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00:05
Over in Australia, Western Australia will grow to be the primary Australian state to mandate vaccine booster pictures.
Premier Mark McGowan simply introduced that a couple of million staff will now need to get booster pictures underneath an expanded mandate. It’s the first time boosters have been mandated.
Particularly in relation to 3rd doses. A 3rd dose of the Covid-19 vaccine will now be necessary for all eligible staff in industries coated by a vaccine mandate.
Underneath the mandate staff will now be referred to as to have a 3rd dose inside one month of turning into eligible.
At the moment greater than 266,000 persons are eligible for a 3rd dose. And to this point 89,900 individuals have obtained their dose.
Everyone seems to be strongly urged to obtain a 3rd dose when eligible, even when they’re not coated by this coverage.”
23:50
Singapore will freeze the sale of tickets for arriving flights and buses underneath its quarantine-free journey programme for 4 weeks from Thursday, the federal government mentioned, citing the chance from the fast-spreading Omicron Covid-19 variant, Reuters experiences.
Underneath the vaccinated journey lane (VTL) programme, Singapore permits quarantine-free entry for absolutely vaccinated travellers arriving from sure nations on designated flights or buses. The travellers need to endure common testing.
About two dozen nations are listed within the programme together with Australia, India, Malaysia, Britain and the US.
Nonetheless, no new tickets might be issued for individuals hoping to reach from any of these nations from Thursday to Jan. 20, the federal government mentioned on Wednesday.
The well being ministry mentioned in a press release:
Our border measures will assist to purchase us time to check and perceive the Omicron variant, and to strengthen our defences, together with enhancing our healthcare capability, and getting extra individuals vaccinated and boosted.”
The federal government mentioned it could additionally scale back the VTL quotas and ticket gross sales for journey after 20 January. For flights, the entire variety of VTL tickets can be capped at 50% of the beforehand allotted quota.
Travellers already holding tickets on VTL flights or buses and who meet all different necessities can nonetheless journey underneath the programme.
The federal government additionally urged individuals arriving in Singapore to minimise their social interactions, keep away from massive gatherings and consuming out for seven days even when their exams, which they need to take each day for the week, are destructive.
23:23
New York Metropolis mayor Invoice de Blasio vows there might be “no extra shutdowns” in America’s most populous metropolis.
The Democrat mentioned Tuesday that New York can’t see faculties and companies shut once more like they did when Covid-19 first hit.
De Blasio confronted questions on whether or not he would reinstate closures because the Omicron variant surges within the metropolis.
At a digital information convention on Tuesday, he mentioned:
Adamantly I really feel this: No extra shutdowns. We’ve been via them,” de Blasio mentioned at a digital information convention Tuesday.
They had been devastating. We are able to’t undergo it once more.”
It’s nonetheless undecided whether or not the town’s annual New 12 months’s Eve celebration in Occasions Sq. will proceed as deliberate.
The occasion was small and socially distanced final 12 months however de Blasio had hoped to carry it this 12 months at “full energy.”
De Blasio’s successor Eric Adams annoucened he can be suspending his inauguration ceremony, scheduled for 1 January indoors at Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre.
22:56
Researchers in Melbourne, Australia, have turned one of many world’s most-used blood-thinning medication right into a nasal spray which they hope might forestall Covid-19 transmission.
Northern Well being medical divisional director Don Campbell and researchers at Melbourne, Monash and Oxford Universities discovered that heparin can block the transmission of Covid-19 and stop an infection.
The nasal spray, which has to this point obtained $4.2m from the Victorian authorities to endure medical trials, coats the nostril however doesn’t go down into the lungs.
Professor Campbell advised ABC information:
It gained’t matter if a brand new variant comes alongside, this drug will block that protein from infecting the cells.
I’m very assured that we will show that it’ll work, and other people might be utilizing this earlier than they go to the retailers and earlier than they go to high school.”
Over the subsequent six months, 340 Victorian households might be given the heparin nasal spray or a placebo, inside hours of their family contact testing constructive, to scale back transmission.
“When [Covid] first will get into the nostril it binds to a molecule referred to as heparan and if it mutates that binding website it might’t bind,” he mentioned.
“Heparin is so shut in construction to heparan that it binds on and paralyses the virus, so it stops it infecting and in addition stops it spreading to others,” professor Campbell added.
22:38
Masks in Japan may be in oversupply however McDonald’s fries actually should not.
A brand new type of chip scarcity has hit Japanese provide chains, with McDonald’s pressured to ration fries as Covid-19 and floods in Canada squeeze potato imports.
McDonald’s Japan mentioned it could solely promote small-sized french fries for every week from Friday to keep away from shortages.
On account of large-scale flooding close to the Port of Vancouver … and the worldwide provide chain crunch brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, there are delays within the provide of potatoes.”
The corporate mentioned it had taken the measure to make sure that prospects might nonetheless order fries, though the “secure procurement of useful resource supplies” was proving tough.
Learn the complete story right here.
