Paris, Dec 26 (AFP/APP): Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:
‘British’ new variant spreads
A new variant of the virus, feared to be more easily transmissible, has been spreading with cases notably identified in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Denmark as well as Japan and Lebanon while South Africa and Nigeria have announced cases of mutant strains which do not appear to be the same one as the British version.
Japan acts on arrivals
Japan said Saturday it will halt all new non-resident foreign arrivals coming from overseas from Monday until late January. Additionally, Japanese travellers and foreign residents from countries where the new coronavirus strain has been reported must take tests within 72 hours ahead of their departure for the country and again upon arrival at Japanese airports.
Swedish ‘isolated case’
Swedish health authorities announced a “first isolated case” of the new virus, saying the sufferer had “travelled from the United Kingdom”. Regional authorities said the risk of it spreading was very low. Sweden has already extended its suspension of flights from Britain to December 31.
Hungary vaccinates hospital staff
Hungary has begun vaccinating hospital staff after receiving its first delivery of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus jabs ahead of most other EU countries, where vaccinations were due to begin Sunday after regulators approved the product on December 21. “The first shipment is of utmost importance to frontline healthcare staff fighting the coronavirus,” Janos Szlavik, infections expert at the South Pest Central hospital Budapest, which administered the first jab, told Hungarian newswire MTI.
We blundered, Swiss admit
Switzerland’s health minister has admitted the government blundered in easing Covid-19 restrictions too far, resulting in some of Europe’s fiercest infection rates during the pandemic’s second wave. Alain Berset said the Swiss approach put the emphasis on personal responsibility — but accepted that it had not worked. “In summer, we had the feeling that the worst was over. We were too loose,” Berset told broadcaster SRF.
Try licorice
In authoritarian post-Soviet Turkmenistan, where the government says no coronavirus cases have been detected, President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has claimed licorice root could cure Covid-19. Without citing any scientific evidence, former dentist Berdymukhamedov claimed that “licorice stops the coronavirus from developing”.
Take three for Austria
Austria entered a third lockdown no sooner had Christmas come and gone while Scotland and Northern Ireland have notably imposed more restrictions.
Toll passes 1.75 million
The death toll from the virus globally has passed 1.75 million according to the latest AFP toll from 1100 GMT with global cases exceeding 80 million of which more than 50 million are judged recovered. The highest fatalities are 330,279 in the United States for 18.76 million cases. Per 100,000 population, Belgium remains out in front with 165 deaths.
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