Coronavirus

Four in 10 infected people may unknowingly spread virus

Infected people who show no symptoms might be contributing significantly to transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, given that they account for 40.5% of confirmed infections worldwide, according…

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Some British hospitals struggle with staff shortages due to COVID-19

LONDON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - British hospitals, particularly in London, are struggling to maintain staffing levels due to the number who are having to isolate with COVID-19, a senior emergency…

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EU leaders struggle to find common ground on COVID travel rules

BRUSSELS, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Divisions within the European Union have deepened over travel rules to curb the spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, after Italy and Greece followed…

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EU leaders meet to discuss booster jabs, energy prices and Russian aggression

EU leaders are back in Brussels for a one-day European summit with a busy agenda that promises discussions around booster shots, energy prices, migration routes and Russia's military build-up along…

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Successful EU is top national priority for Germany – Scholz

BERLIN, Dec 15 (Reuters) -The success of the European Union is Germany's top national priority, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday, warning that no disputes among member states must be…

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Dutch COVID-19 restrictions extended through Christmas holidays

The Netherlands will extend COVID-19 restrictions through the Christmas holidays, including the early closure of schools, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said . The rapid spread of the Omicron variant…

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Italy extends COVID-19 state of emergency, imposes swab for EU visitors

Italy on Tuesday extended a COVID-19 state of emergency to March 31 and ruled that all visitors from EU countries must take a test before departure, amid concerns over the…

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Protect the unvaccinated, then offer boosters – WHO

Getting an initial course of COVID-19 vaccines to unprotected groups all over the world should remain a top priority before offering booster shots to vulnerable groups, World Health Organisation (WHO)…

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Pfizer vaccine protecting against hospitalisation during Omicron wave – study

Two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine appear to have given 70% protection against hospitalisation in South Africa in recent weeks, a major real-world study on the potential impact of Omicron showed on Tuesday,…

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Moderna to produce millions of mRNA vaccines in Australia

U.S. drugmaker Moderna Inc will produce millions of mRNA vaccines a year in Australia after agreeing to set up one of its largest manufacturing facilities outside the United States and Europe. The…

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Ghana’s main airport to fine airlines if they bring unvaccinated passengers

ACCRA, Dec 13 (Reuters) - The operator of Ghana's main international airport will fine airlines $3,500 for every passenger they bring in that is not vaccinated against COVID-19 or that…

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FACTBOX-COVID-19 vaccine rollout for children aged 5-11 in the EU

The European Union rollout of the Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for 5- to 11-year-olds should begin Dec. 13, as countries are expanding their vaccination programmes to include young children…

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Two-dose vaccines induce lower antibodies against Omicron, study finds

Dec 13 (Reuters) - Two-dose COVID-19 vaccine regimens do not induce enough neutralising antibodies against the Omicron coronavirus variant, British scientists found, indicating that increased infections in those previously infected…

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Europe divided over kids’ vaccines

MILAN/COPENHAGEN, Dec 13 (Reuters) - As Europe starts vaccinating younger children, countries are pursuing very different strategies in what will be a major test of parents' willingness to get their…

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U.S. crosses 50 million COVID-19 cases as Delta dominates amid Omicron emergence

The United States crossed 50 million coronavirus cases on Sunday, according to Reuters tally, as the Delta variant continues to threaten Americans and the newly discovered Omicron variant spreads. After…

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Manchester United players and staff ‘test positive for coronavirus’

Manchester United have returned a small number of positive Covid-19 lateral flow tests among players and staff on Sunday, the PA news agency understands. United won 1-0 at Norwich on…

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New COVID strain hits revival of S.Africa’s international tourist trade

Rushdi Harper's tour company in Cape Town was just starting to recover from a disastrous COVID-19 lockdown that had forced him to sell his house just to keep the business…

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UK raises COVID alert level as Omicron advances

Britain on Sunday raised its COVID alert level to level 4 from level 3 at the recommendation of its chief medical officers, in response to the rapid spread of the…

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UK says boosters significantly restore protection vs Omicron

Booster COVID-19 shots significantly restore protection against mild disease caused by the Omicron variant, in part reversing an otherwise steep drop in vaccine effectiveness, the UK Health Security Agency said.…

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Motorcyclist, 45, dies in crash in Sliema / Malta News Briefing – Saturday 11 December 2021

Updated 1245 - Mid-Day briefing German rating agency maintains Malta's A rating Germain rating agency DBRS has re-affirmed Malta's long-term rating at 'A', with a stable trend, on the back…

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Vaccinated, maskless crowds enjoy Christmas markets in Budapest

Traditional Christmas markets have opened in Budapest's main squares only for people vaccinated against COVID-19, but have drawn many tourists and locals alike even as central Europe battles a renewed…

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UK PM Johnson loses poll lead after lockdown party revelations

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservatives have lost their poll lead over the opposition Labour Party after revelations about alleged lockdown parties at Johnson's residence provoked an outcry over hypocrisy. A YouGov poll for The Times newspaper…

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Fourth wave of pandemic appears to have peaked in Hungary, PM Orban says

BUDAPEST, Dec 10 (Reuters) - The fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have peaked in Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told public radio on Friday. He added that…

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UPDATED: People with health issues or inactivated vaccine should get COVID-19 booster – WHO

The World Health Organization's (WHO) vaccine advisory panel recommends that people who are immunocompromised or received an inactivated vaccine should receive a booster dose of a COVID-19 shot, it said…

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WHO’s Tedros tells world “Act now to curb Omicron’s spread”

