27

Nov

Spain tightens COVID-19 restrictions for British tourists

British tourists will be admitted to Spain from next month only if they can show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination, according to a Spanish government bulletin published on Saturday as…

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27

Nov

UPDATE – Two Omicron coronavirus cases found in Germany

BERLIN, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Two cases of the new Omicron coronavirus variant have been detected in the southern German state of Bavaria and a suspected case found in the…

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27

Nov

Long COVID risk not lower after breakthrough infection

COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in protecting against serious illness, but they do not protect against "long COVID" in people who become infected despite vaccination, new data show. For six…

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27

Nov

Concerns over COVID variant trigger more travel curbs, UK detects cases

Nov 27 (Reuters) - Australia and several other countries joined nations imposing restrictions on travel from southern Africa on Saturday after the discovery of the new Omicron coronavirus variant sparked…

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27

Nov

Italy reports 90 coronavirus deaths on Saturday, 12,877 new cases

ROME, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Italy reported 90 coronavirus-related deaths on Saturday against 51 the day before, the health ministry said, while the daily tally of new infections fell to…

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27

Nov

More Covid patients flown out of overwhelmed German hospitals

The German state of Bavaria is operating further transfer flights across Germany for hospitals overwhelmed by the COVID-19 crisis. Two patients were being flown from the Bavarian capital Munich to Hamburg…

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27

Nov

Two cases of coronavirus Omicron variant detected in Britain

LONDON, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Two linked cases of the new Omicron coronavirus variant have been detected in Britain connected to travel to southern Africa, health minister Sajid Javid said…

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27

Nov

How worried should we be about the Omicron variant?

Nov 27 (Reuters) - The new Omicron coronavirus variant - identified first in South Africa, but also detected in Europe and Asia - is raising concern worldwide given the number…

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27

Nov

UPDATE – Dutch test for new variant after finding 61 COVID cases among South Africa passengers

AMSTERDAM, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Dutch health authorities said on Saturday they had detected 61 COVID-19 cases among people who flew from South Africa on Friday and were now doing…

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27

Nov

EU countries agree to suspend travel to southern Africa over new COVID variant

BRUSSELS, Nov 26 (Reuters) - European Union states have agreed to suspend travel from southern Africa after the detection of a new COVID-19 variant, the presidency of the EU said…

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27

Nov

WHO names new COVID variant omicron, cautions against travel measures

GENEVA, Nov 26 (Reuters) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday classified the B.1.1.529 variant detected in South Africa as a SARS-CoV-2 "variant of concern," saying it may spread…

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27

Nov

Canada closing borders to travelers from seven southern African nations over COVID-19 fears

OTTAWA, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Canada is closing its borders to foreign travelers who have recently been to seven southern African nations to help stop the spread of a newly…

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26

Nov

What investors are saying about the new virus variant

LONDON, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Asian stocks suffered their sharpest drop in three months and European stocks sank more than 3% on Friday, as reports of a newly identified and…

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26

Nov

EXPLAINER-What we know about the COVID-19 variant detected in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG/LONDON, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Global authorities have reacted with alarm to a coronavirus variant detected in South Africa, with the EU, Britain and India among those announcing stricter border…

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26

Nov

More Hungarians need to take COVID-19 booster shots – PM Orban

BUDAPEST, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Hungary needs to increase the number of people taking booster shots against COVID-19 to curb infections, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told state radio on Friday.…

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26

Nov

UPDATED: EU executive wants travel suspension from countries with new COVID variant

BRUSSELS, Nov 26 (Reuters) - The European Commission proposed on Friday that EU countries suspend travel links with countries in which the new variant of the coronavirus called B.1.1.529, has…

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26

Nov

UPDATED: Britain says likely that new variant has spread beyond South Africa

Britain said on Friday that a newly identified coronavirus variant spreading in South Africa was of huge concern and was considered by scientists to be the most significant one yet…

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26

Nov

UPDATED: Asian and European countries, alarmed by new COVID variant, tighten curbs

LONDON/GENEVA, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Global authorities reacted with alarm on Friday to a new coronavirus variant detected in South Africa, with the EU and Britain among those tightening border…

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26

Nov

Italy imposes entry ban on southern African states

ROME, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Italy on Friday imposed an entry ban on people who have visited a group of southern African states, including South Africa, in the last 14…

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26

Nov

UPDATED: Alarm for new COVID-19 variant spreading in South Africa, Vaccines may be less effective against it

Belgium is analysing two samples of COVID-19 to establish if they are the new coronavirus variant first detected in South Africa, a leading local virologist said on Friday. Marc Van…

