Coronavirus

New York judge strikes down state mask mandate

A New York judge struck down the state's mask mandate on Monday, one week before it was due to expire, ruling the governor overstepped her authority in imposing a rule that needed to…

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EU regulator set to rule on Pfizer COVID pill by end-Jan

The European Union's drug regulator is set to decide whether to approve Pfizer's COVID-19 pill at the end of this month, before doing a final review of Merck's similar but less effective drug in February, a…

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Canadian hospitals strain as Omicron hits health workers

TORONTO/MONTREAL, Jan 24 (Reuters) - After a year as an emergency department nurse at a busy Toronto hospital in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, Aimee Earhart called it quits…

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Australian children facing ‘generation-defining disruption’ due to pandemic, experts say

The indirect effects of the pandemic on children and adolescents are as substantial – if not more so – than the impact of being infected with Covid-19, paediatricians in Australia…

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Italy to set aside 150 million euros for COVID vaccination compensation

Italy plans to set aside 150 million euros ($169.91 million) to compensate those suffering side effects from COVID-19 vaccinations, a draft decree seen by Reuters showed. The government plans will…

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More Chinese provinces report cases linked to Beijing clusters

Hong Kong says civil servants to work from home as much as possible as COVID spreads

HONG KONG, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Hong Kong's government said that special work arrangements would be put in place from Tuesday to reduce the number of civil servants working in…

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England to drop COVID travel test demand, PM Johnson says

LONDON, Jan 24 (Reuters) - People arriving in England from abroad will no longer have to take COVID-19 tests if they have been vaccinated, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said…

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India’s Omicron wave may intensify in coming weeks -experts

NEW DELHI, Jan 24 (Reuters) - India's COVID-19 infections, led by the Omicron variant, may see a sharp rise in the coming weeks, some top experts said, noting that the…

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UPDATED: WHO head says ‘dangerous’ to assume pandemic is nearing end

Jan 24 (Reuters) - The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday it would be dangerous to assume that the highly transmissable Omicron was the last variant…

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz eyes COVID vaccine mandate

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in an interview published Sunday that it's "naive" to think the coronavirus would disappear soon. He told the Süddeutsche Zeitung it is vital to increase…

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End of pandemic in Europe ‘plausible’ says WHO

The Omicron variant has moved the Covid-19 pandemic into a new phase and could bring it to an end in Europe, the WHO Europe director said Sunday. "It's plausible that…

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Canada’s Omicron wave may have peaked; hospitals still under strain

Canada is seeing early signs that a wave of infections caused by the Omicron variant of COVID-19 may have peaked, but hospitals are still under intense strain, chief public health…

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Two-thirds of anti-vax propaganda online created by just 12 influencers, research finds

Two-thirds of anti-vaccination propaganda posted online is created by just 12 so-called influencers, research has found. Different to those who describe themselves vaccine hesitant, anti-vaxxers tend to employ aggressive methods…

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Photo Story: European anti-coronavirus measures protest in Brussels

People take part in a protest against European anti-coronavirus measures, in Brussels, Belgium, 23 January 2022. Tens of thousands of people were expected to a protest against the way the…

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Libya enters fourth wave of Covid-19 pandemic

The Head of Libya's National Center for Disease Control, Haidar Al-Sayeh, said Libya entered the fourth wave of Covid-19 pandemic after the outbreak of Omicron variant, adding that the positive…

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One surrendered Hong Kong hamster tests COVID positive as city lockdown grows

HONG KONG, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Hong Kong authorities said on Sunday one hamster surrendered to authorities by pet-owners had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and that over 2,200…

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African scientists say ‘mild omicron’ could end pandemic

African scientists are optimistic that the variant could mark the end of the pandemic and the beginning of an endemic. South African virologist Wolfgang Preiser told DW that the behavior…

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Two Australian states to test school students twice weekly for COVID

Australia reported 58 deaths from COVID-19 on Sunday, as the two most populous states, New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, said students would be tested twice weekly for the Omicron…

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China’s Beijing orders more COVID tests as cases mount before Olympics

BEIJING, Jan 23 (Reuters) - The local government in China's capital ordered more COVID-19 tests on Sunday as the city continued to report new local cases, less than two weeks…

