Coronavirus News highlights: EU urges 'all air travel' suspended with variant-hit countries

Belgium said Friday it has detected the first announced case in Europe of the new Covid-19 variant, in an unvaccinated person returning from abroad. Stay tuned for more updates.

FIH Junior Women's World Cup in South Africa put on hold owing to Covid-19

A policeman walks past a banner reading in Creole 'Psychiatry on strike' at the entrance to the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU - Hospital) where striking medical personnel hold a picket line against measures to curb the spread ofCovid-19, in the premises of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU - Hospital) in Pointe-a-Pitre, on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, on November 26. Guadeloupe has seen more than a week of unrest stemmed from protests started by hardline opponents of compulsory vaccination for health workers and firefighters on the island -- a measure already implemented in mainland France. Violence has also erupted in nearby Martinique after unions called for a general strike over coronavirus measures and other social grievances. (AFP Photo)

Shots fired at police, journalists in Martinique Covid riots

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said Friday that shots were fired overnight at security forces and journalists on the French Caribbean island of Martinique, as violence erupted amid protests overCovid-19 restrictions.

Several police officers have been injured, Darmanin tweeted. He added that 10 people have been arrested.

French government spokesman Gabriel Attal denounced the “unacceptable” violence. (AP)

India delivered 70.70 mn doses of Covid vaccines to 95 countries till November 22

Too early to know if Covid variant needs new vaccine: EMA

The EU's drug regulator said on Friday that it was closely monitoring the new B.1.1.529 Covid-19 variant but it was "premature" to tell if updated vaccines would be needed to fight it.

"EMA considers it premature at the moment to foresee the need of an adapted vaccine with a different composition in order to tackle this emerging variant," the European Medicines Agency said in a statement to AFP.

Maharashtra Government to give Rs 50,000 aid to kins or immediate relatives of people who lost their lives due to Covid-19.

EU urges 'all air travel' suspended with variant-hit countries

The EU proposed member states stop all flights to and from southern Africa following the discovery of a newCovid-19 variant that scientists fear could beat vaccinations, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday. (AFP)

Medics transfer patients infected with the coronavirus (Covid-19) into the Airbus A310-900 MRTT MedEvac Hermann Koehl of the German armed forces Bundeswehr before they are airlifted and transported to other intensive care units (ICU) in the country, at Memmingen Airport, Bavaria, southern Germany. (AFP Photo)

In muddle of Merkel exit, Covid's fourth wave catches Germany out

For once, proverbially efficient Germany has dropped the ball.

Seemingly endless queues all over the country for coronavirus booster shots and even for first vaccines are evidence that it has been caught out by afourth wave of Covid-19, having led the world in its initial response to the pandemic early last year. (Reuters)

Karnataka reports 402 new Covid-19 cases, six deaths.

Odisha reports 219 new Covid cases, two more fatalities in last 24 hours.

After Aurangabad, Hingoli adopts 'no vaccine, no fuel' policy

The authorities in Hingoli in Maharashtra on Friday followed the footsteps of Aurangabad and ordered dispensing stations to not sell the fuel unless the vaccination certificate of the buyer is checked. The order by Hingoli Collector Jitendra Papalkar said all pumps will have to put up 'no vaccine, no fuel' boards.Violators would be charged under provisions of IPC, Epidemic Diseases Act, Disaster Management Act etc. (PTI)

AIIMS Delhi Covid Task Force head pushes for booster shots

"Booster doses will be required andimmediate studies are needed, based on age groups anddifferent patients. In Israel, vaccine effectiveness after the booster dose rose from 40 per centto 93 per cent,"said Dr Naveet Wig, Chairperson of the Covid Task Force in AIIMS Delhi. (ANI)

Japan to require 10-day quarantine over variant

Japan said Friday it will require a 10-day quarantine period for travellers arriving from six countries after the discovery in South Africa of a newCovid-19 variant.

From Saturday, Tokyo will ask travellers coming from South Africa and neighbouring Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Botswana to stay at designated facilities on arrival. (AFP)

Brazil health regulator seeks travel restrictions over new Covid-19 variant

Belgium detects first case of new Covid-19 variant in Europe

Belgium has detected the first case of the new coronavirus variant which was first found in South Africa, a virologist said on Friday.

Marc Van Ranst, whose laboratory works closely with Belgium's public health body Sciensano, said on Twitter that the variant was found in a traveller returning to Belgium from Egypt on November 11. The person developed the first symptoms on Nov. 22, the virologist said. (Reuters)

Patients queue to get vaccinated againstCovid-19, in Aristotelous Square, in the center of Thessaloniki on November 26. Responding to the rush of the mobile vaccination unit in the center of the city, on the occasion of Black Friday on November 26and is expected to increase traffic in the city, many were those who rushed to make the vaccine. (AFP Photo)

Belgium analysing two Covid-19 samples to test for new variant

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 Ranst, whose laboratory works closely with Belgium's public health body Sciensano, made the comment on Twitter.

"We are currently analysing two suspicious samples," Van Ranst said.

Van Ranst later told Reuters that the samples were suspicious because they were not the Delta variant, which accounts for almost all infections in Belgium.

