Summary:

California Gov is lifting stay at home orders

Dr. Fauci criticizes US COVID approach, worries vaccines wont' stop mutations

US cases, deaths, hospitalizations decline

Biden signs COVID travel bans

BoJo approves border crackdown

South Africa approves AZ vaccine for vaccinations

Moderna developing booster shot to fight South African strain

Macron expected to announce 3rd French lockdown

Oxford plans first trial of new COVID drug

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It's already mid-morning on Monday and it's already turning out to be an interesting week for COVID-19 news. Following a WEF panel earlier this morning where Dr. Fauci heaped blame for any failures in fighting COVID on President Trump, California Gov Gavin Newsom on Monday said he plans to lift some regional stay at home orders.

Newsom is expected on Monday to lift regional coronavirus stay-at-home orders across California, a change that could allow restaurants and gyms in many counties to reopen outdoor dining and any other services.

All counties would return to the colored tier system that assigns local risk levels based on case numbers and rates of positive COVID cases. Most counties will go into the "widespread" risk tier, which permits hair salons to offer limited services indoors but restricts many other nonessential businesses . The change is expected to take effect immediately after Newsom's announcement.

It's not yet clear whether the decision will lead to easing of stay-at-home rules in Los Angeles County, which has become a national hotbed of the coronavirus, with hospitals overwhelmed by patients. In less than one month, more than 5K people have died of COVID-19 in the county alone.