Covid news live: cases in UK universities surge as students head home; New Zealand reports first Omicron case | World news

South Africa’s Nationwide Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) has retained the coronavirus lockdown at ‘adjusted stage 1’, or the bottom of a five-tier system of restrictions, within the battle on the Omicron variant, well being authorities mentioned on Thursday, Reuters reviews.

“The Council has directed the division to carefully monitor the rising Covid-19 infections,” the well being division mentioned in an announcement, including that it could additionally monitor hospital admissions, mortality and restoration charges.

These ranges had been all largely pushed by the Omicron variant, which was contributing to South Africa’s fourth wave of infections, it added.

The choice adopted deliberation by the Council on security measures really helpful by the well being division in a bid to stop any surge in infections throughout the festive interval, it added.

The Israeli authorities says it’s donating 1 million coronavirus vaccines to the UN-backed COVAX program.

The Overseas Ministry mentioned the AstraZeneca vaccines can be transferred within the coming weeks, a call that was a part of Israel’s strengthening ties with the African nations, Reuters reviews.

Overseas Minister Yair Lapid mentioned:

I’m delighted that Israel can contribute and be a accomplice in eradicating the pandemic world wide.”

The announcement mentioned the vaccines would attain near 1 / 4 of African nations, although it didn’t present a listing.

Israel has shut ties with various African nations, together with Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. Israel additionally established relations with Sudan final yr as a part of a collection of US-brokered accords.

When you’ve simply joined us welcome to our stay weblog masking all the most recent coronavirus developments.

Here’s a fast snapshot of the main Covid information tales.

• Covid instances have risen sharply at some UK universities as college students head dwelling, prompting fears that the mass migration might gas the unfold of the virus.
• Malaysia has introduced new Covid-19 restrictions, together with banning mass gatherings and requiring booster doses for high-risk teams, because it reported its second case of the Omicron coronavirus variant.
• Germany is reporting one other 56,677 new every day coronavirus instances and 522 deaths, in line with the Robert Koch Institute.
  
• South Korea has simply launched its every day Covid report. One other 7,622 confirmed coronavirus instances have been recorded over the past 24 hours with 62 Covid-related deaths.
• Japan has formally accepted Moderna Inc’s Covid-19 vaccine for its booster shot programme that started this month.
• Malaysia is now requiring all travellers arriving from the United Kingdom to undertake Covid assessments on a regular basis throughout quarantine.
• Indonesia has simply recognized its first case of the Omicron coronavirus variant, well being minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin mentioned on Thursday.
• Australia’s cricket captain, Pat Cummins, has been ruled out for the second Ashes Test after being recognized as a detailed contact of a optimistic Covid-19 case.
• New Zealand has detected its first case of the Omicron Covid-19 variant in a Christchurch managed isolation facility.
• Hundreds marched in New Zealand’s capital Wellington on Thursday to protest in opposition to Covid vaccine mandates and lockdowns, because the nation introduced 90% of its eligible inhabitants has been totally vaccinated.
• The Dutch household household has apologised after it final week invited a reported 21 individuals to celebrate the 18th birthday of Princess Amalia, the longer term queen, in breach of coronavirus well being steering.
• Apple Inc is delaying its return to workplace plans indefinitely, Bloomberg Information reports.
• Individuals in England have been advised to cut down on socialising within the lead-up to Christmas.
• New Zealand’s well being regulator Medsafe has granted provisional approval for the Pfizer Inc Covid-19 vaccine for youngsters aged 5 to 11 years previous.
• South Korea will reinstate social distancing guidelines and a 9pm curfew for eating places and cafes to fight spiralling numbers of latest infections and hospitalisations.
• South Africa reported its highest every day tally of latest coronavirus instances for the reason that begin of the pandemic with 26,976 infections and 54 deaths recorded on Wednesday.

Malaysia has introduced new Covid-19 restrictions, together with banning mass gatherings and requiring booster doses for high-risk teams, because it reported its second case of the Omicron coronavirus variant.

To curb potential Omicron dangers, mass New Yr gatherings can be banned and people attending personal New Yr and Christmas celebrations should bear Covid-19 self-tests, Khairy mentioned.

Malaysians over 60, and all grownup recipients of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine, are required to get a booster dose by February to maintain their standing as “totally vaccinated”, Khairy mentioned. Singapore is contemplating the same coverage.

Malaysia has additionally quickly banned the entry of international travellers from eight nations and designated 9 nations as “high-risk”, together with Britain, the US, Australia and India.

All arrivals from these nations should bear obligatory quarantine and be fitted with digital monitoring gadgets, no matter their vaccination standing.

These from Britain may also be required to conduct every day self-tests throughout quarantine, Khairy mentioned.

Germany is reporting one other 56,677 new every day coronavirus instances and 522 deaths, in line with the Robert Koch Institute.

South Korea has simply launched its every day Covid report.

One other 7,622 confirmed coronavirus instances have been recorded over the past 24 hours with 62 Covid-related deaths.

The numbers are a slight lower on the 7,850 instances and 70 deaths reported from the day earlier than.

Japan has formally accepted Moderna Inc’s Covid-19 vaccine for its booster shot programme that started this month.

The transfer adopted a suggestion from well being ministry specialists on Wednesday that Moderna’s mRNA shot could possibly be used as a 3rd booster shot for these aged 18 or older.

It’s the identical normal that was utilized to the shot developed by Pfizer Inc and BioNTech, which has to this point been given out about 71,000 instances as a booster, or simply 0.1% of the inhabitants.

After a comparatively late begin, Japan has totally inoculated virtually 80% of its inhabitants, the best amongst Group of Seven economies. The nation has about 31 million doses left between the Pfizer and Moderna pictures, with offers in place to get 170 million extra in 2022.

New coronavirus infections in Japan have slowed dramatically since a fifth wave that peaked in August.

Specialists say the truth that Japan began its vaccine push later could also be serving to preserve Covid-19 instances low, as immunity from the pictures for most individuals has not but waned.

Well being minister Shigeyuki Goto mentioned final week that boosters must be given as quickly as potential.

Malaysia is now requiring all travellers arriving from the United Kingdom to undertake Covid assessments on a regular basis throughout quarantine.

“As a result of Covid-19 Omicron variant unfold locally, travellers arriving from the UK should now self-test on a regular basis throughout quarantine. All self-test outcomes (optimistic, unfavorable or invalid) should be reported,” the ministry of well being mentioned in a statement on Thursday.

The nation additionally confirmed a second case of the Omicron variant whereas one other 18 suspected instances are presently awaiting genome sequencing for affirmation.

Indonesia has simply recognized its first case of the Omicron coronavirus variant, well being minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin mentioned on Thursday.

The case was detected on Wednesday night and is believed to be an worker on the Wisma Atlet hospital in Jakarta who had no historical past of abroad journey.

There’s to this point believed to be no neighborhood transmission, however one other 5 Omicron instances are suspected, together with two Indonesians who had not too long ago returned from the US and from Britain, and three Chinese language nationals presently in quarantine in Manado, North Sulawesi.

The federal government is ready for genomic sequencing for affirmation.