He added the results of the analysis should be known on Friday afternoon. (Reuters)

Spain to suspend flights to S.Africa, Botswana over new Covid-19 variant

SoftBank in investment talks with Chinese mRNA vaccine firm Abogen

Chinese mRNA vaccine developer Suzhou Abogen Biosciences is in talks with Japan's SoftBank and other investors to raise $300 million to $400 million, people familiar with the matter said.

The fundraising by Abogen is in its final stages, although the sum may change, according to two people who declined to be named because the information is not public yet.

It is not immediately clear how much SoftBank plans to invest, but a third person said the Japanese investment firm plans to lead the latest funding round. (Reuters)

A Christmas bauble shaped as Santa Claus wearing a protective mask is pictured amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic in Eichenau, Germany. (Reuters Photo)

Expect more data on new Covid variant in 2 weeks, says BioNTech

BioNTech, the inventor of the western world's most widely usedCovid-19 vaccine, said it expects more laboratory data on a new worrying coronavirus variant detected in South Africa within two weeks to help determine whether its shot would have to be reworked. (Reuters)

Kerala reports 4677 new Covid-19 cases, 6632 recoveries and 33 deaths in the last 24 hours. (ANI)

Andhra Pradesh sees 184 new Covid-19 cases, one death in last 24 hours.

Merck's Covid-19 pill shows lower efficacy in updated data

Merck & Co said on Friday updated data from the study of its experimental Covid-19 pill showed lower efficacy in reducing the risk of hospitalization and deaths than an earlier interim analysis, cutting them by 30 per centin the study.

The drugmaker released interim data in October showing a roughly 50 per centreduction in hospitalizations and deaths in 775 patients. The updated rate on Friday is based on data from over 1,400 patients. (Reuters)

120.27 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far under Nationwide Vaccination Drive in India.The recovery rate is currentlyat 98.33 per cent which is the highest since March 2020. (PIB)

Bahrain bans travellers from southern African states over Covid concerns

India to resume scheduled international flights from December 15: Aviation Ministry

Scheduled international flights to and from India will be resumed from December 15, the Civil Aviation Ministry said on Friday.

Scheduled international flights have been suspended in India since March 23 last year due to theCovid-19 pandemic.

However, special international passenger flights have been operating since July last year under air bubble arrangements formed with approximately 28 countries.

In an order, the Civil Aviation Ministry stated,"The matter of resumption of scheduled commercial international passenger services to and from India has been examined in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and it has been decided that scheduled commercial international passenger services to and from India may be resumed from December 15, 2021." (PTI)

India's Serum Institute resumes Covishield vaccine exports under COVAX facility

Hungary's National Institute of Pharmacy and Nutrition will start talks with its Russian counterparts on Monday on permission to use Russia's Sputnik LightCovid-19 vaccine in Hungary, the Hungarian foreign minister said on Friday.

Rajasthan: Can't force children to come to schools, says government amid fear from new Covid variant

Educational institutions cannot pressurise parents to send their children for offline studies, said the revised guidelines released by the state government in view of the rising number of Covid-19 cases.

Online studies facility will have to be continued regularly, the guidelines said.Institutes will be closed for 10 days if a single case ofCovid-19 is reported on campus, according to one of the provisions. (PTI)

WHO cautions against travel curbs over new variant

The World Health Organisation on Friday cautioned against imposing new travel restrictions over the newCovid-19 variant B.1.1.529.

"WHO recommends that countries continued to apply a risk-based and a scientific approach when implementing travel measures... implementing travel measures is being cautioned against," spokesman Christian Lindmeier told reporters in Geneva. (AFP)

France bans flights from Southern Africa on new Covid variant

Singapore, Malaysia curb arrivals from southern Africa over new variant

Rupee plunges by 37 paise against dollar on new Covid variant worries

The rupee on Friday plunged by 37 paise against the US dollar as investors turned cautious in view of massive selloffs in domestic equities and worries over a new variant ofCovid-19.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local currency opened at 74.60 and witnessed an intra-day high of 74.58 and a low of 74.92 against the US dollar in day trade.

The local unit settled at 74.89 a dollar, down 37 paise over its previous close of 74.52. (PTI)

Japan tightens border controls for arrivals from six countries

Those arriving from South Africa, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana and Lesotho will be required to undergo a 10-day quarantine period in government-determined accommodation, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters. (Reuters)

A security guard blocks an exit as he directs people to scan a QR code to track their health status at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station. (Reuters Photo)

Israeli PM warns of state of emergency due to new coronavirus variant

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met health experts on Friday to discuss how best to respond to a new variant of the coronavirus that has been detected in South Africa that he said was more contagious than the Delta strain.Israelhas reported one case of the new strain in a traveller returning from Malawi. (Reuters)

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Friday that several members of the police force had been injured as a result of civil unrest during protests againstCovid-19 protocols on France's Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe. (Reuters)

India to push for patent waiver for Covid-19 vaccines at World Trade Organisation

Delhi government to hold meeting on threat of new Covid variant from African countries: Arvind Kejriwal

The Delhi government has called a meeting of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority on Monday to discuss steps that need to be taken in view of the threat of a new Covid-19 variant from African countries, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said.

