Evening roundupThursday's key coronavirus developments from Luxembourg and abroad

Starting with Luxembourg:

• [block type="summary”]The latest figures from the Ministry of Health show that 265 new cases of coronavirus were discovered yesterday. Two more deaths were also recorded.

  • The general director of the Hôpitaux Robert Schuman group, Dr Claude Schummer, is said to have parted ways with the hospital group, while the general director of Pfizer Luxembourg disputed claims that the group had placed an order for 100,000 doses of the Biontech/Pfizer vaccine.
  • The president of the Luxembourgish Hospital Federation (FHL) has criticised the hospital staff turnout for the vaccine, saying it was much too low.
  • Rumours have emerged that the Limpertsberg vaccination centre is troubled by people not showing up to appointments because they do not want the AstraZeneca vaccine to be administered.
  • As a result, Luxembourg has placed some doses of the vaccine on hold after several other countries reported issues in blood circulation in people who received the AstraZeneca vaccine, with risk of blood clots.

  And abroad

  • The world on Thursday marked one year since the coronavirus threat was declared a pandemic, with vaccinations offering hope but much of humanity still enduring highly restricted lives and no clear path back to normality.
  • Europe’s medicines regulator said Thursday there appeared to be no higher risk of blood clots in those vaccinated against Covid-19, after a number of countries, including Denmark, suspended use of the AstraZeneca jab. A preliminary probe showed that a batch of AstraZeneca vaccines used in Austria was likely not to blame for the death of a nurse who received a jab.
  • The EMAapproved the single-shot Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine on Thursday -- the fourth jab to get the green light for the 27-nation bloc. Here’s everything you need to know about the vaccine.
  • Millions of people around the world risk dying of hunger and the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change are increasing the threat, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday.
  • The novel coronavirus has killed at least 2,621,295 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019.
  • France will try out a Covid-free status digital pass for air travellers with flag carrier Air France starting a month-long trial for some flights, Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari said Thursday.
  • The US Congress passed Joe Biden’s enormous economic relief package Wednesday, delivering a resounding victory for the president and giving what he called a “fighting chance” to millions of families and businesses suffering during the coronavirus pandemic.
  • Competitors at this year’s Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics and the 2022 Beijing Winter Games will be offered coronavirus vaccines purchased from China, Olympic chief Thomas Bach announced Thursday in a significant move for the holding of the Covid-delayed Tokyo Games.