Daily roundupTuesday's key coronavirus developments in Luxembourg and abroad

Starting with Luxembourg

• The latest figures from the Ministry of Health show that 185 new cases of coronavirus were discovered yesterday from 10,260 tests (positivity rate 1.80%). Four deaths were registered.

• One year ago Luxembourg entered its first lockdown. Here’s a brief lookback.

• Following the end of the vaccination campaign in retirement homes in Luxembourg, new rules and recommendations will be introduced. Here’s an overview.

• Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, Minister of Health Paulette Lenert, and Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean Asselborn stated that they are not aware of any secondary agreements regarding the purchase of vaccines.

• Firefighters and police officers will be invited for a jab in the upcoming weeks, but will generally not be prioritised and are called up according to age.

• Insurance company DKV has issued a press release in which it disputes ever having contributed to a separate vaccination campaign, as was reported by RTL.

And around the world

• The EU’s drug regulator EMA said Tuesday it remained “firmly convinced” of the benefits of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine despite several countries suspending its use over blood clot fears. WHO safety experts also prepared to meet Tuesday.

• The number of deaths from Covid-19 across Europe passed 900,000 on Tuesday.

• Retailers in the Trier-Saarburg area will only allow shopping by appointment as of Wednesday, 17 March, following the district administration’s decision that the incidence rate is too high for shops to operate normally.

• Germany said Tuesday it had met its national climate goal for 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic helped to drive the biggest reduction in emissions for three decades in Europe’s biggest economy.

• China is poised to ease border restrictions to allow some foreigners -- including from the US, India and Pakistan -- back in, provided they have taken a Chinese-made Covid-19 vaccine.

• Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro announced Monday that he will appoint cardiologist Marcelo Queiroga as health minister, the fourth to hold the post during the pandemic, as the country’s health system staggers amid surging Covid-19 cases.

• US manufacturer Moderna on Tuesday said it has started Covid-19 vaccine trials for children aged from 6 months to under 12 years old, with plans to enroll about 6,750 participants.