More than four million vaccinations against Covid-19 were administered in the US in a single day at the weekend, showing an acceleration in the country's vaccine distribution programme amid an ongoing rise in coronavirus cases.
Andy Slavitt, the White House senior adviser on the Covid-19 response, said on Monday that 4.1 million immunisations were given on Saturday, April 3, a record in the US vaccination programme.
The US is now averaging three million immunisations a day, a pace that is about five times faster than the global average, CNN reported.
"We will administer more shots in March than any country on Earth," President Joe Biden said in a speech last Monday. "Look at what we have done in the last 10 weeks. No other country has come close."
More than 18 per cent of the US population, or more than 61 million people, has been fully vaccinated, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
About 32 per cent, or more than 106 million people, have had at least one dose four months into the programme.
"The war against Covid-19 is far from over, far from won," Mr Slavitt said on Monday.
"The worst thing we could do right now would be to mistake progress for victory. If we let our guard down now, we will see more of our fellow Americans get sick and die unnecessarily. Each of us can act to prevent this."
He recommended that everyone continue following coronavirus mitigation measures such as masking, distancing and being vaccinated when possible.
The White House Covid-19 Task Force is issuing caution amid this progress owing to the continuous rise in coronavirus cases being seen in the US.
Agency director Dr Rochelle Walensky said this is the fourth week of increasing coronavirus cases.
The US health agency has recorded a seven-day average of more than 65,000 daily infections.
This is still dramatically lower that the 200,000 daily cases seen in the worst surge in the winter months.
“Trends in data have been indicating cases are increasing nationally and we are seeing this occur predominantly in younger adults," she said, referring to new research that found cases were rising among young people participating in extra-curricular activities.
"This is why you’ve heard me so clearly share my concern."
The worry is that higher cases over 50,000 daily can make it easier for a surge or spike to occur and then lead to a rise in hospital admissions and possible deaths.
Reuters reports that Covid-related hospital admissions rose 4 per cent last week, ending 11 weeks of decline.
Through vaccinating the elderly and high-risk populations, a fourth surge of cases may not be as deadly.
If the pandemic continues, however, scientists say the additional time allows for the virus to mutate and create more threatening variants.
The US is host to all three "variants of concern", so labelled by the World Health Organisation, from Brazil, South Africa and the UK.
The agency additionally labelled two strains from California as "variants of concern" and said it has its eye on home-grown "variants of interest" in the New York City area, which has stagnated at a high level of infections.
"We know that these increases are due in part to more highly transmissible variants, which we are very closely monitoring," Dr Walensky said.
"And as more schools are reopening, it is even more important to make sure they do so safely with strict adherence to [agency] guidance and for all of us to roll up our sleeves for a vaccine as soon as we can.”
The nation's top infectious diseases expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, debunked hopes that warmer weather will help lower cases and fend off a fourth surge of infections.
“You might remember a year ago or a little bit more than a year ago when we were looking for the summer to rescue us from surges, it was in fact the opposite," he said.
"We saw some substantial surges in the summer."
Dr Fauci said medical experts have not seen seasonal patterns with Covid, similar to how the flu operates in the country.
"I don’t think we should even think about relying on the weather to bail us out of anything we’re in right now.”
The US has recorded more than 555,000 Covid-19 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. The country also leads the world in coronavirus cases, with more than 30 million known infections.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE SQUAD FOR ASIAN JIU-JITSU CHAMPIONSHIP
Men’s squad: Faisal Al Ketbi, Omar Al Fadhli, Zayed Al Kathiri, Thiab Al Nuaimi, Khaled Al Shehhi, Mohamed Ali Al Suwaidi, Farraj Khaled Al Awlaqi, Muhammad Al Ameri, Mahdi Al Awlaqi, Saeed Al Qubaisi, Abdullah Al Qubaisi and Hazaa Farhan
Women's squad: Hamda Al Shekheili, Shouq Al Dhanhani, Balqis Abdullah, Sharifa Al Namani, Asma Al Hosani, Maitha Sultan, Bashayer Al Matrooshi, Maha Al Hanaei, Shamma Al Kalbani, Haya Al Jahuri, Mahra Mahfouz, Marwa Al Hosani, Tasneem Al Jahoori and Maryam Al Amri
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
the pledge
I pledge to uphold the duty of tolerance
I pledge to take a first stand against hate and injustice
I pledge to respect and accept people whose abilities, beliefs and culture are different from my own
I pledge to wish for others what I wish for myself
I pledge to live in harmony with my community
I pledge to always be open to dialogue and forgiveness
I pledge to do my part to create peace for all
I pledge to exercise benevolence and choose kindness in all my dealings with my community
I pledge to always stand up for these values: Zayed's values for tolerance and human fraternity
Herc's Adventures
Developer: Big Ape Productions
Publisher: LucasArts
Console: PlayStation 1 & 5, Sega Saturn
Rating: 4/5
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Florence and the Machine – High as Hope
Three stars
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
The%20specs
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
RESULTS
5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 2,200m
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ahmed Al Mehairbi (trainer)
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: AF Seven Skies, Bernardo Pinheiro, Qais Aboud
6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: Almahroosa, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: AF Sumoud, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner: AF Majalis, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner: Adventurous, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
Series info
Test series schedule 1st Test, Abu Dhabi: Sri Lanka won by 21 runs; 2nd Test, Dubai: Play starts at 2pm, Friday-Tuesday
ODI series schedule 1st ODI, Dubai: October 13; 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 16; 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 18; 4th ODI, Sharjah: October 20; 5th ODI, Sharjah: October 23
T20 series schedule 1st T20, Abu Dhabi: October 26; 2nd T20, Abu Dhabi: October 27; 3rd T20, Lahore: October 29
Tickets Available at www.q-tickets.com
Stat Fourteen Fourteen of the past 15 Test matches in the UAE have been decided on the final day. Both of the previous two Tests at Dubai International Stadium have been settled in the last session. Pakistan won with less than an hour to go against West Indies last year. Against England in 2015, there were just three balls left.
Key battle - Azhar Ali v Rangana Herath Herath may not quite be as flash as Muttiah Muralitharan, his former spin-twin who ended his career by taking his 800th wicket with his final delivery in Tests. He still has a decent sense of an ending, though. He won the Abu Dhabi match for his side with 11 wickets, the last of which was his 400th in Tests. It was not the first time he has owned Pakistan, either. A quarter of all his Test victims have been Pakistani. If Pakistan are going to avoid a first ever series defeat in the UAE, Azhar, their senior batsman, needs to stand up and show the way to blunt Herath.
