Coronavirus

Unvaccinated should reflect on their duty to society, Merkel says

People who are still not vaccinated as the fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic takes hold in Germany must understand they have a duty to the rest of society to…

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England’s COVID prevalence falls back from highest level of the year, ONS says

LONDON, Nov 12 (Reuters) - The prevalence of COVID-19 infections in England fell back to about 1 in 60 people in the week ending Nov. 6, Britain's Office for National…

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COVID-19’s epicentre again: Europe faces fresh reckoning

LONDON/MILAN, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Europe has become the epicentre of the pandemic again, prompting some governments to consider re-imposing unpopular lockdowns in the run-up to Christmas and stirring debate…

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Morgues fill up in Romania and Bulgaria amid low Covid vaccine uptake

Romania and Bulgaria are recording the EU’s highest daily death rates from Covid-19, after superstition, misinformation and entrenched mistrust in governments and institutions combined to leave them the least vaccinated…

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Northeastern Chinese port city battles growing COVID-19 cluster

BEIJING, Nov 12 (Reuters) - A growing COVID-19 cluster in China's Dalian has spurred the northeastern port city to limit outbound travel, cut offline school classes and close a few…

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Israel pandemic advisory panel backs COVID vaccine for young children

Israel's pandemic advisory board backed administering Pfizer's and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine to children age 5-11, health officials said, as a fourth wave of infections subsides nationwide. The Health Ministry is…

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Czechs, Slovaks report surge in COVID-19 cases, hospitals stretched

The Czech Republic and Slovakia reported fresh surges in coronavirus infections on Wednesday and again had to start limiting non-urgent hospital care to cater for admissions of COVID-19 patients. Slovakia,…

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UPDATED: Germany reports another COVID-19 record: 50,196 new cases

BERLIN, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Germany reported a record 50,196 new cases of coronavirus on Thursday, the fourth day in a row it has posted a fresh daily high, as…

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Prison Director self-suspends after umpteenth tragedy / Malta News Briefing – Wednesday 10 November 2021

Times of Malta says that Financial crimes investigators who seized electronic equipment from the home of a former senior official at Pilatus Bank in April still have to establish if…

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French health authority advises against Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for under 30s

France's public health authority has recommended people under 30 be given Pfizer's Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine when available instead of Moderna Inc's Spikevax jab, which carried comparatively higher risks of heart-related problems. The…

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Amid spike in cases, EU to shortly approve first COVID antibody drugs

The European Union drugs regulator is set to authorise the use of two monoclonal antibodies to treat COVID-19 patients in coming days, two EU sources told Reuters, in its first approvals of such…

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Covid-19: Belgium asks people to work from home

Belgium has call on its population to start working from home again due to surging Covid infections, with Europe once again at the centre of pandemic's fourth wave. "We have…

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EU says face masks don’t pose health risks after report raises concerns

EU authorities say there is no conclusive evidence of a cancer risk from synthetic face masks and have urged people to keep wearing them after a Belgian study warned last month they may…

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Nigeria unlikely to reach ‘impossible’ 40% Covid vaccine target

It will be “impossible” for Nigeria to meet its target of vaccinating 40% of its population by the end of the year because Covid is not being taken seriously, health…

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German coronavirus infection rate hits highest since pandemic began

FRANKFURT, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Germany's coronavirus infection rate has risen to its highest level since the start of the pandemic, public health figures showed on Monday, and doctors warned…

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Eastern Europe infections at record levels

Nov 8 (Reuters) - Global COVID-19 cases surpassed 250 million on Monday as some countries in eastern Europe experience record outbreaks, even as the Delta variant surge eases and many…

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UPDATED: Travellers head to the United States as flights reopen

PARIS/LONDON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Travellers started heading to the United States on Monday to see family and friends for the first time in nearly two years following the lifting…

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COVID-19 cases near 250 million as Delta surge eases

Nov 7 (Reuters) - Worldwide cases due to COVID-19 were approaching 250 million on Sunday as the surge from the Delta variant eases and more normal trade and tourism resume,…

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Austrian chancellor expects tighter COVID rules to remain past Christmas -newspaper

