Europe heads toward a new normal as COVID curbs unwind
2 years, 10 months ago

Europe heads toward a new normal as COVID curbs unwind

LA Times  

People wear face masks in a restaurant in Michalovce, Slovakia. “We could get back to a quasi-normal situation.” Germany’s outbreak has started to recede in recent days, and the improving outlook prompted calls from across the political spectrum for Europe’s largest economy to follow countries such as Britain, Ireland and Denmark in easing restrictions. The draft from Scholz’s office also warns of the danger of a fresh wave caused by new variants “at the latest by the fall.” “We have to remain vigilant,” Hendrik Wuest, premier of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, said on public broadcaster ARD. “We can’t just throw everything overboard that has proved its worth in recent months.” In Switzerland, the use of COVID certificates for indoor venues such as restaurants and cinemas will end Thursday. Prime Minister Eduard Heger said Wednesday that people will have access to stores, shopping malls and various public gatherings and services, including bars and restaurants, without any restrictions.

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History of this topic

Wear masks on long flights: WHO urges amid spread of XBB.1.5
1 year, 11 months ago

Wear masks on long flights: WHO urges amid spread of XBB.1.5

Hindustan Times  

The World Health Organization on Tuesday urged countries to recommend all those travelling to wear masks in view of the rapid spread of the new Omicron sub-variant XBB.1.5 in several nations across the world - especially the United States. WHO's senior emergency officer for Europe - Catherine Smallwood during a briefing said: “Passengers should be advised to wear masks in …

Germany's governing coalition argues over COVID-19 restrictions
1 year, 11 months ago

Germany's governing coalition argues over COVID-19 restrictions

Firstpost  

Germany has scrapped the bulk of restrictions imposed at the height of the pandemic but, unlike other European countries, still requires mask-wearing on long-distance trains and buses Berlin: Germany’s governing coalition is arguing over whether remaining COVID-19 restrictions should be dropped after one of the country’s top virologists was quoted as saying that the pandemic is over. Germany has scrapped …

German health minister urges stepped-up COVID-19 measures
2 years, 2 months ago

German health minister urges stepped-up COVID-19 measures

LA Times  

Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach explains Germany’s current COVID-19 situation and the government’s new campaign to protect against the virus. Germany’s health minister on Friday urged the country’s 16 states to consider stepping up their measures against the coronavirus amid a rise in new cases. Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said he favors requiring mask-wearing indoors, a measure that has …

Germany tightens COVID rules for travel during fall, winter
2 years, 4 months ago

Germany tightens COVID rules for travel during fall, winter

Associated Press  

BERLIN — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Cabinet approved legislation Wednesday that ensures basic protective measures against the coronavirus pandemic are continued during the fall and winter when more virus cases are expected. The presentation of the rules — which also include the new obligation to wear N95-type face masks during all long-distance travel by train and bus as well as …

A third of US should be considering masks, officials say
2 years, 7 months ago

A third of US should be considering masks, officials say

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — COVID-19 cases are increasing in the United States — and could get even worse over the coming months, federal health officials warned Wednesday in urging areas hardest hit to consider reissuing calls for indoor masking. “Prior increases of infections, in different waves of infection, have demonstrated that this travels across the country,” said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the CDC …

EU Lifts Mask Requirement for Air Travel as Pandemic Ebbs
2 years, 7 months ago

EU Lifts Mask Requirement for Air Travel as Pandemic Ebbs

News 18  

The European Union will no longer require masks to be worn at airports and on planes starting next week amid the easing of coronavirus restrictions across the bloc, authorities said Wednesday. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency said it hoped the joint decision, made with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, would mark a big step forward in …

CDC extends travel mask requirement to May 3 as COVID rises
2 years, 8 months ago

CDC extends travel mask requirement to May 3 as COVID rises

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it is extending the nationwide mask requirement for airplanes and public transit for 15 days as it monitors an uptick in COVID-19 cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was extending the order, which was set to expire on April 18, until May 3 to allow more time to …

France is the latest in Europe to lift most COVID restrictions, even for the unvaccinated
2 years, 9 months ago

France is the latest in Europe to lift most COVID restrictions, even for the unvaccinated

LA Times  

France lifted most COVID-19 restrictions Monday, abolishing the requirement for face masks in most settings and allowing unvaccinated people back into restaurants, sports arenas and other venues. Starting Monday, people aren’t required any longer to show proof of vaccination to enter places such as restaurants and bars, cinemas, theaters and fairs or on interregional transportation systems such as trains. Unvaccinated …

More countries in Europe, recently the pandemic’s epicenter, ease COVID restrictions
2 years, 10 months ago

More countries in Europe, recently the pandemic’s epicenter, ease COVID restrictions

