Coronavirus

France can avoid return to lockdown and still save Christmas -PM

France will close nightclubs ahead of Christmas and tighten social distancing measures in response to the emergent Omicron variant of the coronavirus but there is no need for new lockdowns or curfews, Prime…

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England has community transmission of Omicron variant, health minister says

Britain's health minister said on Monday there is now community transmission of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus across regions of England but it is too early to say if this will "knock us…

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New York mayor introduces vaccine mandate for private-sector employers and young kids

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Monday he planned to issue a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for private-sector employers that will go into effect on Dec. 27, calling it a "pre-emptive…

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Argentina detects first Omicron case

BUENOS AIRES, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Argentina has detected its first case of the Omicron coronavirus variant in a person who had travelled from South Africa, the South American country's…

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South Korea’s COVID-19 rules put some vaccinated foreigners in limbo

SEOUL, Dec 6 (Reuters) - South Korea imposed stricter measures on Monday to contain growing coronavirus infections and the Omicron variant, leaving some foreign residents vaccinated overseas effectively barred from…

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‘Extreme’ vaccine discrimination risks leaving Africa behind – report

LONDON, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Africa has little chance of overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic unless 70% of its population is vaccinated by end-2022, yet "extreme vaccine discrimination" is leaving the…

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Hundreds of Britons stranded in red list countries as quarantine hotels in the UK run out of space

Ministers are racing to expand quarantine hotels, with hundreds of Britons stuck abroad in red-listed countries because the Government has run out of space. Some travellers stranded in South Africa…

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Novartis working on pan-coronavirus oral treatment, CEO says

Dec 6 (Reuters) - Novartis hopes to still play a role in the development of COVID-19 treatments with research ongoing for a pill that could work broadly against coronaviruses, not…

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US expert Fauci cautiously optimistic over omicron reports

Dr Anthony Fauci said the threat to the US from the Omicron variant remained to be determined – but that signs from South Africa, where the variant emerged, were encouraging.…

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Russia reports first cases of Omicron COVID-19 variant

MOSCOW, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Russia on Monday reported its first confirmed cases of the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus, Russian news agencies reported, in two people who returned…

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Japan reports 3rd case of Omicron variant in traveller who had been in Italy

TOKYO, Dec 6 (Reuters) - A man in his 30s who had been in Italy has tested positive for the Omicron COVID-19 variant in the third case to be found…

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Germany plans to make vaccination compulsory for some jobs-draft

The incoming German government wants to make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory from March 16 for people working in hospitals, nursing homes and other medical practices, according to a copy of draft…

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South Africa readies hospitals as Omicron variant drives new COVID-19 wave – Ramaphosa

South Africa is preparing its hospitals for more admissions, as the Omicron coronavirus variant pushes the country into a fourth wave of COVID-19 cases, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday.…

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Norwegian Cruise ship detects one probable case of Omicron variant

Dec 6 (Reuters) - A probable case of the Omicron variant has been identified in a crew member of a Norwegian Cruise ship that reached New Orleans on Sunday after…

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UPDATED: Italy brings in tougher restrictions for the unvaccinated

Italy tightened curbs on Monday on people still not vaccinated against COVID-19, limiting their access to an array of places and services. The measures were announced last month, even before…

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UPDATED: Creator of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine warns next pandemic could be more lethal than Covid

LONDON, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Future pandemics could be even more lethal than COVID-19 so the lessons learned from the outbreak must not be squandered and the world should ensure…

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Thailand detects first case of Omicron variant

Thailand has detected its first case of the Omicron coronavirus variant in a U.S. citizen who had traveled to the country from Spain late last month, a health official said…

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Protest against coronavirus restrictions turns violent in Brussels

Police fired teargas and used water cannons on Sunday to disperse protesters pelting officers with cobblestones and fireworks as a demonstration in Brussels over government-imposed COVID-19 restrictions turned violent. A…

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IMF chief says Omicron could dent global economic growth

The International Monetary Fund is likely to lower its global economic growth estimates due to the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus, the global lender's chief said at the Reuters…

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New U.S. COVID-19 international travel testing rules take effect Monday