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India’s COVID-19 cases rise by 333,533 in last 24 hours

NEW DELHI, Jan 23 (Reuters) - India reported over 300,000 new COVID-19 infections for the fourth straight day even though the caseload over the last 24 hours was slightly lower…

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Pfizer CEO sees annual COVID vaccine rather than frequent boosters

Pfizer Inc Chief Executive Albert Bourla said that an annual COVID-19 vaccine would be preferable to more frequent booster shots in fighting the coronavirus pandemic. Pfizer/BioNtech's COVID-19 vaccine has shown…

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Former Polish president, Solidarity leader Walesa sick with COVID

Lech Walesa, the former Polish president and Solidarity trade union leader who played a leading role in the fall of Communism, has the coronavirus, he said. Originally a shipyard electrician…

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New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern cancels her wedding amid new Omicron restrictions

SYDNEY, Jan 23 (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden has cancelled her wedding as the nation imposes new restrictions to slow the community spread of the COVID-19 Omicron…

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New technique may speed vaccine, antibody drug development

Researchers are working on a way to speed development of vaccines and monoclonal antibody drugs for COVID-19 and other illnesses, shortening the time from collection of volunteers' blood samples to…

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No vax, no meal: Some Polish restaurants impose entry curbs amid criticism of light-touch rules

Warsaw restaurateur Marcin Wojtasik says he is willing to face bad reviews from anti-vaxxers to help protect his staff from COVID-19 by admitting only vaccinated customers. "It was a very…

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U.S. to require COVID vaccines for essential workers crossing borders

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it is requiring that non-U.S. essential workers such as truck drivers and nurses who are crossing land borders be fully vaccinated against…

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Are hospital admissions still the best way to gauge the COVID crisis?

Using the number of people in hospital with COVID-19 to gauge the severity of the pandemic may not give an accurate picture in the Omicron era as more and more…

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As Japan infections surge, so does risk of pandemic fatigue

TOKYO, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Japan on Friday acted to contain a record surge in COVID-19 cases with a return to curbs that have however shown diminishing results, while a…

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Sputnik V shows higher Omicron-antibody levels than Pfizer in preliminary study

A small preliminary laboratory study has shown that levels of Omicron-neutralising antibodies of people vaccinated with Russia's Sputnik V vaccine did not decline as much as of those who had…

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Pakistan records most daily COVID cases since pandemic began

KARACHI, Pakistan, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Pakistan reported on Friday over 7,000 COVID-19 cases in a single day, its highest daily number of infections since the pandemic began, as the…

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German health minister sees possible tripling of coronavirus infections by mid-February

BERLIN, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Germany reported a record 140,160 new coronavirus cases on Friday as the country's health minister warned the country could see at least 400,000 per day…

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UPDATED: EU told to prime for fourth COVID vaccine dose, if needed

BRUSSELS, Jan 21 (Reuters) - European Union health ministers were told on Friday to prepare to deploy a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccines as soon as data showed it was…

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Ireland set to rapidly drop almost all COVID-19 restrictions

DUBLIN, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Ireland looked set to rapidly unwind almost all COVID-19 restrictions with ministers due to meet on Friday to agree on a timetable after being given…

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UPDATED: Poland widens testing as COVID cases hit record

Poles will be able to get tested for COVID-19 in pharmacies free of charge, the government said on Friday, after the country reported a record 36,665 daily cases as the…

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Tearful Adele postpones Las Vegas shows due to COVID delays

A tearful and apologetic Adele on Thursday postponed a series of Las Vegas concerts due to start on Friday because half her crew was sick with COVID-19 and the pandemic…

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China daily local confirmed COVID cases fall to nearly two-month low, hamster cull continues in Hong Kong

BEIJING, Jan 21 (Reuters) - China reported on Friday the lowest daily tally of local confirmed COVID-19 cases in nearly two months, after a national strategy to quickly curb flare-ups…

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Western Australia state to stay shut as Omicron stalks the east

SYDNEY, Jan 21 (Reuters) - The state of Western Australia has cancelled plans to reopen its borders on Feb. 5 citing health risks from a surge in Omicron cases elsewhere…