The Centre on Thursday had asked all states and union territories to conduct rigorous screening and testing of all international travellers coming from or transiting through South Africa, Hong Kong and Botswana, where a newCovid-19 variant of serious public health implications has been reported. (PTI)

Protestors gather by a barricade on fire that blocks a bridge in Fort-de-France, on the French Caribbean island of Martinique, on November 25, during a general strike called by unions to protest against measures to curb the spread ofCovid-19, and labour and social issues. (AFP Photo)

German Health Minister Jens Spahn shows a sheet with graphs on the capacity of intensive care units (ICU) depending on the vaccination rate achieved for certain age groups, as he addresses a press conference on the situation of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic in Germany, in Berlin. (AFP Photo)

German air force to move ICU patients as Covid cases rise

The German air force will begin assisting the transfer of intensive care patients Friday as the country sees a new record number of daily coronavirus cases.

German news agency dpa reported that a Luftwaffe A310 medevac plane will fly seriously ill patients from the southern town of Memmingen to North Rhine-Westphalia state Friday afternoon.

Israel find case of Covid variant first detected in South Africa

Israelhas identified a case of a Covid-19 variant with a large number of mutations first detected in South Africa, the health ministry said Friday.

"The variant discovered in southern African states has been identified inIsrael," the health ministry said, adding it was recorded "in a person who returned from Malawi," with "two more cases of people returning from abroad" placed in quarantine.

Italy bans visitors from southern Africa over new Covid variant

EU proposes banning flights from southern Africa over Covid variant

The European Union will propose banning travel from southern Africa following the discovery of a new Covid-19 variant that scientists fear could torpedo efforts to beat the pandemic, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday.
The EU's executive "will propose, in close coordination with member states, to activate the emergency brake to stop air travel from the southern African region due to the variant of concern B.1.1.529," Von der Leyen tweeted.

Asian countries rushed to tighten restrictions after a new and possibly vaccine-resistant coronavirus variant was detected in South Africa, with Singapore and India announcing stricter border controls and more rigorous COVID-19 testing on Friday.

Scientists are still finding out more about the new variant, first identified at the start of this week, but the news pummeled financial markets on Friday, with stocks in Asia suffering their sharpest drop in three months

UK's travel ban over new Covid variant 'rushed': South Africa

South Africa on Friday slammed as "rushed" Britain's travel ban from six southern African countries, following the discovery of a newCovid-19 variant with a large number of mutations.

Just hours after scientists in South Africa announced they had detected a new variant, Britain said all flights from South Africa and its neighbours Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Botswana would be prohibited starting 1200 GMT on Friday.

No cases of new Covid-19 variant reported in India so far (ANI)

Germany to declare South Africa virus variant area

Germany will declare South Africa a virus variant area on Friday after the detection of a new Covid-19 variant there, a health ministry source said.

The decision, which will come into effect from Friday night, will mean airlines will be allowed to fly only Germans to Germany from South Africa, according to the source. Returning Germans, even those who are vaccinated, will then have to spend 14 days in quarantine.

WHO to meet on Friday to assess new Covid-19 variant detected in South Africa

The World Health Organization is monitoring the new coronavirus variant B.1.1.529 first detected in South Africa and will hold a "special meeting" on Friday to discuss if the heavily mutated strain will become a variant of interest or a variant of concern, a top official said.

The latest variant is the most heavily mutated version discovered so far. First identified in South Africa at the start of this week, the strain has already spread to neighbouring countries, including Botswana, where it has been reportedly detected in fully vaccinated people.

Hong Kong records 2 cases of new variant detected in South Africa

The Hong Kong government said Thursday that it had detected two cases of a new variant identified in South Africa, which scientists have warned shows a “big jump in evolution” and could limit the effectiveness of vaccines.

The infections were detected in a man who had returned to Hong Kong from South Africa this month, and later in another man staying across the hall in the same quarantine hotel.

Singapore to restrict arrivals from South Africa, nearby states over Covid-19 variant

Singapore will restrict arrivals from south Africa and countries nearby in an effort to keep out a newCovid-19 variant, its health ministry said on Friday.

All non-Singaporean or non-permanent residents with recent travel history to Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe will be denied entry or transit through Singapore, it said.

Bryan Adams tests positive for Covid-19 for second time

Canadian musician Bryan Adams has once again tested positive for coronavirus.

The 62-year-old singer tested positive soon after arriving in Milan, Italy ahead of the unveiling of the 2022 Pirelli calendar, which he photographed.

(PTI)

Flights cancelled, schools shut over three Covid-19 cases in Shanghai

Hundreds of flights were cancelled, some schools shut and tour groups suspended on Friday after three coronavirus cases were reported in Shanghai, as China continues its strict zero-Covid policy.

Beijing has largely succeeded in controlling the spread of the coronavirus within its borders through travel restrictions and snap lockdowns, but frequent domestic flare-ups have tested its no-tolerance strategy in recent months.

(AFP)