These are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis: 2.2 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine arrive via the Covax scheme in Ethiopia, Africa's second most populous country, with officials saying inoculations will get under way in the coming days. People with a "green pass" showing they have been vaccinated -- about 40 percent of Israel's population so far -- are allowed back to bars, cafes and restaurants in the Middle Eastern country. Schools, event halls, sport venues and places of worship are all throwing open their doors to the same group this week, although capacity limits remain in place. Only 40 percent of old-age care home workers and 30 percent of hospital staff have received at least one vaccine dose in France so far, prompting health workers' organisations to call on their members to fulfil their "ethical duty" to "slow the spread of the epidemic". At least 2,588,597 people have died of coronavirus since the outbreak began in December 2019, an AFP tally from official sources at 1230 GMT showed. The United States is the worst-affected country with 524,362 deaths, followed by Brazil (264,325), Mexico (190,357), India (157,756) and Britain (124,419). President Mario Abdo Benitez says he will appoint new ministers of health, education, women's issues and civil affairs, after 21 people were hurt in violent street protests over the government's handling of the pandemic. Paraguayans are angry over a shortage of personal protective gear and other equipment to confront the health crisis and a collapse in the healthcare system, and the health minister has already resigned. German pharma giant Merck and a US partner report promising results in trials of a drug administered orally to fight Covid-19, saying it helps reduce patients' viral load. Pill-based molnupiravir, which it has developed with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, caused a significant drop in patients' viral load after five days of treatment, Merck says. Thousands of people, many ignoring mask-wearing and social distancing guidelines, demonstrate in the centre of Austria's capital against coronavirus restrictions, with police making several arrests. The US Senate approves a fiercely debated $1.9 trillion relief package that President Joe Biden vows will revive the country's pandemic-stricken economy. Passed by 50 votes to 49 in a party-line vote, it now heads back to the Democratic-majority House of Representatives. burs-tgb/jj