Russia rolls out Covid-19 vaccine as Latin America, Caribbean pass 6m cases

British travellers returning home began quarantine, while Russia said it had produced the first batch of its coronavirus vaccine.

A view from a drone of the Christ The Redeemer statue during the reopening day of tourist attractions in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 15. Picture: AFP

British travellers returning home from parts of Europe and beyond began quarantine under new restrictions on Saturday, while Russia said it had produced the first batch of its coronavirus vaccine.

Latin America and the Caribbean, the pandemic’s epicentre, surpassed six million infections, even as Rio de Janeiro in hard-hit Brazil reopened tourist sites including the Christ the Redeemer statue.

Latin America claims nearly one-third of the 760,000 coronavirus deaths worldwide. The US is the worst-affected country with more than a quarter of the world’s 21 million cases, as well as nearly 170,000 deaths. Brazil follows with 3.3 million cases and 107,000 deaths.

The UK removed France, the Netherlands, Malta and three other countries from its list of places exempt from self-isolation rules, as a second wave of infections threatens more disruption and economic chaos in Europe. The move, announced late Thursday, sparked a 36-hour scramble for plane, train and ferry tickets among Britons desperate to get back home before the 4am rule change.

Cars leave Dover Port after disembarking a ferry returning from France to beat the deadline for quarantine imposed by the UK government. Picture: Getty Images

All arrivals from the black-listed states after the deadline must self-quarantine for 14 days, with the measure already in place for people coming from several other countries including Spain and Belgium.

Eurotunnel reported roaring business. “The Le Shuttle Passenger Service carried almost 30 per cent more leisure traffic yesterday than its initial forecast, adding 22 extra departures to the peak summer timetable carrying over 30,000 passengers,” it said.

France is facing a resurgence of the disease that emerged in China late last year.

French authorities have reported more than 2500 new cases on each of the past four days and over 3000 on Saturday — levels not seen since France was in a strict lockdown in the spring.

With cases still rising around the world, Moscow said the first consignments of its “Sputnik” vaccine had been produced, just four days after President Vladimir Putin announced Russia had won the global race to approve a vaccine. The claim has drawn a sceptical response from Western scientists and the World Health Organisation, which have said the vaccine still needs a rigorous review.

France has vowed to impose a “reciprocal measure” on Britain’s quarantine move, leaving French holiday-makers set to face tough choices in the coming days. Germany added most of Spain — where cases have surged in recent weeks — to its list of regions from where arrivals must show a negative COVID-19 test or quarantine for two weeks. Austria urged its citizens to return from Croatia before similar rules come into effect on Monday, while Serbia introduced mandatory testing for travellers from four neighbouring countries.

South Korea tightened restrictions in Seoul and its surrounding areas as the country reported the highest number of new daily infections since March. However, several countries announced an easing of lockdown measures. South Africa said it would resume sales of alcohol and cigarettes — banned on March 27 — on Monday.

AFP