Healthcare

Australia COVID-19 cases surge, overloading testing system

Australian COVID-19 cases soared to a pandemic record on Tuesday as the Omicron variant ripped through most of the country, driving up hospitalisation rates as the once-formidable testing regime buckled…

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Omicron ‘plainly milder’; new measures not needed, UK’s Johnson says

New measures are not needed now in Britain to fight the Omicron variant, which is "plainly milder" than earlier forms of the coronavirus, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday. "The way forward…

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Dutch to reopen schools despite high infection rates

The Netherlands, under a strict COVID-19 lockdown for the past two weeks, will reopen primary and secondary schools on Jan. 10 despite coronavirus infections remaining high, the government announced on Monday. The government stressed…

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“We will not yield,” French lawmaker says after death threats over vaccine pass

Lawmakers from France's ruling party said on Monday they would not be cowed by death threats that dozens of politicians have received over a bill that will require people to show proof…

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U.S. FDA backs Pfizer’s COVID-19 booster shot for 12- to 15-year-olds

Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 12 to 15, and narrowed the time for all booster shots by a month to five months after the primary doses. The agency…

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German hospitals hope Omicron – as milder variant – could ease burden

The Omicron coronavirus variant could ease pressure on the German health system if it turns out to produce milder illness, even though infections are rising, the head of the country's…

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Omicron teaches hard lessons as U.S. schools revamp return from holidays

Jan 3 (Reuters) - Many U.S. schools that would normally welcome students back to classrooms on Monday are delaying their start dates, scrambling to test pupils and teachers and preparing,…

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English secondary pupils to be tested for Covid before term starts

English secondary pupils are to be tested for Covid at least once before returning to school, the British government has said. In a statement announcing the measures, health secretary Sajid…

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Omicron evades immunity better than Delta, Danish study finds

COPENHAGEN, Jan 3 (Reuters) - The Omicron coronavirus variant is better at circumventing vaccinated peoples' immunity than the Delta variant, according to a Danish study published last week, helping explain…

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Pakistan sees most COVID-19 cases in two months, concern about Omicron

KARACHI, Pakistan, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Pakistan reported on Monday more than 700 COVID-19 cases in a single day, its highest tally in two months, as authorities warned of a…

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Passengers leave COVID-hit cruise ship after 5 days stuck in Lisbon

LISBON, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Disconsolate passengers stuck on a cruise ship moored in Lisbon's port for five days due to a COVID-19 outbreak began disembarking early on Monday, focused…

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Italy risking having 2 million COVID-19 cases, Month-old baby in ITU

The number of people positive for COVID-19 in Italy risks reaching two million due to the spread of the Omicron variant, Nino Cartabellotta, the president of the GIMBE medical foundation,…

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Poland may introduce new Covid restrictions

Poland may introduce new Covid restrictions if new infections continue to rise, health minister Adam Niedzielski told radio station RMF FM on Monday morning. Poland has been dealing with persistently…

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Tokyo daily coronavirus cases hit 103, highest since Oct 8

TOKYO, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Daily coronavirus infections in Tokyo hit the highest since Oct. 8 at 103 cases on Monday, the Tokyo government said as more cases of the…

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Omicron spreading among over-50s, UK minister says

LONDON, Jan 3 (Reuters) - The Omicron variant of COVID-19 is spreading among over-50s, but data do not suggest further restrictions are needed because of the high uptake of booster…

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Australia to push ahead with reopening amid record COVID-19 cases

SYDNEY, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Australia's government said the milder impact of the Omicron strain of COVID-19 meant the country could push ahead with plans to reopen the economy even…

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UPDATED: Israel to admit some foreigners with presumed COVID immunity as of Jan 9

Israel said on Monday it will admit foreigners with presumed COVID-19 immunity from countries deemed medium-risk as of Jan. 9, partially reversing a ban on entry by foreigners imposed in…

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Brazil health agency warns against boarding cruise ships amid COVID-19 outbreaks

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazilian health agency Anvisa on Sunday warned passengers against boarding cruise ships operating along the Brazilian coast after outbreaks of COVID-19 affecting crew and customers, according…

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India launches drive to vaccinate children before a feared Omicron surge

MUMBAI, Jan 3 (Reuters) - India started vaccinating children aged 15 to 18 against the coronavirus on Monday as it quickly expands its inoculation effort to cover the world's largest…

