COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic Former president Václav Klaus tests positive for COVID-19. (Aktuálně.cz)
COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland Taoiseach Micheál Martin announces the phased reopening of schools beginning on March 1 with junior and senior infants as well as senior students facing Leaving Certificate exams. Meanwhile, the government extends the level 5 lockdown restrictions until April 5. (The Guardian)
Facebook unblocks Australian news pages after the Australian government offers to make it exempt from their new News Media Bargaining Code if Facebook, Inc. can form enough private agreements to pay Australian news companies for their content. (The Guardian)
Former president Václav Klaus tests positive for COVID-19. (Aktuálně.cz)
Kivu conflict Allied Democratic Forces insurgency Suspected ADF militants kill 13 people during two attacks in Beni, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Al Jazeera)
News Media Bargaining Code Facebook unblocks Australian news pages after the Australian government offers to make it exempt from their new News Media Bargaining Code if Facebook, Inc. can form enough private agreements to pay Australian news companies for their content. (The Guardian)
Senegal begins a vaccination campaign against COVID-19 using 200,000 doses of China's Sinopharm vaccine. Government ministers and health workers are the first to receive the vaccine. (U.S. News and World Report)
Suspected ADF militants kill 13 people during two attacks in Beni, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Al Jazeera)
Taoiseach Micheál Martin announces the phased reopening of schools beginning on March 1 with junior and senior infants as well as senior students facing Leaving Certificate exams. Meanwhile, the government extends the level 5 lockdown restrictions until April 5. (The Guardian)
Afghanistan begins a vaccination campaign against COVID-19 following the WHO's emergency use approval of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine. (Anadolu Agency)
At least 79 inmates are killed in simultaneous fights in three jails in Ecuador, prompted by a battle for control of the jails after a gang leader was killed in December. (BBC News)
Bangladesh receives their second shipment of two million doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine from the Serum Institute of India. (All India Radio)
COVID-19 pandemic in Afghanistan Afghanistan begins a vaccination campaign against COVID-19 following the WHO's emergency use approval of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine. (Anadolu Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh Bangladesh receives their second shipment of two million doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine from the Serum Institute of India. (All India Radio)
COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in Saskatchewan, 501.V2 variant Saskatchewan reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa. The patients are two people from the Regina zone who tested positive for COVID-19 at the end of January. (CKCK-DT)
COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt Egypt receives 300,000 doses of China's Sinopharm vaccine. (Asharq Al-awsat)
COVID-19 pandemic in Italy Italy raises the age limit for Oxford–AstraZeneca's vaccine to 65 years old from previously 55. (The Local Italy)
COVID-19 pandemic in North Dakota The North Dakota House votes 50–44 to pass House Bill 1323, which bans state and local officials from imposing mask mandates. (Grand Forks Herald)
COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland, 501.V2 variant Northern Ireland reports their first three cases of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa. (The Irish Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Oman, travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic Oman announces a ban on all travelers from 10 countries for 15 days beginning February 25 with the exception of Omani citizens, diplomats and health workers. (Gulf Business)
COVID-19 pandemic in San Marino San Marino receives their first shipment of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Saskatchewan, 501.V2 variant Saskatchewan reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa. The patients are two people from the Regina zone who tested positive for COVID-19 at the end of January. (CKCK-DT)
COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces a roadmap to ease the lockdown, with four people from two households being allowed to meet outdoors as of March 15 and the lifting of the stay-at-home order on April 5. Non-essential businesses such as bars, restaurants, and gyms can be reopened on April 26, and Scotland will return to the levels system at the same time. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Suriname Suriname begins a vaccination campaign against COVID-19 using a small number of vaccine doses donated by Barbados. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte extends the curfew until March 15 while easing some lockdown restrictions, with senior high schools and vocational schools reopening on March 1. (ABC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in North Dakota The North Dakota House votes 50–44 to pass House Bill 1323, which bans state and local officials from imposing mask mandates. (Grand Forks Herald) COVID-19 pandemic in Washington (state), 501.V2 variant Washington reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa in King County. (The Seattle Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine Ukraine receives their first shipment of 500 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India. (RFE/RL)
