The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has elevated the classification of the COVID-19 variants Omicron BA.4 and Omicron BA.5 to variants of concern (VOCs) on the basis of observed growth. 115 cases of probable or confirmed BA.4 have been identified, with 67 in England, 41 in Scotland, six in Wales, and one in Northern Ireland. … Read more
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 5,649 PCR-confirmed cases of COVID-19. In addition, on Tuesday 8 February, 5,387 people registered a positive antigen test through the HSE portal. There has been a total of 6,291 deaths related to COVID-19 notified in Ireland. This includes 63 deaths newly notified in the past … Read more
New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has postponed her wedding ceremony with fiancé Clarke Gayford, as the nation imposes new restrictions to slow the community spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant. The “red setting” of the country’s pandemic response includes heightened measures such as mask-wearing and limits on gatherings; the restrictions will go into effect on Monday. “My wedding … Read more
WHO’s top Europe official said more than 50% of continent’s population will get infected with coronavirus variant within the next six to eight weeks. There were more than 7 million new cases of the omicron variant of COVID-19 across Europe in the first week of January, more than doubling in just two weeks, the World Health Organisation … Read more
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam announced the government will introduce a series of new restrictions to control the spread of Covid-19, as she warned the global financial hub was on the edge of another outbreak. The new rules include a ban on flights from eight countries for two weeks from 8 January – the UK, … Read more
French president Emmanuel Macron reveals his government’s vaccination strategy is to “piss off” people who have not had coronavirus jabs by continuing to make daily life more and more difficult for them. “I am not about pissing off the French people,” Macron said in an interview with readers of Le Parisien daily on Tuesday. “But as for … Read more
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has insisted the public to avoid meeting people from other households in indoor settings in the wake of recent Covid surge. According to Mr Holohan, the Omicron cases in the country are increasing and it would soon become the prevalent variant surpassing Delta. “It is important that all of … Read more