Coronavirus

Updated: “Beginning of the end”: upbeat Poland cuts COVID isolation

WARSAW, Feb 9 (Reuters) - An end to the COVID-19 pandemic is in sight, the Polish health minister said on Wednesday, as he announced a cut to the isolation period…

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EU wants pandemic treaty to ban wildlife markets, reward virus detection

BRUSSELS, Feb 9 (Reuters) - The European Union is pushing for a global deal aimed at preventing new pandemics that could include a ban on wildlife markets and incentives for…

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COVID vaccines may be getting worse at stopping new variants emerging – but they’re still lowering the risk

by Sarah L Caddy Clinical Research Fellow in Viral Immunology and Veterinary Surgeon, University of Cambridge The rise of the omicron variant has caused havoc around the world, just as…

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COVID disrupts health services in over 90% of countries -WHO

Disruptions in basic health services such as vaccination programmes and treatment of diseases like AIDS were reported in 92% of 129 countries, a World Health Organization survey on the impact…

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WATCH: New Zealand protesters block streets outside parliament

Hundreds of people protesting vaccine mandates and pandemic restrictions blocked streets outside New Zealand's parliament on Tuesday with trucks and campervans, inspired by similar demonstrations in Canada. The "convoy for…

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Many babies of vaccinated moms have antibodies at six months

At six months of age, babies born to mothers vaccinated against COVID-19 during pregnancy are more likely to have antibodies against the virus in their blood than babies born to…

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Easing COVID curbs could cause 2 mln deaths: China study

Restoring normal population mobility to "COVID-zero regions" like China will cause some two million deaths in a year, Chinese researchers say, as the country remains the only major economy sticking…

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Easing curbs in ‘COVID-zero regions’ could cause 2 mln deaths in a year – China study

SHANGHAI, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Restoring normal population mobility to "COVID-zero regions" like China will cause some 2 million deaths in a year and the key to controlling the virus…

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Vietnam starts reopening schools after year-long pandemic closure

HANOI, Feb 7 (Reuters) - More than 17 million Vietnamese students were due to return to school on Monday for the first time in about a year, the health ministry…

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Politicians who criticised AstraZeneca vaccine ‘probably killed hundreds of thousands’, says Oxford scientist

Scientists and politicians who expressed critical views of the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine “probably killed hundreds of thousands of people”, an Oxford professor has said. Professor Sir John Bell said critical…

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Hong Kong’s zero-COVID strategy under pressure as cases soar

HONG KONG, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Hong Kong is expected to report a record of around 610 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, broadcaster TVB reported, in the biggest test yet…

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Italy eases COVID-19 restrictions

Italy is taking a step towards normality on Monday with the easing of its COVID-19 restrictions following an improvement in the contagion data. The new regime is starting with the…

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Britain reports COVID cases and deaths fell in last week

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain reported 54,095 COVID-19 cases and 75 deaths in its daily official data on Sunday, with the seven-day figure for both falling compared with the week before.…

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Indonesia bans foreign tourist arrivals at Jakarta airport as COVID-19 spikes

JAKARTA, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Indonesia has temporarily banned foreign tourists entering the country through Jakarta's airport, the transport ministry said, in a bid to slow a spike in coronavirus…

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Australia to welcome back international tourists from Feb. 21

SYDNEY, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Australia will fully reopen its borders to all vaccinated visa holders from Feb. 21, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Monday, nearly two years after…

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Fluid in some rapid COVID tests could be deadly for kids

In some COVID-19 rapid test kits, the small bottle of "reagent" fluid contains sodium azide, a powerful poison that is particularly dangerous for small children, experts warn. In adults, small…

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South Korea surpasses 1 million total COVID cases with daily record

SEOUL, Feb 6 (Reuters) - South Korea on Sunday surpassed one million cumulative COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began, as health officials reported a daily record of 38,691 new infections…

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Alzheimer’s-like changes found in COVID patients’ brains

People who die of severe COVID-19 have brain abnormalities that resemble changes seen in Alzheimer's disease - accumulation of a protein called tau inside brain cells, and abnormal amounts of…

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Russia’s coronavirus cases hit new record high

MOSCOW, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Russia reported 180,071 COVID-19 cases on Saturday, a record daily high, as the Omicron variant continued to spread, the coronavirus task force said. Russia confirmed…

