The United States is devoting US $3.2 billion to advance development of antiviral pills for COVID-19.
This comes as the number of U-S deaths climbed over 600,000.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, announced the investment as part of a new antiviral program for pandemics.
The United Kingdom's National Health Service has opened up COVID-19 vaccinations to everyone aged over 18.
The head of N-H-S, Simon Stevens, says if they continue at this rate they will be able to offer a vaccine to every adult by July the 19th.
Britain has given a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to more than 42 million people, almost 80 per cent of adults, while well over half have received both shots.
In Russia, Moscow's mayor Sergei Sobyanin says the COVID-19 situation is unexpectedly and rapidly deteriorating, and the city is facing new coronavirus variants that are more aggressive and infectious.
The Mayor says today's caseload is likely to be more than 9,000, the highest daily number in Moscow since the pandemic began.
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