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France introduces new Covid restrictions as schools reopen

France will implement new Covid restrictions today in the latest attempt to stem rising infections. Starting from today, big events will be limited to 2,000 people indoors and 5,000 people…

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Bulgaria detects first cases of Omicron coronavirus variant

Bulgaria has detected its first 12 cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, the Balkan country's chief health inspector Angel Kunchev said. "We have confirmed the new variant in…

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U.S. Defense Secretary Austin tests positive for COVID-19, symptoms mild

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he tested positive for COVID-19 with mild symptoms and would attend meetings virtually as he quarantined at home for the next five days. News…

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Daily COVID cases in Saudi Arabia above 1,000, continue to climb in UAE

Daily coronavirus cases in Saudi Arabia have climbed above 1,000 for the first time since August, while daily infections in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) haven crossed the 2,500-level. Authorities…

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Omicron cannot escape body’s second-line defense

A key part of the immune system's second-line defense - its T cells - are highly effective at recognizing and attacking the Omicron variant, thereby preventing most infections from progressing…

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Anti-vax community blasts Trump after pro-shot comments

Former Republican President Donald Trump's recent comments touting COVID-19 vaccines as safe and a major achievement of his presidency have roiled extreme anti-vaxers, which include many of his ardent supporters.…

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French cinemas to ban popcorn and snacks

No more munching, crunching and slurping at the movies in France – for now. The country's increasingly fraught fight against an unprecedented surge in COVID-19 infections is putting a stop…

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Russia braces for Omicron-led COVID wave early this year

Russia is bracing itself for another COVID-19 wave early this year, sparked largely by the spread of the highly contagious Omicron strain that has spooked markets and lawmakers in recent…

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Germany to drop quarantine, negative COVID-19 demand for UK arrivals

Germany will on Jan. 4 drop its demand for travellers from Britain to quarantine and provide a negative COVID-19 test, requirements that were imposed earlier in December during a surge…

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Omicron rewrites the COVID plan for 2022

As the Omicron variant gains momentum in Europe and the United States, scientists are rewriting their expectations for the COVID-19 pandemic this year. Just weeks ago, disease experts were predicting…

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FACTBOX-Countries weigh need for COVID-19 booster shots

Dec 31 (Reuters) - Many countries are expanding COVID-19 vaccine booster programmes or shortening the gap between shots as governments scramble to shore up protection against the new Omicron variant…

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Demand for COVID-19 self-test kits skyrocket in Europe amid Omicron surge

The first COVID-19 self-test kits have arrived on the shelves of supermarkets in France. In a bid to tackle the surge of the highly contagious Omicron variant, French supermarkets are…

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COVID-19 hospitalization surge among U.S. children spurs new Omicron concerns

Within weeks, the Omicron variant has fueled thousands of new COVID-19 hospitalizations among U.S. children, raising new concerns about how the many unvaccinated Americans under the age of 18 will…

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Omicron, unruly passengers deter U.S. airline staff from holiday overtime

U.S. airline cabin crew, pilots and support staff are reluctant to work overtime during the holiday travel season despite being lured with hefty financial incentives because of the growing fear…

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South Africa lifts curfew as it says COVID-19 fourth wave peaks

South Africa has lifted a midnight to 4 a.m. curfew on people's movement with immediate effect, believing the country has passed the peak of its fourth COVID-19 wave driven by…

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Philippines limits mobility, business in capital area over Omicron threat

MANILA, Dec 31 (Reuters) - The Philippines will impose tighter curbs in the capital region for the next two weeks, the acting presidential spokesperson said on Friday, to try to…

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Omicron crashes global New Year party but South Africa offers hope

SYDNEY/CAPE TOWN, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Twenty twenty-one was slinking off with farewell celebrations mostly muffled by the pandemic. But good news from South Africa - the first country to…

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UK had over 2 million COVID-19 cases in week to Dec. 23 – official estimate

LONDON, Dec 31 (Reuters) - More than 2 million people in Britain tested positive for COVID-19 in the week before Christmas, Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates published on Friday…

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Pfizer’s COVID-19 shot causes mostly mild side effects in young kids – U.S. CDC

Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE's COVID-19 vaccine caused mostly mild side effects in children aged 5 to 11 years, according to data published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control…

