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About 366 million people have tested positive for the virus worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 5.6 million infected people have died. About 10 billion vaccine doses have been administered so far.
An Omicron sub-variant appears to be even more contagious than the original strain. The U.K. health agency said Friday (Jan. 28) that data from contact tracing showed that the BA.2 subvariant was spreading more frequently in households: The transmission rate was 13.4 percent, compared with 10.3 percent for omicron. Although the data would give a good indication of how transmissible the sub-variant was, the agency cautioned that it was preliminary data that could still fluctuate.
About two weeks after a tightening, Iceland plans to significantly relax its corona control measures again. “Today we have good news,” Icelandic Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir said Friday at a news conference in Reykjavik. Starting Saturday (Jan. 29), 50 people will be allowed to gather again, up from 10 previously. Clubs and pubs will be allowed to reopen after being forced to close in mid-January. At the time, the government felt compelled to tighten up because it considered the health system to be under severe strain. Now there are many relaxations, especially in the leisure sector, such as higher utilization of swimming pools or gyms.
Shortly after several positive Corona tests, American politician Sarah Palin has been spotted in a New York restaurant. As several American media reported on Thursday (Jan. 27), the irritant figure of the political right was sitting in the outdoor area of the restaurant in the posh Upper East Side on Wednesday but would have to isolate herself from other people. Republican Palin – the former governor of Alaska and candidate for vice president in 2008 – recently said on the subject of vaccination, “Over my dead body.” That’s why she caused a stir in New York a few days ago because she ate inside a restaurant as an unvaccinated person – something only fully vaccinated people are allowed to do in the big city. The 57-year-old is in the city because of a civil lawsuit against the “New York Times”.
Booster vaccinations increase protection against fatal Covid-19 infection to 95 percent. This applies to people over the age of 50. British health authorities announced the figures Thursday (Jan. 27). According to the Reuters news agency, protection in the aforementioned group of people was 60 percent six months after the second vaccination. Two weeks after the booster vaccination, the figure had risen to 95. The booster vaccination also effectively protected against hospitalization, the agency said, according to Reuters.
EU drug regulator EMA gives green light to Pfizer’s Covid pill. The approval of the drug paxlovid against Covid-19 is on track, the EMA announced Thursday (Jan. 27). The drug, made by Pfizer, could prevent severe disease in patients after corona infection, it said. Once approved, this will be the first drug against covid that can be taken orally. The pill is considered to be very effective. The EU Commission still has to approve the approval, but that is considered a formality.
Those who want to spend their vacations in Italy can expect relaxed corona entry rules from February. From Feb. 1, travelers from EU countries will only need either a negative Corona test or proof of vaccination or convalescence when they come to Italy, a Health Ministry spokesman said Thursday (Jan. 27) when asked. Health Minister Roberto Speranza had signed an order to that effect, he said. Until now, all travelers, including vaccinated and convalescents, also had to show a negative Corona test. Currently, the same rules apply to Swiss citizens entering the country as to EU citizens.
Israel begins the fourth vaccination for all at-risk groups. All those with risk factors for serious illness in a Corona infection, as well as their caregivers, can now be vaccinated again, the Ministry of Health announced Wednesday evening (Jan. 26). Also eligible are adults who are at particular risk for infection in their work. The prerequisite for the fourth vaccination is only that the third vaccination was at least four months ago. In Israel, more than 610,000 people have already received a fourth vaccination dose. Previously, the recommendation applied only to people over 60 years of age, the immunocompromised, and medical personnel.
- hp/source: nzz.ch/picture: pixabay.com
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