US Preparing for One-Year Covid Vaccine Booster Shots
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BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 QSE index surges on Al Duhail open plans to allow full campaign with foreign ownership in impressive win listed companies over Al Shorta published in QATAR since 1978 FRIDAY Vol. XXXXII No. 11885 April 16, 2021 Ramadan 4, 1442 AH GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Schools to reopen on August 29 MoI HQ lit up in green to mark Family Day August 29 will be the first day of the 2021-22 academic year for students, US preparing the Ministry of Education and Higher Education tweeted yesterday. As per the amendment to the calendar of the 2021-22 academic year, school staff are to return to for one-year schools (after summer vacation) on August 16. For government schools, the 2020-21 second round exams for grades 1-12 (day/adult education) will be held from August 18-26, Covid vaccine according to the tweet. Situation worsening in Tigray, says UN booster shots People have started to die of hunger in Ethiopia’s conflict-hit he United States is preparing longer than six months, experts have northern Tigray region where for the possibility that a booster said that rapidly spreading variants of the humanitarian situation has Tshot will be needed between the coronavirus and others that may deteriorated and sexual violence is nine to 12 months after people are ini- emerge could lead to the need for regu- still being used as a weapon of war, tially vaccinated against Covid-19, a lar booster shots similar to annual fl u the UN’s aid chief told the Security White House offi cial said yesterday. shots. Council yesterday. Mark Lowcock, While the duration of immunity after The United States is also tracking the undersecretary-general for vaccination is being studied, booster infections in people who have been humanitarian aff airs, said there vaccines could be needed, David Kes- fully vaccinated, Rochelle Walensky, was no evidence of a promised sler, chief science offi cer for President director of the US Centers of Disease The Ministry of Interior (MoI) headquarters in Doha was lit up in green yesterday on the occasion of Qatar Family Day, withdrawal of Eritrean troops from Joe Biden’s Covid-19 response task Control and Prevention told the House celebrated on April 15 of every year, in order to build a cohesive society that embraces its values and identity. Many the region — and urged them to force told a congressional committee subcommittee hearing. other ministries and organisations also lit up their buildings in green. Page 12 make good on their pledge. Lowcock meeting. Of 77 million people vaccinated in gave a sobering assessment of the “The current thinking is those who the United States, there have been situation on the ground in Tigray. are more vulnerable will have to go 5,800 such breakthrough infections, fi rst,” he said. Walensky said, including 396 people Meanwhile, Pfi zer Inc Chief Ex- who required hospitalisation and 74 Pence receives ecutive Albert Bourla said people will who died. Visit Qatar app off ers virtual heart pacemaker ‘likely’ need a third booster dose of Walensky said some of these infec- Covid-19 vaccines within 12 months tions have occurred because the vac- Former US vice president Mike and could need annual shots, CNBC cinated person did not mount a strong Pence received a heart pacemaker reported based on his comments from immune response. tour of country’s destinations device during routine surgery on April 1, which were made public on But the concern is that in some cases, Wednesday and is expected to Thursday. they are occurring in people infected by fully recover, his spokesman said Initial data has shown that vac- more contagious virus variants. By Joey Aguilar tinations such as theme parks, hotels yesterday. Pence, 61, who previously cines from Moderna Inc and partners Earlier this month, Pfi zer and part- Staff Reporter and resorts, museums, heritage sites, disclosed an “asymptomatic” heart Pfi zer Inc and BioNTech SE retain most ner BioNTech said their vaccine was cultural centres, and art galleries, condition, underwent the procedure of their eff ectiveness for at least six around 91% eff ective in preventing among others, with its 360-degree at the Inova Fairfax medical facility months, though for how much longer Covid-19, citing updated trial data that he Visit Qatar mobile applica- feature. in Virginia after experiencing has not been determined. included more than 12,000 people fully tion can now be downloaded at These include the Venice-inspired symptoms associated with a slow Even if that protection lasts far inoculated for at least six months. TApple and Google play stores, The Pearl-Qatar, Angry Birds World heart rate over the past two weeks. allowing users to explore the coun- theme park at Doha Festival City, try’s various destinations and off er- Hilton Salwa