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world news Diamars 22 December 2020

Russia, AstraZeneca to test combination of COVID-19 shots

(AP) — Developers of the thousands of people needed
Russian coronavirus vac- to ensure its safety and effec-
cine Sputnik V on Mon- tiveness.
day announced signing The vaccine’s developers
an agreement with Astra- have said study data suggest-
Zeneca to test a combina- ed the vaccine was 91% effec-
tion of the British drug- tive, a conclusion based on
maker’s COVID-19 shots 78 infections among nearly
and a component of the 23,000 participants. That’s
vaccine created in Mos- far fewer cases than Western
cow. drugmakers have accumulat-
ed during final testing before
The developers of Sputnik analyzing their candidates’
V proposed the approach to efficacy, and important de-
AstraZeneca last month, sug- mographic and other details
gesting it could increase the from the study have not been
effectiveness of the British released.
vaccine. The company an-
nounced on Dec. 11 a study The latest study results on
to test the combination, and the vaccine developed by As-
on Monday signed a memo- traZeneca and Oxford Uni-
randum of cooperation with versity suggest it it safe and
Moscow-based medical re- about 70% effective. Health
search facility the Gamaleya officials around the world
Institute, the Russian Direct Speaking at a teleconfer- vaccines and on a number of cized for giving Sputnik V hope to rely on the British
Investment Fund and Rus- ence marking the signing of other vitally important medi- regulatory approval in August vaccine due to comparatively
sian drugmaker R-Pharm. the memorandum, Russian cines.” after the vaccine only been low cost, availability and ease
AstraZeneca developed its President Vladimir Putin The trials are expected to tested on a few dozen people. of use. However, questions
vaccine with Oxford Univer- hailed cooperation between start “in the nearest future,” This month, Russian author- remain about how well it may
sity. The Gamaleya Institute AstraZeneca and Russian sci- according to Kirill Dmitriev, ities started mass vaccinations help protect those over age
developed Sputnik V, and the entists, saying it “will make it head of the Russian Direct with Sputnik V, even though 55, a key concern given that
Russian Direct Investment possible to achieve a break- Investment Fund. it is still undergoing the ad- older individuals are more
Fund bankrolled the project. through while working on Russia has been widely criti- vanced studies among tens of vulnerable to COVID-19.

Volcano erupts on Hawaii’s Big Island, draws crowds to park

(AP) — Hawaii's Kilauea spokesman, said the agency
volcano on the Big Island was monitoring the “rapidly
erupted and shot a steam evolving” situation.
and ash cloud into the "We will send out further
atmosphere that lasted notifications on Kilauea and
about an hour, an official other Hawaiian volcanoes as
with the National Weather we observe changes,” he said.
Service said early Monday. A magnitude 4.4 earthquake
hit about an hour after the
The eruption began late Sun- volcano began erupting.
day within Kilauea's summit The USGS said it received
crater, the U.S. Geologi- more than 500 reports of
cal Survey said. The crater, people who felt the earth-
named Halemaumau, is lo- quake but significant damage
cated within Hawaii Volca- to buildings or structures was
noes National Park and was not expected.
home to a longstanding lava
lake that was present for Kilauea last erupted in 2018,
years before a 2018 eruption destroying more than 700
caused it to drain. homes and spewing enough
Tom Birchard, a senior fore- lava to fill 320,000 Olympic-
caster with the National sized swimming pools. An
Weather Service in Hawaii, the volcano’s crater, research- needed. for parking places,” she said. area more than half the size
said lava interacted with a ers confirmed the presence of “It’s pretty spectacular this Ferracane also said people of Manhattan was buried in
pool of water that had ac- water. The lake had contin- morning," she said, "but there should be mindful of the up to 80 feet (24 meters) of
cumulated inside the crater, ued to fill since then. are high amounts of hazard- coronavirus pandemic and now-hardened lava. The lava
leading to a short-lived but An advisory was issued by the ous sulfur dioxide gas and take measures to remain safe. flowed over the course of
fairly vigorous eruption. National Weather Service in particulates and those are “We’re not doing crowd con- four months.
When lava interacts with wa- Honolulu, warning of fallen billowing out of the crater trol yet, but that could hap- The 2018 eruption occurred
ter it can cause explosive re- ash from the volcano. Ex- right now and those present pen,” she said. "Right now, along a rift zone on the vol-
actions. cessive exposure to ash is an a danger to everyone, espe- we’re urging people to wear cano's flank where many res-
All the water evaporated out eye and respiratory irritant, cially people with heart or a mask to reduce the spread idential neighborhoods had
of the lake and a steam cloud it said. The agency later said respiratory problems, infants, of COVID-19. We did see been developed. Last night's
shot up about 30,000 feet (9 the eruption was easing and a young children and pregnant quite a few visitors last night eruption was contained to
kilometers) into the atmo- “low-level steam cloud” was women.” unmasked.” the summit caldera within
sphere, Birchard said. lingering in the area. She also said cars are lining By 1 a.m., USGS officials the national park.
The water was the first ever Hawaii Volcanoes National up at the park entrance to get told Hawaii News Now The volcano had not erupted
recorded in the summit cra- Park spokeswoman Jessica a glimpse of the lava. that there were reported lava since 2018 but before then
ter of Kilauea volcano. Ferracane said in a telephone “There is a lot of cars waiting fountains shooting about 165 had active lava flows for more
In 2019, after a week of ques- interview that the volcanic on Crater Rim Drive to get feet (50 meters) into the sky. than three decades. Kilauea is
tions about a mysterious activity is a risk to people in out to Kilauea overlook. Peo- David Phillips, a Hawai- one of the most active volca-
green patch at the bottom of the park and that caution is ple should expect long waits ian Volcano Observatory noes on earth.