Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in October 2021 explained

See also: COVID-19 pandemic and Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in October 2021.

This article documents the chronology of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in October 2021, which originated in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Some developments may become known or fully understood only in retrospect. Reporting on this pandemic began in December 2019.

Reactions and measures in the United Nations

19 October

• Scientists have discovered a new type of SARS-CoV-2 Delta plus variant called AY.4.2, which appears to be slightly more infectious than the Delta variant. The new variant is currently being monitored in the United Kingdom as new cases rise.^[1]

Reactions and measures in the Americas

6 October

• Pfizer will test the effectiveness of its Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine by vaccinating all residents of Toledo in Brazil's Paraná province who are over the age of 12 years.^[2]

Reactions and measures in Europe

8 October

• Finland, Sweden, and Denmark have suspended the use of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for younger males due to reports of a rare cardiovascular side effect. Finland will instead give the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to men born in 1991 and after.^[3]

Reactions and measures in South, East and Southeast Asia

2 October

• Malaysian Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin confirmed that the Government was negotiating with Merck & Co to procure stocks of its antiviral molnupiravir pills for treating COVID-19.^[4]

5 October

• The Malaysian Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon warned that teachers who refused to get vaccinated before 1 November 2021 in accordance with a Public Service Department circular would face disciplinary action.^[5]

9 October

• The Malaysian Director-General of Health Noor Hisham Abdullah confirmed that the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine had been approved for the country's booster shot programme.^[6]
• Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has confirmed that interstate travel will be allowed to resumed within the next few days once 90% of the adult population has been fully vaccinated. As of 7 October, 89.1% of the adult population has been vaccinated.^[7]

10 October

• The Malaysian Government has lifted all interstate and international restrictions for fully vaccinated residents since 90% of its adult population had been fully vaccinated.^{[8] [9]}

29 October

• President of Indonesia Joko Widodo has urged richer countries to share their COVID-19 vaccines with poorer ones.^[10]
• The Malaysian Government announced that it would buy stocks of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children after a panel of advisers to the United States Food and Drug Administration recommended that the vaccine be authorised for children aged between 5 and 11 years.^[11]

Reactions and measures in the Western Pacific

1 October

• Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced that international travel will resume for states that have reached 80% vaccination rates, starting with New South Wales. Fully vaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents will be able to undergo home quarantine for seven days.^{[12] [13]}

3 October

• New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern reinstated Level 3 lockdown restrictions in several parts of Waikato including Raglan, Huntly, Ngāruawāhia and Hamilton from midnight after two community cases were detected.^[14]
• Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran confirmed that the national carrier would be requiring all passengers on its international flights to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 from 1 February 2022.^{[15] [16]}

4 October

• New Zealand Prime Minister Ardern confirmed that the country's elimination strategy would be phased out in favour of a new model that takes into account the country's vaccination rates. That same day, Ardern unveiled the Government's three-stage strategy to move Auckland out of lockdown, which involved a gradual relaxation of restrictions on physical gatherings and economic activities subject to mask-wearing and social distancing requirements.^{[17] [18]}

5 October

• Australian Prime Minister Morrison announced that Australia would buy 300,000 courses of Merck & Co.'s Molnupiravir anti-viral drug to assist efforts to treat COVID-19.^[19]

7 October

• New Zealand's COVID-19 Response Minister Hipkins has reinstated Level 3 lockdown restrictions in parts of the Waikato region including Waitomo (including Te Kūiti), Waipā, Ōtorohanga, Mōkau, the northern Pureora Forest Park, Te Awamutu, Karapiro and Cambridge in response to new community cases.^[20]

8 October

• The New Zealand Government reinstated Alert Level 3 restrictions in the Northland Region after an Auckland woman who tested positive for COVID-19 used false information to obtain travel documents and spent several days in the region.^[21]

10 October

• Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has eased curfews and restrictions on gatherings including funerals, birthdays and weddings due to a high national vaccination rate.^{[22] [23]}

11 October

• The Australian city of Sydney has reopened cafes, gyms and restaurants to fully vaccinated customers, ending four months of lockdown.^[24]
• New Zealand's pharmaceutical supplier Pharmac has purchased 60,000 courses of molnupiravir pills from Merck & Co.^[25]

18 October

• The New Zealand Government has confirmed that Auckland will remain on Alert Level 3 for at least two more weeks. Waikato will remain on Alert Level 3 due to further cases and positive wastewater testing results. Northland will remain on Alert Level 3 due to continuing community transmissions.^[26]

22 October

• The New Zealand Government outlined its new Covid-19 Protection Framework (also known as the "Traffic Light Framework"), which involves lowering public gathering and gathering distancing restrictions in accordance with national vaccination rates.^{[27] [28]}