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22:33
Some attention-grabbing information from Japan has simply emerged.
Prime minister Fumio Kishida has mentioned 80 million unused “Abenomasks” might be thrown away after criticism that it was costing ¥600 million ($5.2m or £4m to maintain them in storage. The federal government additionally discovered that 11 million of the masks had been “faulty” after inspections that value greater than ¥2 billion.
“I’ve instructed (officers) to get rid of the federal government’s inventory of material masks by the top of the present fiscal 12 months (via March) after distributing them to these in want,” Kishida advised a press convention.
“Worries about masks shortages have been utterly eradicated attributable to a restoration in manufacturing and provide, and the meant function (of the material masks) has been achieved,” the premier mentioned.
Kishida additionally mentioned that Japan will proceed to ban foreigners (aside from residents) getting into the nation “in the intervening time” to stop the unfold of the Omicron variant.
Up to date
22:07
Finland to shut bars and eating places by 10pm on Christmas Eve
Finland will considerably scale up Covid restrictions on the hospitality business from Christmas Eve.
Prime minister Sanna Marin mentioned eating places might be required to cease serving alcohol by 9pm and shut their doorways by 10pm as of Christmas Eve throughout a press briefing on Tuesday night time.
“We should take this example critically and react accordingly,” Marin mentioned.
The restrictions might be additional tightened from 28 December with eating places to cease consuming at 5pm with doorways closing at 6pm.
The restrictions might be in impact for 3 weeks. The federal government will start getting ready a help bundle to compensate hospitality companies affected by the restrictions, Marin mentioned.
Well being chiefs introduced over 23,000 new coronavirus infections prior to now two weeks, an all-time document within the Nordic nation of 5.5 million individuals.
EU residents arriving on the Finnish border might be required to point out a destructive Covid take a look at underneath the brand new guidelines.
Additional particulars on the restrictions are set to be introduced on Wednesday.
Up to date
21:06
China has reported 77 new confirmed coronavirus instances for Tuesday 21 December, down from 81 a day earlier, its well being authority mentioned on Wednesday.
Of the brand new infections, 57 had been domestically transmitted, in accordance with a press release by the Nationwide Well being Fee, unchanged from a day earlier. A lot of the new native instances had been within the northwestern province of Shaanxi.
China reported 19 new asymptomatic instances, which it classifies individually from confirmed instances, additionally unchanged from a day earlier.
There have been no new deaths, leaving the demise toll at 4,636.
20:59
Covid self-isolation lower to seven days with destructive take a look at in England
Should you missed the story we reported earlier on England chopping Covid self-isolation to seven days with a destructive take a look at right here’s a fast run-down.
From Tuesday, new steering will allow the 10-day self-isolation interval for vaccinated individuals in England who’ve examined constructive for coronavirus to be decreased by three days in the event that they get the all-clear from lateral stream exams.
Individuals who obtain destructive outcomes from exams taken 24 hours aside on day six and day seven of their self-isolation interval will now not need to self-isolate for the complete 10 days, the UK Well being Safety Company (UKHSA) mentioned.
Those that go away self-isolation on or after day seven are “strongly suggested” to restrict shut contact with different individuals in crowded or poorly ventilated areas, make money working from home and minimise contact with anybody who’s at larger danger of extreme sickness if contaminated with Covid-19, the company added.
There isn’t a change to the steering for unvaccinated constructive instances, or unvaccinated contacts of constructive instances, who’re nonetheless required to self-isolate for the ten full days after their date of publicity to the virus.
Learn the complete story from the Guardian’s well being editor, Andrew Gregory, right here.
20:42
Biden broadcasts half a billion free residence Covid exams to struggle Omicron
David Smith
Half a billion at-home coronavirus exams might be despatched free to the American public within the struggle towards Omicron, Joe Biden introduced on Tuesday, whereas pushing again towards resistance to vaccine mandates by saying they’re meant “to not management your life, however to save lots of your life”.
The transfer is a part of a renewed White Home effort that features the Pentagon calling up 1,000 troops to deploy to hard-hit hospitals and the Federal Emergency Administration Company (Fema) working to develop medical capability.
However as Covid-19 as soon as once more rages throughout America by way of the brand new Omicron variant, the president, talking from the White Home, didn’t discourage Christmas gatherings, impose vaccine mandates for home air journey or search a brand new spherical of lockdowns.
“I do know some Individuals are questioning should you can safely have a good time the vacations with your loved ones and pals – the reply is sure, you possibly can, should you and people you have a good time with are vaccinated, significantly should you’ve gotten your booster shot,” Biden mentioned.
Learn the complete story from our Washington correspondent, David Smith, right here.
Up to date
20:15
British Columbia, Canada, to shut bars, nightclubs and weddings
The Canadian Pacific Coast province of British Columbia is closing bars, nightclubs and gymnasiums amid considerations over the Omicron variant.
Beginning at 11:59pm on Wednesday 22 December, bars, nightclubs, gyms, health centres and dance studios will shut, and all seated occasions might be decreased to 50% capability.
