Coronavirus vaccines remain effective in spite of the virus mutations, said an official of the St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology on Friday.

TASS reported quoting, deputy director of the St. Petersburg Pasteur Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Vladimir Dedkov that in spite of the virus mutations COVID-19 vaccines remain effective.

Expertsare concerned that the COVID- 19 pandemic could have long-lasting effects on the psychological wellbeing of individuals, eventually culminating in a public mental health crisis. 

COVID- 19 and the subsequent panic, uncertainty and isolation have led to a widespread rise in cases of anxiety and depression. Mental health professionals warn that given current conditions, everyone is at risk for these diseases. 

Food and drink businesses in Finnish regions with fast spread of the coronavirus will be required to observe new restrictions on liquor sale and opening hours beginning from July 24, the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health said on Thursday.

"The Government has amended the decree restricting the activities of food and beverage service businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic.

As the number of laboratory-confirmed Covid-19 infections peek in Finland, the country is going into another shutdown. Over 400k people have already received the first shot of a two-shot vaccine, but the rate of vaccination has altogether been disappointing. Finland, with 12.38 administered doses per 100 people is in 23rd place globally, after countries like Lithuania and Slovenia.

Back in March, Finland avoided high infection and mortality rates from Covid 19 by going into an almost total shutdown. The government temporarily adopted existing emergency laws and among other measures, ordered the closure of the country’s borders, restaurants, and schools, limited public gatherings, and encouraged everyone who can work from home to do so. 

Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Tuesday that the first meeting of the organization's commission to discuss new treaty on the COVID-19 pandemic will take place on March 1, 2022, and its final document will be presented in 2024.

By intentionally misquoting professionals on a World Health Organization (WHO) team who have concluded their mission on COVID-19 origin-tracing in China, the Times, among some other Western media, have made themselves accomplices in politicizing the pandemic.

- While China is committed to transparency and global collaboration in the fight against COVID-19, some Western media like the Times have no qualms about abusing their influence to mislead the public over China out of self-interest.

Calling it a "significant, unprecedented" commitment, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said that the global minimum tax would end the race-to-the-bottom in corporate taxation, and ensure fairness for the middle class and working people in the United States and around the world.

WASHINGTON, June 5 (Xinhua) -- The Group of Seven (G7) industrialized nations have agreed to support new rules that will achieve a global minimum tax rate of at least 15 percent, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Saturday.

The leaders of the Group of Seven nations have pledged over 1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses for the rest of the world - either directly or through funding to COVAX, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced.

In a statement to mark the end of the Summit hosted by the UK, Boris Johnson said: "A week ago, I asked my fellow leaders to help in preparing and providing the doses we need to vaccinate the whole world by the end of 2022."

As the world is preparing for the second wave of Covid-19, Finland’s MTV3 channel is launching the 13th season of Dancing with the Stars. The popular international TV format has lasted 12 seasons in Finland where it has been a launchpad for celebrities into politics and ex politicians and retired athletes to the stage under a different spotlight.

Even though Keeping the recommended two meters distance is impossible while dancing, it has not been restricted in the regulations of social distancing. Covid-19 has restricted and cancelled several of events in 2020. 

A new study conducted by researchers from UC San Francisco reveals that people who contract COVID-19 but remain asymptomatic, often referred to as "super dodgers," may have a hereditary advantage. These individuals are more than twice as likely as those who develop symptoms to carry a specific gene variation that aids in eradicating the virus.

Published in Nature on July 19, 2023, the study provides the first evidence that there is a genetic basis for asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Germany on Friday recommended that people mix AstraZeneca COVID vaccines with Pfizer or Moderna to enhance immune responses against coronavirus and shorten the interval period between the two shots.

The German government advised people to choose either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for their second jab, reported NHK World.

The Coronavirus cases across the globe have breached the 150 million mark, according to the latest update by Johns Hopkins University.

As of 9:51 am IST, the COVID-19 Dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU) reported that the global caseload stood at 150,133,654 while the fatalities from the deadly pathogen stood at 3,162,166.

Global COVID-19 deaths have crossed the 3 million mark, according to the latest update by Johns Hopkins University on Saturday.

According to the COVID-19 Dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU), as of 1.50 pm IST, the total COVID-19 cases worldwide stand at 139,979,449 and the deaths across the world stand at 3,000,225.

Green consumption is becoming a new trend in China as more and more Chinese people advocate the new consumption philosophy featuring environmental-friendly, low-carbon, healthy and safe consumption.

New energy vehicles, and household supplies, such as energy-efficient light bulbs and water conserving toilets, are increasingly popular among Chinese consumers. Meanwhile, the Chinese people tend to order smaller-portion dishes in restaurants and try not to use disposable tableware.

Lower levels of health, increasing financial pressure and a significant degree of unmet healthcare: these are the findings of the fifth round of the Living, working and COVID-19 e-survey: Living in a new era of uncertainty – a report that presents an overview of responses from over 200,000 people across all five rounds of the e-survey, which took place from spring 2020 to spring 2022.

Ever sincethe COVID-19 pandemic hit the world, researchers have been giving every possible information to help in better treatment. According to new research, people over age 65 at the highest risk for severe COVID-19 have often been the least likely to receive monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). -- a highly effective treatment for the disease -- both across and within US states.

Premier Li Keqiang met the press on Thursday after the closing of the fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress.

The premier took questions from Chinese and foreign reporters via video link.

Here are the highlights.