The Latest: Mexico hits another record for COVID-19 cases
(AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)Mexico posted a record spike in coronavirus cases on Friday, with 21,366 newly confirmed infections, about double the daily rate of increase just a week ago. The National Health Commission said 90 of those confirmed cases were in Hebei province, adjacent to Beijing, where the country’s biggest recent outbreak occurred. State health officials announced this week that vaccine eligibility would be expanded to educators and seniors beginning Jan. 23. But federal officials have since said the stockpile was exhausted when those promises were made and governors can’t expect any windfall shipments. President Donald Trump had invoked the Defense Production Act to address various aspects of the COVID-19 public health crisis.
Coronavirus disrupts global fight to save endangered species
Undeterred, Ruizs team devised an ambitious new experiment: This spring, they would start vaccinating many of the remaining wild monkeys. Enter the coronavirus, which is now hampering critical work to protect threatened species and habitats worldwide. We are worried about missing the window of opportunity to save the species, said Ruiz, the president of the nonprofit Golden Lion Tamarin Association. Tropical forests are rich in biodiversity, so were losing rare flora and fauna, said Jeremy Radachowsky, director for Mesoamerica at the nonprofit Wildlife Conservation Society. In many African countries, wildlife tourism provides significant income to maintain parks where vulnerable species such as elephants, lions, rhinos and giraffes live.