26 October

• New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Workplace Relations Minister Michael Wood announced a new vaccine mandate requiring all workers in hospitality businesses, gyms, barbers, and hairdressers to get vaccinated within four weeks.^[29]

28 October

• New Zealand's COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins announced that international arrivals will only have to isolate for seven days from 14 November in an effort to free up about 1,500 rooms a month. From 8 November, fully vaccinated travellers from low risk Pacific Island countries such as the Cook Islands will also be eligible for quarantine-free travel.^{[30] [31]}

See also

• Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in October 2021
• Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic

Notes and References

1. News: Scientists Are Closely Tracking a New Delta Subtype Spreading in The UK . . 20 October 2021.
2. News: Pfizer study to vaccinate entire Brazilian town against COVID-19 . 8 October 2021 . . . 6 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211007175739/https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/pfizer-study-to-vaccinate-entire-brazilian-town-against-covid-19-1.5613079 . 7 October 2021.
3. News: Lehto . Essi . Finland joins Sweden and Denmark in limiting Moderna COVID-19 vaccine . 8 October 2021 . . 8 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211008070830/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/finland-pauses-use-moderna-covid-19-vaccine-young-men-2021-10-07/ . 8 October 2021. live.
4. News: Malaysia in talks to procure Merck's Covid-19 pills . 3 October 2021 . . . 2 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211002125125/https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysia-in-talks-to-procure-mercks-covid-19-pills. 2 October 2021. live.
5. News: Tan . Tarrence . Rahim . Rahimy . Carvalho . Martin . Disciplinary action will be taken against teachers who refuse Covid-19 vaccination . 6 October 2021 . . 5 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211005053802/https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/10/05/disciplinary-action-will-be-taken-against-who-refuse-covid-19-vaccination . 5 October 2021. live.
6. News: Interstate travel to be announced soon, says PM . 9 October 2021 . . 9 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211009095014/https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/10/09/cominarty-vaccine-approved-for-booster-dose . 9 October 2021. live.
7. News: Interstate travel to be announced soon, says PM . 9 October 2021 . . 9 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211009101249/https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/10/09/interstate-travel-to-be-announced-soon-says-pm . 9 October 2021. live.
8. News: Yusof . Amir . Tan . Vincent . Malaysia to resume interstate and international travel from Monday as 90% of adult population fully vaccinated . 10 October 2021 . . 10 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211010094303/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/malaysia-interstate-travel-resumes-covid-19-monday-vaccination-rate-2233701 . 10 October 2021. live.
9. News: Malaysia lifts travel restrictions for fully vaccinated people . 10 October 2021 . . 10 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211010103956/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/malaysia-lifts-travel-restrictions-fully-vaccinated-people-2021-10-10/ . 10 October 2021. live.
10. News: Vaswani . Karishma . Indonesia calls for vaccine equity after Covid toll . 30 October 2021 . . 29 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211029050117/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-59073105 . 29 October 2021. live.
11. News: Malaysia to buy Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 . 2 November 2021 . . 29 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211101072802/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/malaysia-buy-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-children-aged-5-11-2021-10-29/ . 1 November 2021. live.
12. News: Evans . Jake . International travel resumes next month as PM announces changes to border restrictions . 1 October 2021 . . . 1 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211001084340/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-01/international-travel-resume-scott-morrison-covid-border-reopen/100506074. 1 October 2021. live.
13. News: Australia's borders to reopen in November after 18-month closure . 1 October 2021 . . 1 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211001084507/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/10/1/australias-borders-to-reopen-in-november-after-near-two-years. 1 October 2021. live.
14. News: World Politics Pacific Te Ao Māori Sport Business Country Local Democracy Reporting Comment & Analysis In Depth Weather NEW ZEALAND COVID-19about 1 hour ago Covid-19 briefing: Waikato joins Auckland in alert level 3 from tonight . 3 October 2021 . . 3 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211003022628/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/452810/covid-19-briefing-waikato-joins-auckland-in-alert-level-3-from-tonight . 3 October 2021. live.
15. News: Air New Zealand to require COVID-19 vaccination for international travelers . 3 October 2021 . . 3 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211003002211/https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/air-new-zealand-require-covid-19-vaccination-international-travelers-2021-10-02/ . 3 October 2021. live.
16. News: Air NZ to introduce 'no jab, no fly' policy for global flights . 3 October 2021 . . 3 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211002233341/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/452803/air-nz-to-introduce-no-jab-no-fly-policy-for-global-flights . 2 October 2021. live.