ZURICH, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Austria's latest measures to tackle the spread of coronavirus will likely stay in force over Christmas and New Year, Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg was quoted as…

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Sydney to further ease COVID-19 curbs on Monday as vaccinations pick up

Nov 7 (Reuters) - Australia's largest city of Sydney will further ease social distancing curbs on Monday, a month after emerging from a coronavirus lockdwon that lasted nearly 100 days,…

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Unvaccinated in Greece face new restrictions as COVID cases soar

ATHENS, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Queues formed outside shops in Athens on Saturday on the first day of new restrictions to curb soaring coronavirus infections which require the unvaccinated to…

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UK reports 155 new COVID deaths, 30,693 cases

LONDON, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Britain reported 155 deaths on Saturday of people who had tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 28 days, and a further 30,693 new infections.…

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French ski stations will require masks in ski lift lines – media

PARIS (Reuters) - Skiers waiting in line to get on a ski lift in French winter resorts this season will have to wear a mask, but a health pass will…

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Italy reports 31 coronavirus deaths on Saturday, 6,764 new cases

MILAN, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Italy reported 31 coronavirus-related deaths on Saturday compared with 51 the day before, the health ministry said. It reported 6,764 new infections, the exact same…

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COVID-19 pandemic could lead to HIV surge in West & Central Africa, says UNAIDS chief

West and Central Africa could see a rise in HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths in a few years due to disruptions in health services because of the coronavirus pandemic, the…

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Britain allows early booking of booster shots to speed up rollout

LONDON, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Britain's health ministry on Saturday said it would open up bookings for booster shots a month before people were eligible to receive the shots to…

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England’s COVID prevalence steadies at highest level of the year, ONS says

LONDON, Nov 5 (Reuters) - The prevalence of COVID-19 infections in England remained at around 1 in 50 people in the week ending Oct 30, a school half-term break, Britain's…

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White House says it is still committed to finding COVID’s origin

The White House said that understanding the origins of COVID-19 remains a key focus of Biden administration and that they will continue pushing for answers. "It's incredibly important for us…

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Gene linked to doubling risk of COVID-19 death found by UK scientists

British scientists have identified a gene that doubles the risk of dying from COVID-19, providing new insights into why some people are more susceptible to the disease than others, while…

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COVID cases break records across Europe as winter takes hold

BUDAPEST, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Coronavirus infections are hitting record levels in many countries across Europe as winter takes hold, prompting a call for action from the World Health Organization…

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Sharp increase in Covid patients in ICUs in Italy

The number of COVID-19 patients in Italian intensive care units increased by 12.9% in the period from October 27 to November 2, reversing a trend that had seen ICU admissions…

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COVID-19 transmission rates in Europe “grave concern”, WHO Europe head says

European countries must work harder to prevent the coronavirus spreading further as deaths and new cases surge, the World Health Organization's Europe head said on Thursday. Current transmission rates in…

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Russia’s daily COVID-19 death toll hits new record high

MOSCOW, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Russia's daily COVID-19 death toll rose to a record high of 1,189 on Wednesday amid a surge in cases that has forced officials to impose…

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U.S. CDC director backs COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11

The director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) backed broad use of Pfizer's and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine in children ages 5 to 11, clearing the way…

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China’s COVID-19 cases spike

BEIJING, Nov 3 (Reuters) - China's new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases spiked to a near three-month high and tighter curbs to contain the spread are expected in the capital Beijing…

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Poland warns EU withholding funds could endanger climate goals

Poland's prime minister warned Brussels on Monday that withholding European Union funds from Warsaw could endanger the achievement of climate goals. The EU has signalled Poland had to roll back some of its judiciary reforms to unlock…

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Thailand, Australia, Israel ease travel curbs as lockdowns bite elsewhere

Thailand, Australia and Israel eased international border restrictions significantly on Monday for the first time in 18 months, offering a broad test of demand for travel worldwide amid the coronavirus pandemic. The…

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U.S. vaccines for children plan fully operational next week, White House says

The United States is rolling out Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 5 to 11 this week, but most of the 15 million shots being shipped initially are unlikely to be available…

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UK records 40,077 new COVID-19 cases, 40 deaths on Monday