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25

Nov

As COVID-19 vaccine deliveries to continent increase, logistics hampers inoculation drives-Africa CDC

NAIROBI, Nov 25 (Reuters) - As deliveries of COVID-19 vaccines to Africa finally pick up, many nations are struggling with the logistics of accelerating their inoculation campaigns, the head of…

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25

Nov

Dutch hospitals postpone chemotherapy, organ transplants due to COVID-19 surge

AMSTERDAM, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Some Dutch hospitals have halted chemotherapy treatments and organ transplants to free up intensive care beds for a surging number of COVID-19 patients, an official…

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25

Nov

COVID cases break records in Europe

Coronavirus infections broke records in parts of Europe on Wednesday, with the continent once again the epicentre of a pandemic that has prompted new curbs on movement and seen health…

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24

Nov

Biden administration seeks to reinstate workplace COVID vaccine rule

The Biden administration asked a federal appeals court to lift a court-ordered stay on a sweeping workplace COVID-19 vaccine rule to avoid serious harm to public health, or alternatively to…

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24

Nov

Russia to register Sputnik M COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 12-17

MOSCOW, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Russia's health ministry will register a new Sputnik M vaccine for use for children aged 12-17 later on Wednesday, with shots expected to be available…

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24

Nov

EU’s health agency says vaccine boosters should be considered for all adults

BRUSSELS, Nov 24 (Reuters) - The head of the European Union's public health agency Andrea Ammon said on Wednesday that COVID-19 vaccine boosters should be considered for all adults, with…

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24

Nov

Bigger use of masks in Europe over winter would ‘save about 160,000 lives’

Robb Butler, executive director for WHO Europe, told Sky News that a study issued last week in the BMJ suggested 53% of transmission was prevented by mask use. He said…

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23

Nov

Global licence deal to provide COVID antibody test tech free to poorer countries – WHO

A global licence for serological technology that detects COVID-19 antibodies will be provided royalty-free to poor and middle-income countries under a first of its kind agreement to boost production, the World Health Organisation…

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23

Nov

EU kicks off debate on need for booster shots to travel

European Union governments kicked off a debate on Tuesday about how long vaccines are effective against COVID-19 and whether evidence of a booster dose will be required to maintain free travel across the bloc…

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23

Nov

Covid patients in ICU almost all unvaccinated – Oxford scientist

Covid-19 is no longer a disease of the vaccinated, the head of the Oxford jab programme has said. According to Prof Sir Andrew Pollard, even though coronavirus case numbers remain…

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23

Nov

Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine trial data shows long-term efficacy in adolescents

Pfizer Inc said on Monday its COVID-19 vaccine provided strong long-term protection against the virus in a late-stage study conducted among adolescents aged 12 to 15 years. A two-dose series of…

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23

Nov

EU wants to harmonize validity period of vaccination certificate

The European Commission aims to harmonize the duration of the validity of the COVID-19 vaccination certificate, including the effects of booster shots, Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said on Monday, amid record infection numbers in some EU states. "I fully…

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22

Nov

World must bolster WHO and agree pandemic treaty, expert panel says

GENEVA, Nov 22 (Reuters) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) must be strengthened with more funding and greater ability to investigate pandemics through a new treaty, an independent panel said…

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21

Nov

Misuse of antibiotics in pandemic building resistant bacteria, health agency warns

Overuse of antibiotics and other antimicrobial drugs during the coronavirus pandemic is helping bacteria develop resistance that will render these important medicines ineffective over time, the Pan American Health Organization…

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21

Nov

35,000 people demonstrate in Brussels against coronavirus measures

Brussels (dpa) - Around 35,000 people took to the streets of Brussels on Sunday to protest against stricter coronavirus measures and in particular the coronavirus pass, according to police. According to a report…

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21

Nov

Masks, social distancing still worthwhile

Mask wearing and physical distancing are tied to reductions in the spread of COVID-19 and should be continued, according to researchers who reviewed 72 previous studies. When they analyzed results…

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21

Nov

Israel to provide up to $44 mln in state aid to COVID-hit airlines

JERUSALEM, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Israeli cabinet members approved an additional bailout plan for airlines further harmed over the by the COVID-19's Delta strain, the finance and transportation ministries said…

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21

Nov

Vaccine passports would allow infections to be missed

“Vaccine passports” that exempt vaccinated people from regular COVID-19 testing would allow many infections to be missed, Israeli data suggest. Researchers analyzed infection rates in citizens returning to Israel through…

