Latest developments about coronavirus pandemic around the globe

Here are tH

Here are latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:

- Jabs for adolescents -

US biotech firm Moderna says that trials have shown its Covid-19 vaccine is "highly effective" in adolescents aged 12-17 and it will seek regulators´ approval in June.

- Half US adults jabbed -

Half of all US adults will have received full Covid-19 vaccines on Tuesday, the White House says.

President Joe Biden has set a target of having 70 percent of adults vaccinated with at least one dose by July 4. The current figure is almost 62 percent.

- Few ´breakthrough´ cases -

About 0.01 percent of people who have been fully vaccinated became infected with Covid-19 between January and April, a US government study confirming the shots´ high efficacy shows.

- Origin probe call -

The United States leads calls at the World Health Organization for a more in-depth probe of the pandemic origins, after an international mission to China earlier this year proved inconclusive.

- Olympics still going ahead -

A new US travel warning for Japan over virus risks will not affect this summer´s pandemic-postponed Olympic Games, the Japanese government and Tokyo 2020 organisers say.

- EU travel pass -

EU leaders back a Covid pass that they hope will unlock tourist travel in July with half of the bloc´s inhabitants soon to have at least one vaccine shot.

- Returned vaccines -

South Sudan will return 72,000 doses of donated Covid-19 vaccines after concluding it cannot administer them before they expire, a health ministry official says.

- 3.4 million dead -

The pandemic has killed at least 3,475,079 people worldwide since the virus first emerged in December 2019, according to an AFP compilation of official data.

The US is the worst-affected country with 590,574 deaths, followed by Brazil with 449,858, India with 307,231, Mexico with 221,695 and Britain with 127,724.

The figures are based on reports by the health authorities in each country, but do not take into account upward revisions carried out later by statistical bodies.

The World Health Organization says up to three times more people have died directly or indirectly due to the pandemic than official figures suggest

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After Pandemic- Auckland stands out as most liveable country

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India's rural population afraid of coronavirus test and vaccination

A health worker (right) speaks to a family during a coronavirus vaccine awareness campaign in Kalwa village, Haryana state, India. Photo: AFP When health worker Neelam Kumari knocks on doors in Indian villages the occupants sometimes run out the back, terrified that she wants to vaccinate them against Covid-19. With India's devastating recent virus surge easing in cities, the deadly pandemic is ravaging the vast poverty-stricken rural hinterland. But here, ignorance and fear rule. "A lot of people in my village don't want to take the vaccine. They fear that they will die if they take it," Kumari told AFP in Dhatrath, a collection of two-story buildings in Haryana state with buffaloes wandering the streets."One of the villagers was so angry that he beat up a (health) worker who was trying to convince him to take the vaccine." Just 15 percent of people in rural areas, compared with 30 percent in towns and cities have received at least one vaccine dos

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