Coronavirus

Burnout could lead to tripling of NHS staff sickness next year

Hospitals could see as many as one in six doctors and nurses off sick throughout 2022, according to modelling, as the Omicron wave of Covid fuels burnout, stress and anxiety…

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UPDATED: Israeli hospital launches first test of second COVID-19 booster

RAMAT GAN, Israel, Dec 27 (Reuters) - An Israeli hospital administered fourth COVID-19 vaccine doses to a test group of health workers on Monday, in what it called the first…

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Oman to require workers to have vaccination certificate

Dec 27 (Reuters) - Oman will not allow employees in the public or private sectors to enter their workplace without a vaccination certificate that proves they are fully vaccinated, the…

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Swissmedic approves Roche’s Ronapreve to treat COVID-19 patients

ZURICH, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Swiss drugs regulator Swissmedic said on Monday it approved Ronapreve, an antibody treatment jointly developed by Roche and Regeneron, to treat COVID-19 patients. "In this…

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New York sees four-fold increase in children hospitalised with Covid-19

With Omicron cases on the rise, New York health officials have reported an increase in hospitalised children, as the White House promised Sunday to quickly resolve the United States' Covid-19…

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Mexico’s confirmed coronavirus death toll nears 299,000

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's health ministry reported 3,719 additional cases of coronavirus infections and 107 more fatalities, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 3,951,003 and the death…

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Coronavirus cases in Germany surpass seven million

Coronavirus cases in Germany have just surpassed seven million. The country reported another 13,908 cases over the past 24 hours, taking the cumulative Covid tally to 7,005,289 confirmed cases. Another…

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Kosovo reports first cases of COVID-19 Omicron

Kosovo's health ministry said it had registered its first nine cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant in the Balkan country. The ministry said that out of 22 people who tested…

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Iran bars travellers from parts of Western Europe over Omicron fears

Iran has banned the entry of travellers from Britain, France, Denmark and Norway for 15 days as part of curbs following the discovery of the highly transmissible Omicron variant of…

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China’s local COVID-19 cases edge higher as Xian enters 5th day of lockdown

BEIJING, Dec 27 (Reuters) - China's local symptomatic coronavirus cases crept up again, with most new infections reported in the northwestern city of Xian as it entered a fifth day…

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Australia records first Omicron death, authorities stick to reopening plan

SYDNEY, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Australia on Monday reported its first confirmed death from the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 amid another surge in daily infections, but the authorities refrained…

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COVID-19 continues to crimp Americans’ holiday travels

U.S. airlines canceled more than 1,300 flights on Sunday as COVID-19 thinned out the number of available crews, while several cruise ships had to cancel stops after outbreaks on board,…

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Morocco extends flight ban because of coronavirus

Morocco has extended the suspension of commercial flights to and from the North African country until January 31. The decision comes almost a month after the Interministerial Covid Monitoring Committee…

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Majority of British willing to get Covid booster vaccine every six months

A majority of people would be willing to get a booster vaccine every six months to help guard against Covid-19, according to a poll which also reveals nearly one in…

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25 Percent Spike in Serious Covid-19 Cases in Israel, PM Bennett Self-isolates

Israel's Health Ministry recorded 98 active serious COVID cases on Sunday, marking a 24 percent increase over the last eight days, as fears grow of an omicron wave overwhelming the…

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Omicron on verge of becoming dominant variant in Amsterdam

Nearly half of coronavirus infections in Amsterdam are now caused by the Omicron variant – a twelvefold increase in the last eight days. A random sample of 95 cases by…

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Coronavirus numbers keep falling in Belgium

The number of new coronavirus infections in Belgium continues to decline according to the latest figures released by the national health institute, Sciensano. Between 15 and 21 December, an average…

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Kenya to start giving COVID-19 booster shots

Kenya will offer COVID-19 booster shots to individuals six months after their initial shots, the health ministry said in a document published on Saturday, a day after the country logged…

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First Omicron case detected in Gaza

The Palestinian health ministry said on Sunday it had identified the first case of the Omicron coronavirus variant in the Gaza Strip. The carrier is a Gaza resident who was…

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New restrictions come into force in Belgium in response to Omicron spread