The United Kingdom recorded 40,077 new COVID-19 cases on Monday and 40 deaths of people who had tested positive for the disease within 28 days, government data showed. That compares with 38,009…

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High vaccination rates will make Malta and Portugal the safest places in Europe this winter – ECDC Director

Portugal and Malta will be the safest places in Europe this winter, according to the expert leading disease monitoring across the continent. In an interview with The Telegraph, Dr Bruno…

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China says U.S. COVID origins report is without credibility

A declassified U.S. intelligence report saying it was plausible that the COVID-19 pandemic originated in a laboratory is unscientific and has no credibility, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said…

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COVID-19′s global death toll tops 5 million

The global death toll from COVID-19 topped 5 million on Monday, less than two years into a crisis that has not only devastated poor countries but also humbled wealthy ones…

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Pfizer booster jab reduces risk of Covid hospitalisation by 93pc

Getting a Pfizer booster jab five months after a second dose reduces a person’s risk of hospitalisation with Covid by 93 per cent, according to new research in The Lancet.…

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Asia reopening boosts travel, fashion brands; pandemic winners take backseat

Fashion brands and airlines are creeping back into investors' good graces in Asia as lockdowns ease and vaccination rises, boosting travel and leisure activities, taking some shine off pandemic stalwarts…

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China’s COVID-19 outbreak developing rapidly, health official says

SHANGHAI, Oct 30 (Reuters) - China's latest COVID-19 outbreak is developing rapidly, a health official said, as the authorities demanded high vigilance at ports of entry amid growing infections in…

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Climate, COVID and the economy top G20 agenda at Rome summit

By Crispian Balmer and Jan Strupczewski ROME, Oct 30 (Reuters) - The heads of the world's 20 biggest economies kicked off two days of talks on Saturday where they were…

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Italy’s Covid-19 Rt transmission number rises sharply

Italy's COVID-19 Rt transmission number and its case incidence have increased significantly, according to a draft of the latest coronavirus monitoring report of the Higher Health Institute (ISS) and the…

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U.S. FDA authorizes first COVID-19 shot for young kids

Oct 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday authorized the Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE coronavirus vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 years, making it…

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China’s new local COVID-19 cases hit six-week high

SHANGHAI, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Mainland China recorded its highest number of daily local new COVID-19 infections in more than six weeks on Friday, as the country battles an outbreak…

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Australia’s Melbourne back to the races, shops as vaccination rate hits 80%

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city which has endured nearly nine months of lockdowns since the start of the pandemic, saw people flocking to shops and gigs for the…

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Europe only region in world to see increase in both Covid cases and deaths

Europe was the only region in the world to report an increase in both Covid-19 cases and deaths this week, according to the WHO’s latest epidemiological update. Globally, the numbers…

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Hungary’s daily COVID-19 cases jump to highest since April

BUDAPEST, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Hungary reported a jump in daily COVID-19 cases to 3,125 on Wednesday, its highest daily tally since April, the government said, urging people to take…

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UK reports 263 COVID-19 deaths, highest daily total since March

Britain reported 263 deaths within 28 days of a positive COVID-19 test on Tuesday, the highest daily total reported since March 3 following a steady rise in cases in the…

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France says it has ordered 50,000 doses of Merck’s COVID-19 antiviral pill

France has ordered 50,000 doses of Merck & Co's experimental COVID-19 antiviral drug for adults, the country's health minister Olivier Veran told a hearing at the French Senate on Tuesday.…

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FDA expert panel to recommend Pfizer vaccine for children aged 5-11

An expert panel will weigh authorization of Pfizer Inc and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 on Tuesday as it prepares to vote on a recommendation for the U.S.…

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Caruana Galizia murder suspect says he can never get a fair hearing / Malta News Briefing – Tuesday 26 October 2021

Latest Update- News Portal Briefing Times of Malta says Labour MPs on Tuesday refused to condemn Konrad Mizzi’s repeated refusal to appear before parliament's public accounts committee to answer for the Electrogas…

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Biden imposing new international travel vaccine rules, lifting restrictions

U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday signed an order imposing new vaccine requirements for most foreign national air travelers and lifting severe travel restrictions on China, India and much of Europe effective…

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