Europe

Three dead in fire on coronavirus ward in Bulgaria

  SOFIA, Bulgaria (AFP) — Three patients died in a fire that broke out early Sunday on a coronavirus ward in a hospital in southeast Bulgaria, the rescue services said. The three male patients, aged 66, 70 and 81, were all ill with Covid-19 and died on the fourth floor of a hospital in the city of Sliven, the head of the local rescue services, Vladimir Demirev, told Bulgarian television. Six other patients on neighbouring […]

Fresh Dutch Covid lockdown as 10 EU states at ‘high concern’

European governments on Friday eyed unpopular Covid curbs, with the Netherlands opting for Western Europe’s first partial lockdown of the winter as EU experts said 10 countries in the bloc were causing “very high concern”. Dutch premier Mark Rutte announced at least three weeks of lockdown measures targeting restaurants, shops and sporting events to curb a record spike in coronavirus infections. The “annoying and far-reaching” measures came as the EU’s diseases agency said 10 countries […]

Germany mulls new measures amid explosion in Covid cases

  by Sophie MAKRIS and Femke COLBORNE Agence France Presse BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — Germany needs further coronavirus restrictions to combat a record surge in infections and “get through this winter”, would-be chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Thursday, calling a meeting with state premiers to decide new curbs. The country recorded 50,196 new cases in the past 24 hours on Thursday, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) health agency — the first time the […]

Two Covid patients die in Romania’s latest hospital fire

BUCHAREST, Romania (AFP) — A fire at a Romanian hospital killed two patients early Thursday, officials said, the fourth such deadly blaze in a year in the EU member known for its dilapidated infrastructure. The blaze ripped through a hospital for infectious diseases in the southern city of Ploiesti shortly after 4:00 am local time. “The fire was extinguished fast, but unfortunately two people died”, Health Minister Cseke Atilla told local media, adding that an […]

Germany hits record new Covid cases in 24 hours

BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — Germany registered a record 50,196 new Covid-19 infections Thursday, according to health authorities. It is the first time Germany has exceeded 50,000 cases since the beginning of the pandemic, and comes as infections and deaths have soared since mid-October. Outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel has described the rise in infections as “dramatic”. “The pandemic is returning in a new spectacular fashion,” her spokesperson said, calling on regional authorities to take further steps […]

Covid booster demand surges in France after Macron’s speech

PARIS, France (AFP) — Demand for Covid booster jabs jumped in France after President Emmanuel Macron said a top-up dose would be necessary for people to retain their vaccine passes, the country’s main appointment booking site said Wednesday. “The Macron effect” prompted 149,000 requests for shots, most during and immediately after the president’s televised address on Tuesday evening, in which he warned that coronavirus cases were again on the rise, Doctolib said. Anticipation of the […]

Germany advises against Moderna jab for under-30s

BERLIN, Germany (AFP) — German health authorities on Wednesday advised against the use of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine for people under 30 due to evidence of a small risk of cardiac inflammation. The Stiko vaccine commission cited studies showing that mRNA jabs led in rare cases to the conditions myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the tissue surrounding the heart) in younger patients, with slightly higher prevalence in those who received […]

France’s over-65s will need booster for Covid pass: Macron

by Stuart WILLIAMS PARIS, France (AFP) — People over 65 in France will need to show proof of a Covid-19 booster jab to be able to visit restaurants, attend cultural events and take intercity trains, President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday. The pass has become a routine part of life for many people in France since August, with a complete course of vaccinations generating a QR code that is shown on entry to gain access to […]

England to require vaccination for all health service workers

by James PHEBY LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — All frontline workers in the National Health Service (NHS) in England will need to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 from April 1 or lose their jobs, Health Minister Sajid Javid said on Tuesday. “Having considered the… advice of my officials and NHS leaders including the chief executive of the NHS, I have concluded that all those working in the NHS and social care will have to be […]

French Catholic Church to sell assets to settle sex abuse claims

  by Karine PERRET Agence France Presse LOURDES, France (AFP) — Catholic bishops in France agreed Monday to sell part of the Church’s extensive real estate holdings to compensate thousands of victims of child sex abuse at the hands of clergy. Church officials have been under intense pressure to recognise and indemnify victims after a landmark French inquiry confirmed extensive sexual abuse of minors by priests dating from the 1950s. An independent commission will evaluate […]

Policeman wounded after being stabbed in southern France

PARIS, France (AFP) — A French policeman was wounded on Monday after a man claiming to act “in the name of the prophet” stabbed him in the southern city of Cannes, police sources told AFP. The sources said police were treating the incident as a possible terrorist attack. The policeman was behind the wheel of a car in front of a police station at 6:30 am when the attacker opened the door and stabbed him […]