Coronavirus Global Update: Recent Episodes
BBC World Service
News on Covid-19 and its impact on health, business and travel worldwide. When there are developments, we will bring you the latest updates. From the Global News Podcast team.
The UK becomes the first country to approve a COVID-19 vaccine which targets both the original and Omicron variants of the virus. Also: Covid infection numbers surge in the Marshall Islands, Moderna announces its first vaccine facility in the Southern Hemisphere, and a date is set for schools to re-open in Shanghai.
Queues form outside hundreds of testing centres in the city's Chaoyang district. Also: the Peruvian government is urged to help poorer families affected by Covid, and the Indian politician Sonia Gandhi is being treated for Covid-19 in hospital.
Sixty-six people are said have died, nine days after the outbreak was first acknowledged. Meanwhile, President Biden says the US has offered Covid vaccines to Pyongyang but has received no response. Also: China orders thousands of Beijing residents to relocate to quarantine hotels despite testing negative and Easter Island reopens to tourists.
State media says North Korea's leader Kim Jong-Un strongly criticized healthcare officials for what he called a botched response to epidemic prevention, as cases soar to more than a million. Also China's weakening economy is blamed on lockdowns.
Wearing a mask on flights and in airports in Europe will no longer be mandatory. Also: Shanghai gradually eases its lockdown restrictions, and Denmark suspends its general immunisation programme.
Kim Jong-Un said it was a "great disaster" for the country. Also: China pulls out as host of the Asian Cup football finals next year, and New Zealand's prime minister tests positive for Covid-19.
President Biden says the US must remain vigilant against the pandemic. Also: A former British prime minister calls on rich countries to do more to increase funding for global vaccinations, tests and treatments, and North Korea orders a nationwide lockdown to contain a rise in cases.
Chinese capital is looking to avoid the fate of Shanghai, which is under strict lockdown. Also; a planned ban on night-time prayers in mosques in Egypt during Ramadan has been dropped.
China imposes lockdown measures on a whole province amid rising cases. Also, Germany records a seven day high of infections, and Britain decides to remove all travel restrictions later this week.
Also: New data indicates the total number of deaths may be three times higher than records show; what lessons have we learnt from this pandemic to help prevent new outbreaks and meeting the scientists developing the vaccines of the future.
The global initiative launched by WHO and partners wants 16 billion dollars, it funds Covid testing, treatments and vaccines around the world. Also: Spanish tourism takes a hit because of its child vaccine policy, and Sweden aims to start 'living with Covid'.
Justin Trudeau held an emergency debate on demonstrations which have paralysed Ottawa for twelve days. Also, Chinese scientists say they have developed a new quick and accurate method of coronavirus testing and Hong Kong announces further restrictions to control the virus.
Sir John Bell says reputation of the vaccine was damaged and lives were lost as a result. Also, Australia opens its borders to tourists and protests by lorry drivers continue in Canada.
Thousands of people across Canada have been protesting against the government's Covid measures, China detects ten new cases among Olympic Games-related personnel, and Copenhagen is holding Europe's largest lights festival following the repeal of restrictions
A law comes into force requiring the vast majority of adults to be vaccinated. Also: The number of Covid deaths in the United States surpasses 900,000, and the African Union's annual summit hears calls for a fair distribution of vaccines.
South African copy of the Moderna vaccine could be a breakthrough for poorer countries. Also, trials on experimental nasal vaccine show promise, and the number of dead with coronavirus in India passes half a million.
New Zealand announces plans to reopen its borders in five stages as it starts to ease some of the world's toughest Covid restrictions. Also, scientists discover why some people have remained untouched by the virus, and Novak Djokovic speaks in public for the first time since being deported from Australia.
Introducing a podcast rounding-up the latest on the spread of the coronavirus around the world, with reports from affected areas and details of the latest medical information.