In Belgium a flurry of restrictions came into force Sunday in a bid to reopen schools after the Christmas holidays and ease tension on the health care system, as Omicron…

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Travel misery continues as 1,500 more flights cancelled worldwide

More than 1,500 flights across the globe were scrapped on Sunday, bringing more misery for travellers planning to fly over the festive period. As many as 5,900 flights have now…

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New restrictions come into force in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

New restrictions are coming into force today in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in a bid to curb rising coronavirus cases. Further rules have not been announced in England, with…

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China’s local COVID case count driven to 21-month high by Xian outbreak

BEIJING, Dec 26 (Reuters) - China reported its highest daily rise in local COVID-19 cases in 21 months as infections more than doubled in the northwestern city of Xian, China's…

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Israel orders Pfizer’s new COVID-19 pill

Israel has ordered 100,000 units of Pfizer Inc's anti-viral COVID 19 pill Paxlovid for people aged 12 and older at risk of severe illness, an Israeli official said, confirming a…

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France reports more than 100,000 COVID-19 infections for first time

France recorded a record high of 104,611 COVID-19 infections on Saturday, breaking the 100,000 threshold for the first time since the pandemic began as the omicron variant continued its rapid…

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Italy reports third consecutive record of coronavirus cases

Italy reported a third successive record tally of COVID-19 cases on Saturday, with new infections hitting 54,762 against 50,599 a day earlier, the health ministry said. The number of coronavirus-related…

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Thousands of flights canceled globally as Omicron mars Christmas weekend

NEW YORK, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Commercial airlines around the world canceled more than 4,500 flights over the Christmas weekend, as a mounting wave of COVID-19 infections driven by the…

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COVID: Remote working may become permanent – EU study

Going from being a health emergency to a social and economic one, the COVID-19 crisis expanded from urban areas to rural zones and it risks widening the divide between the…

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Biden Omicron measures too little, too late for fast-moving virus -experts

U.S. President Joe Biden's steps to backstop hospitals and distribute coronavirus test kits, however welcome, are too little too late to stem a surge of Omicron-related coronavirus cases over Christmas…

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Thousands of fake Covid-19 certificates uncovered in Switzerland

Criminal proceedings have been launched in Switzerland following the discovery of around 8,000 fake Covid-19 vaccination certificates that were issued in the eastern canton of St Gallen. Police believe the…

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Irish COVID-19 infections hit record, critical cases slow

DUBLIN, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Ireland on Friday reported its highest number of daily COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began but those requiring critical care fell further amid a rapid…

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New COVID-19 vaccine rule catches many Kenyans by surprise

Kenya's sudden decision to demand proof of vaccination to access public places and transport was met by a combination of bemusement, dismissal and the occasional spot of enforcement on Thursday…

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French regulator recommends COVID boosters three months after first course

PARIS, Dec 24 (Reuters) - France's Haute Autorite de Sante (HAS) regulator said on Friday that COVID-19 boosters could be administered three months after the first full course of shots.…

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Thailand reports first Omicron cluster, cancels some New Year events

BANGKOK, Dec 24 (Reuters) - Thailand reported on Friday its first domestic cluster of coronavirus infections from the Omicron variant in Kalasin province in northeastern Thailand, officials said. “From the…

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‘Significant increase’ in protection vs Omicron from mRNA boosters, study says

Getting a third dose of either Pfizer-BioNTech's or Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine offers a "significant increase" in protection against the Omicron variant in elderly people, according to a Danish study published…

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Australia shortens booster wait as Omicron explosion turns holidays into chaos

Australia on Friday narrowed the wait time for people to receive COVID-19 booster shots as another record jump in daily infections resulted in cancelled flights and sent Christmas travel plans…

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White House says it is ‘grateful’ Trump got, promoted COVID-19 booster shot

The White House is grateful that former U.S. President Donald Trump received and promoted getting the COVID-19 vaccine booster shot, press secretary Jen Psaki said on Thursday. The Republican former…

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South Africa to roll out COVID-19 boosters immediately

JOHANNESBURG, Dec 24 (Reuters) - South Africa will start offering booster shots of Johnson & Johnson's (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine from Friday, the health department said in a statement, following its…

