Coronavirus

CDC says JN.1 variant accounts for about 86% of COVID cases in US

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday estimated COVID subvariant JN.1 to account for about 85.7% of cases in the United States, as of Jan. 19.…

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WHO classifies JN.1 coronavirus strain as ‘variant of interest’

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday classified the JN.1 coronavirus strain as a "variant of interest", but said it did not pose much threat to public health. "Based on…

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Pfizer’s COVID outlook cuts hit other vaccine maker shares

Pfizer set off a fresh round of concern about the size of the U.S. COVID-19 vaccine and treatment market in the long term, driving down shares on Monday of its German partner…

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Highly mutated COVID variant found in new countries but pandemic in ‘a different phase’

A highly mutated COVID variant called BA.2.86 has now been detected in Switzerland and South Africa in addition to Israel, Denmark, the U.S. and the U.K., according to a leading…

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US CDC tracks new lineage of virus that causes COVID

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday that it was tracking a new, highly mutated lineage of the virus that causes COVID-19. The lineage is named BA.2.86,…

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New Covid vaccines are on the way as ‘Eris’ variant rises in US

A new COVID vaccine is due out next month, but health experts and analysts say it is likely to be coolly received even as hospitalizations from "Eris", a variant of…

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Britain’s COVID inquiry launches with pledge to put bereaved at its heart

The chair of Britain's COVID-19 inquiry pledged to put the bereaved and those who suffered at the heart of her work as she began main hearings on Tuesday into how…

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COVID global emergency over but risks remain, says China health official

SHENZHEN, China, May 6 (Reuters) - While the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an end to the global emergency status for COVID-19, the virus remains harmful and China will…

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UPDATED: WHO declares end to COVID global health emergency

By Jennifer Rigby and Bhanvi Satija LONDON, May 5 (Reuters) - The World Health Organization ended the global emergency status for COVID-19 on Friday more than three years after its…

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No evidence yet showing which animal COVID may have come from, says former head of China CDC

(Reuters) - There is no evidence yet showing which animal the COVID-causing virus may have come from, the former head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)…

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India asks states to ramp up testing as COVID-19 cases climb

MUMBAI (Reuters) - India's federal government asked states to identify emergency hotspots and ramp up-testing for COVID-19, after the country recorded its highest daily case count since September, a Reuters…

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Finding COVID-19’s origins is a moral imperative – WHO’s Tedros

GENEVA (Reuters) - Discovering the origins of COVID-19 is a moral imperative and all hypotheses must be explored, the head of the World Health Organization said, in the clearest indication…

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China declares ‘decisive victory’ over COVID-19

BEIJING, Feb 17 (Reuters) - China's top leaders declared a "decisive victory" over COVID-19, claiming the world's lowest fatality rate, although experts have questioned Beijing's data as the coronovirus tore…

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Chances of new wave of COVID low in China in coming months -CDC official

BEIJING, Feb 9 (Reuters) - The possibility of a large new wave of COVID-19 is relatively low in the coming months in China, Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the China…

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World should ‘calm down’ about China COVID variants – Chinese scientist

By Farah Master and Jennifer Rigby HONG KONG (Reuters) - The world should "calm down" about the possibility of new COVID-19 variants circulating in China, leading Chinese scientist George Gao…

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Updated COVID vaccines prevented illness from latest variants -CDC

(Reuters) - The updated COVID-19 boosters from Pfizer Inc /BioNTech SE and Moderna helped prevent symptomatic infections against the new XBB-related subvariants, offering new evidence of how the vaccines perform…

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Roche launches new test to detect fast spreading Omicron sub-variant

ZURICH, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Roche has launched a new PCR test to detect a fast-spreading sub-variant of the Omicron variant of Coronavirus, the Swiss drugmaker said on Thursday. The…

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China says peak COVID infections exceeded 7 million daily, deaths more than 4,000 daily

HONG KONG, Jan 25 (Reuters) - China's daily new COVID-19 infections hit a peak of more than 7 million per day around Dec. 22, while deaths reached a daily peak…

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China reports almost 13,000 new COVID-related deaths for Jan. 13-19

BEIJING, Jan 22 (Reuters) - China reported almost 13,000 deaths related to COVID-19 in hospitals between January 13 and 19, adding to the nearly 60,000 in the month-or-so before that,…

