France Reports 11,221 New COVID-19 Cases

French Health authorities have reported 11,221 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours.

The figure is however down from 12,696 cases that were confirmed on Thursday.

At present, figures released by the health authorities indicate that the total number of infections have risen to 2.29 million cases.

The country also reported 627 new deaths from coronavirus, including 282 in hospitals, compared with 324 in hospitals on Thursday.

Brazil Confirms 46,884 New Infections

Brazil reported 46,884 additional cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours, and 694 deaths from Covid-19, the health ministry said.

In the United Kingdom, where the vaccine will be rolled out first, GP surgeries and primary care networks have been told to be ready to start running Covid-19 vaccination centres by 14 December.

A letter sent to all surgeries and primary care leads from NHS England and NHS Improvement said the “scale and complexity” of the vaccination program would make it “one of the greatest challenges the NHS has ever faced”.

In Australian news, the state of Victoria has recorded its 36th consecutive day of no new cases of the virus. There remain no active cases of the virus in the state.

It’s a remarkable achievement, given the state faced upwards of 700 new cases a day in August, and has experienced upwards of 800 virus deaths, most of those during the second wave.

A strict lockdown and the efforts of Victorians adhering to the lockdown rules also prevented the virus from significantly affecting other states and territories.

In the neighbouring Australian state of New South Wales the Health Minister, Brad Hazzard, has said it may be an issue that airline staff are allowed to self-isolate after entering the state.

All other international arrivals are required to spend 14 days in the state’s hotel quarantine program, where they are monitored for symptoms.

But last week a new case of the virus emerged in the community after the state recorded 26 consecutive days of no new cases, when a woman had become sick after working at a quarantine hotel in Darling Harbour.

It was revealed through genomic sequencing it was a strain from the United States, likely acquired from airline crew staying at the Novotel. Testing of the woman’s close contacts and other staff at the hotel is continuing. – The Guardian