L’HOSPITALET DE LLOBREGAT, Spain – Seemingly milder for some but still highly contagious, Omicron has filled intensive care beds again at a hospital near Barcelona where shattered staff are still fighting a virus that refuses to retreat. “Every time we think we’ve reached the end of the tunnel, it just gets longer,” sighs Rafael Manez, … Read more
PARIS: Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis: Covid deaths soar The number of global deaths from Covid-19 soared by a fifth worldwide in the last week to 9,050 per day, according to AFP’s database. Vaccine mandate accord? An accord between rich nations and developing countries on intellectual property waivers for Covid-19 vaccines … Read more
LONDON: England on Thursday lifted coronavirus restrictions imposed to tackle the Omicron variant, with masks no longer required in enclosed places and vaccine passports shelved. The number of positive Covid-19 cases has fallen sharply over the past two weeks, and although still at high levels, have plateaued in recent days. The UK government introduced the so-called “Plan … Read more
PHNOM PENH – Cambodia had seen zero deaths from the COVID-19 for 20 days straight, the country’s health ministry said in a statement on Monday. According to the health ministry, the number of confirmed Omicron COVID-19 variant cases in Cambodia has risen to 625 after 40 new infections were detected. “Among the new cases, 15 … Read more
CANBERRA – Australia approved the Novavax vaccine for people aged 18 and over on Monday, making it the fourth COVID-19 vaccine to be approved for use in Australia after AstraZeneca, Moderna and Pfizer. The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has recommended the Novavax vaccine be given in two doses, at least three weeks … Read more
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia reported 3,856 new COVID-19 infections as of midnight Sunday, bringing the national total to 2,832,945, according to the health ministry. Of the new infections, there are 492 imported cases and 3,364 local transmissions, data released on the ministry’s website showed. A further nine deaths have been reported, bringing the death toll … Read more
WASHINGTON: The start of a new year is often a time to reflect and reassess. As the pandemic stretches into its third year, apprehension over the health crisis and the associated economic uncertainties is proving hard to shake. So, for anyone hoping to restore their sense of optimism, I have a simple recommendation: Consider Africa … Read more
Studies of pregnant women found the two most widely used Covid vaccines pose no risk to mothers or babies, the EU’s drug regulator said. Research involving some 65,000 women showed “growing evidence” that the Pfizer and Moderna jabs did not cause pregnancy complications, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said. The shots also provided increased protection … Read more
WASHINGTON: The Covid-19 pandemic took a deadly toll on adults in the United States for two years while largely sparing children from adding to the dire statistics. But the rapid spread of the Omicron variant led to record pediatric infections and hospitalizations in the country, and anti-vaccination misinformation that tells parents the shots are dangerous is adding … Read more
ULAN BATOR – Mongolia recorded 3,088 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, exceeding the 3,000 mark for the first time since Sept. 23, 2021, bringing the national tally to 415,765, the country’s health ministry said Wednesday. The latest confirmed cases were all locally transmitted, and more than half of them were detected in … Read more
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia recorded 3,245 new COVID-19 infections over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 2,813,934, according to its health ministry. The new infections included 274 imported cases and 2,971 local transmissions, showed data released on the health ministry’s website. An additional nine … Read more
TRIPOLI- The Libyan National Center for Disease Control on Tuesday announced that a total of 4,166 people have received a third booster shot for COVID-19. A total of 1,974,537 people in Libya have received one vaccine dose, while over 945,000 others have taken two doses, the center said. Read more: Australian states bring forward COVID … Read more
JERUSALEM, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) — Preliminary results from an Israeli study showed low efficacy of the fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose against the Omicron variant, Israel’s largest hospital said in a statement on Monday. In the study, launched in late December, 270 staff members of Sheba Medical Center received the fourth dose of Pfizer or Moderna … Read more
WELLINGTON, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) — New Zealand reported 14 new cases of COVID-19 in the community on Tuesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country’s current community outbreak to 11,337. Among the new infections, seven were recorded in the largest city of Auckland, six in the Lakes district and one in Wellington, … Read more
