Coronavirus

UPDATED: Italy to roll back COVID restrictions in the coming weeks

ROME, March 18 (Reuters) - The Italian government announced plans on Thursday to phase out its coronavirus restrictions more than two years after the disease first swept the country, even though cases are…

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Canada to ditch pre-arrival COVID testing requirement for travelers -source

(Reuters) - Canada will remove the need for incoming fully vaccinated travelers to get tested for COVID-19 before entering the country, starting on April 1, a source familiar with the plan said.…

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WHO says global rise in COVID cases is ‘tip of the iceberg’

(Reuters) - Figures showing a global rise in COVID-19 cases could herald a much bigger problem as some countries also report a drop in testing rates, the WHO said, warning…

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Pandemic sends 4.7 mln more people into extreme poverty in SE Asia – ADB

MANILA, March 16 (Reuters) - The pandemic added 4.7 million more people to Southeast Asia's most extreme poor in 2021, reversing gains made in fighting poverty, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said…

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Germany reports another record COVID-19 incidence; France’s current rebound of COVID infections to peak soon

BERLIN, March 16 (Reuters) - Germany reported another record high seven-day incidence of the coronavirus on Wednesday even as the country prepares to ease restrictions. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) registered 262,593…

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UPDATED: Drugmakers condemn plan for COVID vaccine patent waiver

March 16 (Reuters) - Global drugmakers condemned on Wednesday an initiative by four World Trade Organization members to introduce an intellectual property waiver for COVID-19 vaccines, saying it could undermine the industry's…

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China’s soaring COVID infections fuel concern about cost of containment

China posted a steep jump in daily COVID-19 infections on Tuesday, with new cases more than doubling from a day earlier to hit a two-year high, raising concerns about the…

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Germany reports record COVID-19 incidence before easing curbs

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) registered 198,888 new infections, that is 42,000 higher than a week ago, bringing the total number of infections to more than 17.4 million. The seven-day…

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Omicron is infectious on surfaces longer than original virus – study

Omicron particles remain infectious on surfaces for longer periods than particles of the original SARS-CoV-2, according to laboratory experiments. Researchers put droplets of infectious virus from the original coronavirus version…

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Vaccine protection in mother’s milk strongest after mRNA shots

Women who wish to pass protective antibodies induced by COVID-19 vaccines to their babies via breast milk should opt for the mRNA shots from Moderna (MRNA.O) or Pfizer (PFE.N)/BioNTech ,…

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Studies show one in four kids with COVID develop lingering problems

One in four children with COVID-19 symptoms develop "long COVID," according to data pooled from 21 earlier studies conducted in Europe, Asia, Australia and South America. Among the 80,071 children…

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France’s COVID infections keep rising, hospitalizations up

French health authorities reported 18,853 new COVID-19 infections on Monday, a figure showing a week-on-week increase for the tenth consecutive time on the day France lifted most of the restrictions put in place to…

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China records more local COVID cases so far this year than in whole of 2021

BEIJING, March 14 (Reuters) - China has reported more local symptomatic COVID-19 cases so far this year than it recorded in all of 2021, as the highly transmissible Omicron variant triggers outbreaks…

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Former U.S. President Obama tests positive for COVID-19

Former U.S. President Barack Obama said he had tested positive for COVID-19 and was feeling fine other than a scratchy throat. "I've had a scratchy throat for a couple days,…

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Pandemic fallout could exacerbate Europe’s drinking problem – WHO

Europe saw a fall in alcohol consumption in the first year of the pandemic, but that decline could reverse in coming years as the economic fallout of COVID-19 takes its…

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China daily local symptomatic COVID cases more than triple

BEIJING, March 13 (Reuters) - Mainland China reported 1,807 new local symptomatic COVID-19 cases on Sunday, more than triple the caseload of the previous day, and the highest in about two years, as surging infections…

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China daily local COVID cases hit two-year high of over 1,500

SHANGHAI, March 12 (Reuters) - Mainland China reported more than 1,500 new local COVID-19 infections on Saturday, the most since the initial nationwide outbreak at the start of 2020, as the Omicron…

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98% of U.S. population can ditch masks as COVID eases -CDC

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) late on Thursday said some 98% of the U.S. population live in locations where COVID-19 levels are low enough that…

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Covid deaths probably three times higher than records say

More than 18 million people - three times higher than official records suggest - have probably died because of Covid, say researchers. Their report comes two years to the day…

