UK health minister denies government U-turned on vaccine passports; Japan fears variants are behind possible fourth wave; India’s daily virus cases breach 100,000 in 24 hours
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Reuters reports:
Japanese health authorities are concerned that variants of the coronavirus are driving a nascent fourth wave in the pandemic with just 109 days remaining until the Tokyo Olympics.
The variants appear to be more infectious and may be resistant to vaccines, which are still not widely available in Japan. The situation is worst in Osaka, where infections hit fresh records last week, prompting the regional government to start targeted lockdown measures for one month from Monday.
Germany will have immunised 20% of its population against Covid-19 by the beginning of May, its health minister Jens Spahn has said.
Spahn, speaking at a vaccination centre in Berlin, said Germany had taken three months to get shots to the first 10% of its people who have been vaccinated, Reuters reports.
We will manage the next 10% in a month in light of the expected deliveries (of vaccinations).