LA Times  

Passengers ride maskless on the subway in Denmark, one of the first European countries to scrap most pandemic restrictions. Bit by bit, many countries that have been hard-hit by the coronavirus are opening up and easing their tough, and often unpopular, restrictive measures aimed at fighting COVID-19 even as the Omicron variant — deemed highly contagious but less severe — …

'Covid-19 not a socially critical disease': Denmark ends most pandemic restrictions
2 years, 10 months ago

'Covid-19 not a socially critical disease': Denmark ends most pandemic restrictions

India Today  

Denmark took the European Union lead on Tuesday by scrapping most pandemic restrictions as the Scandinavian country no longer considers Covid-19 “a socially critical disease”. Ireland has dropped most of its restrictions and the Netherlands also has been easing its lockdown, although Dutch bars and restaurants still have to close at 10 p.m. France — which is still reporting the …

UK PM Announces to Lift Most Covid Curbs, Says 'No Longer Have to Wear Masks in Closed Spaces'
2 years, 11 months ago

UK PM Announces to Lift Most Covid Curbs, Says 'No Longer Have to Wear Masks in Closed Spaces'

News 18  

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday said most restrictions deployed to fight the latest wave of the Covid pandemic in England would be lifted from next week. People will no longer have to wear masks in closed spaces, work from home and prove vaccination to enter public spaces such as nightclubs, Johnson told parliament. Johnson told MPs: “While there …

UK: COVID disrupts public life again, but symptoms ‘less severe’
2 years, 11 months ago

UK: COVID disrupts public life again, but symptoms ‘less severe’

Al Jazeera  

People hospitalised as Omicron surges appear to be less sick than those admitted earlier in the pandemic, vaccines minister says. People being hospitalised with COVID-19 in the United Kingdom as the Omicron variant surges have “less severe” symptoms compared with those admitted earlier in the pandemic, an official said. Maggie Throup, minister for vaccines and public health, also said that …

COVID-19 experts urge Australia to keep some restrictions while more is learnt about Omicron
3 years ago

COVID-19 experts urge Australia to keep some restrictions while more is learnt about Omicron

ABC  

An adviser to the federal government's COVID-19 re-opening plan is now calling for some restrictions on crowd sizes and masks to remain, while authorities learn more about the Omicron variant. Key points: Three infectious disease experts say reintroducing restrictions will give authorities time to learn about Omicron NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says people can make their own decisions about wearing …

Denmark to shut down public venues as virus infections rise
3 years ago

Denmark to shut down public venues as virus infections rise

Associated Press  

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Denmark’s prime minister announced Friday that theaters, cinemas, concert halls, amusement parks, museums and art galleries across the country must close down under new restrictions to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the measures also require stores smaller than 2,000 square meters and restaurants to limit their number of customers. Following the …

WHO warns of 700,000 more COVID deaths in Europe by March
3 years, 1 month ago

WHO warns of 700,000 more COVID deaths in Europe by March

Al Jazeera  

UN health agency projects COVID deaths in Europe to pass two million by March as the continent sees a surge in infections. The World Health Organization has warned that Europe remains “in the firm grip” of the coronavirus pandemic and the continent’s death toll could top 2.2 million this winter if current trends continue. ‘Challenging winter ahead’ The WHO said …

Covid: Austria locks down, Germany issues dire warning – live updates
3 years, 1 month ago

Covid: Austria locks down, Germany issues dire warning – live updates

CNN  

Police patrols 'Am Graben' shopping street on the first day of a nationwide, temporary lockdown during the fourth wave of the novel coronavirus pandemic on November 22nd, 2021 in Vienna, Austria. Thomas Kronsteiner/Getty Images Under Austria’s new lockdown measures, which went into effect today, people are only able to leave their homes for specific reasons, such as shopping for essential …

Covid: Austria locks down, Germany issues dire warning – live updates
3 years, 1 month ago

Covid: Austria locks down, Germany issues dire warning – live updates

CNN  

Police patrols 'Am Graben' shopping street on the first day of a nationwide, temporary lockdown during the fourth wave of the novel coronavirus pandemic on November 22nd, 2021 in Vienna, Austria. Thomas Kronsteiner/Getty Images Under Austria’s new lockdown measures, which went into effect today, people are only able to leave their homes for specific reasons, such as shopping for essential …

Coronavirus in the Netherlands: what changes on Saturday
3 years, 1 month ago

Coronavirus in the Netherlands: what changes on Saturday

Dutch News  

New rules for wearing face masks and the use of coronavirus passes come into effect on Saturday, November 6 Here’s what you need to know” Face masks Masks will once again be compulsory in all public buildings where coronavirus passes are not required. This includes: Supermarkets and shops Libraries Government buildings and council offices Airports and railway stations Colleges and …

