COVID-19: Worldwide roundup of developments--AP

ZAGREB, Croatia — Citizens of Croatia’s capital city have been lining up for free rapid antigen testing that has been introduced as part of efforts to curb a surge in coronavirus cases.

Authorities in Zagreb launched the testing Monday at twelve locations in the capital city, which has been hit hard in the latest wave of infections. Mayor Milan Bandic says 1,200 people have applied for the first two days of testing. He says 60,000 tests have been made available in the initial phase.

Croatia has been battling soaring virus infections for weeks. Authorities hope rapid testing will help contain the disease by speeding up potentially infected residents. ...

BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota health officials are rolling out free rapid COVID-19 testing for teachers, staff and school administrators this week as part of a pilot project designed to slow the virus’ spread by identifying and quickly isolating people who may be asymptomatic.

Testing of K-12 teachers will start in the Fargo and West Fargo school districts and will be expanded to other districts in coming days and weeks. Teachers, staff and administrators who work closely with students are being encouraged to get tested weekly through Dec. 31. Students will not be tested as part of the effort.

North Dakota ranks first in the U.S. in new COVID-19 cases per capita, with 2,418 new cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. One in every 86 people in North Dakota tested positive in the past week. ...

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Hungary’s foreign minister on Monday said the country is moving forward with testing on a Russian coronavirus vaccine after being the first in Europe to receive samples of the drug last week.

Peter Szijjarto says 10 initial doses of Sputnik V - the drug hailed in August by Russian President Vladimir Putin as the world’s first registered COVID-19 vaccine - would undergo testing in Hungary for safety and effectiveness. Szijjarto announced last week that negotiations are ongoing between a Hungarian drug manufacturer and Russian partners on possible domestic production of the drug. ...

GENEVA — The U.N. weather agency says a slowdown in industrial activity linked to the coronavirus pandemic has cut emissions of pollutants and heat-trapping greenhouse gases, but hasn’t reduced their record levels in the atmosphere.

The World Meteorological Organization pointed to a record-setting surge of carbon dioxide emissions in recent years, and warned that any impact on greenhouse gas concentrations from the pullback in activity due to the COVID-19 outbreak will take years — and can best happen if countries are able to cut their emissions to zero. ...

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