COVID-19 pandemic in Washington (state), 501.V2 variant Washington reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa in King County. (The Seattle Times)
Egypt receives 300,000 doses of China's Sinopharm vaccine. (Asharq Al-awsat)
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces a roadmap to ease the lockdown, with four people from two households being allowed to meet outdoors as of March 15 and the lifting of the stay-at-home order on April 5. Non-essential businesses such as bars, restaurants, and gyms can be reopened on April 26, and Scotland will return to the levels system at the same time. (BBC News)
Historical Memory Law The last statue of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco in Spain is removed in Melilla. (El País)
Iran says that it is restricting the access of international inspectors to its nuclear installations. (AP via Al Arabiya)
Italy raises the age limit for Oxford–AstraZeneca's vaccine to 65 years old from previously 55. (The Local Italy)
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action Iran says that it is restricting the access of international inspectors to its nuclear installations. (AP via Al Arabiya)
Northern Ireland reports their first three cases of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa. (The Irish Times)
Oman announces a ban on all travelers from 10 countries for 15 days beginning February 25 with the exception of Omani citizens, diplomats and health workers. (Gulf Business)
Prime Minister Mark Rutte extends the curfew until March 15 while easing some lockdown restrictions, with senior high schools and vocational schools reopening on March 1. (ABC News)
San Marino receives their first shipment of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine. (Reuters)
Saskatchewan reports their first case of the 501.V2 variant first detected in South Africa. The patients are two people from the Regina zone who tested positive for COVID-19 at the end of January. (CKCK-DT)
Suriname begins a vaccination campaign against COVID-19 using a small number of vaccine doses donated by Barbados. (Reuters)
The last statue of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco in Spain is removed in Melilla. (El País)
The North Dakota House votes 50–44 to pass House Bill 1323, which bans state and local officials from imposing mask mandates. (Grand Forks Herald)
Ukraine receives their first shipment of 500 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India. (RFE/RL)
2021 Maiduguri rocket attacks Boko Haram militants fire a series of rockets in Maiduguri, Borno, Nigeria, killing 10 civilians and wounding others. (BBC News)
Assassination of Luca Attanasio Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi asks the United Nations and the UN World Food Programme to open an investigation into the attack that killed Italian ambassador Luca Attanasio and two other people. (AP)
Boko Haram insurgency 2021 Maiduguri rocket attacks Boko Haram militants fire a series of rockets in Maiduguri, Borno, Nigeria, killing 10 civilians and wounding others. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark The government announces the easing of national COVID-19 restrictions, with shops reopening on March 1. Schools in some areas will also reopen on March 1, but classes will be at 50% capacity. (The Local Denmark)
COVID-19 pandemic in France Health Minister Olivier Véran announces that the government will impose a weekend lockdown in Dunkirk beginning this weekend due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 infections. (France 24)
COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland The government announces that it will allow non-essential shops, museums and outdoor sporting facilities to reopen on March 1 as part of an easing of social distancing restrictions. In addition, outdoor gatherings up to 15 people will also be allowed. (Bloomberg)
Health Minister Olivier Véran announces that the government will impose a weekend lockdown in Dunkirk beginning this weekend due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 infections. (France 24)
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi asks the United Nations and the UN World Food Programme to open an investigation into the attack that killed Italian ambassador Luca Attanasio and two other people. (AP)
Nicolás Maduro's government declares European Union Ambassador to Venezuela Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa a persona non grata and gives her 72 hours to leave the country following new sanctions by the EU against 19 Venezuelan officials. (El Mundo)
Philippine drug war, PNP–PDEA shootout A mishandled sting operation between the national police and the country's drug enforcement agency in Quezon City results in the deaths of two police officers following a shootout between the two parties. (CNN)
