “In a few weeks, Omicron will become a major epidemic strain in more countries in Europe, pushing the already tight medical system to the brink of collapse.”
WHO data shows that compared with the size of the population anywhere, Europe has reported the largest number of confirmed cases in recent weeks. Even before the Omicron epidemic began, officials had warned that by March next year, there would be an additional 700,000 deaths. .
Kruger said that so far, 89% of Omicron cases in Europe are related to common COVID-19 symptoms, such as cough, sore throat, and fever; it usually occurs in adults in their 20s and 30s. Spread in social and workplace gatherings.
He said: “The number of new COVID-19 variants is huge, which may lead to more hospitalizations and a serious impact on the medical system and other important care.”
The WHO stated yesterday that Omicron is spreading faster than Delta, causing infections in people who have been vaccinated or recovered from the epidemic. Leading WHO scientists therefore stated that the early evidence concludes that Omicron is mainly mild. , “Very unwise”.
Japan’s Omicron Defense Fumio Kishida announces the extension of the lockdown
In order to prevent the COVID-19 mutant strain Omicron, Japan currently prohibits all foreigners from applying for entry. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced yesterday that the control measures will be extended for a period of time; in addition, close contacts of Omicron will be required to quarantine at the epidemic prevention hotel for 14 days.
The Central News Agency reported that starting from 0:00 on November 30, Japan will, in principle, completely ban foreigners from applying for entry to prevent the COVID-19 mutant Omicron.
This measure was tentatively implemented for one month. Japan’s Asahi Shimbun reported that Kishida announced at a press conference yesterday that the implementation of border control will be extended for a period of time because scientific assessments of Omicron’s infectious power and critical illness risk have not yet been established.
In addition, Kishida said that for close contacts of Omicron, they will be required not to quarantine at their own homes, but to be quarantined at an epidemic prevention hotel for 14 days.
As for the cloth “Abe masks” issued by the Japanese government in April last year, nearly 83 million pieces were not distributed in the warehouse, resulting in huge management fees. Kishida said in this regard that from the perspective of efficiency of financial funds, it will be distributed to those who request it as much as possible, and the rest will be discarded in 2021.
Taiwan adds 14 confirmed cases of overseas immigration
Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center announced today (December 22) that 14 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 were imported from abroad, of which 2 cases were entered by the 7+7 plan, and were checked out before returning home for quarantine. Threat; another confirmed case has no new deaths.
Command center spokesperson Zhuang Renxiang stated at the epidemic press conference this afternoon that today there were 14 newly imported cases of COVID-19, 9 males and 5 females, aged in their 20s to 40s. They were from the United States and the United States. In Italy, Indonesia, Poland, the United Kingdom, Cambodia, and Vietnam, in the remaining 1 case, the entry date was between October 7 and December 19.
According to statistics from the command center, a total of 16,840 cases have been confirmed so far, including 2,187 overseas immigration, 14,599 local cases, 36 Dunmu fleet, and 3 aircraft infections. Since 2020, a total of 850 COVID-19 deaths have been reported, of which 838 were local and 12 were imported from abroad.
The death toll from Omicron infection in the UK rises to 14 and 129 hospitalized
In an interview with Sky News on Wednesday, Gillian Keegan, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, said that as of the 21st, 129 people in the UK have been hospitalized for Omicron infection and 14 of them have died.
She said that based on the data obtained, the British government will not hesitate to further implement COVID-19 restrictions if necessary.
British Prime Minister Johnson said on Tuesday that he will not implement new restrictions in England before Christmas, but if the situation is extremely serious, the government may take action afterwards.
Minister of Law: The number of new cases per day may reach 100,000 soon
French Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Wednesday that the fifth wave of the epidemic in France is developing rapidly, and the number of new cases per day may soon jump from 70,000 to 100,000 a day.
Vilan speculates that by early January, the Omicron variant will become the main Covid-19 strain in France. He said that although the new restrictions have not yet been implemented, any possibility cannot be ruled out. The authorities hope that the increase in the number of vaccinated people can control the development of the virus.
According to statistics from Johns Hopkins University, in France, another 229 patients have died in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths in France to 122,931, and an additional 72,882 confirmed cases.
Suspected first local case of Omicron in Japan
The Osaka City Government said on Wednesday that Japan suspected the first case of indigenous transmission of the Omicron variant.
The governor of Osaka Prefecture Yoshinori Yoshimura stated at the epidemic meeting that there were three confirmed Omicron cases in the city, but these infected persons had not travelled abroad and their routes of infection could not be traced.
Yoshimura said: “I believe this is a case of local transmission. I think this will be the first case in Osaka and the first in the country.”
Out of concerns about the Omicron variant, the world’s third-largest economy has tightened border restrictions and is preparing to speed up booster vaccination.
AstraZeneca and Oxford collaborate to develop Omicron vaccine
AstraZeneca (AstraZeneca) has begun to cooperate with Oxford University to produce Omicron targeted vaccines. At present, other pharmaceutical companies are also adjusting vaccine formulations.
According to the Financial Times, Oxford University’s research team leader Sandy Douglas (Sandy Douglas) said: “Like many previous concerns, we, together with our partner AstraZeneca, have taken initial steps to produce an update. Vaccines for future needs.”
Douglas said: “Adenovirus-based vaccines (such as those produced by Oxford/AstraZeneca) can in principle be used to deal with any new variants.” She said that the development of new vaccines will be faster than some people expected.
On Christmas Eve Finland requires bars and restaurants to close before 10pm
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin (Sanna Marin) said at a press conference on Tuesday evening that starting from Christmas Eve, restaurants will be required to stop serving alcohol by 9pm and close their doors by 10pm.
Marin said: “We must take this situation seriously and respond accordingly.”
She said that from December 28, restrictions will be further tightened, restaurants will stop drinking at 5 pm and close at 6 pm. Further details of the restrictions will be announced on Wednesday.
Relevant restrictions will last for three weeks. Ma Lin said that the government will provide relief programs to compensate the affected catering industry.
Finnish health officials said that in the past two weeks, there have been more than 23,000 new diagnoses, setting a record in this Nordic country with a population of 5.5 million.
British Columbia, Canada will close bars and gyms
Out of concerns about the Omicron variant, British Columbia on the Pacific coast of Canada will close bars, clubs and gyms.
According to the Associated Press, starting from 11:59 p.m. local time on Wednesday (December 22), bars, nightclubs, gyms, fitness centers and dance studios will be closed, and indoor gatherings including weddings will also be cancelled. This new measure will be implemented until January 18. For other urban activities with fixed seats, the capacity must be halved.
BC Chief Health Officer Bonnie Henry said the risk posed by Omicron is “essentially different” from other variants, and it is more likely to infect people who have been vaccinated or have been infected with Covid-19.
She said there is an “explosive” increase in new cases in the province, with a large number of people being infected at the same time. There has also been a surge in cases among people between 18 and 35 years of age.
Previously, Quebec had announced on Monday that it would close bars, cinemas, gyms and spas.
Editor in charge: Ye Ziwei
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