GENEVA, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Governments need to reassess national responses to COVID-19 and speed up vaccination programmes to tackle Omicron, though it is it too early to say how…

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Nearly 70 ICU medics at Spanish hospital COVID-19 positive after Christmas party

Nearly 70 nurses and doctors working in the intensive care unit at a Spanish hospital have tested positive for COVID-19 after attending a Christmas party, health authorities revealed. Sixty-eight medics…

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EU expects Europe plants to produce 3.6 billion COVID shots in 2022

BRUSSELS, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Vaccine plants in the European Union are expected to produce 3.6 billion COVID-19 shots next year, out of a global output of more than 20…

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EU agencies endorse mix-and-match of COVID-19 vaccines

EU health agencieshave recommended that COVID-19 vaccines be mixed and matched for both initial courses and booster doses as the region battles rising cases ahead of Christmas. Evidence suggests that…

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EU considers negative coronavirus tests for incoming travellers, flight curbs still in place

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU health ministers discussed measures to try to halt the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus on Tuesday, with the Netherlands calling for negative tests…

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EU travel curbs needed till more known about Omicron – Germany’s Spahn

Germany's outgoing health minister said on Tuesday that travel curbs that limit arrivals to the European Union are important until more is known about the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. Late in November,…

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New data shows GSK drug works against all Omicron mutations

British drugmaker GSK said on Tuesday its antibody-based COVID-19 therapy with U.S. partner Vir Biotechnology is effective against all mutations of the new Omicron coronavirus variant, citing new data from early-stage studies.…

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Pandemic boosts super-rich share of global wealth

The share of household wealth owned by billionaires has risen by a record amount during the pandemic, with millionaires also coming out of COVID-19 ahead, a study found on Tuesday. The…

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Italy’s new ‘Super Green Pass’ against COVID-19 tightens rules for unvaccinated people

Italy's new two-tiered 'Super Green Pass' system against COVID-19 has come into force as of Monday, Dec. 6. According to the new restrictions, people who are fully unvaccinated against COVID-19…

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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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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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‘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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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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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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COVID cases found on Norwegian Cruise ship returning to New Orleans

(Reuters) - A cruise ship set to dock in New Orleans with over 3,000 passengers has detected 10 cases of COVID-19 among its crew and guests, the Louisiana Department of…

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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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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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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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Avoid Christmas parties and other social events, Britons warned

Christmas parties and other festive social events should not go ahead if they are not necessary and working from home could be key in order to help slow the spread…

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Mask mandates to tackle Omicron come into force in England

New mask mandates and other measures aimed at curbing the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant came into force in England on Tuesday, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson eyes an…

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Moderna CEO warns COVID-19 shots less effective against Omicron, spooks markets

Drugmaker Moderna's CEO (MRNA.O) set off fresh alarm bells in financial markets on Tuesday after he warned that COVID-19 vaccines were unlikely to be as effective against the Omicron variant…

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France registers biggest jump in COVID-19 hospital patients since spring

France registered its biggest jump in coronavirus-related hospital admissions since the spring, health ministry data showed on Monday. The number of patients in intensive care units with COVID-19 jumped by 117 to 1,749…

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WHO flags Omicron risk, curbs tighten worldwide, Biden urges vaccination

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that the Omicron coronavirus variant carried a very high risk of infection surges as more countries closed borders, casting a shadow over economic recovery…

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COVID-19 survival has improved for European cancer patients

European cancer patients who get sick with COVID-19 are much more likely to survive now than they were earlier in the pandemic, researchers found. They reviewed the outcomes of more…

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Greece asks faithful to be COVID-clear to attend church

ATHENS, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Greece introduced new restrictions obliging churchgoers to present negative COVID-19 tests to attend services on Sunday following a surge in infections in recent weeks. Under…

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EU COVID-19 passports, vaccines helped European tourism recovery -UN report

MADRID (Reuters) - Widespread use of COVID-19 certificates and successful vaccine roll-outs helped tourism in the European Union recover faster from the coronavirus pandemic than elsewhere in the world in…

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WHO says it is not yet clear if Omicron causes more severe disease

GENEVA, Nov 28 (Reuters) - The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Sunday that it is not yet clear if the new Omicron coronavirus variant is more transmissible compared to…

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Roundup – Omicron coronavirus variant spreads with cases detected in Netherlands, Denmark, Australia

Thirteen cases found in NetherlandsTwo cases detected in Australia, two in DenmarkIsrael announces it is barring foreigners for two weeksMay take time to assess Omicron's harmfulness -Chinese expertFauci says Americans…

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EU needs to buy time on Omicron variant – EU’s von der Leyen

RIGA, Nov 28 (Reuters) - The European Union needs to buy time to assess fully the implications of the new Omicron coronavirus variant and to prepare, notably by pushing for…

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With new Omicron case detected, UK awaits COVID booster advice

LONDON, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Britain's health minister Sajid Javid said on Sunday he expected to receive advice imminently on whether the government can broaden a booster shot programme to…

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China study warns of ‘colossal’ COVID outbreak if it opens up like U.S., France

China could face more than 630,000 COVID-19 infections a day if it dropped its zero-tolerance policies by lifting travel curbs, according to a study by Peking University mathematicians. In the…

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UPDATE: Omicron variant case detected in Italy

ROME, Nov 27 (Reuters) - A case of the new coronavirus variant Omicron has been detected in Italy, the National Health Institute (ISS) said on Saturday. The genome was sequenced…

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