The government announces that it will allow non-essential shops, museums and outdoor sporting facilities to reopen on March 1 as part of an easing of social distancing restrictions. In addition, outdoor gatherings up to 15 people will also be allowed. (Bloomberg)
The government announces the easing of national COVID-19 restrictions, with shops reopening on March 1. Schools in some areas will also reopen on March 1, but classes will be at 50% capacity. (The Local Denmark)
Africanization The South African city of Port Elizabeth is formally renamed "Gqeberha" ([ᶢǃʱɛ̀ɓéːxà]), the Xhosa name for the Baakens River which flows through the city. Port Elizabeth International Airport is also renamed Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport, after David Stuurman. These name changes are part of a wider campaign to remove colonial and apartheid-era names in the Eastern Cape. (BBC News)
Alaska governor Mike Dunleavy tests positive for COVID-19 following a brief period of isolation after suspected exposure. (The Hill)
Alaska reports their first case of the Lineage P.1 variant first detected in Brazil in a person from Anchorage with no known travel history. (AP)
Authorities in Germany and Belgium seize more than 23,000 kilograms (51,000 lb) of cocaine, worth billions of dollars, in an international operation that resulted in one arrest. Authorities consider this to be the largest amount of cocaine ever seized in Europe. The containers came on a ship from Paraguay, via Tangier and Rotterdam, the police said. (CNN)
Boko Haram militants fire a series of rockets in Maiduguri, Borno, Nigeria, killing 10 civilians and wounding others. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Africa COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt Egypt grants emergency use authorization for Russia's Sputnik V vaccine. (PR Newswire) COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana Ghana becomes the first country in the world to receive vaccines distributed through the COVAX initiative, with 600,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine. (The Washington Post)
COVID-19 pandemic in Alaska Alaska governor Mike Dunleavy tests positive for COVID-19 following a brief period of isolation after suspected exposure. (The Hill) Alaska reports their first case of the Lineage P.1 variant first detected in Brazil in a person from Anchorage with no known travel history. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in California California surpasses 50,000 deaths of COVID-19, becoming the first U.S. state to do so. (The Guardian)
COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt Egypt grants emergency use authorization for Russia's Sputnik V vaccine. (PR Newswire)
COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana Ghana becomes the first country in the world to receive vaccines distributed through the COVAX initiative, with 600,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine. (The Washington Post)
COVID-19 pandemic in Idaho, Lineage B.1.1.7 Idaho reports their first case of the Lineage B.1.1.7 variant in a person from Ada County. (Idaho Press)
COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan, Lineage B.1.1.7 The cabinet extends the curfew to 10:00 p.m., and orders all businesses to close at 9:00 p.m. local time beginning tomorrow due to the spread of the Lineage B.1.1.7 variant. The cabinet also re-imposes a Friday lockdown. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Director-General of Health Noor Hisham Abdullah receive their first doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine as the country officially begins its national immunisation programme. (The Star)
COVID-19 pandemic in North Carolina North Carolina governor Roy Cooper announces that some stay-at-home and curfew restrictions will be lifted on February 26, such as allowing bars to reopen indoors, increasing the number of people in gatherings, and extending the alcohol sale cutoff to 11:00 p.m. (The News & Observer)
COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan Pakistan lifts their COVID-19-related restrictions, allowing indoor dining and wedding ceremonies to resume on March 15. Time limits for shopping centres, markets, and amusement parks are also lifted. (Geo News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Poland, variants of SARS-CoV-2 The Polish Health Ministry bans the use of scarves, bandanas, and face shields and requires people to only wear surgical masks as of February 27 due to the spread of variants of SARS-CoV-2. (Poland In)
COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand Thailand receives their first shipment of 200,000 doses of the Sinovac CoronaVac vaccines. (Bangkok Post)
COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam Vietnam receives their first shipment of 117,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine from South Korea. (CNA)
COVID-19 vaccine Johnson & Johnson's single-shot COVID-19 vaccine candidate meets the standards for emergency use authorization, according to analysis from a committee within the FDA, though formal authorization will not be determined until February 26. The vaccine is 66% effective in combating the virus and can be stored in normal refrigerators. (CNN)
COVID-19 vaccine, 501.V2 variant Moderna announces that they will ship their vaccine candidate for testing against the 501.V2 variant that originated in South Africa. (Time)