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21

Nov

Disney World puts COVID-19 vaccination mandate policy on hold

Nov 20 (Reuters) - Disney World near Orlando, Florida, operated by Walt Disney Co, has put its COVID-19 vaccination mandate on hold, a spokesperson said on Saturday. The move comes…

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21

Nov

Four in hospital after police fire on Dutch COVID-19 protesters

THE HAGUE (Reuters) -Four people were being treated in hospital in Rotterdam on Saturday after they were seriously injured when Dutch police fired shots during a violent protest against COVID-19…

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21

Nov

Breakthrough COVID-19 raises risk of health problems, death

COVID-19 is generally less severe in vaccinated patients but that does not mean breakthrough infections will be benign, a large study shows. Researchers analyzed data collected by the U.S. Veterans…

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19

Nov

FACTBOX-Europe starts reimposing COVID-19 restrictions

Nov 19 (Reuters) - Germany warned it may have to move to a full COVID-19 lockdown after Austria said it would become the first country in western Europe to reimpose…

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19

Nov

Britain to add booster shots to COVID-19 travel pass

LONDON, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Britain's health ministry on Friday said it would add booster shots to the COVID-19 pass for outbound international travel, though it added they would not…

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19

Nov

Market in China’s Wuhan likely origin of COVID-19 outbreak – study

SINGAPORE, Nov 19 (Reuters) - The first known COVID-19 case was a market vendor in the Chinese city of Wuhan, not an accountant who appeared to have no link to…

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18

Nov

Germany recommends booster shots for all adult population

Germany's vaccine advisory committee recommended COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for all people aged over 18 on Thursday as the number of coronavirus infections hits a new record in Europe's largest…

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17

Nov

Countries weigh need for booster COVID-19 shots

Nov 17 (Reuters) - Many countries are rolling out COVID-19 vaccine booster shots, but there is no consensus among scientists that they are necessary and the World Health Organization wants…

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16

Nov

Norway suspects bird flu found at second farm

Norway reported on Tuesday a suspected outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu at a second farm, just days after the country's first confirmed case led to a cull of some 7,000 poultry. The…

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16

Nov

Deaths 50% above normal in Bulgaria, EU’s least vaccinated country -Eurostat

More than 50% more people died in Bulgaria than usual during September, official data showed, making the European Union's least vaccinated country its hardest-hit during a resurgence of coronavirus cases over the…

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16

Nov

Pfizer to allow generic versions of its COVID-19 pill in 95 countries

Pfizer Inc said on Tuesday it will allow generic manufacturers to supply its experimental antiviral COVID-19 pill to 95 low- and middle-income countries through a licensing agreement with international public health group Medicines Patent…

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16

Nov

Car importers urging buyers to wait until next year due to microchip shortage / Malta News Briefing – Tuesday 16 November 2021

Updated 1745- Latest update Times of Malta says that Labour MP Rosianne Cutajar is to be reprimanded by parliament following an ethics probe into her role in allegedly brokering a property…

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16

Nov

Covid-19: Europe accounts for half of new infections over past week

Austria imposed a lockdown on people unvaccinated against the coronavirus on Monday as winter approaches and infections rise across Europe, with Germany considering tighter curbs and Britain expanding its booster programme to younger adults.…

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15

Nov

UK to adapt fully-vaccinated definition to account for boosters – PM Johnson

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday said the definition of fully-vaccinated would have to be adjusted to account for third "booster" COVID-19 shots, although he did not give a time-frame for the move. Fully-vaccinated currently means…

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15

Nov

Austria locks down unvaccinated as COVID cases rise across Europe

IENNA, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Austria slapped a lockdown on people unvaccinated against the coronavirus on Monday as winter approaches and infections rise across Europe epicentre, with Germany considering tighter…

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15

Nov

Countries making COVID-19 vaccines mandatory

A sharp upturn in infections caused by the Delta variant and a slowdown in vaccinations have pushed governments to make COVID-19 shots mandatory for health workers and other high-risk groups.…

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14

Nov

Severe sleep apnea tied to severe COVID-19

The risk of severe illness from COVID-19 is higher in people with obstructive sleep apnea and other breathing problems that cause oxygen levels to drop during sleep, researchers say. They…

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13

Nov

Body’s coronavirus memory may abort new infections

Healthcare workers who did not test positive for COVID-19, despite heavy exposure to infected patients, had T cells that attacked a part of the virus that lets it make copies…

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13

Nov

As Merkel urges unvaccinated to reconsider, German army prepares to step in

BERLIN, Nov 13 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged unvaccinated people to reconsider their decision in a video message on Saturday, as the country's seven-day coronavirus incidence rate rose…

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