HONG KONG: The Hong Kong’s strict adherence to a zero-Covid strategy is damaging the hub’s aviation industry and “killing” Cathay Pacific, a major shareholder in the city’s home carrier told local media. Following Beijing’s lead, Hong Kong has maintained some of the world’s strictest quarantine measures and travel curbs, which has kept the city coronavirus-free … Read more
CAIRO, Dec 18, 2021 (AFP) – Egypt on Saturday said it had detected its first three cases of the coronavirus Omicron variant, at the height of the economically vital tourist season. Three Egyptians tested positive on their return from overseas, the health ministry said without specifying where they had travelled from. One of them had mild symptoms and … Read more
HELSINKI, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) — The Finnish National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has reissued nationwide recommendation on using face masks, as COVID-19 infection rates are rising in the country due to the spread of the Omicron variant. The health authority recommends people use face masks in all public spaces as well as in … Read more
ISTANBUL, Dec 18, 2021 (AFP) – Turkey will send 15 million Covid-19 vaccine doses to Africa, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Saturday at a major summit of the continent’s leaders, adding that the low vaccination rates there were a blot on humanity. Ankara has invested heavily in developing trade and diplomatic ties with the world’s … Read more
FRANKFURT, Dec 17, 2021 (AFP) – Germany, battered by a recent rise in Covid cases, must brace for a “massive fifth wave” due to the new Omicron variant, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said Friday. “We must prepare for a challenge that we have not yet had in this form,” Lauterbach told reporters, adding that even if the variant … Read more
According to authorities within the Sindh Health Department, a second case of the Omicron form of coronavirus has been recorded in Karachi. The 35-year-old afflicted man arrived in Karachi from the United Kingdom and tested positive for coronavirus during random testing. Omicron infection was later confirmed in the infected person using genome sequencing. However, the … Read more
JOHANNESBURG, Dec 17, 2021 (AFP) – Infection rates are soaring across South Africa as a result of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, but fewer people have died or required hospital treatment compared to previous waves of Covid, health officials said Friday. On Wednesday, South Africa recorded the highest number of infections the nation has ever seen in … Read more
ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) — The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa surpassed the 9-million mark on Wednesday as the continent strives for adequate access to vaccines. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said that as of Wednesday evening, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases had reached 9,033,788 as … Read more
MANILA, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) — Another 237 cases of coronavirus infections have been reported in the Philippines, taking the total to 2,836,915, the Department of Health said on Wednesday. Meanwhile, 100 more people died from COVID-19 complications, bringing the country’s death toll to 50,449, the health department said. On Wednesday, the Philippines detected its first … Read more
NAIROBI, Dec 15, 2021 (AFP) – Kenya has detected its first cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, the country’s health minister said on Wednesday. “We have detected the Omicron variant among passengers in airports,” said Mutahi Kagwe, without specifying when and where the variant was first identified. Kagwe said those hospitalised with Covid-19 in Kenya … Read more
ROME, Dec 15, 2021 (AFP) – Italy will tighten restrictions for arrivals from the rest of the EU from Thursday, requiring coronavirus tests of everyone and a five-day quarantine for those who are not vaccinated. Previously, EU arrivals had to show proof of vaccination, recent recovery or a negative test. The decree signed by Health Minister Roberto Speranza … Read more
TOKYO, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) — Japan has prepared 13,000 quarantine rooms for people returning from abroad, up 2,000 from the previous week, as part of the measures against the Omicron variant of the COVID-19, Health Minister Shigeyuki Goto said on Tuesday. Entrants may be required to move to facilities near the airport instead of the … Read more
NEW DELHI, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) — India Tuesday reported eight more cases of the Omicron variant, taking the country’s case tally of the new variant to 49, officials said. Of the eight new cases, four have been reported from the national capital region and the remaining four from the western state of Rajasthan. “Four new … Read more
HONG KONG, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) — Hong Kong’s Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported two additional cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 on Monday. The cases involved a 62-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman arriving in Hong Kong from Britain together on Dec. 10 and tested positive upon arrival at the Hong Kong International … Read more