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Italy’s restaurants cry for help as COVID bites into New Year bookings

Italian restaurant and club owners are seeking urgent government support due to increased cancellations prompted by a surge in coronavirus infections, they said in a statement this week. Business group…

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Britain approves Pfizer COVID-19 pill Paxlovid

Dec 31 (Reuters) - Britain has approved Pfizer's COVID-19 pill for patients over the age of 18 years who have mild to moderate infection and are at high risk of…

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Hong Kong says Omicron has spread despite COVID restrictions

HONG KONG, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Hong Kong's health officials said on Friday the Omicron variant of the coronavirus has made its way past some of the world's toughest COVID…

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Sydney gears up for New Year’s Eve celebrations despite record Omicron surge

SYDNEY, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Sydney, the Australian city worst-affected by the Omicron wave, will press ahead with New Year's Eve celebrations on Friday, with authorities encouraging revellers to come…

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Israel extends 4th COVID vaccine to elderly in care facilities

Israel is extending its offer of a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose to elderly people in care facilities, Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said on Friday, citing their high exposure and vulnerability…

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Greece COVID-19 cases reach new daily record as Omicron dominates

Greece reported a single-day record high of 35,580 COVID-19 infections on Thursday as the highly contagious Omicron becomes the dominant variant in the country. It was the third successive daily…

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Chinese cities on COVID alert as New Year holiday looms

BEIJING, Dec 31 (Reuters) - China is on high alert against COVID-19 as the New Year holiday looms, with the city of Xian under lockdown while several New Year's Eve…

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French daily COVID infections remain above 200,000

PARIS (Reuters) - France reported 206,243 new confirmed coronavirus cases in the latest 24-hour period on Thursday, rising above 200,000 for the second day running as the Omicron variant takes…

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COVID-19 casts bleak shadow over New Year celebrations, again

MUMBAI/ROME (Reuters) - COVID-19 will stifle New Year celebrations around the world for the second year running on Friday, with governments in many countries hurriedly scaling back festivities in an…

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Turkey’s COVID-19 cases surge to near 40,000

Turkey recorded 39,681 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, the highest number of daily infections since April 28, as Health Minister Fahrettin Koca warned about the growing prevalence of the Omicron…

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Ireland relaxes COVID-19 testing rules, cuts isolation period

Ireland became the latest country to cut the isolation period for some people who contract COVID-19 and relax requirements for tests as a record number of cases for the fourth…

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Experts, governors warn of U.S. Omicron ‘blizzard’ in weeks ahead

U.S. health experts urged Americans to prepare for severe disruptions in coming weeks as the rising wave of COVID-19 cases led by the Omicron variant threatened hospitals, schools and other…

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COVID-19 deaths in Eastern Europe surpass 1 million

Coronavirus deaths in Eastern Europe topped 1 million on Thursday, according to a Reuters tally, as the Omicron variant threatened to batter the region. Three out of the five countries…

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Quebec announces curfew, Ontario cuts isolation period as Canada tackles Omicron

Canada's Ontario and Quebec announced fresh measures to combat COVID-19 as the country faces a rise in cases that has forced tens of thousands into isolation, made tests difficult to…

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Cyprus sees record high COVID cases on Omicron variant

NICOSIA (Reuters) - Cyprus on Tuesday recorded a single-day record high of COVID-19 infections since the virus was first identified on the island in March 2020, data showed on Tuesday.…

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US health authorities cut isolation time for asymptomatic COVID-19 cases to 5 days

U.S. health authorities on Monday shortened the recommended isolation time for Americans with asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 to five days from the previous guidance of 10 days. The Centers for…

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South Africa study suggests Omicron could displace Delta

Research by South African scientists suggests that Omicron could displace the Delta variant of the coronavirus because infection with the new variant boosts immunity to the older one. The study…

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China local symptomatic COVID cases rise for a 4th day as Xian outbreak expands

China's local symptomatic coronavirus cases rose for a fourth consecutive day on Monday, with Xian city reporting more infections in a flare up that has put 13 million residents under lockdown. Xian…

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Australia COVID numbers hit a peak as Omicron outbreak strains domestic politics

ustralia recorded another record surge in COVID-19 infections on Tuesday as an outbreak of the highly infectious Omicron variant disrupted reopening of the economy, while state leaders argued over domestic…

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