COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 22 October

COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 22 October

This daily round-up brings you a selection of the latest news and updates on the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, as well as tips and tools to help you stay informed and protected.

Top stories: Pfizer/BioNTech say COVID-19 booster shot showed high efficacy in study; Mixing indoors driving Europe rise in cases; US calls for WTO members to support intellectual property waiver for COVID-19 vaccines.





1. How COVID-19 is affecting the globe

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have passed 242.4 million globally, according to Johns Hopkins University. The number of confirmed deaths stands at more than 4.92 million. More than 6.76 billion vaccination doses have been administered globally, according to Our World in Data.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson jabs. They also said Americans can choose a different shot from their original inoculation as a booster.

The US has called on all World Trade Organization (WTO) members to support an intellectual property waiver for COVID-19 vaccines.

New Zealand has set a 90% vaccination target to end its strict COVID-19 restrictions, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced yesterday.

Lockdown restrictions have been eased in Melbourne, Australia, with pubs,