Tag: health

Colombia death toll from Covid-19 tops 100,000

BOGOTA, Colombia (AFP) — Colombia’s death toll from Covid-19 passed the 100,000 mark on Monday with a new 24-hour record of almost 650 deaths, the health ministry said. After three weeks of demonstrations that have brought thousands of people into the streets to protest the government of conservative President Ivan Duque, the South American country of 50 million is suffering its worst moment since the pandemic began. It has now recorded 100,582 dead, including 648 […]

Millions join Mexico quake drills after pandemic eases

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) — Millions of people across Mexico on Monday took part in earthquake simulation drills for the first time since they were suspended last year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The resumption of the emergency exercises follows a steady decline in new Covid-19 cases and deaths in Mexico, one of the countries worst hit by the virus. The drills, held regularly before the health crisis, aim to prepare the country for the […]

WHO declares an end to second Ebola outbreak in Guinea

NZEREKOE, Guinea (AFP) — The World Health Organization on Saturday officially announced the end of Guinea’s second Ebola outbreak which was declared in February and claimed 12 lives. At 16 confirmed cases and seven probable infections according to WHO figures, the limited size of the latest flare-up has been credited to experience from the 2013-16 epidemic, which killed more than 11,300 people mostly in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Just 12 people died this time […]

UAE’s Abu Dhabi offers Covid vaccines to tourists

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) — The UAE has quietly launched vaccine tourism, with the emirate of Abu Dhabi offering visitors free jabs after approving the inoculation of all those with visas issued by its authorities. Abu Dhabi has not officially announced that it is vaccinating tourists, but authorities in the emirate said in a brief statement earlier this month that free Covid-19 vaccines were approved for everyone with an “entry visa”. The UAE […]

Moscow records 9,056 new Covid cases, a pandemic high

  MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russia’s capital Moscow on Friday registered 9,056 new coronavirus infections in 24 hours, a record since the start of the pandemic, according to government statistics. Some 9,056 new cases were recorded in the megapolis of 12 million in the past 24 hours, up from 3,000 two weeks ago and a new daily record since the Covid-19 pandemic began in early 2020, according to official statistics. Country-wide, 17,262 new cases were […]

Covid-19: How vaccines work against the Delta variant

by Paul RICARD Agence France-Presse PARIS, France (AFP) – The Delta variant of the coronavirus, first identified in India, is a cause for global concern with studies showing it is more contagious and resistant to vaccines than other forms of Covid. But there is also evidence vaccines retain important effectiveness against Delta after two doses. Here is what we know about how variants respond to jabs. Fewer antibodies… Several lab tests show that the Delta […]

Guinea to declare end to Ebola epidemic

by Laurent Lozano DAKAR, Senegal (AFP) — Guinea will announce an end to its Ebola epidemic this weekend, the health minister said Thursday, hailing the rapid response to the second outbreak of the disease in the country. Speaking during a webinar hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO), Health Minister Remy Lamah said the viral epidemic will be declared over on Saturday — barring the discovery of new cases. “The availability of epidemic treatment centres […]

Over 10,000 daily UK Covid cases for first time in four months

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Britain on Thursday recorded 11,007 new daily coronavirus cases, with the emergence of the Delta variant pushing the figure above 10,000 for the first time since late February. The government on Monday announced it was delaying steps to lift restrictions due to concern over the spread of the new strain, first detected in India. The government said a four-week delay would give it time to fully vaccinate millions more. The […]

Kuwait to allow vaccinated foreigners entry from August

KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait (AFP) — Kuwait announced Thursday it would allow foreigners who have been fully vaccinated against the novel coronavirus to enter the country from August 1, after a months-long suspension. The Gulf country in February banned the entry of non-citizens in a bid to limit the spread of the virus, but has started to ease some of its Covid-19 restrictions in recent weeks. Government spokesman Tareq al-Mizrem said foreign travelers will need to […]

Australia further restricts AstraZeneca vaccine over clotting concerns

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia recommended that AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 jab should not be given to people under 60 on Thursday, a fresh blow to the country’s glacial vaccine rollout. Health Minister Greg Hunt said concerns over possible links to blood clots meant Pfizer was now “the preferred vaccine” for everyone under 60 years old. Australian authorities had already restricted the AstraZeneca shot to those over 50 in April, after several cases of severe blood clots […]

France to end mandatory outdoor masks and Covid curfew

PARIS, France (AFP) — France on Wednesday said it was ending the obligation to wear masks outside and would bring forward the lifting of a nighttime curfew, as Covid infections fall and the country’s vaccine drive picks up. Prime Minister Jean Castex said the requirement for people to wear masks outdoors in much of the country would be lifted from Thursday, with some exceptions, while an unpopular 11:00 pm Covid curfew will be scrapped on […]

More horses die as Bangladesh tourist town reels from Covid closures

COX’S BAZAR, Bangladesh (AFP) — Animal activists in Bangladesh have warned of a growing crisis among horses used for tourism during the country’s coronavirus lockdown, after owners said Wednesday that five more had died of starvation in a popular resort town. Twenty-one horses that used to carry tourists along Cox’s Bazar beach in southeastern Bangladesh died in one month, their owners said, after a lockdown imposed from April 14 saw visitors to the scenic spot […]