BERLIN (AP) — The German government plans to introduce an obligation that cases of coronavirus in pets be reported to authorities. It says the move is needed to assist research on the virus.
Agriculture Minister Julia Kloeckner said Tuesday the plan is to be considered by parliament next month.
Kloeckner said there will be no obligation for people to test their pets, but it would make sense to do so in certain situations — for example, if a cat living in a household with human coronavirus cases shows symptoms. She said there's no evidence so far that pets can transmit Covid-19 to humans.
Germany has about 31 million pets and 83 million people. The head of the country's animal disease research center said there has only been one known animal case there so far.
Experimental Vaccine Rolled Out in Britain
LONDON — Scientists at Imperial College London will start immunizing people in Britain this week with their experimental coronavirus shot, becoming the latest entry into the race to find an effective vaccine to stop the pandemic.
The British government said 300 healthy people will be immunized with two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine candidate developed at Imperial, which has been backed by 41 million pounds ($51 million) in government funding.
So far, the vaccine candidate developed by Imperial College London has been tested only in animals and in the laboratory, where it produced much higher levels of antibodies than would normally be seen in infected people.
Many scientists have warned that the pandemic might be stopped only with an effective vaccine, which typically takes years to develop.
Japan Keeps Key Interest Rate at -0.1%
TOKYO — Japan's central bank echoed the Federal Reserve's pledge of support for financial markets by beefing up its support for corporate lending. The Bank of Japan ended its policy meeting Tuesday without a change to its minus 0.1% benchmark interest rate and ultra-lax monetary stance.
It did expand its Special Program, including purchases of commercial paper and corporate bonds and its lending programs for commercial banks, from 75 trillion yen to 110 trillion yen ($690 billion to $1.02 trillion).
The Bank of Japan said the economy "is likely to remain in a severe situation for the time being due to the impact of Covid-19," though it expects economic activity to resume gradually.
Bank of Japan Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda said that recovery for the world's third-largest economy could come in the latter part of the year if the effects of the outbreak are mitigated. He said the central bank’s board agreed on taking extra action if needed.
Zelensky’s Wife Hospitalized With Covid-19
KYIV, Ukraine — The wife of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has been hospitalized with double-sided pneumonia after getting infected with the new coronavirus.
Zelensky's office said Tuesday that Olena Zelenska’s condition was stable and the president and the couple’s children tested negative for the virus on Monday.
Zelenska said she tested positive for the virus on Friday.
Ukrainian authorities started to gradually ease lockdown restrictions in late May, resuming the operation of public transport, reopening malls and gyms. On Monday, the country resumed international flights to several countries.
Race Is on in France for a Vaccine
LYON, France — France's president and the CEO of drug maker Sanofi are visiting a vaccine lab amid a worldwide race to develop a vaccine for the new coronavirus.
Tuesday's visit comes after rival pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca this weekend announced a deal to supply 400 million vaccine doses to EU countries, including France. The company hopes to have it ready by the end of the year.
Efforts by AstraZeneca and Sanofi are among dozens of vaccine candidates being pursued around the world. The race has prompted concerns that an eventual vaccine will go to the richest countries first.