MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Spain said Tuesday it will impose a 10-day quarantine on all travelers arriving from India in response to the emergence of a fast-spreading coronavirus variant in the country. The measure, which will take effect on Wednesday, will apply to people who travelled via third countries since there are no direct flights between India and Spain, government spokeswoman Maria Jesus Montero said. “This is a measure which our country has already adopted […]
Other News
US says, vaccinated people can go mask-free outdoors most of the time
by Sebastian Smith WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Americans vaccinated against Covid-19 no longer need to mask up outdoors when there is no crowd, President Joe Biden said Tuesday, before celebrating by taking his first short walk at the White House without the face covering. Biden told the nation in televised remarks from the leafy North Lawn that “stunning progress” has been made in getting vaccines administered and that stringent mask recommendations can now be […]
Bodies pile up as Covid overwhelms India
by AFP bureaux NEW DELHI, India (AFP) — Bodies of Covid victims lay burning Tuesday in funeral pyres cramming New Delhi’s sidewalks and car parks amid an explosion of new cases, as foreign aid began arriving to surging hotspot India in efforts to keep the pandemic at bay. While rising vaccinations in the United States have allowed the country that was once the worst hit by coronavirus to relax its mask-wearing in some locations, India […]
One dose of Covid vaccine cuts household spread by up to 50%: UK study
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — One dose of the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines reduces the chances of someone infected with coronavirus from spreading it to other household members by up to 50 percent, according to a English study published Wednesday. The Public Health England (PHE) research found that those who became infected three weeks after receiving their first jab were between 38 and 49 percent less likely to pass the virus on to their household […]
Indian Covid variant found in at least 17 countries: WHO
GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The World Health Organization said Tuesday that a variant of Covid-19 feared to be contributing to a surge in coronavirus cases in India has been found in over a dozen countries. The UN health agency said the B.1.617 variant of Covid-19 first found in India had as of Tuesday been detected in over 1,200 sequences uploaded to the GISAID open-access database “from at least 17 countries”. “Most sequences were uploaded from […]
PHL imposes travel ban on India where double mutant COVID variant is fueling surge in cases
Travel ban effective from April 29 to May 14 (Eagle News) — Malacanang has imposed a travel ban for those with travel history to India amid the emergence of more infectious variants there that caused an unprecedented spike in cases there. The travel ban will be in effect starting Thursday, April 29, until May 14. “All travelers coming from India or those with travel history to India within the last 14 days preceding arrival shall […]
Moderna applies for EUA with FDA; EUA issued to 6 vaccines so far, the latest is for India’s Covaxin
(Eagle News) — The COVID-19 vaccine Moderna has already applied for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Zuellig Pharmaceuticals filed the application for EUA, on behalf of Moderna. The application came more than a month before the scheduled arrival of the initial doses of Moderna vaccines. The first batch of Moderna vaccines are expected to arrive on June 15. In an earlier interview, FDA director general Eric Domingo said […]
Northeasterly surface wind flow affecting extreme Northern Luzon
Easterlies affecting the rest of the country, PAGASA says (Eagle News) — The northeasterly surface wind flow is affecting extreme Northern Luzon. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said the easterlies are also affecting the rest of the country. PAGASA said as a result, Caraga, Northern Mindanao, and Davao Region will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms. Flash floods or landslides during moderate to heavy rains are possible. Metro Manila […]
Maskless Thai PM fined as coronavirus cases spike
by Aidan JONES BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — Thailand’s prime minister was fined for not wearing a mask Monday after new Covid-19 restrictions came into force to try to halt the country’s spiralling outbreak. Wearing masks is now compulsory in public spaces in 49 provinces and the capital, Bangkok — where the latest outbreak has been traced back to a nightlife district. Some locations are backing up that requirement with a 20,000 baht ($640) fine. After […]
French primary schools reopen as Covid 3rd wave eases
by Romain FONSEGRIVES PARIS, France (AFP) — Millions of French children returned to the classroom on Monday as primary schools reopened after a three-week shutdown ordered to combat a severe third wave of Covid-19 infections. Kindergartens also reopened as President Emmanuel Macron’s government began easing restrictions imposed when France entered its third nationwide lockdown on April 3. Secondary schools will reopen in a week’s time and restrictions on people travelling beyond a 10-kilometre (six-mile) radius […]
France’s Sanofi to help produce Moderna vaccines in US
PARIS, France (AFP) — French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi said Monday that it would help Moderna produce its cutting-edge Covid-19 vaccine in the United States, as it pursues development of its own jab for the virus at home. The company’s production site in Ridgefield, New Jersey, just outside New York City, will carry out “fill and finish” operations for up to 200 million doses starting in September for distribution worldwide. “We are one of the few […]
Booker, Paul shine as Suns halt Knicks win streak
by Rob Woollard LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Devin Booker scored 33 points as the Phoenix Suns snapped the New York Knicks’ nine-game winning streak with a come-from-behind 118-110 victory at Madison Square Garden on Monday. The Suns roared back to life after trailing by 15 points in the first half, outscoring the in-form Knicks by 31-23 in the decisive fourth quarter to complete victory by an eight-point margin. Mikal Bridges added 21 points […]