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U.S. study finds Omicron-specific booster may not be needed

A study in monkeys pitting the current Moderna Inc COVID-19 booster against an Omicron-specific booster showed no significant differences in protection, suggesting an Omicron-specific booster may not be needed, U.S.…

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U.S. coronavirus deaths surpass 900,000, driven in part by Omicron surge

The coronavirus pandemic reached a grim new milestone in the United States on Friday with the nation's cumulative death toll from COVID-19 surpassing 900,000, even as the daily number of…

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New Zealand PM Ardern urges unity on COVID on Waitangi Day

Feb 6 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern urged New Zealanders on Sunday to unite in their battle against COVID-19, as the pandemic forced the country to celebrate its national…

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WHO held talks on COVID origins with Chinese premier

The head of the World Health Organization said he had discussed with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang the need for stronger collaboration on the origins of COVID-19, a subject of controversy…

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Italy reports 375 deaths from coronavirus

ROME (Reuters) - Italy reported 93,157 COVID-19 cases on Saturday, down from 99,522 the day before, the health ministry said, while the number of deaths decreased to 375 from 433.…

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Turkey’s President Erdogan recovering from COVID-19

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that he had tested positive for the Omicron variant of COVID-19. "The result of COVID-19 tests done with my wife after showing mild…

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Thousands protest vaccine mandates in Canada, further fraying nerves

Thousands of people demonstrated in Canadian cities, including the financial hub Toronto, on Saturday as mostly peaceful but noisy protests against vaccine mandates spread from Ottawa, the capital. The "Freedom…

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Japan’s serious COVID cases climb to 4-month high; record infections

TOKYO, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Japan serious COVID-19 cases crossed 1,000 for the first time in four months, data showed on Friday, as the Omicron variant fuelled record infections and…

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UK scientists look to repurpose existing antiviral drugs for COVID

Feb 4 (Reuters) - British researchers want to repurpose existing antiviral therapies to treat COVID-19, the University of Oxford said on Friday, in an attempt to sidestep lengthy development processes…

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Portugal to drop COVID test requirement for arriving passengers

Portugal will drop a requirement to present a negative COVID-19 test for air passengers arriving with a valid digital European Union certificate or recognised proof of vaccination, the government said.…

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Blood donor data suggests Danish COVID tally could be twice as high as registered

The number of adult Danes infected with COVID-19 may be double the official tally, Danish scientists said, after releasing data suggesting one third of the adult population has been infected…

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Cumulative total of COVID cases in France rises to over 20 million

The cumulative total for confirmed COVID-19 cases in France since the start of the pandemic has passed 20 million, health ministry data showed. The health ministry registered 274,352 new infections…

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Germany’s health experts divided over COVID curbs as infections hit record

BERLIN, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Germany's health experts are divided over whether the country is ready to ease COVID-19 restrictions as its neighbours start dialling back curbs. Germany on Thursday…

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India reports over 500,000 deaths from COVID-19, experts count millions more

NEW DELHI, Feb 4 (Reuters) - India's official death toll from COVID-19 crossed 500,000 on Friday, a level many health experts say was breached last year but obscured by inaccurate…

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Spain to scrap mandatory outdoor masks from Feb 10

MADRID, Feb 4 (Reuters) - The Spanish government will lift the requirement for people to wear masks outdoors as an anti-coronavirus measure from next Thursday, Health Minister Carolina Darias said…

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Mexico tops 5 million total coronavirus cases

MONTERREY, Mexico (Reuters) - Mexico topped 5 million total confirmed coronavirus cases on Wednesday, registering 42,181 new cases and 573 new deaths, according to health ministry data. The overall number…

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Total number of COVID-19 cases in Poland exceeds 5 million

WARSAW, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Poland reported 54,477 new COVID-19 infections on Thursday and the total number of cases passed the 5-million mark, the Health Ministry said. The number of…

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Europe entering Covid pandemic ‘ceasefire’, says WHO

The World Health Organization's (WHO) Europe director says the continent could soon enter a "long period of tranquillity" in the Covid-19 pandemic. Dr Hans Kluge cited high vaccination rates, the…

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Czech government plans to end COVID passes, easing measures for unvaccinated

PRAGUE, Feb 3 (Reuters) - The Czech Republic will stop requiring COVID passes for entry to restaurants and other service or entertainment venues starting next week, opening them up to…

