Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis.

– Biden vaccine pledge –

President Joe Biden says the US will donate an additional 500 million Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines to poorer countries, bringing its total commitment to 1.1 billion doses.

Biden is also to urge leaders at a virtual summit on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly to make sure 70 percent of their populations are covered by next September.

– Six billion shots –

More than six billion doses of vaccines have been given around the world, according to an AFP tally based on official sources. 

– Bat origin clue –

Scientists have discovered another clue to the origins of the virus, with bats living in caves in Laos found to be carrying a similar pathogen that experts suggest could potentially infect humans directly.

– Delta dominates –

Delta has all but elbowed out the three other virus variants of concern, which now represent less than one percent each of the samples being sequenced, the World Health Organization says.

– Brazil’s health minister positive –

Brazil’s Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga tests positive for Covid-19 after attending the UN General Assembly in New York where President Jair Bolsonaro — who refuses to say if he has been vaccinated — spoke.

– Asian growth hit –

The Asian Development Bank warns of “lasting scars” from the pandemic as it cut its 2021 growth forecast for developing Asia to 7.1 percent from 7.3 percent.

– Sri Lanka seeks loan –

Sri Lanka will seek an emergency loan of $100 million from the World Bank for its vaccination drive as the country struggles with a currency crisis.

– Shots for Myanmar’s rebels –

China has not only delivered vaccines to Myanmar’s junta but also quietly to rebel groups that are the generals’ sworn enemies, multiple rebel groups tell AFP.

– Two billion jabs call –

Amnesty International demands two billion doses of vaccines for poorer nations by the end of the year, accusing vaccine manufacturers of putting profit before lives.

– Cricketer positive –

Sunrisers Hyderabad bowler Thangarasu Natarajan becomes the first Indian Premier League player to test positive but his team’s match on Wednesday will still go ahead, organisers say.

– 4.7 million dead – 

The coronavirus has killed at least 4,705,691 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to an AFP tally from official sources.

The US is the worst-affected country with 678,420 deaths, followed by Brazil with 591,540, India with 445,768, Mexico with 272,580 deaths and Russia with 200,625.

Based on latest reports, the countries with the most new deaths were the US with 2,294, followed by Russia with 817 and Mexico with 815.