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China making ‘enormous progress’ on vaccinating elderly: WHO

GENEVA, Jan 20 (Reuters) - The World Health Organization's director of immunisation on Friday praised China for making quick progress on vaccinating older people with COVID-19 shots and boosters since…

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China plays down COVID outbreak with holiday rush at full tilt

Top official says COVID at 'relatively low' level Hospital, critical cases dropping, authorities say More than 2 bln trips expected over Lunar New Year Some fear travel season could see…

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China reports big jump in COVID hospitalisations – WHO

GENEVA (Reuters) - China reported a large jump in COVID-19 hospitalisations in the week through to January 15 to the highest since the pandemic began, according to a weekly report…

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Israel says has not found a link between Pfizer COVID shot and stroke

JERUSALEM, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Israel has not identified any evidence linking strokes to an updated coronavirus vaccine made by U.S. drugmaker Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech according to…

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China races to make COVID drugs as Xi fears rural outbreaks

Drugmakers to triple capacity for key medicines-media President says worried about elderly, rural areas Millions travel across country for holiday season Daily deaths could peak at 36,000 next week-analyst By…

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China braces for COVID holiday surge as people leave megacities for hometowns

By Martin Quin Pollard and Bernard Orr BEIJING, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Luggage-laden passengers flocked to railway stations and airports in China's megacities on Monday, heading home for holidays that…

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WHO recommends use of masks in crowded areas

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended to continue face mask-wearing in specific situations, regardless of any local epidemiological situation, given current spread of Covid-19 worldwide. WHO detailed face covering should…

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Update – China reports huge rise in COVID-related deaths after data criticism

BEIJING, Jan 14 (Reuters) - China said on Saturday nearly 60,000 people with COVID-19 had died in hospital since it abandoned its zero-COVID policy last month, a huge increase from previously reported…

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U.S. says Pfizer’s bivalent COVID shot may be linked to stroke in older adults

(Reuters) - A safety monitoring system flagged that U.S. drugmaker Pfizer Inc and German partner BioNTech's updated COVID-19 shot could be linked to a type of brain stroke in older…

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Long COVID symptoms ‘resolve in a year’ for most with mild illness, study finds

Long COVID sufferers who had a mild bout of the virus should expect their symptoms to resolve within a year, researchers have suggested. People with ongoing effects after illness have…

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Chinese fret over elderly as WHO warns of holiday COVID surge

2 bln trips expected over Lunar New Year period Virus spreading from cities to vulnerable villages WHO says China response challenged by lack of data China's grand reopening marred by…

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U.S. extends public health emergency status for COVID

(Reuters) - The U.S. health department extended the COVID-19 pandemic's status as a public health emergency, allowing millions of Americans to continue receiving free tests, vaccines and treatments. The emergency…

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WHO concerned with quick spread of new Covid variant

The world is not out of the woods yet when it comes to Covid as a new variant sees cases increase exponentially in North America. WHO’s COVID-19 technical lead Maria…

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Israeli study finds Omicron COVID booster cuts hospitalization in 65+

JERUSALEM, Jan 9 (Reuters) - The Omicron-adapted COVID-19 vaccine booster developed by Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE 22UAy.E sharply reduced hospitalizations among older patients, Israeli researchers said on Monday, in…

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‘Life is moving forward’: China declares new COVID phase

By Liz Lee and Eduardo Baptista BEIJING, Jan 9 (Reuters) - China braced for a "new phase" in its battle against COVID-19 on Monday and financial markets strengthened after Beijing…

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Thailand U-turns on COVID vaccination rule for visitors

BANGKOK, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Thailand on Monday rescinded a policy announced at the weekend requiring visitors to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination, its health minister said, citing sufficient immunisation…

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EXPLAINER: What do we know about the XBB.1.5 Omicron subvariant?

By Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber and Jennifer Rigby GENEVA (Reuters) - The Omicron subvariant, XBB.1.5, is causing concern among scientists after its rapid spread in the United States in December. Here is…

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China reopens borders in final farewell to zero-COVID

By Joyce Zhou and Brenda Goh HONG KONG/SHANGHAI, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Travellers began streaming across land and sea crossings from Hong Kong to mainland China on Sunday, many eager…

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FACTBOX: Countries mandate COVID tests for China travellers

Jan 5 (Reuters) - Authorities around the world are imposing or considering curbs on travellers from China as COVID-19 cases there surged following its relaxation of "zero-COVID" rules. China has…

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India finds 11 Omicron subvariants of COVID-19 in international travellers

NEW DELHI, Jan 5 (Reuters) - India detected a total of 11 variants of COVID-19 in international travellers who arrived in the country during Dec. 24 to Jan. 3, health…

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Sweden to require negative COVID tests for travelers from China

STOCKHOLM, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Sweden will require travelers from China to show they have tested negative for COVID before they can enter the country, the Nordic country's government said…

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Germany to require rapid COVID-19 test for travellers from China

BERLIN, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Germany is changing its entry rules for travellers from China and will in future require at least a rapid coronavirus test to enter the country,…

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Biden raises concern over China’s COVID response after WHO questions data

WHO says China under-reporting hospital admissions, deaths Official data at odds with packed hospitals, morgues EU recommends border controls for China travellers Asian shares up on hopes China reopening stimulates…

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EU recommends pre-flight testing of passengers from China, wastewater testing in airports

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union government officials recommended on Wednesday that passengers flying from China to the EU should have a negative COVID-19 test before they board, as Beijing plans…

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Airline group IATA slams COVID restrictions on travellers from China

BERLIN, Jan 4 (Reuters) - The head of the world's biggest airline trade body criticised travel restrictions against travellers from China in a statement published on Wednesday, arguing that such…

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China pledges ‘final victory’ over COVID as outbreak raises global alarm

Virus spreading fast in China after policy U-turn Several countries have imposed travel restrictions EU meets on Weds to discuss China travel policy WHO holds talks with Chinese scientists, seeks…

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FACTBOX: Countries impose COVID restrictions on Chinese travellers

Jan 2 (Reuters) - Authorities around the world are imposing or considering curbs on travellers from China as COVID-19 cases in the country surge following its relaxation of "zero-COVID" rules.…

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EU to discuss coordinated response to China COVID situation on Wednesday

BRUSSELS, Jan 2 (Reuters) - European Union government health officials will hold talks on Wednesday on a coordinated response to the surge in COVID-19 infections in China, the Swedish EU…

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Qatar to require all travelers from China to have a COVID test

(Reuters) - Qatar will from Tuesday require travellers arriving from China to provide a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 48 hours of departure, Qatar's state news agency QNA said…

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Morocco to ban arrivals from China over COVID surge

RABAT (Reuters) - Morocco will impose a ban on people arriving from China, whatever their nationality, from Jan. 3 to avert any new wave of coronavirus infections, the foreign ministry…

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Some in China return to regular activity after COVID infections

By Josh Arslan and Martin Quin Pollard BEIJING/WUHAN, Jan 2 (Reuters) - Some people in China's key cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Wuhan braved the cold and a spike in…

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France urges EU peers to test Chinese travellers for COVID

PARIS (Reuters) - France on Sunday urged European Union peers to test Chinese travellers for COVID after Paris decided to do so amid an outbreak sweeping the country. Only Italy…

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Xi calls for unity as China enters “new phase” of COVID policy

BEIJING, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Saturday for more effort and unity as the country enters a "new phase" in its approach to combating the…

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Over 40% of U.S. COVID cases caused by Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 – CDC

By Raghav Mahobe and Julie Steenhuysen (Reuters) - Over 40% of COVID-19 cases in the United States are now caused by the highly contagious Omicron XBB.1.5, data from the U.S.…

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FACTBOX: Authorities around the world imposing or considering curbs on travellers from China

(Reuters) - Authorities around the world are imposing or considering curbs on travellers from China as COVID-19 cases in the country surge following its relaxation of "zero-COVID" rules. They cite…

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EU urges more checks for COVID variants given surge in China

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union should consider immediately scaling up genomic sequencing of COVID-19 infections and monitoring of waste water, including from airports, to detect any new variants given…

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WHO urges China to share specific data regularly on COVID situation

(Reuters) - The World Health Organization once again urged China's health officials to regularly share specific and real-time information on the COVID-19 situation in the country, as it continues to…

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China to drop COVID tests for inbound travellers from Jan 8

Dec 28 (Reuters) - China will drop a requirement for inbound travellers to take COVID-19 PCR tests starting from Jan 8, 2023, customs authorities said on Wednesday. PCR checks for…

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