[앵커]
There are actions from the United States to further increase the supply of vaccines. I will connect to the press office. The related law has been invoked, what is it about?
[기자]
This is a measure to have Merck, a rival pharmaceutical company, also produce the Corona 19 vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson.
To this end, President Joe Biden is planning to invoke the Defense Goods Production Act.
White House spokesman Jen Saki said Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine production was delayed, and the White House intervention would make production possible at the Merck facility.
This was also referred to as “an unprecedented historic measure.”
However, it will take some time for Merck to renovate its facilities for vaccine production.
Johnson & Johnson currently supplies 2.8 million vaccines per week.
It was previously announced that the vaccine will be distributed to the United States for 20 million people by the end of this month and 100 million people by the end of June.
[앵커]
It is said that Germany is pushing for more containment measures, is it because of the corona mutant virus?
[기자]
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, “Soon the current Corona 19 virus will disappear and the mutant virus will fill its place.”
The proportion of mutant viruses among new cases in Germany recently reached 50%.
It was only 5.8% on the 5th of last month, but it tripled on the 17th, only two weeks, and more than doubled again in the next two weeks.
For this reason, the blockade measures that were originally until the 7th are expected to be extended to the 28th.
However, although the containment period is extended, details are being promoted to ease detailed containment measures.
Private gatherings that were only available for one person in addition to the existing households can be made up to five people in two households, and bookstores, flower shops, and horticultural markets are being considered.