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

• 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]

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• Pfizer will test the effectiveness of itsPfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine by vaccinating all residents ofToledo inBrazil'sParaná province who are over the age of 12 years.^[2]

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

• MalaysianHealth MinisterKhairy Jamaluddin confirmed that the Government was negotiating withMerck & Co to procure stocks of its antiviralmolnupiravir pills for treating COVID-19.^[4]

• The Malaysian Deputy Education Minister Datuk DrMah 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]

• The Malaysian Director-General of HealthNoor Hisham Abdullah confirmed that thePfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine had been approved for the country's booster shot programme.^[6]
• Malaysian Prime MinisterIsmail 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]

• 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]

• President of IndonesiaJoko Widodo has urged richer countries to share theirCOVID-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 StatesFood and Drug Administration recommended that the vaccine be authorised for children aged between 5 and 11 years.^[11]

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

• New Zealand Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern reinstatedLevel 3 lockdown restrictions in several parts of Waikato includingRaglan,Huntly,Ngāruawāhia andHamilton 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]

• 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'svaccination rates. That same day, Ardern unveiled the Government's three-stage strategy to moveAuckland 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]

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

• New Zealand's COVID-19 Response Minister Hipkins has reinstated Level 3 lockdown restrictions in parts of theWaikato region includingWaitomo (includingTe Kūiti),Waipā,Ōtorohanga,Mōkau, the northernPureora Forest Park,Te Awamutu,Karapiro andCambridge in response to new community cases.^[20]

• The New Zealand Government reinstated Alert Level 3 restrictions in theNorthland 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]

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

• The Australian city ofSydney has reopened cafes, gyms and restaurants to fully vaccinated customers, ending four months of lockdown.^[24]
• New Zealand's pharmaceutical supplierPharmac has purchased 60,000 courses ofmolnupiravir pills fromMerck & Co.^[25]

• The New Zealand Government has confirmed thatAuckland will remain onAlert 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]

• 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 nationalvaccination rates.^[27][28]

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

• New Zealand's COVID-19 Response MinisterChris 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 theCook Islands will also be eligible for quarantine-free travel.^[30][31]

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

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

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