17. News: Corlett . Eva . New Zealand Covid elimination strategy to be phased out, Ardern says . 4 October 2021 . . 4 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211004002428/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/04/new-zealand-covid-strategy-in-transition-ardern-says-as-auckland-awaits-lockdown-decision . 4 October 2021. live.
18. News: Coughlan . Thomas . Covid 19 Delta outbreak: Jacinda Ardern promises easing of some restrictions under transition plan . 4 October 2021 . . 4 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211004115424/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-delta-outbreak-jacinda-ardern-promises-easing-of-some-restrictions-under-transition-plan/3HOBMEANSDIAHDTFO7FKIJQUPI/ . 4 October 2021. live.
19. News: Australia orders Merck COVID pill, as Victoria posts record cases . 6 October 2021 . . 5 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211006022201/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/10/5/australia-orders-merck-covid-pill-as-victoria-posts-record-cases . 6 October 2021. live.
20. News: Yeoman . Scott . Level 3 zone in Waikato extended as five new community cases of Covid-19 confirmed . 7 October 2021 . . 7 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211007215804/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/300424153/level-3-zone-in-waikato-extended-as-five-new-community-cases-of-covid19-confirmed . 7 October 2021. live.
21. News: Cheng . Derek . Covid 19 Delta outbreak: Alert level 3 for Northland after Auckland woman with Covid visited region . 8 October 2021 . . 8 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211008104943/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-delta-outbreak-alert-level-3-for-northland-after-auckland-woman-with-covid-visited-region/I6BEZVBJGSMDCSMWHOP4FSVCO4/ . 8 October 2021. live.
22. News: Pratap . Ritika . Curfew moved back to 11pm . 10 October 2021 . FBC News . . 10 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211010101036/https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/covid-19/curfew-moved-back-to-11pm/ . 10 October 2021. live.
23. News: Pratap . Ritika . Restrictions on gatherings further relaxed . 10 October 2021 . FBC News . . 10 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211010101526/https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/covid-19/restrictions-on-gatherings-further-relaxed/ . 10 October 2021. live.
24. News: Jose . Renju . Barrett . Jonathan . 'Freedom Day': Sydney reopens as Australia looks to live with COVID-19 . 11 October 2021 . . 11 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211010230451/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/long-100-days-sydney-reopens-australia-looks-live-with-covid-19-2021-10-10/ . 10 October 2021. live.
25. News: Kerr-Lazenby . Mina . Covid-19: Pharmac signs deal for experimental treatment pill molnupiravir . 11 October 2021 . . 11 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211011063926/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/300427219/covid19-pharmac-signs-deal-for-experimental-treatment-pill-molnupiravir . 11 October 2021. live.
26. News: Cheng . Derek . Covid 19 Delta outbreak: Auckland and Waikato to stay in level 3, Northland to move to level 2 - Jacinda Ardern . 18 October 2021 . . 18 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211018051727/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-delta-outbreak-auckland-and-waikato-to-stay-in-level-3-northland-to-move-to-level-2-jacinda-ardern/WTL4OXINDL4LRSPKYR6NKDK544/ . 18 October 2021.
27. News: Whyte . Anna . New traffic light Covid framework revealed . 23 October 2021 . . . 22 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211021233824/https://www.1news.co.nz/2021/10/21/new-traffic-light-covid-framework-revealed/ . 21 October 2021.
28. News: Cooke . Henry . Covid-19 NZ: How the traffic light system will work, and what New Zealand needs to do to reach it . 23 October 2021 . . 22 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211022070623/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/explained/300436587/covid19-nz-how-the-traffic-light-system-will-work-and-what-new-zealand-needs-to-do-to-reach-it . 22 October 2021. live.
29. News: Trevett . Claire . COVID-19 Delta outbreak: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces details on vaccination mandates for businesses . 26 October 2021 . . 26 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211026175707/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-delta-outbreak-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-announces-details-on-vaccination-mandates-for-businesses/GBSSQAXRSHDXCWKQXWIBCVPDXI/ . 26 October 2021. live.
30. News: Witton . Bridie . Covid-19: MIQ stays shortened for vaccinated travellers but Ardern says trans-Tasman bubble would be like striking matches in a wildfire . 28 October 2021 . . 28 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211028091725/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/126812971/covid19-miq-stays-shortened-for-vaccinated-travellers-but-ardern-says-transtasman-bubble-would-be-like-striking-matches-in-a-wildfire. 28 October 2021. live.
31. News: Cheng . Derek . Covid-19 Delta outbreak: 89 cases today; Christchurch to stay at level 2, MIQ stays cut in half - Chris Hipkins . 28 October 2021 . . 28 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211028091850/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-delta-outbreak-89-cases-today-christchurch-to-stay-at-level-2-miq-stays-cut-in-half-chris-hipkins/YAC74CA3FFWJLT4GFBFWRQFM5I/. 28 October 2021. live.