


Japan Ready to Expand COVID-19 Restrictions As Infections Surge
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Japan’s government is preparing social restrictions in Tokyo and other regions as the omicron variant of the coronavirus infects more people.

The Poor Die from COVID While Rich Get Richer, Oxfam Warns
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The wealth of the 10 richest men has doubled during the coronavirus pandemic, stoking inequality that contributes to the deaths of at least 21,300 people each day, according to a report released on Monday by Oxfam International.

Coronavirus in Iran: Daily Deaths Drop to 20
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The daily death toll from the coronavirus in Iran decreased again on Monday, standing at 20.

Chinese Cities on High COVID-19 Alert As Lunar New Year Travel Season Starts
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Several Chinese cities went on high COVID-19 alert as the Lunar New Year holiday travel season started on Monday, requiring travelers to report their trips days before their arrival, as the omicron variant reached more areas including Beijing.

Over 12.5 Million Iranians Get COVID Booster Shots
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – More than 12,521,000 people in Iran have received a third dose of the coronavirus vaccine, known as the booster shot.

Beijing Tightens Rules for Entering City after Omicron Case
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Beijing will require travelers to get a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of arrival in the Chinese capital, state media announced on Sunday, a day after the city reported its first Omicron case and as it readies to stage the Winter Olympics next month.

Coronavirus Is Here to Stay, Will Turn into Endemic Disease: WHO Official
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The way the novel coronavirus pandemic develops suggests that the virus will never go away completely, circulating as an endemic disease instead, WHO Representative to Russia Melita Vujnovic said.

Protesters Hit French Streets to Fight New Vaccine Pass
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Thousands demonstrated in cities across France on Saturday against tighter restrictions on people not vaccinated against COVID-19, as parliamentary wrangling continued over a draft law.

President Urges Reopening of Live Events in Conformity with COVID Protocols
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi called for plans to allow people to attend exhibitions and matches in stadiums in compliance with the coronavirus protocols.

Okinawa, Home to US Military Bases, Logs Record COVID Cases
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Japan's southern prefecture of Okinawa reported record daily numbers of COVID-19 cases on Saturday, fueled by the spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

COVID Daily Deaths in Iran Drop to below 20
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The daily death toll from the coronavirus in Iran was down to 18 on Saturday, while fewer than 200 patients have been hospitalized across the country.

British PM Boris Johnson to Scrap Plan B COVID-19 Restrictions: Media
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to lift Plan B COVID-19 restrictions in England, the Telegraph reported on Friday, as government scientists warn on dropping of Plan B prematurely.

Australia Nears Omicron Peak As Daily Infections Hover around Records
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Australia has likely neared the peak of its Omicron wave, authorities said on Saturday, but warned daily infections will linger near record levels for "the next few weeks" after more than 100,000 cases were reported for a fourth straight day.

COVID Jabs Injected in Iran Surpass 125 Million
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian Health Ministry said on Friday that more than 125 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been injected across the country.

French Teachers to Strike over 'Chaotic' COVID-19 Strategy for Schools
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – French teachers will walk off the job en masse on Thursday over what they say is the government's failure to adopt a coherent policy for schools to manage the COVID-19 pandemic, or properly protect pupils and staff against infection.

Around 2,000 New COVID Cases Detected in Iran
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The number of people tested positive for the coronavirus in Iran in the past 24 hours declined remarkably compared to the daily rates over the past weeks, standing at slightly above 2,000 cases.

Three Million Britons Were Off Work Sick in First Week of 2022
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The rapid spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant drove a sharp increase in the number of people missing work in Britain during the first week of January, according to an analysis of workplace attendance data carried out for Bloomberg News.

Germany's COVID-19 Cases Hit Daily Record of More than 80,000
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Germany reported 80,430 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday, the highest recorded in a single day since the pandemic began, as the contagious Omicron variant rips through a population with lower vaccination rates than some other parts of Europe.
