OSLO, Norway (AFP) — At least 33 crew members confined on a Norwegian cruise ship have tested positive for the new coronavirus, the company Hurtigruten said on Saturday. Arriving at the northern Norwegian port of Tromso from the archipelago of Svalbard, the crew of the MS Roald Amundsen was quarantined on board the ship on Friday after four staff members tested positive for the virus and were hospitalized. Of the 158 crew members on board, […]
Europe
Italy extends coronavirus state of emergency
ROME, Italy (AFP) — Italy’s parliament on Wednesday gave the go-ahead to extend the country’s state of emergency until October 15, allowing the government more flexibility to fight the lingering coronavirus pandemic. The state of emergency serves primarily to cut red tape and accelerate decision-making for the government when faced with disasters such as earthquakes, floods and other catastrophes. Italy was the first European country to be hit by the coronavirus crisis and a more […]
EU orders 30,000 remdesivir coronavirus treatments
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — The European Commission has ordered 30,000 treatment doses of the antiviral medication remdesivir from US drugs giant Gilead, it announced Wednesday. Sold under the brand name Veklury, remdesivir is the first medicine to be approved by the EU to treat victims of the COVID-19 pandemic in EU member states and Britain. It is hoped the drug will shorten recovery times for patients with severe infections and it will be made available […]
No indication new coronavirus is seasonal: WHO
GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The spread of the novel coronavirus does not appear to be impacted by seasonality, the World Health Organization said Tuesday, warning against false beliefs that summer is safer. “Season does not seem to be affecting the transmission of this virus,” WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris told reporters in a virtual briefing. She pointed out that some of the hardest-hit countries are currently in the midst of different season. While it is summer […]
Madrid toughens safety rules as Spain virus cases rise
MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Madrid moved to make mask-wearing obligatory at all times in public Tuesday as Spain grappled with the fallout from a spike in virus cases that has triggered several international travel warnings. Wearing masks in public has been obligatory in Spain since May 21 where social distancing was not possible, but in recent weeks almost all of its 17 regions have made it compulsory at all times, with Madrid one of the […]
Virus curbs tightened over fears of a second wave
by Barney Spender with AFP bureaus PARIS, France (AFP) — Governments across the world imposed new restrictions Tuesday in a bid to cool coronavirus hotspots as new infections shot up in some countries, sparking fears of a second wave. The World Health Organization warned that the virus does not appear to be affected by seasonality and the global death toll from the pandemic passed 654,000 Tuesday, nearly a third of that number in Europe, according […]
Greece to ‘prioritize’ virus vaccines for elderly, at-risk
ATHENS, Greece (AFP) — Greece will prioritize giving coronavirus vaccines to the elderly and high-risk groups if and when they become available, the country’s health minister said Saturday. “If and when a vaccine comes, we will prioritize those who must take it above all,” Vassilis Kikilias told Skai TV. “Who is that? Our very aged fellow citizens, the very elderly, high-risk groups…we will protect those in danger.” He added that vaccines will not be compulsory […]
Australia rejects Beijing’s South China Sea claims, backing US
SYDNEY Australia (AFP) — Australia has rejected Beijing’s territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea in a formal declaration to the United Nations, aligning itself more closely with Washington in the escalating row. In a statement filed on Thursday, Australia said there was “no legal basis” to several disputed Chinese claims in the sea including those related to the construction of artificial islands on small shoals and reefs. “Australia rejects China’s claim to […]
Tighter mask rules, more tests as WHO warns of Europe virus spike
by Marc Preel with AFP bureaus COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AFP) — The World Health Organization expressed concern Friday over a coronavirus resurgence in Europe as Britain joined France, Germany and Austria in announcing tighter mask rules and greater testing. Europe accounts for a fifth of the world’s more than 15 million infections and remains the hardest-hit region in terms of deaths, with 207,118 out of more than 630,000 globally since the virus emerged in China late […]
Tighter mask rules, more tests as WHO warns of Europe virus spike
by Marc Preel with AFP bureaus Agence France Presse The World Health Organization expressed concern Friday over a coronavirus resurgence in Europe as Britain joined France, Germany and Austria in announcing tighter mask requirements and greater testing. Europe accounts for a fifth of the world’s more than 15 million cases and remains the hardest hit in terms of deaths, with 207,118 out of more 630,000 globally since the pandemic emerged in China late last […]
France to test travellers from 16 coronavirus high-risk countries: PM
ROISSY-CHARLES DE GAUILLE AIRPORT, France (AFP) — France will require on-the-spot COVID-19 tests for people arriving from 16 countries where the pandemic is circulating widely, Prime Minister Jean Castex said Friday. France does not allow general travel to and from these countries — including the United States and Brazil — so the tests will be for “French citizens who live in these countries or citizens of these countries with an established residence in France” who […]
UK, EU rule out quick post-Brexit deal
by Dmitry ZAKS and Phil HAZLEWOOD Agence France-Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Britain and the European Union on Thursday broke up their latest round of post-Brexit talks by ruling out a quick deal but voicing hope for agreement in the coming months. Prime Minister Boris Johnson had promised to add “a bit of oomph” to the stalled negotiations when he personally joined them last month. His main goal then was to get a framework […]