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) — Malaysia reported another 2,342 COVID-19 infections as of midnight Monday, bringing the national total to 2,810,689, according to the Health Ministry. There are another 180 imported cases, with 2,162 being local transmissions, data released on the ministry’s website showed. Another 16 deaths have been reported, bringing the death toll … Read more
ULAN BATOR, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) — Mongolia recorded 2,135 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the national tally to 412,677, the country’s health ministry said Tuesday. The latest confirmed cases were all locally transmitted, and more than half of them were detected in the national capital Ulan Bator, the hardest-hit area by … Read more
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia reported 3,010 new COVID-19 infections as of midnight Sunday, bringing the national total to 2,808,347, according to the health ministry. There are 263 new imported cases, with 2,747 being local transmissions, data released on the ministry’s website showed. Another 12 deaths have been reported, bringing the death toll to 31,793. The … Read more
WASHINGTON – Women vaccinated against Covid-19 saw a slight delay in their period of almost a day compared to those who were unvaccinated, a US government-funded study said last week. But the number of days of bleeding was not affected, according to the research carried out on nearly 4,000 individuals and published in “Obstetrics & … Read more
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) — Malaysia reported 3,346 new COVID-19 infections and 12 more deaths as of midnight Friday, bringing the national total to 2,802,263 and death toll to 31,762. The health ministry said 267 of the new cases were imported and 3,079 were local transmissions. The ministry reported 3,052 new recoveries, bringing the … Read more
HONG KONG, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) — Hong Kong on Wednesday reported 22 new cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, taking the total tally of cases tested positive to 13,002, data from the Center for Health Protection showed. The newly reported cases consist of 17 imported cases, four epidemiologically linked with imported cases and … Read more
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) — Malaysia reported another 3,198 COVID-19 infections as of midnight Wednesday, bringing the national total to 2,795,233, according to the health ministry. Another 303 new cases are imported, with 2,895 being local transmissions, data released on the ministry’s website showed. Fifteen more deaths have been reported, bringing the death toll … Read more
WELLINGTON, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) — New Zealand reported 28 new cases of COVID-19 in the community on Thursday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country’s current community outbreak to 11,236. Among the new infections, nine were recorded in the largest city of Auckland, three in nearby Waikato, five in Bay of Plenty, … Read more
BEIJING: China is battling coronavirus outbreaks in several cities, testing the country’s strict “zero-Covid” strategy just weeks before Beijing hosts the Winter Olympics. Here’s a rundown of the measures in place in key areas of the world’s most populous nation. Tianjin Fears are growing about China’s largest domestic Omicron cluster to date in the … Read more
MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic on Wednesday admitted “errors” in his travel papers and for not isolating after a claimed coronavirus infection, as he battled to stay in Australia and fight for a record 21st Grand Slam. The world number one said his team had offered fresh information to the Australian government, which is pondering whether to cancel his … Read more
ULAN BATOR, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) — Mongolia’s COVID-19 death toll has reached 2,001 after two more related deaths were registered over the past 24 hours, the country’s health ministry said on Monday. Meanwhile, 649 new COVID-19 infections, including 10 imported ones, were recorded across the country in the past day, raising the national tally to … Read more
MELBOURNE: The rapidly spreading Omicron variant, no Serena Williams or Roger Federer and now the Novak Djokovic saga — the Australian Open is struggling to live up to its “Happy Slam” reputation. With the tournament just 10 days away, there was the threat Friday of more disarray with the possibility of other players being in a similar … Read more
LONDON: From the great lockdown, to the great rebound? At the start of this year the world was optimistic that the development of pioneering vaccines would restrict the global spread of the Covid-19. December 2020 marked the date when vaccinations for the virus first began to be administered around the world. Since then, the death … Read more
SYDNEY: Novak Djokovic has pulled out of this week’s ATP Cup in Sydney, organisers said on Wednesday, heightening doubts over whether he will defend his Australian Open title. There has been intense speculation as to whether he will travel to Australia, having refused to confirm if he has been inoculated against the coronavirus. “World No.1 … Read more
