China, Israel Ramp Up Vaccinations vs COVID-19

In China, authorities are continuing to vaccinate children between 12 and 17 - they say more youngsters are getting ill with the new Delta variant and they've now vaccinated 60 million adolescents, Daniel Bellamy reported for Euronews.

Photo Insert: Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett personally overseeing the country's vaccination drive

On Friday, August 13, 2021, the National Health Commission reported that 770 million people have now been fully vaccinated, which is 55 percent of the population.

Restrictions have also been tightened people have to wear masks in indoor venues and crowded outdoor ones such as shops, the Associated Press (AP) also reported.

In Israel, the health ministry warned on Saturday that the number of people hospitalized will now double every 10 days, reaching 4,800 people – half of them with serious cases – by September 10.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennet has called for vaccinations to be given around the clock, day and night, seven days a week.

In Australia, lockdowns were widened on Saturday from just Sydney and the capital Canberra to the whole of the state of New South Wales. Authorities battling to contain a Delta outbreak said they'd experienced the "most concerning day of the pandemic" so far.

Residents of Sydney, are entering their eighth week under stay-at-home orders and will now face bigger fines for breaking rules or lying to contact tracers.

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