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EU to ease rules on COVID pass to remove hurdle for vaccine trials

BRUSSELS, Feb 3 (Reuters) - The European Commission proposed on Thursday a change to rules on COVID-19 certificates that would allow participants in vaccine trials to get a valid pass…

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Turkey logs record daily COVID-19 cases

Turkey has recorded 110,682 new COVID-19 infections in the space of 24 hours, its highest daily figure of the pandemic, health ministry data showed on Wednesday. In late December, daily…

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Sweden to lift pandemic restrictions next week

STOCKHOLM, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Sweden will lift pandemic restrictions next week despite record levels of infections as it banks on booster shots and high rates of past COVID-19 infections…

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Britain reports 534 COVID deaths, highest in nearly a year

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain reported 534 deaths within 28-days of a positive COVID-19 test on Wednesday, the highest daily figure since late February 2021. The government data also showed 88,085…

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German vaccine commission to recommend fourth COVID-19 shot

BERLIN, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Germany's expert panel on vaccine use (STIKO) is preparing to recommend a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose, the committee's head, Thomas Mertens, told media group Funke…

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Italy set to ease COVID restrictions

Italy will soon announce a timetable to roll back its COVID-19 curbs, Prime Minister Mario Draghi said, as a surge in cases fuelled by the highly contagious Omicron variant started…

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Fortress New Zealand delays full reopening until October

WELLINGTON/SYDNEY, Feb 3 (Reuters) - New Zealand on Thursday announced a phased reopening of its border that has been largely closed for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but…

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Poland’s Covid death toll is now more than 105,000

Poland detected 56,051 fresh Covid infections in the past 24 hours, Polskie Radio reports, an 83% surge on the 30,588 cases confirmed on Wednesday two weeks ago. That’s near Poland’s…

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Tokyo’s daily COVID-19 infections exceed 20,000 for first time

TOKYO, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Tokyo's new COVID-19 cases exceeded 20,000 for the first time on Wednesday, dimming hopes that an Omicron-fueled wave of infections is peaking out in Japan.…

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Australia’s COVID-19 hospital admissions fall to lowest in weeks

SYDNEY, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Australia's COVID-19 hospitalisation rate fell to its lowest in nearly three weeks on Wednesday, while a steady rate of daily infections raised hopes the worst…

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Slovakia posts record daily rise in COVID cases

PRAGUE, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Slovakia on Wednesday reported over 20,000 new COVID-19 infections in one day for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic started, hit like others in…

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A tenth of England’s 2022 COVID cases suspected reinfections, data suggests

Suspected reinfections account for around 10% of England's COVID-19 cases so far this year, a Reuters analysis suggests, after the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) changed how it calculates coronavirus…

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Germany passes 10-million mark for COVID-19 infections

BERLIN, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Germany hit a new coronavirus record on Wednesday, with the 208,498 more cases reported within 24 hours carrying it past the 10-million mark for total…

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Czech Republic’s daily tally of COVID cases at record

PRAGUE, Feb 2 (Reuters) - The Czech Republic reported 57,195 new COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, its highest daily tally since the coronavirus pandemic started, amid the spread of the Omicron…

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Tonga goes into lockdown over COVID cases

Tsunami-hit Tonga said two wharf workers had come down with COVID-19, prompting the previously virus-free nation to go into lockdown on Wednesday, but the waterfront workers were not on docks…

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UPDATED: World’s 1st trial deliberating infecting young adults with COVID found to be safe

LONDON, Feb 2 (Reuters) - The world's first "human challenge" trial in which volunteers were deliberately exposed to COVID-19 to advance research into the disease was found to be safe…

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France eases Covid curbs

France will begin to lift some Covid-19 restrictions on Wednesday, including mandatory outdoor mask-wearing. Audience capacity limits for concert halls, sporting matches and other events will also be removed, and…

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Norway ends most curbs despite rising COVID infections

Norway will scrap most of its remaining COVID-19 lockdown measures with immediate effect as a spike in coronavirus infections is unlikely to jeopardise health services, the prime minister said. Restaurants…

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Canada’s Quebec scraps plan for health tax on unvaccinated people

The Canadian province of Quebec is scrapping a plan that would make adults who refuse COVID-19 vaccines pay a special health contribution, premier Francois Legault announced on Tuesday, saying the…

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