With multiple drugmakers in a push for a Covid-19 vaccine, countries are preparing for when it is finally available and putting deals in place with companies to prepare for the eventual distribution. AstraZeneca, which has a vaccine under development at Oxford and is expected to complete the experimental phase by the fall, agreed to deals with multiple countries for the distribution of its vaccine.
Italy, Germany, France and the Netherlands signed a contract with the company to supply 400 million doses of the vaccine, according to a Reuters report. AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said the drugmaker is also in talks with Japan, Russia, Brazil and China.
This is CNBC’s live blog covering all the latest news on the coronavirus outbreak. This blog will be updated throughout the day as the news breaks.
- Global cases: More than 7.80 million
- Global deaths: At least 430,550
- U.S. cases: More than 2.07 million
- U.S. deaths: At least 115,436
The data above was compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
European countries reopen travel with patchwork of different rules
Swimmers on a beach in Palma during the first day of Phase 2, when it is possible to access beaches in the same province, island or territorial unit of reference established in the de-climbing plan, and when the town halls may establish limitations on access, which in any case will be free, and on capacity to ensure that the interpersonal distance of at least two meters between swimmers is respected.
Isaac Buj | Europa Press News | Getty Images
8:54 a.m. ET — Travel restrictions are being lifted across Europe, but travelers from the U.S., Asia, Latin America and the Mideast aren’t clear yet, the Associated Press reports.
Many European countries are opening back up and allowing travel from the EU, Britain and the other countries in the passport-free Schengen area, according to the AP.
One notable holdout to the travel reopening push is Spain, which still has another week under domestic travel restrictions and will open up to foreign travel on July 1, the news service reports. The country is, however, having a two-week trial for visitors on Monday when thousands of Germans are flying to Spain’s Balearic Islands.
Germany, along with France and others, is lifting border checks Monday and rolling back a worldwide warning against nonessential travel to exempt European countries, according to the AP. Nonessential warnings are expected to remain in place for countries where there are still travel restrictions like Finland, Norway, Spain and Sweden. —Chris Eudaily, Associated Press
Read CNBC’s previous coronavirus live coverage here: European nations sign deal with AstraZeneca for 400 million vaccine doses.