World

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis

People queue for Covid-19vaccines at the vaccine centre at the Kempton Park Civic Centre, 28 July 2021. Picture: Neil McCartney

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:

– China: zero local cases –

China reports no new domestic cases, and Beijing appears poised to bring to heel the pandemic’s most serious resurgence in months with mass testing and targeted lockdowns.

– NZ lockdown continues –

New Zealand extends a national lockdown, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern saying a Delta variant outbreak has yet to peak.

– School jabs in Israel –

Israel says it will offer vaccinations to students on school grounds as it announces the school year will open on time next week, despite surging cases.

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– Virus graft case –

Indonesia’s ex-social affairs minister is jailed for 12 years after being convicted of taking $1.2 million in bribes linked to food aid for poor families hit by the pandemic.

– Test costs under scrutiny –

The British government says it has warned dozens of domestic private medical testing companies over “misleading prices” for virus travel tests, following a review of costs and standards.

– Covid-sceptic church –

Australian police criticise a Sydney church, which is part of an international group with a record for spreading Covid-19 conspiracy theories, for flouting the city’s lockdown by holding a service for 60 people in a pandemic hotspot.

– More than 4.4 million dead –

The coronavirus has killed at least 4,430,846 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to an AFP compilation of official data.

The US is the worst-affected country with 628,503 deaths, followed by Brazil with 574,527, India with 434,756, Mexico 253,155 and Peru 197,879.