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CDC cuts quarantine time for healthcare workers amid Omicron surge

Healthcare workers in the United States who test positive for COVID-19 but are asymptomatic can return to work after seven days in isolation, provided they test negative, the Centers for…

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China reports fall in new COVID-19 cases vs day earlier

BEIJING, Dec 24 (Reuters) - China reported 87 new confirmed coronavirus cases for Dec. 23, down from 100 a day earlier, its health authority said on Friday. Of the new…

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Czechs tighten arrival conditions for New Year’s celebrations

The Czech Republic will require all foreigners visiting the country to have a negative PCR coronavirus test prior to entry starting from Dec. 27, unless they had a booster vaccine…

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France’s COVID-19 cases reach national record while deaths also rise

France had its worst-ever day in terms of new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, with more than 91,000 new cases being recorded while the number of deaths also climbed, as the…

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Italy bans New Year events as COVID infections surge

Italy has tightened restrictions to curb surging COVID-19 infections, including banning all public New Year's Eve celebrations, as daily infections hit a record high, the government said on Thursday. Health…

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California to require COVID-19 booster shots for healthcare workers

California will require healthcare workers and workers in "high-risk congregate settings" to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster by Feb. 1, Governor Gavin Newsom announced as part of the state's response…

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Lower risk of hospital admission from Omicron, UK says

LONDON (Reuters) - There is a lower risk of hospitalisation for people with the Omicron coronavirus variant compared to Delta, but the higher transmissibility of Omicron could still lead to…

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Hong Kong study show s China’s Sinovac COVID-19 booster weaker against Omicron

Dec 23 (Reuters) - Three doses of Sinovac's CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine do not produce adequate levels of antibodies to fight the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, researchers from Hong Kong…

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Britain reports record 119,789 new COVID-19 cases

LONDON, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Britain recorded a record number of new coronavirus cases on Thursday as the Omicron variant swept across the country, with the daily tally reaching 119,789…

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Germany adds U.S., Spain, Portugal to COVID-19 high risk list

BERLIN, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Germany is adding the United States, Spain and Portugal to its list of COVID-19 risk areas, it said on Thursday, making it more difficult for…

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COVID-19 infections rise again across Gulf states

DUBAI, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Coronavirus infections have started rising again across the six Gulf Arab states after months of low or falling figures, data from health ministries showed on…

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Bulgaria offers cash reward to boost vaccination rates among pensioners

SOFIA, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said on Thursday that elderly people who get a COVID-19 shot will be eligible for a cash reward as part…

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England’s COVID-19 prevalence hits new high as Omicron spreads – ONS

LONDON, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Around 1.2 million people in England were likely infected with COVID-19 last week, representing 1 in 45 of the population and a new pandemic record…

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Germany reports first death with Omicron variant

BERLIN, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Germany's Robert Koch Institute for infectious disease confirmed the country's first death due to the Omicron variant of the coronavirus on Thursday. The person was…

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South Africa data suggests Omicron mild, should not be extrapolated – Africa CDC

Dec 23 (Reuters) - Data from South Africa which suggests the Omicron coronavirus variant is 70% to 80% less severe than Delta should not be extrapolated to all countries, the…

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UPDATED: Italy set to tighten COVID curbs to rein in infections -statement

Italy is planning to tighten restrictions to try to curb a sharp rise in COVID-19 infections, including making mask wearing mandatory outdoors again, the prime minister's office said on Thursday.…

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Case data, vaccine news mark small victories in Omicron battle

LONDON, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Two vaccine manufacturers said their shots offered protection against Omicron, as UK data suggested it may cause proportionally fewer hospitalisations than the Delta coronavirus variant,…

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Russia’s coronavirus death toll tops 600,000

MOSCOW, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Russia's coronavirus death toll passed the 600,000 mark on Thursday, Reuters calculations based on official data showed, after a surge of infections linked to the…

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Greece bans public Christmas festivities to curb Omicron spread

ATHENS, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Greece has banned public Christmas and New Year's Eve festivities and mandated mask-wearing in open spaces to help to curb the spread of the Omicron…

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