COPENHAGEN, Dec 13, 2021 (AFP) – Danish health authorities said Monday a third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine would be offered sooner to everyone over 40 to curb the spread of the Omicron variant. “Due to the new and more contagious Omicron variant the Danish Health Authority has decided to push the third jab for everyone aged 40 and above, … Read more
JOHANNESBURG, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) — A laboratory research has suggested that the Omicron variant can partially escape antibody immunity induced by the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The research, led by professor Alex Sigal from the Africa Health Research Institute in South Africa, has been submitted to medRxiv, a preprint server for health sciences. The research confirms … Read more
JOHANNESBURG, (AFP) – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday and is receiving treatment for mild symptoms, the presidency said in a statement. Ramaphosa, who is fully vaccinated, began feeling unwell after leaving a state memorial service for former deputy president F W de Klerk in Cape Town earlier in the … Read more
TOKYO: Business confidence among major Japanese nonmanufacturers recovered to pre-pandemic levels in December, enhanced by the lifting of the COVID-19 state of emergency. However, the improvement of sentiment among manufacturers was dragged by parts shortages and surging raw materials costs, local media reported Monday. According to the quarterly “Tankan” survey, the key confidence index for … Read more
PORT LOUIS, Mauritius, Dec 11, 2021 (AFP) – The Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius has recorded its first two infections of the Covid-19 Omicron variant, both linked to people returned from South Africa, with a dozen more contact cases feared. Health Minister Kailesh Jagutpal told a press conference on Friday the pair were asymptomatic and had … Read more
GENEVA, Dec 9, 2021 (AFP) – The World Health Organization said Thursday it remained unclear whether additional Covid-19 vaccine doses are needed to protect against the new Omicron variant, and urged wealthy countries to avoid hoarding the jabs. The UN health agency’s vaccine advisors warned that a rush to stockpile more jabs, especially without clear evidence they are needed, would … Read more
MUMBAI — The Central Bank of India has maintained status-quo for the ninth time in a row by keeping its policy rates unchanged and retaining its accommodative stance at the conclusion of its three-day monetary policy meeting (MPC) that ended on Wednesday. The accommodative stance resolution was passed by the six-member panel with five members … Read more
FRANKFURT, Dec 8, 2021 (AFP) – The coronavirus vaccine developed jointly by BioNTech and Pfizer is “still effective” against the Omicron variant of the virus after three doses, the companies said in a statement on Wednesday. A laboratory study by its makers found the vaccine “is still effective in preventing Covid-19, also against Omicron, if it … Read more
JOHANNESBURG, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) — Chairperson of the South African Medical Association (SAMA) said most patients infected with Omicron COVID-19 variant got mild symptoms, while the unvaccinated patients showed relatively severe symptoms. Angelique Cootze, who has treated 70 patients diagnosed with the new variant, said she has seen most patients with mild symptoms such as … Read more
JOHANNESBURG, Dec 6, 2021 (AFP) – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday urged citizens to get vaccinated as the country battles an unprecedented surge in cases driven by the new Omicron variant. The number of daily infections rose five-fold in the space of a week, from 2,828 on November 26 to 16,055 last Friday. About … Read more
LONDON, Dec 6, 2021 (AFP) – The lead developer of the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine warned the next pandemic could be “more lethal”, urging better preparedness in a speech set to be aired Monday. Sarah Gilbert, who is credited with saving millions of lives through her role in designing the jab, said the world must build on … Read more
LONDON, Dec 5, 2021 (AFP) – The UK government has announced that those travelling into the country will need to show a negative coronavirus test pre-departure as it reintroduces Covid-19 restrictions due to the Omicron variant. From 0400 GMT on Tuesday, anyone travelling to the UK will have to show evidence of a negative lateral flow … Read more
BANGKOK, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) — Thailand said Monday that the country has found its first case of Omicron variant of COVID-19 after confirming that a U.S. visitor arriving from Spain tested positive. The 35-year-old traveler, flying from Spain by transiting through Dubai, entered with a negative RT-PCR test, but on-arrival test returned a positive result … Read more
BEIJING, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) — As the heavily mutated COVID-19 Omicron variant sounds a global alarm, China said it will stick to its strict anti-virus policy, taking all necessary measures to eliminate infections before the new virus variant could wreak havoc. Cases of Omicron, a “variant of concern” according to the World Health Organization (WHO), … Read more
