Tag: covid

Shanghai says ‘zero-Covid’ achieved but millions still in lockdown

Shanghai on Tuesday declared it had achieved “zero-Covid” across all its districts, sparking derision on social media as millions in China’s biggest city remained under lockdown. Confronted with its worst outbreak since the beginning of the pandemic, China — the last major economy still closed off to the world — put the city of 25 million under heavy restrictions in early April. The government’s insistence on squashing the Omicron-variant-driven outbreak prompted rare protests and angry scuffles […]

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North Korean military ramps up Covid response as outbreak grows; number of “fever” cases close to 1.5 million

by Kang Jin-kyu Agence France Presse SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korean military medics ramped up the distribution of medicines to fight a growing coronavirus outbreak, state media said on Tuesday, with the number of reported cases of “fever” nearing 1.5 million. Leader Kim Jong Un has ordered nationwide lockdowns to try and slow the spread of the disease through the unvaccinated population, and deployed the military after what he has called a botched […]

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NZ prime minister Ardern tests positive for Covid-19

  WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who has overseen her country’s world-leading response to the coronavirus pandemic, has tested positive for Covid-19, her office announced Saturday. Ardern’s symptoms are moderate and she will isolate at home for seven days, the government said in a statement. She has already been in isolation since last Sunday, when her partner Clarke Gayford tested positive, and was due to resume her parliamentary duties […]

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21 more dead as North Korea battles Covid outbreak

  North Korea on Saturday reported 21 additional deaths from ‘fever’, two days after the country announced its first-ever cases of Covid-19 and ordered nationwide lockdowns. State media said 174,440 new fever cases were discovered on Friday alone and that 21 people had died, as it moved into “maximum emergency quarantine system” in a bid to slow the spread of disease through its unvaccinated population. “On May 13, 174,440 new cases of fever were reported […]

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North Korea confirms first Covid-19 death in ‘explosive’ outbreak

  by Cat Barton and Claire Lee Agence France Presse SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea confirmed its first Covid-19 death on Friday, saying fever was spreading “explosively” nationwide and tens of thousands of people were being isolated after falling sick. The insular country only reported its first Covid cases Thursday, saying it was moving into “maximum emergency epidemic prevention system” after sick patients in the capital Pyongyang tested positive for the Omicron variant. […]

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North Korea confirms first Covid-19 death in ‘explosive’ outbreak

by Cat Barton and Claire Lee North Korea confirmed its first ever Covid-19 death on Friday, saying fever was spreading “explosively” nationwide and tens of thousands of people were being isolated and treated after falling sick. The nuclear-armed country only reported its first Covid cases Thursday, saying it was moving into “maximum emergency epidemic prevention system” after sick patients in the capital Pyongyang tested positive for Omicron. North Korea has been under a rigid coronavirus blockade […]

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France to lift Covid mask rule for public transport May 16

Facemasks will no longer be needed on trains, planes and metros in France starting May 16, the health minister said Wednesday, lifting one of the last remaining sanitary measures imposed since the pandemic began in 2020. “From Monday, May 16, masks will no longer be mandatory for all public transport,” Olivier Veran said after a weekly cabinet meeting. “Wearing a mask remains recommended,” he added, but the rule is “no longer appropriate” given the large […]

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Downtown Beijing goes quiet as zero-Covid policy smothers capital

  BEIJING, China (AFP) — Millions of people in Beijing stayed home on Monday as China’s capital tries to fend off a Covid-19 outbreak with creeping restrictions on movement. Beijing residents fear they may soon find themselves in the grip of the same draconian measures that have trapped most of Shanghai’s 25 million people at home for several weeks. Officials there have said the eastern powerhouse city is winning its battle against China’s worst outbreak […]

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Some 65.8M voters to troop to polls in historic May 9, 2022 elections, the first amid the Covid-19 pandemic

Temperature checks, face masks required in voting that starts at 6 a.m. and ends at 7 p.m.   (Eagle News) – The first-ever national and local elections amid the Covid-19 pandemic opens today, Monday, May 9, with 10 candidates vying for the presidency, and nine bets vying for the vice-presidency. There are 12 senate seats up for grabs, as well as 316 seats to the House of Representatives, 81 seats for governor and vice governor, […]

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US probes five child deaths, 109 cases linked to mystery liver disease

  by Issam AHMED Agence France Presse The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating 109 childhood cases of a mysterious form of hepatitis, including five reported deaths, the agency said Friday. It is part of an unexplained global phenomenon involving hundreds of cases, with Indonesia this week also reporting three deaths. Britain on Friday announced its case count had increased to 163, the majority aged under five, with no deaths. “Investigators both […]

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Asian Games postponed as China battles Covid

  by Matthew WALSH Agence France Presse BEIJING, China (AFP) — The Asian Games due to take place in the Chinese city of Hangzhou in September have been postponed indefinitely because of Covid-19, organizers said on Friday. The Games were scheduled to be held from September 10 to 25 but have now been delayed as China tries to stamp out a large resurgence in infections in several parts of the country. Hangzhou lies less than […]

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OPEC+ eye modest supply boost as demand dented by China Covid rules

  by Anne BEADE, with Emeline Burckel in London Agence France Presse VIENNA, Austria (AFP) — OPEC+ members meeting on Thursday are expected to agree a marginal increase in oil production, bolstered by risks to demand amid coronavirus restrictions in China. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also added to supply concerns, which have increased with Europe’s announced moves on a potential Russian oil embargo. Prices soared on Wednesday, with Brent North Sea crude closing above […]

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