Australia Reopens Borders to Non-Citizens despite Omicron Worries
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Australia on Wednesday reopened borders to vaccinated skilled migrants and foreign students after a near two-year ban on their entry, in a bid to boost an economy hit by stop-start COVID-19 lockdowns and restart international travel.
Mainland China Reports Its First Omicron Covid Case
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Mainland China reported its first case of the omicron Covid variant on Monday in the city of Tianjin, about two hours' drive from the capital of Beijing.
Omicron Poses 'Very High' Global Risk But Data on Severity Limited: WHO
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Omicron coronavirus variant, reported in more than 60 countries, poses a "very high" global risk, with some evidence that it evades vaccine protection but clinical data on its severity is limited, the World Health Organization says.
US COVID-19 Deaths Reach 800,000 As Delta Ravaged in 2021
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The United States on Sunday reached 800,000 coronavirus-related deaths, according to a Reuters tally, as the country braces for a potential surge in infections due to more time spent indoors with colder weather and the highly transmissible omicron variant of the virus.
Health Costs during Pandemic Pushed over Half A Billion People into Poverty: WHO
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – More than half a billion people globally were pushed into extreme poverty last year as they paid for health costs out of their own pockets during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization and the World Bank said on Sunday.
Omicron Could Cause Tens of Thousands of Deaths in England, Study Says
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Omicron variant could cause tens of thousands of deaths in England by the end of April if additional virus restrictions are not imposed, new modelling suggests.
Mass Protest Held in Vienna against Austria's Controversial COVID Restrictions
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Tens of thousands of people rallied in Vienna on Saturday in protest against restrictions introduced to halt the spread of the coronavirus in Austria, including mandatory COVID-19 vaccines and home confinement orders for the unvaccinated.
China Orders COVID-19 Tests for Travel with Some Border Cities
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – China has ordered some border cities to beef up vigilance against COVID-19 with measures such as mandatory testing for travelers, in its effort to prevent clusters caused by viruses arriving from abroad.
WHO Panel Recommends Sticking with Same COVID-19 Vaccine for First 2 Doses
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A World Health Organization (WHO) panel said it is best to give people two doses of the same COVID-19 vaccine, recommending against mixing and matching except when countries are facing supply constraints.
Germany Records Highest Daily COVID Deaths since February
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Germany recorded the highest number of deaths from COVID-19 since February on Wednesday as it battles to stop a fourth wave of the pandemic.
UN Chief Isolating after COVID-19 Exposure
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was exposed to the coronavirus Tuesday by a UN official who already had COVID-19 and is isolating for the next few days, diplomatic sources said.
Vaccine Mandates 'Absolute Last Resort', WHO Europe Head Says
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Mandatory vaccinations against the coronavirus are an "absolute last resort", the World Health Organization's top Europe official said on Tuesday.
Omicron Spreads in India, Full Vaccination in Focus
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Cases of the omicron coronavirus variant have risen to 21 in India over the weekend and people must step up for vaccination, officials said on Monday.
'Extreme' COVID-19 Vaccine Discrimination Risks Leaving Africa Behind: Report
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Africa has little chance of overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic unless 70 per cent of its population is vaccinated by the end of next year, yet "extreme vaccine discrimination" is leaving the continent behind, according to a report published on Monday.
Clashes Erupt at Brussels Protest against COVID Rules
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Belgian police fired water cannon and used tear gas Sunday to disperse protesters opposed to compulsory health measures against the coronavirus pandemic.
More than 40,000 March in Vienna against Coronavirus Lockdown
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – More than 40,000 people marched through Vienna on Saturday to protest against a lockdown and plans to make vaccinations compulsory to curb the coronavirus pandemic.
Merkel Urges Germans to Get Vaccinated in Final Podcast
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday urged Germans to get vaccinated against COVID-19, speaking days ahead of leaving office in the final episode of more than 600 weekly video podcasts.
WHO Says No Omicron Deaths Yet, As Variant Spreads Worldwide
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The omicron variant has been detected in 38 countries but no deaths have yet been reported, the WHO said on Friday, as authorities worldwide rushed to stem the heavily mutated COVID-19 strain’s spread amid warnings that it could damage the global economic recovery.