New rules requiring international air travelers arriving in the United States to obtain a negative COVID-19 test within one day of travel will take effect Monday at 12:01 a.m. ET…

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Omicron may throw wrench in companies’ plans to return to office

Company executives are beginning to consider different permanent work models for their employees as the coronavirus pandemic, and the spread of the Omicron variant, destabilize their latest return-to-office plans. With…

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Factbox: What COVID-19 vaccine and drug makers have to say about Omicron

The Omicron variant of the coronavirus has sparked fears that existing COVID-19 vaccines and treatment could be less effective against it. South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases said early…

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FACTBOX-Countries vaccinating children against COVID-19

Countries around the world are expanding COVID-19 vaccination programmes to include young children as infections surge in Europe amid concerns over the new Omicron variant. But with a huge disparity…

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Britain tightens testing for inbound travellers, adds Nigeria to red list

LONDON, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Britain will require all inbound travellers to take a pre-departure COVID-19 test and arrivals from Nigeria will have to quarantine in hotels to slow the…

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South Korea reports record-high COVID-19 cases, deaths

SEOUL, Dec 4 (Reuters) - South Korea reported a record daily 5,352 new COVID-19 infections and 70 deaths, while a nationwide total of nine cases of the Omicron variant have…

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Slovakia’s COVID-19 case record inflated by system glitch

Slovakia reported 15,278 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, the highest number in a single day since the pandemic broke out, but the Health Ministry said a technical issue inflated the…

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Nigeria plans booster shots after first cases of Omicron variant

Nigeria will start vaccine booster shots from next week for COVID-19, a senior official said, after the country confirmed its first cases of the Omicron variant among two travelers who…

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Greece offers COVID vaccine booster three months after initial shots

Greece will offer all adults COVID-19 booster shots three months after they have had their second vaccine shot or tested positive for the virus, down from six months now, to…

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India detects third Omicron case, reports 415 COVID-19 deaths

AHMEDABAD, Dec 4 (Reuters) - India reported its third case of the Omicron coronavirus variant on Saturday, government officials said, as total Covid-19 cases inched closer to the 35 million…

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Merkel makes farewell plea for Germans to get vaccinated

BERLIN, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Germans on Saturday to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to help turn the tide on a fourth wave of cases that…

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South African official says number of children sick with COVID-19 is not cause for panic

JOHANNESBURG, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Higher hospital admissions among children during a fourth wave of COVID-19 infections in South Africa that is driven by the Omicron variant should prompt vigilance…

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Australia Omicron variant spreads, testing reopening plans

MELBOURNE, Dec 4 (Reuters) - The Omicron coronavirus variant spread in Australia on Saturday, testing plans to reopen the economy as a cluster in Sydney grew to 13 cases and…

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Omicron variant may have picked up a piece of common-cold virus

The Omicron variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 likely acquired at least one of its mutations by picking up a snippet of genetic material from another virus - possibly…

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Belgium tightens curbs as COVID cases peak

Belgium tightened its coronavirus restrictions for the third consecutive week to fight one of Europe’s worst spikes of COVID-19 cases, but stopped short of the strict curbs imposed in the…

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Ireland places limits on bars, home visits over Omicron fears

The Irish government announced strict new limits on the hospitality sector and home visits to try to push down COVID-19 infection rates after officials said the new Omicron variant was…

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Italian health Ministry says Omicron not yet circulating in Italy

The new more infectious Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus is not yet circulating in Italy, outside the cluster that has been identified in Caserta north of Naples, health ministry…

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Europe surpasses 75 million COVID-19 cases amid spread of Omicron

Europe crossed 75 million coronavirus cases on Friday, according to a Reuters tally, as the region braces for the new Omicron variant at a time when hospitals in some countries…

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Omicron outbreak at Norway Christmas party is biggest outside S. Africa

At least 13 people in Oslo have been infected with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus following a corporate Christmas party described as a "super spreader event", and their numbers…

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Six more U.S. states find Omicron cases, Delta still top U.S. coronavirus threat

Six more U.S. states confirmed infections of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 on Friday but the Delta strain likely remains a greater threat as winter sets in and Americans gather…