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China daily local COVID infections exceed 1,000 as symptomless cases spike

BEIJING, March 11 (Reuters) - Mainland China reported over 1,000 new local COVID-19 infections on Friday, the highest daily count since Beijing contained its first national outbreak in early 2020, driven by a jump…

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Germany reports record COVID-19 cases as curbs set to ease

BERLIN, March 10 (Reuters) - Germany reported a record number of coronavirus infections on Thursday as the country prepares to lift most remaining restrictions. Germany reported 262,752 new infections, 52,079 more than…

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China’s daily local symptomatic COVID cases nearly double to 402

BEIJING, March 10 (Reuters) - Mainland China reported 402 locally transmitted COVID-19 infections with confirmed symptom for March. 9, official data showed on Thursday, nearly doubling from the daily count a day…

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Almost a third of people report lingering symptom 6-12 months after COVID-19 -study

Almost a third of people report at least one ongoing symptom between 6 and 12 months after their coronavirus infection, a survey of 152,000 people in Denmark has found. The…

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Hong Kong residents urged not to panic ahead of COVID mass testing

HONG KONG, March 6 (Reuters) - Hong Kong reported 31,008 new COVID-19 cases and 153 deaths on Sunday as the city's chief secretary said residents should not worry about a looming mass…

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Chinese city of Qingdao reports Omicron outbreak among students

BEIJING, March 6 (Reuters) - The Chinese port city of Qingdao reported 88 new coronavirus cases for March 5, all of them of the Omicron variant, fuelling China's highest number of daily…

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Most EU women blame COVID pandemic for spike in gender violence -poll

BRUSSELS, March 4 (Reuters) - Nearly three out of four European Union women think the COVID-19 pandemic has spurred an increase in physical and psychological violence against them, according to a Eurobarometer…

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Families forced to split as Hong Kong COVID cases spiral and rules tighten

SYDNEY/HONG KONG, March 4 (Reuters) - While Hong Kong clings to its "zero-COVID" policy, frustrations in the city are boiling over, workplace morale is being hit hard and families are splitting as…

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Italy records 178,000 excess deaths during COVID pandemic

Italy has recorded some 178,000 excess deaths, mostly attributable to COVID-19, during the coronavirus pandemic, the National Statistics Office (ISTAT) and National Health Institute (ISS) said in a report. The…

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France to lift COVID vaccine passport rules on March 14, just before presidential election

PARIS, March 3 (Reuters) - Rules requiring people to show a COVID-19 vaccine passport to access venues will be lifted in France on March 14 - about a month before the presidential election…

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Pfizer COVID vaccine less effective in ages 5-11 -New York study

Two doses of the Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) and BioNTech SE (22UAy.DE) COVID-19 vaccine was protective against severe disease in children aged 5 to 11 during the recent Omicron variant surge,…

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Hong Kong mortuaries fill up as COVID deaths climb

HONG KONG, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Facilities for storing dead bodies at hospitals and public mortuaries in Hong Kong are at maximum capacity due to a record number of COVID-19 fatalities, the Hospital Authority said…

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Italy to receive first 21 billion euros from EU Covid-19 fund – Von der Leyen

PARIS, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Italy will receive a first payment of 21 billion euros ($23.53 billion) from the "Next Generation EU" fund to help states compensate the impact of the COVID-19…

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Commission finds Sweden should have clamped down harder as COVID hit

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden should have adopted tougher early measures and the government assumed clearer leadership as COVID-19 hit, though the mostly voluntary no-lockdown strategy was broadly correct, a commission…

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U.S. eases COVID indoor mask guidelines for most of country

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) dramatically eased its COVID-19 guidelines for masks, including in schools, a move that means 72% of the population reside in communities…

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China reports 249 new COVID cases, including dozens from Hong Kong

BEIJING, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Mainland China reported 249 new confirmed coronavirus infections for Feb 25, health officials said on Saturday, up from 224 a day earlier, with a record number of…

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German health minister says pandemic not over

BERLIN, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Germany does not have leeway to ease COVID-19 restrictions more quickly, and Germans should not think that the pandemic is over as the number of new daily…

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Almost 11,000 Ukrainians entered Romania on first day of Russian invasion as people flee war into central Europe

BUCHAREST, Feb 25 (Reuters) - A total of 10,624 Ukrainians entered Romania through its six border checkpoints on Thursday as Russia invaded Ukraine by land, sea and air, Romanian Interior Minister Lucian…

