EU approves Pfizer jab, Denmark's mink breeding ban: COVID-19 bulletin

TOP HEADLINES

• **The European Union is preparing to begin mass vaccinations after the Pfizer/BioNTech jab was given final approval **by the European Commission, just hours after the EU drug regulator, the European Medicines Agency gave it the green light.

• Denmark has agreed a temporary nationwide ban on mink breeding until 2022 and at the same time creating the legal basis for its order in November to cull all mink in the country after the discovery of a mutated strain among the animals.

• The World Health Organization's Mike Ryan has cautioned against major alarm over the new variant of the virus found in the UK, adding that it is "important to get across that this is a normal part of virus evolution."

• The co-founder of vaccine producer BioNTech, Ugur Sahin, said it was"highly likely"that its vaccine works against the new mutated strain but it could also adapt the vaccine if necessary within in six weeks.

• The number of hotel bookings by tourists in Spain fell 84 percent in November from the same month a year ago , according to data from the country's INE national statistics office, as pandemic restrictions continue to take their toll on many countries' tourism sectors.

• UK Home Secretary Priti Patel says the government is "working to get a resolution" as talks continue withFrance onreopening trade andtransport across the Channel.

• "Borders really need to be running pretty much freely from tomorrow," otherwise there could be ashortage of many food groups in UK supermarkets afterChristmas, according to the British Retail Consortium's director of food andsustainability, Andrew Opie.

• UK airline Virgin Atlantic is to require proof of a negative test for all passengers traveling from London to the U.S. from December 24, the company said in a statement.

• France's Health Minister Olivier Veran said the country'smedicalregulatory body was expected to give approval to the Pfizer vaccine by December 26 , with France planning to start its vaccination program the following day.

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SHOULD WE BE WORRIED ABOUT NEW STRAINS OF THE VIRUS?

ACROSS EUROPE

Guy Henderson in London

"If the virus continues to spread, we will take stronger measures," said UK Home Secretary Priti Patel. That followed comments by Patrick Vallance, the government's chief scientific adviser, that more parts of the country may have to head into a harder lockdown to contain a new variant of the coronavirus that early studies suggest could be 70 percent more contagious than previous strains. Some experts believe the current system of regional restrictions may not be enough and that harder national measures could save thousands of lives.

The ripples are being felt globally. More than 40 countries have imposed UK travel bans. As far away as India, cities have reimposed curfews in anticipation of a heightened level of risk.

The UK is talking to its neighbor France about restarting lorry-freight traffic across the Channel, as some supermarkets warn of a potential shortage of some fruit and vegetables in the lead up to Christmas.

Paris is reluctant to let traffic flow again until the European Commission has drawn up new EU-wide health protocols in light of the new coronavirus strain.

The

Financial Times

has seen a government document warning of a shortage of tests in the lead-up to Christmas that could complicate containment efforts. That challenge could become more acute in January with demand for tests likely to surge ahead of the restart of school and university terms. Keeping the academic year on track is a government priority.

"We want, if we possibly can, to get schools back in a staggered way," said UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. "But, obviously, the commensurate thing to do is to follow the path of the epidemic."

Denmark has agreed on a temporary nationwide ban on mink breeding until 2022. /AP

Toni Waterman in Brussels

The EU

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine will start rolling out across Europe "within the next days" after the European Commission officially approved the jab on Monday night. Europe's medicines regulator gave its blessing earlier in the day. Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen called the vaccine, which was invented by the German firm BioNTech,"a true European success story."

Member states are set to receive their first shipments of the vaccine on December 27, 28 and 29. Each country will decide their own vaccination strategy including when to start administering the jab and who will be first in line.

More vaccines are expected to be approved in the coming months, with the Moderna jab up for evaluation on January 6.

Belgium

Belgium has extended its travel ban for people coming from the UK for another 24 hours as EU member states seek a common approach to the new, fast-spreading variant of the coronavirus.

People who reside in Belgium full-time will be allowed to enter the country from the UK from December 23, but will need to quarantine for a week upon their return. Officials say they will check to make sure they are following the rules. All other travelers are barred entry to Belgium until midnight on December 31, at which point they will be allowed in but only if they have a negative PCR test.

Trent Murray in Berlin

There have been 19,528 new cases recorded in Germany, according to the latest data from the Robert Koch Institute. That's an increase of 35 percent compared with this time last week, showing the rate of infection still isn't slowing down despite the lockdown. There have also been 731 deaths recorded, the third highest daily value reported during the pandemic and an increase of 46 percent compared with this time last week.

The data come as Germany, like other European countries, gears up to start vaccinations. Specialist centers have already been set up in major cities, with health authorities saying they're ready to start offering the jab from December 27.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has calling the Pfizer/BioNTech jab 'a true European success story.' /AP

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