Beach Resort and Villas, ings digitally. Doha Golf Club, the National Museum US imposes sanctions, “Download the Visit Qatar App of Qatar, Museum of Islamic Art, Al expels Russian diplomats and discover panoramic landscapes, Zubarah Fort, Purple Island, Desert iconic attractions and experiences Falls Water and Adventure Park, Ka- The United States announced that showcase the beauty of Qatar. Get tara – the Cultural Village, Mondrian sanctions and the expulsion of 10 inspired and personalise your curated Doha, Msheireb Downtown Doha, In- Russian diplomats yesterday in itinerary to experience the warmth of land Sea, Banana Island Resort Doha, retaliation for what Washington our renowned Arabian hospitality,” The Doha Corniche, and Souq Waqif. says is the Kremlin’s US election Visit Qatar posted on its Instagram Apart from 360-degree feature, the interference, a massive cyberattack page. app also provides several other infor- and other hostile activity. President Visit Qatar, the offi cial social media mation about the destinations such as Joe Biden’s broadside against Russia tourism account of the Qatar National their profi le, attractions, directions, came the same week as he off ered Tourism Council, has been continu- operating time, and contact details. to meet President Vladimir Putin for ously promoting local destinations on Users can also check the “Must- their first summit — a meeting US its Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter Do-Activities” on the app such as off icials say remains “vital” so that Scotland’s First Minister and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) Nicola pages. shopping, wellness, food and drink, the two countries can deescalate. Sturgeon (R) speaks with a staff nurse (L) before she receives her first dose of the While Covid-19 restrictions are The Visit Qatar App takes visitors art and culture, adventure, and family AstraZeneca/Oxford Covid-19 vaccine at the NHS Louisa Jordan vaccine centre in currently in place, the app can virtu- virtually to a number of destinations fun, suggesting some of the best des- Glasgow, yesterday. ally take visitors to a number of des- with its 360-degree feature. tinations to visit. To Page 3 France’s Covid-19 deaths pass 100,000 The number of people killed by Black Lives Matter Covid-19 in France climbed past 100,000 yesterday, with the virus Low-to-medium risk of Russian claiming a further 300 lives in the past 24 hours. France is the third country in Europe to reach the grim milestone of 100,000 coronavirus deaths, after invasion of Ukraine: US general the United Kingdom and Italy. “We will not forget a single face, a single name,” President Emmanuel Macron Reuters says has killed 14,000 people since tweeted, sending his condolences Washington 2014. to the victim’s families and friends. Tensions over a buildup of Russian Worldwide, the US has the highest troops on Ukraine’s eastern border have death toll, with over half a million. here is a “low to medium” risk pushed up the cost of raising domestic that Russia will invade Ukraine debt and prompted the government to RAMADAN THOUGHT Tover the next few weeks, the top accelerate eff orts to secure more Inter- US general in Europe said yesterday, in national Monetary Fund loans. Whoever fasts Ramadan out of the fi rst such military assessment amid sincere faith and hoping for a mounting concern about Russian troop reward from Allah, then all his movements toward Ukraine’s borders. Zelenskiy wants more previous sins will be forgiven. Air Force General Tod Wolters de- A Ukrainian serviceman cleans his support from Europe [Al-Bukhari & Muslim] clined to explain the intelligence driv- machine gun at a position on the ing his assessment, which does not frontline with Russia-backed separatists Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Prayer times suggest the US military expects a Rus- near Gorlivka, Donetsk region, yesterday. Zelenskiy has appealed to Europe Fajr....3.51; Zuhr....11.34; Asr....3.03; sian invasion at this point, but is not for more support in his country’s Floyd and Wright families attorney Ben Crump (C) speaks, flanked by the Maghrib.....6.00; Isha.....7.30 ruling one out or playing down the risk. explain whether that risk would change standoff with Russia, including family of Daunte Wright, during a press conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota But Wolters later suggested his view after that period, Wolters kept his cards letting it into Nato. Speaking to yesterday. The prosecution and defence rested their case on April 15, 2021 Fasting times about the risks in the coming weeks and close, saying: “The answer is, it de- Le Figaro newspaper ahead of his in the trial of former police off icer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George months was at least partly based on the pends.” meeting with French President Floyd and the judge set closing arguments for April 19, 2021.