Here's everything you need to know about the coronavirus right now

A pharmacist holds a vial with the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine on the opening day of a vaccination center at the Festhalle in Frankfurt, Germany, Germany January 19, 2021. [Boris Roessler/Pool via REUTERS]  

In Kenya:

Kenya on Thursday, January 21 confirmed 186 more infections and three deaths related to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) over the last 24 hours, bringing the total fatalities 1,739.

According to the Ministry of Health 8,049 COVID-19 tests were administered, with health officials reporting that among the new cases, 158 were Kenyan and 28 foreigners, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 99,630.

A total of 1,142,543 tests have been carried out so far.

75 people have recovered from the disease, bringing the total to 82,729.

Tokyo Olympics to go ahead, Japan says

Japan doubled down on its commitment to host the Tokyo Olympics this year and denied reports on Friday of cancellation but that is unlikely to ease public concern about holding the event during a global pandemic.

A bird flies in front of the giant Olympic rings, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Tokyo, Japan, January 22, 2021. [Reuters, Kim Kyung-Hoon]

A Japanese government spokesman said there was “no truth” to a report in the Times that the government had privately concluded the Tokyo Olympics would have to be cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Times, citing an unidentified senior member of the ruling coalition, said the government’s focus was on securing the Games for Tokyo in the next available year, 2032.

Japan has been hit less severely by the pandemic than many other advanced economies but a recent surge in cases has forced it to close its borders to non-resident foreigners and declare a state of emergency in Tokyo and other major cities. Tokyo has reported new daily coronavirus cases of more than 1,000 for nine straight days through Thursday and set a single-day record of more than 2,400 infections earlier in the month.

Manchester City striker Aguero tests positive

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has announced he has tested positive for coronavirus (Covid-19). 

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero after taking a tumble during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020. (Peter Powell/Pool via AP)

The Argentinian, on his Twitter, said he developed symptoms following a ‘close contact’ and is following medical procedures to make a full recovery. 

“After a close contact, I've been self-isolating and the latest test I took was positive for COVID 19. I had some symptoms and I'm following the doctor's orders for recovery. Take care, everyone!” said Aguero on Twitter.

Aguero has started only three matches for Pep Guardiola’s side this season, following missing the end of last season and the start of the current one after undergoing knee surgery in June last year.

A hamstring injury in October made difficult his return to action, which was followed by episodes of knee discomfort.

Earlier this month the 32-year-old was told to isolate just as he was about to make a return to the starting line-up in Man City’s FA Cup third-round tie against Birmingham City.

Ferran Torres, Gabriel Jesus, Kyle Walker and goalkeeper Ederson are among senior City players who have had to isolate following positive cases.

India to begin commercial vaccine exports

India has cleared commercial exports of COVID-19 vaccines, with the first consignments to be shipped to Brazil and Morocco on Friday, the foreign secretary told Reuters.

The shots developed by British-based drugmaker AstraZeneca and Oxford University are being manufactured at the Serum Institute of India, the world’s biggest producer of vaccines, which has received orders from countries around the world.

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said South Africa and Saudi Arabia would be next to get supplies. The Indian government had held off exporting doses until it began its own domestic immunisation programme last weekend.

Fauci says U.S. infections may be about to plateau

In this Dec. 22, 2020, file photo, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, prepares to receive his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, Pool, File)

Dr Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, said on Thursday that based on recent seven-day averages, coronavirus infections may be about to hit a plateau in the United States.

If 70% to 80% of Americans are vaccinated by the end of summer, he added, the country could experience “a degree of normality” by the fall.

Fauci praised U.S. President Joe Biden’s willingness to “let the science speak” in contrast to the Trump administration, standing by his side on Thursday as Biden unveiled sweeping measures to battle COVID-19 on his first full day in office.

EU to tighten travel curbs for virus hot spots

The European Commission proposed to EU leaders on Thursday identifying “dark red” coronavirus hot spots from which all but essential travel would be discouraged after a meeting to discuss the mounting challenge from more infectious virus variants.

EU leaders also agreed during a video conference that it should be possible to agree on common standards for vaccine certificates for medical purposes.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told a news conference after the meeting that countries should not close their borders, to ensure the functioning of the single market, including the flow of goods and travel for cross-border workers, but that the Commission would add a new “dark red” category to its traffic light indications of risk, for regions where the virus was circulating at a very high rate. Today, almost all of Europe is red.

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