Tag: Virus

PHL new Covid-19 cases at 1,923, a new record low for this year

Only 392 new cases reported in Metro Manila   (Eagle News) – The Philippines had its lowest single day record of new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, with 1,923 cases. At the same time, the Department of Health reported 5,158 new recoveries. This brought the number of total active cases to 62,533 or 1.7 percent of total confirmed Covid-19 cases since the pandemic began in March 2020. There were also 198 new Covid deaths bringing the […]

DOH reports 2,232 new cases, 3,010 new recoveries; 3rd straight week that recoveries exceeded new cases

9.1 positivity rate, lowest so far this year     (Eagle News) – The Department of Health reported 2,232 new Covid-19 cases and 3,010 new recoveries on Friday, February 18, the 21st straight day that new recoveries exceeded new cases. The total active Covid cases as of Friday were down to 65,796 or 1.8 percent of the total confirmed Covid-19 cases since the pandemic began in March 2020. The positivity rate is also down to […]

Seoul eases Covid restrictions with daily cases at record high of over 100,000

  SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — South Korea said it would ease pandemic restrictions Friday, even as the country’s daily caseload crossed 100,000 for the first time, with officials citing economic concerns over social distancing measures. The country reported a record 109,831 new infections for Thursday, with health experts warning this number could rise to 270,000 new cases a day next month. Despite the spike in cases, Seoul officials said they would ease restrictions by […]

New Zealand police reject calls to clear anti-vax camp

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) – New Zealand police ruled out forcibly clearing anti-vaccination protesters camped around parliament in Wellington on Friday, saying they did not want to provoke violence on the streets of the capital. Police have taken a hands-off approach after an attempt to take control of the lawns late last week resulted in violent clashes and 120 arrests. Commissioner Andrew Coster acknowledged growing frustration among Wellington residents and business owners as protest vehicles […]

Swiss president tests positive as Covid rules lifted

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — President Ignazio Cassis has tested positive for Covid-19, the government said on Thursday — the same day Switzerland lifted almost all remaining coronavirus restrictions despite high case numbers. Wednesday’s “test came back positive and the president went into self-isolation this morning as soon as he learned of the test result,” a government statement said. “Mr Cassis has no symptoms and is in good health.” The former cantonal doctor, aged 60, who […]

Japan eases virus border rules for workers, students

  TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japan will ease its strict virus border rules to allow students and businesspeople into the country from March, but tourists will still be barred, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Thursday. The move comes with growing pressure on Japan from the business community and academics to loosen the border restrictions, which are the toughest in the G7 but have broad support from Japanese voters. Japan has barred tourists since the early […]

China’s Xi orders Hong Kong to suppress outbreak ‘above everything else’

HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Chinese leader Xi Jinping has called for Hong Kong to take “all necessary measures” to control an Omicron-fuelled Covid-19 outbreak, Beijing-affiliated newspapers in the city said Wednesday, a day after leader Carrie Lam ruled out a China-style hard lockdown. Hong Kong is currently in the throes of its worst-ever coronavirus outbreak, registering over a thousand confirmed cases a day as hospitals reach their breaking point. Lam this week insisted a […]

Vietnam to lift Covid-19 restrictions on international flights

HANOI, Vietnam (AFP) — Vietnam will lift coronavirus restrictions on international flights for fully vaccinated passengers from Tuesday, the country’s aviation authority said in a statement. The communist nation has virtually closed itself to the world since March 2020 due to the pandemic, dealing a severe blow to its vital tourism sector. Authorities have slowly eased the curbs in recent months, with visitors trickling in under a bubble arrangement since November. Starting Tuesday (1700 GMT […]

New Zealand virus cases spike as anti-vaccine protesters claim win

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) – New Zealand Covid-19 infections reached a record high Wednesday as anti-vaccine protesters claimed victory after police failed to clear vehicles blocking the streets around parliament. Health authorities reported 1,160 new coronavirus cases, the most since the pandemic began, as the Omicron variant continues to spread in a country that was largely virus-free until August. While there have only been 53 virus deaths in the nation of five million, some protesters […]

Strong protection for babies born to Covid-vaccinated moms: study

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Babies born to mothers fully vaccinated against the coronavirus during pregnancy were around 60 percent less likely to be hospitalized with severe Covid, a new study by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday. Such an effect had been hypothesized — because of the transfer of antibodies through the placenta during pregnancy and through breast milk after birth — but wasn’t backed by real world evidence until […]

DOH reports 2,730 new Covid cases, lowest this year; 164 new deaths include late reports since July 2021

  (Eagle News) – The Department of Health reported 2,730 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, February 14, the lowest recorded since December 30 last year. The DOH also reported 7,456 new recoveries and 164 new Covid-deaths, The increase in the number of fatalities was mostly due to late reporting of cases. In fact, some of the deaths reported were from cases that occurred since July last year. “Of the 164 deaths, 86 occurred in February […]

Sweden recommends fourth jab for over-80s

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AFP) — Sweden’s public health agency on Monday recommended a fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine for people over the age of 80, those in nursing homes and those receiving at-home care. The agency said the jab should be taken four months after the previous dose, at the earliest. “The spread of Covid-19 is still intense in Sweden. An increasing number of cases have been reported in recent weeks, including among people at […]