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Slovakia to lift almost all remaining Covid-19 restrictions

The government of Slovakia has decided on the further easing of Covid-19 restrictions, meaning that almost all measures will be lifted in the country from Saturday. From that day, sporting…

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WHO announces 2nd hub for training countries to make COVID vaccines

Feb 23 (Reuters) - The World Health Organization said on Wednesday it has set up a hub in South Korea to train low- and middle-income countries to produce their own vaccines and therapies, and…

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Reinfections with Omicron subvariants are rare, Danish study finds

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Getting infected twice with two different Omicron coronavirus subvariants is possible, but rarely happens, a Danish study has found. In Denmark, a more infectious sublineage of the…

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Chinese capital Beijing finds most daily local COVID cases in nearly a month

BEIJING (Reuters) - Beijing reported on Wednesday the highest number of daily local COVID-19 cases since late January, less than two weeks before the opening of China's annual parliamentary meeting…

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Poland will remove most COVID restrictions – PM

WARSAW, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Poland will remove most COVID-19 restrictions from March 1, while keeping the obligation to wear face masks, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said Wednesday. "After medical consultations and…

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Antibodies improve for months after mRNA vaccine, study finds

Antibodies induced by mRNA COVID-19 vaccines keep improving in quality for at least six months while the immune system continues to "train" its antibody-producing B cells, according to a new…

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Red blood cells damaged by COVID cause blood-vessel problems – study

Dysfunctional red blood cells contribute to the blood vessel injuries common in severe COVID-19, according to laboratory studies that also may suggest a way to treat the problem. Many patients…

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Dubai airport CEO sees more countries dropping COVID travel testing rules soon

The head of Dubai International Airport, one of the world's busiest, said on Tuesday he expects more countries to soon start ending rules for vaccinated passengers to be tested for COVID-19.…

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UK’s Johnson scraps COVID restrictions in England

British Prime Minister Boris on Monday said he would end all coronavirus restrictions in England including mandatory self-isolation for people with COVID-19 and free testing, drawing scepticism from some scientists…

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New Zealand’s Ardern signals mandates will ease after Omicron peaks

WELLINGTON, Feb 21 (Reuters) - New Zealand will lift COVID-19 vaccine mandates and social distancing measures after the Omicron peak has passed, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday, as protesters occupying…

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UK’s Johnson set to scrap COVID restrictions

LONDON, (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will on Monday set out plans to scrap coronavirus restrictions as part of a "living with COVID" strategy that aims to achieve a faster…

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‘Welcome back world!’: Australia fully reopens borders after two years

SYDNEY, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Australia on Monday fully reopened its international borders to travellers vaccinated against the coronavirus after nearly two years of pandemic-related closings as tourists returned and hundreds of…

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UK review finds long COVID a global issue for patients and healthcare systems,

British researchers led by Oxford University said that the current understanding of long COVID and options to treat it is emerging as a major long-term issue for global healthcare systems…

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‘Fortress Australia’ to welcome tourists for first time under COVID

MELBOURNE, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Australia will welcome international tourists on Monday after nearly two years of sealing its borders, relying on high COVID-19 vaccination rates to live with the…

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U.S. FDA considers approving a second COVID-19 booster shot

U.S. health regulators are looking at authorizing a potential fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in the fall, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday, citing sources familiar with the…

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Hong Kong in “all-out combat” to contain COVID outbreak with China support

HONG KONG, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Hong Kong is in "all-out combat" to contain a surge in coronavirus cases, the city's number two official said on Sunday, with the ramping up of…

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UPDATED: UK must cut spending on COVID testing, Johnson says

LONDON, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Britain wants to retain the capability to spot new coronavirus variants but it must stop spending so heavily on free testing as cases and fatalities fall, Prime…

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Hong Kong parents rush to vaccinate children as COVID surges

HONG KONG, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Hong Kong parents rushed children as young as 3 years old to vaccination centres this week as the government lowered the age limit for the shots…

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WHO says quarantine can be shortened in places with high COVID cases

The World Health Organization said countries struggling with surging COVID-19 infections may shorten the recommended quarantine duration of 14 days in some situations. The U.N. agency said its new guidelines…

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Canada police set to end siege of capital by protesters fighting COVID measures

OTTAWA, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Canadian police are poised to clear out on Friday hundreds of truck drivers from Ottawa who have staged a three-week-long protest against pandemic restrictions that has crippled…

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