Indoor gatherings, together with weddings, are additionally being cancelled, the Related Press experiences.
The brand new public well being measures might be in place till the top of the day Tuesday, 18 January.
Provincial well being officer Dr Bonnie Henry mentioned Tuesday the chance posed by Omicron is “essentially completely different” than different variants and it extra simply infects those that are vaccinated or have had Covid-19.
She mentioned the province is seeing “explosive outbreaks,” with numerous individuals being uncovered on the similar time. There’s additionally been a spike in instances amongst these aged 18 to 35.
The French-speaking province of Quebec introduced Monday that it’s closing bars, cinemas, gyms and spas due to a document variety of coronavirus instances.
19:54
WHO warns Europe of ‘vital surge’ in Covid instances
The World Well being Group’s European chief has warned nations to brace for a “vital surge” in instances as Omicron spreads throughout the continent.
Talking at a press convention in Vienna, Dr Hans Kluge mentioned Omicron is now the dominant variant in quite a few European nations, together with the UK, Denmark and Portugal. He mentioned:
We are able to see one other storm coming.
Inside weeks, omicron will dominate in additional nations of the area, pushing already stretched well being methods additional to the brink.
Final week, 27,000 individuals died from Covid within the area and a further 2.6m instances had been reported, he mentioned. Though these instances embody all variants, he famous this determine is 40% larger than throughout the identical interval final 12 months. He added:
The sheer quantity of recent Covid-19 infections might result in extra hospitalisations and widespread disruption to well being methods and different crucial companies.
Governments and authorities want to arrange our response methods for a big surge.
Learn the complete story right here.
Up to date
19:43
Hiya it’s Samantha Lock again with you on the weblog bringing you all the newest Covid developments from the world over.
Let’s begin with the information that Israelis over the age of 60 and medical groups might be eligible for a fourth Covid vaccination to guard towards the fast-spreading omicron variant, prime minister Naftali Bennett introduced.
“The residents of Israel had been the primary on the earth to obtain the third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and we’re persevering with to pioneer with the fourth dose as properly,” he mentioned on Tuesday, calling on those that meet the factors to “go and get vaccinated.”
Bennett’s remarks got here after a gathering of the nation’s ministerial coronavirus cupboard which convened amid rising concern over the unfold of the Omicron variant.
The World Well being Group’s European chief has warned nations to brace for a “vital surge” in instances as Omicron spreads throughout the continent. Dr Hans Kluge mentioned Omicron is now the dominant variant in quite a few European nations, together with the UK, Denmark and Portugal.
“We are able to see one other storm coming,” mentioned Kluge. “Inside weeks, Omicron will dominate in additional nations of the area, pushing already stretched well being methods additional to the brink.”
- UK prime minister Boris Johnson has confirmed no additional Covid restrictions might be put in place in England earlier than Christmas nevertheless curbs could possibly be imposed after 25 December.
- Edinburgh’s annual Hogmanay avenue celebration has been cancelled, whereas in Wales workers face £60 fines for failing to make money working from home as governments tightened guidelines to restrict the unfold of the Omicron variant. The Scottish and Welsh governments additionally imposed limits on sporting occasions from Boxing Day.
- Folks over the age of 60 in Israel might be eligible for a fourth Covid vaccination, the nation’s prime minister, Naftali Bennett, introduced. His remarks got here the nation recorded its first demise from the Omicron variant.
- The subsequent mayor of New York Metropolis, Eric Adams, mentioned on Tuesday he would postpone his inauguration ceremony, which was set for 1 January, because of the rise in instances of the Omicron variant of Covid-19. He did so shortly after the present mayor, Invoice de Blasio, introduced that residents who get a Covid-19 booster shot by the top of the 12 months will obtain $100.
- Germany has introduced a string of recent measures which might be to take impact from 28 December “on the newest”, in a bid to get a rampant surge in new infections underneath management. Chancellor Olaf Scholz mentioned the fourth wave of infections was now underneath management, however warned that the fifth wave was simply across the nook.
- Portugal’s authorities ordered nightclubs and bars to close doorways and advised individuals to make money working from home from 26 December to at the least 9 January to regulate the unfold of Covid-19 over the vacation interval. A destructive coronavirus take a look at may even be required to remain at Portuguese lodges and out of doors gatherings might be restricted to 10 individuals per group on New 12 months’s Eve.
- The archbishop of Canterbury has mentioned that individuals can have felt “sorrow and disappointment” seeing the {photograph} of Downing Road workers consuming collectively final Might as a result of it can have reminded them of what they sacrificed. In an interview, Justin Welby hinted at his disapproval over the gathering, saying that management concerned setting an instance.
- A bailout bundle price about £1bn for companies shedding commerce due to the Omicron surge was introduced by the UK’s chancellor, Rishi Sunak. The funding will primarily assist companies within the leisure and hospitality sectors, and follows considerations that they’ve confronted cancelled bookings.
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