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Canada reports 15 cases of Omicron variant, says severe COVID trends could rise

Canada has discovered a total of 15 cases of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 and severe illness trends across the country could start to rise again, public health officials…

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Nightclubs, cafes and casinos reopen in Auckland as marathon lockdown ends

WELLINGTON, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Aucklanders returned to nightclubs, cinemas and cafes on Friday as New Zealand's biggest city exited pandemic lockdown after more than 100 days. Retailers threw open…

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England’s COVID-19 prevalence rises, led by Delta not Omicron

LONDON, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The prevalence of COVID-19 infections in England rose to around 1 in 60 people in the week ending Nov. 27, Britain's Office for National Statistics…

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WHO chief scientist says Omicron ‘quite infectious’, must not panic

Dec 3 (Reuters) - The World Health Organization's chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said the new coronavirus variant Omicron is very transmissible but that people should not panic about it. Swaminathan…

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BioNTech CEO says possible to adapt vaccine quickly for Omicron

FRANKFURT, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Germany's BioNTech should be able to adapt its coronavirus vaccine relatively quickly in response to the Omicron variant, its CEO Ugur Sahin said, adding that…

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UPDATED: Swiss tighten COVID-19 restrictions as cases rise

Switzerland announced stronger anti-Covid-19 measures on Friday, as its government battles to contain a surge in coronavirus infections and the arrival of the Omicron variant in the country. The country…

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FACTBOX-Global spread of Omicron cases

Dec 3 (Reuters) - The Omicron variant of the coronavirus was first detected in southern Africa last month and dubbed a "variant of concern" by the World Health Organization. Scientists…

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WHO says vaccination, not travel curbs, key to battling Omicron

MANILA, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The World Health Organization (WHO) urged countries to boost healthcare capacity and vaccinate their people to fight a surge in COVID-19 cases driven by the…

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Slovakia reports record 15,278 new daily COVID-19 cases

PRAGUE, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Slovakia reported 15,278 new COVID-19 cases, the highest number in a single day since the pandemic broke out, health ministry data showed on Friday. The…

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Roche develops new research test kits for Omicron variant

ZURICH, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Roche's newly acquired subsidiary TIB Molbiol has developed three new test kits to help researchers detect mutations in the new Omicron variant of coronavirus, Roche…

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WHO tells Asia-Pacific to brace for Omicron as variant spreads

MANILA, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The World Health Organization (WHO) warned Asia-Pacific countries on Friday to boost healthcare capacity and fully vaccinate their people to prepare for a surge in…

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Indian doctors strike as Omicron sparks fears of third wave of COVID-19

NEW DELHI, Dec 3 (Reuters) - India reported 9,216 new COVID-19 infections on Friday after announcing its first two Omicron cases the previous day, as groups of resident doctors stayed…

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France’s current COVID wave could peak in late January, nine confirmed cases of the new Omicron coronavirus

PARIS Dec 3 (Reuters) - French Health Minister Olivier Veran said the current wave of the country's COVID-19 disease could peak in late January, with a renewed strain put on…

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Geneva places 2,000 people in quarantine after two Omicron cases

ZURICH, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The Swiss cantons of Geneva and Vaud have placed 2,000 people, most of them children, into quarantine after two cases of the Omicron variant were…

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Spain detects first domestic case of COVID-19 Omicron variant

Regional authorities in Madrid said they had detected Spain’s first case of the Omicron coronavirus variant in a vaccinated person without links to risk countries, and were investigating two similar…

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UPDATED: India says Omicron may be less severe due to vaccination, prior infections

India expects the Omicron variant of coronavirus to cause less severe disease, the health ministry said on Friday, thanks to vaccinations and high prior exposure to the Delta variant that…

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UPDATED: UK study finds mRNA COVID-19 vaccines provide biggest booster impact

LONDON, Dec 3 (Reuters) - COVID-19 vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna that use mRNA technology provide the biggest boost to antibody levels when given 10-12 weeks after the second…

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Omicron may become dominant in Europe in months -EU

The European Union's public health agency said that the Omicron variant could be responsible for more than half of all COVID-19 infections in Europe within a few months, but no…

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