Russiaâs Sputnik V vaccine: just what the doctor ordered to divide Europe
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By Andrew Higgins
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Bratislava, Slovakia: When Slovakiaâs Prime Minister welcomed a military aircraft carrying 200,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine from Russia in March, he posed proudly for photographs on the tarmac in front of crates stuffed with what he expected to be his countryâs medical salvation.
Slovakia at the time had the worldâs highest per capita death rate from COVID-19, and the arrival of the Russian vaccine offered a rare glimmer of hope. For Russia it offered big benefits, too: a small but symbolically important new market for its product in the European Union, which has so far declined to register the vaccine and urged member states to hold off on orders until approval is granted.
Russia s Sputnik V vaccine: just what the doctor ordered to divide Europe
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Živě: Czech That Film ON LINE a „v novém
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The Health Ministry recently purchased 35 million rapid tests for nearly €140 million.
Chief Marek Krajčí (OĽaNO) announced “a big change” in testing, claiming that people will no longer have to be tested in the mobile testing sites. Instead, they were supposed to test themselves at home, the Sme daily reported.
The purchased tests cannot be used for this purpose, however, analyst Martin Smatana, former head of now-defunct Institute for Health Policy, wrote on Facebook.
Apart from the already purchased tests, the Administration of State Material Reserves (SŠHR) is ready to purchase a further 25 million rapid tests, as stems from a cabinet ordinance adopted on February 18, Sme wrote.
The Auschwitz Report by Peter Bebjak
BRATISLAVA: The COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of cinemas and to a number of measures restricting filming and travel for coproduction teams in 2020. However, Slovak filmmakers managed to complete 28 films, while distributors released 20 domestic titles.
After new amendments to the Audiovisual Law had been approved in September 2019, the cash rebate increased from 20% to 33% starting 1 January 2020.
A total of 45 projects registered for the 33% cash rebate at the Slovak Audiovisual Fund in 2020, compared to 30 in 2019.
PRODUCTION
A total of 11 feature films (including six minority coproductions) and 17 documentaries (including three minorities) were completed in 2020.
Multiple high-profile projects were in production in 2020 and some of them are expected to premiere in 2021.