Breaking News, Latest Philippines Headlines, World, Entertainment, Politics, Weather & Video News
MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Spain’s health ministry said Thursday it would give third doses of coronavirus vaccines to the over-70s, hoping to improve their protection against Covid-19. The National Public Health Commission has decided to offer the booster jab vaccinations from late October to elderly people who received a second vaccine dose more than six months ago, the ministry said in a statement. Spain had until now only offered third doses to care home residents […]
MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russia on Tuesday recorded its highest daily coronavirus death toll as cases linked to the Delta variant spike amid a lacklustre vaccination drive and few anti-virus restrictions. A government tally reported 895 fatalities over the past 24 hours, a record in Russia since the start of the pandemic. The new figure brings total deaths from Covid-19 to 211,696 — the highest in Europe. Authorities have been accused of playing down the […]
PARIS, France (AFP) — The weekly number of coronavirus deaths worldwide has fallen to levels unseen for almost a year, according to an AFP count on Monday based on official national figures. The 53,245 deaths recorded worldwide between September 27 and October 3, an average of 7,606 each day, showed that the global pandemic continues the downward trend that began at the end of August, after a peak of around 10,000 deaths per day. […]
PARIS, France (AFP) — Vaccination with two doses of the Pfizer jab stays highly effective against severe Covid — including the Delta variant — for at least six months, an analysis of US patients said Monday. While previous data from clinical trials has shown jabs protect against hospitalisation, the study published in the Lancet measures one vaccine’s effectiveness over time in a real-world setting. Pfizer and healthcare provider Kaiser Permanente looked at records from 3.4 […]
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern admitted Monday that New Zealand’s widely praised “Covid zero” strategy had failed to halt a stubborn outbreak in Auckland and said a new approach was needed. The hardline elimination policy had largely protected the country from the pandemic, with residents enjoying a near-normal domestic life alongside tight restrictions on international borders. But an August outbreak prompted a seven-week lockdown in its main population centre that has […]
SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Golden State Warriors swingman Andrew Wiggins has been vaccinated against Covid-19 and will be able to play in NBA home games this season, coach Steve Kerr said on Sunday. Wiggins’ status was in doubt after the San Francisco Department of Public Health announced anyone age 12 or older had to be fully vaccinated to attend indoor events in the city. “Andrew got vaccinated,” Kerr said after a team practice. […]
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — New Zealand announced Sunday tighter border restrictions, as new cases of Covid-19 emerged in areas previously free of the coronavirus. “We are introducing the requirement for air travellers aged 17 and over, who are not New Zealand citizens, to be fully vaccinated to enter New Zealand,” Covid-19 response minister Christ Hipkins said. The national flag carrier Air New Zealand also announced it was introducing a “no jab, no fly” policy […]
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US fatalities from Covid-19 surpassed 700,000 on Friday, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University, a toll roughly equivalent to the population of the nation’s capital Washington. The grim threshold comes with an average of well over 1,000 dying each day, in a country where 55.7 percent of the population is now fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. After a heavily criticized early response […]
MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russia on Friday reported a high for coronavirus deaths for a fourth day running as infections continue to surge. A government tally reported 887 fatalities over the past 24 hours. Over the same period there were 24,522 new cases — the highest total since late July. The new figure brings the country’s total deaths from Covid-19 to 208,142 — the highest in Europe. The world’s fifth worst-hit country with more than […]
BUCHAREST, Romania (AFP) — A fire in a Romanian hospital has left nine coronavirus patients dead, rescue services said Friday, in the latest blaze in the EU member known for its dilapidated infrastructure. Flames engulfed the intensive care unit at a hospital in Constanta in south eastern Romania with nine people confirmed dead, rescue services said in a statement. Some 100 people had to be evacuated, services spokesman Razvan Parconie told AFP. “The fire is […]
by Andrew BEATTY SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia will begin to reopen its borders next month, the country’s prime minister said Friday, 18 months after citizens were banned from travelling overseas without permission. Scott Morrison said vaccinated Australians would be able to return home and travel overseas “within weeks” as 80 percent vaccination targets are met. On March 20 last year Australia introduced some of the world’s toughest border restrictions in response to the coronavirus […]
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AFP) — Sri Lanka on Friday lifted a near six-week lockdown to contain the spread of coronavirus but maintained a night curfew and a ban on public gatherings and parties. Daily deaths had jumped to over 250 with 4,000 infections after Sri Lankans celebrated the traditional Sinhala and Tamil New Year in mid-April, but case numbers have since eased. The health ministry on Friday urged companies to encourage staff to work from […]
