PARIS: French Prime Minister Jean Castex said today that France was ready to deploy a fourth Covid-19 vaccination or second booster shot as soon as health authorities gave their green light to such a move. “When the health authorities will give us the go-ahead, we’ll go for it,” Castex told […]
Healthcare
KOLKATA: Indian megacities Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata are experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases, although without a corresponding rise in hospitalisations, but fears are growing about a spread to rural areas in coming days. India reported 90,928 new daily Covid-19 cases on Thursday, up nearly four-fold since the start of […]
PARIS: President Emmanuel Macron today faced anger from opponents and chaos in parliament after issuing a provocative warning to people in France not yet vaccinated against Covid-19 that he would pressure them as much as possible by limiting access to key aspects of life. Opponents including rivals in the 2022 […]
DUBLIN: Ireland will drop its requirement for vaccinated arrivals to have proof of a negative Covid-19 test and return to seeking a proof of vaccination or recent infection upon entry, local media reported today. Ireland introduced the measure a month ago to slow the spread of the new Omicron coronavirus […]
SYDNEY: World number nine Hubert Hurkacz scored a comprehensive 6-1 6-4 win over Argentine Diego Schwartzman on Wednesday to seal Poland’s spot in the ATP Cup semi-finals against Spain, who ousted former champions Serbia without much trouble. The victory for the 24-year-old Hurkacz, who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals last year, […]
HONG KONG: Hong Kong announced strict new anti-coronavirus controls today, banning flights from eight nations, shuttering bars and gyms and cancelling evening restaurant dining after the Omicron variant was detected within the city. The restrictions are the latest economic blow to an international business hub pursuing a zero-Covid strategy that […]
SEOUL: A South Korean court ordered that private educational facilities, including cram schools, should be temporarily excluded from government Covid-19 vaccine pass mandates, the health ministry said today. The injunction is one of the first legal obstacles to South Korea’s vaccine mandates, which require passes or testing for entry to […]
JERUSALEM: A fourth dose of Covid-19 vaccine boosts antibodies five-fold a week after the shot is administered, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said today, citing preliminary findings of an Israeli study. “A week into the fourth dose we know to a higher degree of certainty that the fourth dose is […]
TAIPEI: Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen today urged vigilance against the spread of the coronavirus after the island detected its first cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant spreading in the community. Taiwan has kept the pandemic well under control because of early and effective prevention, including largely closing its borders. Most […]
PARIS: Dozens of French lawmakers have reported receiving death threats from suspected anti-vaccination protesters, as parliament starts to debate legislation that would require people to show proof of vaccination to go to a restaurant or cinema or take the train. The new law, which would do away with the option […]