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CANBERRA, Australia — Australia’s capital will go into lockdown for per week from Thursday after a single case of COVID-19 was detected and the virus was present in wastewater.
Canberra joins Sydney Melbourne and several other cities in New South Wales state which are locked down because of the delta variant.
Canberra residents can solely go away house for important causes from 5 p.m. on Thursday, basic retail shops will probably be closed and hospitality venues will solely to in a position to promote takeout, an Australian Capital Territory authorities assertion mentioned.
Colleges will probably be open to college students who can’t keep at house.
The an infection is the primary locally-acquired case within the metropolis of 460,000 since July 10 final 12 months.
A Canberra resident, a person aged in his 20s, had been infectious in Canberra since Sunday and examined optimistic on Thursday, Australian Capital Territory Chief Well being Officer Kerryn Coleman mentioned.
The supply of the an infection was unknown, she mentioned. Coronavirus was detected in wastewater late Wednesday, she mentioned.
The lockdown begins on the ultimate day of a two-week sitting of the Federal Parliament.
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MORE ON THE PANDEMIC:
— U.S. Republicans take to masks wars as virus surges in purple states
— California 1st state to require COVID-19 vaccine or take a look at for lecturers, workers
— New Zealand plans to begin reopening borders early subsequent 12 months
— CDC urges COVID-19 vaccines throughout being pregnant as delta surges
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— Discover extra AP protection at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine
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HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:
ISLAMABAD— Pakistan on Thursday reported 102 deaths from coronavirus up to now 24 hours, the best single-day toll from COVID-19 since April.
The Nationwide Command and Operations Heart says 4,934 new infections have been reported throughout the nation up to now 24 hours amid continued violations of social distancing guidelines.
Most infections and fatalities are being reported in southern Sindh and japanese Punjab provinces.
The spike has added strain on the nation’s fragile healthcare system and authorities.
The federal government is requesting folks to get vaccinated in opposition to coronavirus as quickly as doable to return to a traditional life.
Pakistan has decreased the utmost period for the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccines from 48 to twenty-eight days after importing hundreds of thousands of doses of vaccines from China. Pakistan can also be anticipated to get extra vaccine underneath the COVAX scheme this month.
Pakistan has reported 1,085,294 confirmed circumstances and 24,187 deaths because the begin of the pandemic.
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ATLANTA — 4 tiny Georgia public college districts have quickly shut down in-person instruction inside days of beginning college, saying excessive COVID-19 case counts amongst college students and workers makes it unsafe to proceed.
Different districts have closed particular person colleges or despatched a whole lot of scholars into quarantine after publicity to folks with COVID-19.
The 1,100-student Macon County district on Wednesday turned the fourth district to droop in-person courses, following the smaller Taliaferro, Glascock and Talbot counties in latest days. The 4 districts mixed serve a fraction of 1% of Georgia’s 1.7 million college students.
“The distinction now on this outbreak that we see than the outbreak that occurred final college 12 months is that this appears to be extra centered on youngsters…reasonably than adults in order that scares me to dying,” Talbot County Superintendent Jack Catrett advised WTVM-TV.
The strikes present the problem of maintaining colleges open as COVID-19 surges in Georgia’s broader society, regardless of the dedication of native college leaders to concentrate on in-person courses this 12 months.
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HOUSTON — Defiance of Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban on masks mandates continued on Wednesday as one other Texas college district introduced plans to require college students to put on face coverings and one other county scored a authorized victory in its efforts to concern such mandates amid a surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations all through the state.
The Houston suburb of Spring turned the newest to require its college students, lecturers and workers to put on masks. College districts in Austin, Dallas, San Antonio and Fort Price have additionally issued masks mandates. The superintendent of Houston’s college district, the state’s largest, deliberate to ask his college board to approve a masks mandate throughout a Thursday assembly.
The mandates go in opposition to an government order Abbott repeated final month banning masks mandates by any state, county or native authorities entity.
On Wednesday, Dallas County Choose Clay Jenkins signed an government order requiring that masks be worn inside colleges, county buildings and companies. The motion by Jenkins, the highest elected official in Dallas County, got here after a state district decide on Tuesday granted a short lived restraining order in opposition to Abbott’s government order, permitting Jenkins to concern the masks mandate.
The authorized ruling from Dallas County follows one from earlier Tuesday when one other decide issued a unique non permanent restraining order, permitting officers in San Antonio and Bexar County to mandate masks in public colleges.
Officers in Fort County, positioned simply southwest of Houston, introduced Wednesday afternoon they might additionally file a lawsuit looking for to override Abbott’s ban on masks mandates.
Renae Eze, a spokeswoman for Abbott, mentioned in an announcement that violating the governor’s government orders “and violating parental rights — is just not the way in which to do it.”
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OTTAWA — Canada’s immigration minister says absolutely vaccinated Canadians will quickly be capable of get a authorities doc that can certify their COVID-19 vaccine historical past for the aim of worldwide journey.
The doc, anticipated to be prepared by the autumn, will probably be digital, with an possibility for individuals who can’t or don’t need a digital certificates. Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino says it is going to embrace information on the kind of vaccines acquired, the dates and the situation.
Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc says this system must be executed in cooperation with provinces and territories as a result of they’ve the information that’s wanted. He says if provinces need to use the identical passport inside their province that could possibly be an possibility.
Quebec is introducing a provincial passport subsequent month that will probably be required for individuals who need to attend public occasions, go to the gymnasium or frequent a restaurant or bar.
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OKLAHOMA CITY — The superintendent of a public constitution college in Oklahoma Metropolis mentioned college students and workers should start carrying masks indoors, defying a state legislation that prohibits such mandates.
Superintendent Chris Brewster at Santa Fe South Colleges, a 3,500-student, pre-Ok by way of 12 district in south Oklahoma Metropolis, additionally mentioned in a letter on the district’s web site that he’s exploring whether or not to require vaccinations for varsity workers.
Brewster didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a legislation earlier this 12 months prohibiting public colleges, expertise facilities and faculties and universities from requiring vaccinations or masks until there’s a declared state of emergency. Stitt ended Oklahoma’s emergency declaration in Might.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Pleasure Hofmeister mentioned she plans to satisfy with Stitt to debate reinstating the emergency declaration. Stitt’s workplace didn’t instantly reply Wednesday to a request for touch upon whether or not he’s reconsidering a declaration.
Whereas many districts have indicated they anticipate college students and workers to put on masks, Santa Fe South is the primary in Oklahoma to require them. Tulsa Public Colleges deliberate a gathering Wednesday to think about doable litigation in opposition to Stitt over the masks prohibition.
Comparable defiance to masks legal guidelines is going on in different states which have imposed such bans.
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PHOENIX — Arizona State College on Wednesday introduced the varsity would require masks in sure indoor settings, resembling lecture rooms and labs, no matter vaccination standing to assist battle the unfold of COVID-19.
A college coverage assertion posted Wednesday mentioned different settings the place masks will probably be required embrace “close-quarter environments the place bodily distancing might not be doable.” These embrace amenities that serve the general public, assembly rooms, workshops and any indoor areas designated by posted signage.
Arizona on Wednesday reported 1,970 new COVID-19 circumstances and 6 further deaths. There have been 1,513 hospitalized COVID-19 sufferers as of Tuesday.
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