Covid-19: Top developments worldwide April 5

Shanghai lockdown deepens after new surge in asymptomatic Covid cases
The major Chinese financial centre of Shanghai extended restrictions on transportation on Tuesday after a day of intensive city-wide testing saw new Covid-19 cases surge to more than 13,000, with no end to the lockdown yet in sight. After originally taking a more piecemeal approach aimed at minimising economic disruptions, Shanghai imposed a two-stage lockdown last week as authorities struggled to contain what had become the city’s biggest ever Covid-19 outbreak.
US Senate negotiators reach deal on $10 billion for Covid aid
Negotiators in Congress have agreed to an additional $10 billion in Covid-19 funding to address US needs but have dropped international aid from the package, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Monday. The compromise, if passed, would be less than half of the $22.5 billion initially sought US President Joe Biden to combat Covid, prepare for future variants and shore up the nation’s pandemic infrastructure.
Mexico says WTO Covid vaccine deal should go beyond IP waiver
Any World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement on Covid-19 vaccines should include more than just a waiver on intellectual property, Mexico’s representative to the trade body said, in a sign that consensus is proving tough to forge. The United States, the European Union, India and South Africa reached a provisional consensus on elements of a long-sought IP waiver for the vaccines, according to a document that circulated among governments last month.
White House says congressional deal on Covid aid won’t meet all “dire” needs
The White House said on Monday said it welcomed progress on an emerging deal in Congress for additional Covid aid but said it would not meet all the “dire” needs that a higher amount of aid would achieve. “We are encouraged the strong progress that Congress is making in finalising a deal,” White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said.
US FDA advisers to discuss additional Covid vaccine shots, booster design
The US Food and Drug Adminration’s expert advisers will discuss the timing of additional Covid-19 vaccine boosters and the people eligible for the extra shots in a meeting later this week, the health agency said on Monday. The independent advisers will also discuss at the April 6 meeting the FDA’s role in how future versions of Covid vaccines are created to help fight new variants.
South Africa’s Covid state of disaster to end at midnight
South Africa’s national state of disaster, in place for more than two years in response to Covid-19, will end from midnight local time on Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said. The national state of disaster has been the government’s main mechanism for managing the pandemic. Removing it will do away with the vast majority of remaining Covid-19 restrictions, aside from a few that will remain in place on a transitional basis, Ramaphosa said.