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Canada’s Ontario to start lifting COVID-related curbs, Quebec more cautious

Canada's most populous province of Ontario has blunted transmission of the Omicron coronavirus variant and will gradually ease restrictions on businesses from end-January, Premier Doug Ford announced. The health care…

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Austria set to make COVID shots compulsory after bill clears parliament

Austria's lower house of parliament passed a bill on Thursday making COVID-19 vaccinations compulsory for adults as of Feb. 1, bringing Austria closer to introducing the first such sweeping coronavirus…

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France to loosen COVID curbs in February

France will ease work-from-home rules from early February and allow nightclubs to reopen two weeks later as the general COVID-19 situation in the country is starting to improve, Prime Minister…

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Dozens of firms to make cheap version of Merck COVID pill for poorer nations

BRUSSELS, Jan 20 (Reuters) - A U.N.-backed agency has struck a deal for nearly 30 generic drugmakers to make low-cost versions of Merck & Co's COVID-19 pill molnupiravir for poorer…

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Coronavirus spreading like never before in Americas, health agency says

COVID-19 infections are reaching new peaks in the Americas with 7.2 million new cases and more than 15,000 COVID-related deaths in the last week, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)…

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Rapid antigen tests may be unreliable in children

When used in children, rapid antigen tests for detecting the coronavirus do not meet accuracy criteria set by the World Health Organization and U.S. and UK device regulators, according to…

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Prior COVID infection more protective than vaccination during Delta surge -U.S. study

People who had previously been infected with COVID-19 were better protected against the Delta variant than those who were vaccinated alone, suggesting that natural immunity was a more potent shield…

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Study shows Covid health pass saved nearly 4,000 lives in France

The implementation of the French ‘pass sanitaire’ (health pass) in the summer of 2021 is estimated to have saved nearly 4,000 lives in France, shows a recent study by the…

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India’s richest state set to reopen schools as Omicron cases fall

MUMBAI, Jan 20 (Reuters) - India's wealthiest state will reopen schools next week, its education minister said on Thursday, as new cases of the Omicron variant of coronavirus fell sharply,…

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Romania daily COVID-19 cases at record high

BUCHAREST, Jan 20 (Reuters) - The number of new coronavirus infections in Romania rose by a record high 19,105 in the past 24 hours, government data showed on Thursday, but…

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Ukraine reports sharp increase in COVID-19 cases

KYIV, Jan 20 (Reuters) - The number of new coronavirus infections in Ukraine has more than doubled over the past three days and reached 18,479 cases as of Jan. 20,…

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Britain must learn to live with COVID-19, it could be with us forever – Javid

LONDON, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Britain must learn to live with COVID-19 as it may be with us forever, health minister Sajid Javid said on Thursday, adding that Britain was…

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Spain’s COVID infection rate continues to drop

Spain's COVID-19 infection rate fell for the second day in a row on Wednesday after 11 weeks of surges to record highs, raising hope among health authorities that the frenetic…

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Thailand to resume quarantine waiver for vaccinated arrivals in February

BANGKOK, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Thailand will resume its 'Test & Go' quarantine waiver for vaccinated arrivals from Feb. 1, its coronavirus task force said on Thursday, in response to…

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UPDATED: Austria introduces lottery as COVID vaccine incentive

VIENNA, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Austria's conservative-led government said on Thursday it was introducing a national lottery to encourage holdouts to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, hours before parliament was…

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Face coverings no longer mandatory in classrooms in England

Work from home measures have been scrapped and face coverings will no longer need to be worn in classrooms in England from today. Commuters are set to travel to work…

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U.S. CDC warns against travel to 22 destinations over COVID-19

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advised against travel to 22 nations and territories because of a rising number of COVID-19 cases, including for Israel, Australia, Egypt,…

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Thousands in Hong Kong volunteer to adopt hamsters amid COVID-19 fears

HONG KONG, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Thousands of people in Hong Kong volunteered on Wednesday to adopt unwanted hamsters after a mass cull order from the government over COVID-19 fears…

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Poland’s daily COVID cases could top 50,000 next week

WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish state employees will move to remote working and private sector companies should follow suit as the country faces another surge in daily COVID-19 cases, driven by…

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