Australian official says vaccine rollout like 'Hunger Games'

The health minister for Australia's most populous state New South Wales compared getting a vaccine in the country to the "Hunger Games" on Monday.

"Until we get enough vaccine and enough GPs actually at the front line able to provide that vaccine into arms, we will continue to have effectively 'The Hunger Games' going on here in New South Wales," said Brad Hazzard. 

The reference to the popular trilogy — set in a dystopian future where a group of young people participates in a televised battle to the death — was seemingly meant to emphasize the desperation of many residents seeking appointments for the life-saving jabs.

Australia has managed to vaccinate just 7% of its 25 million population — the lowest inoculation rate among industrialized nations.

The NSW state premier said the next two days will be "absolutely critical" in deciding whether a two-week lockdown in Sydney, set to end on July 9, will have to be extended amid rising delta variant cases.

Here's a wrap of the major coronavirus developments around the world.

Europe

In the UK, Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, is self-isolating after a contact tested positive for COVID.

"Last week the Duchess of Cambridge came into contact with someone who has subsequently tested positive for COVID-19," a spokesperson for Kensington Palace said Monday. 

The palace says 39-year-old Kate does not have any COVID symptoms.

Kate had been due to attend events with her husband Prince William on Monday celebrating the 73rd birthday of Britain's National Health Service. Under current UK rules, contacts of confirmed coronavirus cases must quarantine at home for 10 days. Both Kate and William received first doses of coronavirus vaccine in May.

Also in the UK, Queen Elizabeth will on Monday award the National Health Service (NHS) with the George Cross — the highest civilian gallantry award — in recognition of health workers' service during the pandemic, the government announced.

"This award recognizes all NHS staff, past and present, across all disciplines and all four nations," the Queen said in a personal message accompanying the award.

"Collectively, over more than seven decades, they have supported the people of our country with courage, compassion, and dedication, demonstrating the highest standards of public service."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will unveil a plan to lift coronavirus restrictions from July 19.

In a statement released ahead of his press conference, he urged the Britons to "learn to live with" the virus.

Full reopening was initially planned for June 21, but a surge in the delta variant, believed to be even more contagious than the original strain, forced the government to push back the date.

Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel was hospitalized Sunday, the government said.

The 48-year-old will be kept under observation as tests are carried out a week after he tested positive for COVID-19.

He went into isolation on June 27, less than two days after attending a European Union summit in Brussels. None of the other 26 EU leaders who attended the summit were considered a contact case.

Bettel had already received one dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine on May 6.

Germany is rejecting calls from the head of the Red Cross Berlin branch, Mario Czaja, to fine those who do not attend their vaccine appointments. 

Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said on Monday that vaccines were "valuable" but that "the federal government has no plans for fines."

The country recorded 212 new coronavirus cases on Monday, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases. The national seven-day incidence rate remained stable at just 5 cases per 100,000 people per week.

Russia is starting early trials of the Sputnik V vaccine for children aged between 12 and 17, Moscow officials said Monday.

Deputy Mayor Anastasia Rakova said 100 young volunteers would get smaller doses than those given to adults.

Daily COVID-19 cases have more than doubled across Russia from about 9,000 last week to over 24,000 on Monday.

Americas

US President Joe Biden celebrated the country's Independence Day with an upbeat message about getting the coronavirus under control.

"Two hundred and forty-five years ago, we declared our independence from a distant king. Today, we are closer than ever to declaring our independence from a deadly virus," Biden said.

But he added: "Don't get me wrong: COVID-19 has not been vanquished. We all know powerful variants have emerged, like the delta variant."

Venezuela gave the COVAX system an ultimatum this week to send the country's share of vaccines.

President Nicolas Maduro said payments to cover the $120 million fee have already been made to the global vaccine-sharing scheme.

He said that officials had been instructed to "give the COVAX system an ultimatum: they send us the vaccines, or they give us the money back, period."

"The COVAX system has failed Venezuela," the president said. "They don't answer us."

Asia

India reported 39,796 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, its health ministry said. This was the lowest daily increase since March 19.

Active cases in the country number 482,071.

The country also registered 723 new deaths, bringing total fatalities there to 402,728.

Bangladesh is extending its nationwide lockdown by another seven days due to the spread of the delta variant. Restrictions will remain in place until July 14.

Under the current lockdown rules, Bangladeshis can only leave their homes for emergencies or essential shopping trips. Food markets in the country are only open for few hours a day, with offices and public transportation shut down due to the rules.

Pakistan is getting its vaccination campaign back on track after the US delivered 2.5 million Moderna vaccines doses to its capital Islamabad last week.

The Asian country had been mainly using Chinese vaccines to date, so this latest COVAX delivery will help inoculate expatriate workers looking to travel abroad.

Sri Lanka received its first batch of Pfizer vaccines on Monday, making it the first South Asian country to receive the US-produced vaccine.

The 26,000 doses will be followed by 200,000 more later this month as part of a total 5 million doses to be delivered this year.

jc, adi, wd/rt (AFP, Reuters, AP)