Dutch government poised to bring back masks and broaden 'test for entry'
3 years, 1 month ago

Dutch government poised to bring back masks and broaden 'test for entry'

Dutch News  

Face masks are set to return and the ‘test for entry’ system will be extended to gyms, swimming pools and museums when the government announces new coronavirus restrictions on Tuesday, according to sources. The government will also urge people to revert to working from home 50% of the time, a month after social distancing was formally abolished and the work …

Dutch government poised to bring back masks and broaden 'test for entry'
3 years, 1 month ago

Dutch government poised to bring back masks and broaden 'test for entry'

Dutch News  

Face masks are set to return and the ‘test for entry’ system will be extended to gyms, swimming pools and museums when the government announces new coronavirus restrictions on Tuesday, according to sources. The government will also urge people to revert to working from home 50% of the time, a month after social distancing was formally abolished and the work …

Covid plan B: Councils break from government to bring back masks and home-working
3 years, 2 months ago

Covid plan B: Councils break from government to bring back masks and home-working

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “We strongly advise that head teachers implement these enhanced measures, …

The pandemic at an inflexion point calls for extra care
3 years, 4 months ago

The pandemic at an inflexion point calls for extra care

Live Mint  

Fully a year and a half into the covid-19 pandemic, the world appears to be at an inflection point in the management of the virus, and a clear divide is emerging between advanced and emerging countries. The story, however, is very different in most of the emerging and developing world, where rates of vaccination, even of first doses, remain low, …

Keep social distancing, face masks can go: Outbreak Team's advice
3 years, 6 months ago

Keep social distancing, face masks can go: Outbreak Team's advice

NL Times  

The Outbreak Management Team advised the Dutch government to keep the social distancing measure against the coronavirus in place until at least mid-August. Mandatory face masks can be scrapped from June 26, except for on public transport and airports, the team said, sources close to the Cabinet told RTL Nieuws. The outbreak team chose mid-August for scrapping social distancing, because …

Italy extends COVID curbs amid third wave risks
3 years, 11 months ago

Italy extends COVID curbs amid third wave risks

Live Mint  

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Friday issued a new decree extending curbs to keep lid on COVID-19 infections after the health ministry warned that the epidemic was getting worse. "In the past week there has been a generalised worsening of the epidemic, we are back to an expansionary phase," Health Minister Roberto Speranza told parliament on Wednesday. The new …

France and Germany impose new lockdowns to curb coronavirus spread
4 years, 1 month ago

France and Germany impose new lockdowns to curb coronavirus spread

LA Times  

Passengers wear masks as they sit in a subway train in Frankfurt, Germany, on Oct. 28, 2020. “I think that this year’s Christmas will be a different Christmas.” The European Union, Britain, Norway, Switzerland and Iceland accounted for 1.1 million cases over the last seven days, she said, “and we expect this number to keep rising in the next two …

What you need to know about coronavirus on Tuesday, October 27
4 years, 1 month ago

What you need to know about coronavirus on Tuesday, October 27

CNN  

A version of this story appeared in the October 27 edition of CNN’s Coronavirus: Fact vs. Fiction newsletter. WHAT’S IMPORTANT TODAY With US election day just a week away, Covid-19 cases are surging In just one week, the fall surge in Covid-19 infections added nearly half a million cases to the national total. British study shows evidence of waning immunity …

Paris, Marseille named as high-risk Covid-19 zones, making curbs likelier
4 years, 4 months ago

Paris, Marseille named as high-risk Covid-19 zones, making curbs likelier

Live Mint  

Paris: The French government on Friday declared Paris and Marseille and its surrounding area high-risk zones for the coronavirus, granting authorities there powers to impose localised curbs to contain the spread of the disease. On Thursday, France reported more than 2,500 new COVID-19 infections for the second day in a row, levels last seen in mid-April when the country was …

The face mask debate is still raging in the US, but much of the world has moved on
4 years, 5 months ago

The face mask debate is still raging in the US, but much of the world has moved on

CNN  

CNN — President Donald Trump has long been reluctant to wear a mask in public, but on Tuesday he gave his most unequivocal backing yet to public health experts’ calls for the US public to mask up. Julie Sebadelha/Abaca/SIPA/AP Images Dr. Padmini Murthy, professor and global health director at New York Medical College, told a United Nations panel on July …

Tips for Americans from afar on how to keep coronavirus in check this holiday weekend
4 years, 5 months ago

Tips for Americans from afar on how to keep coronavirus in check this holiday weekend

CNN  

CNN — Fireworks, pool parties and drinking at bars with friends — that’s how many Americans would liked to be celebrating the Fourth of July this weekend. In the US, surges in case numbers have also forced shutdowns, but many states don’t have enough contact tracers in place to ensure that same containment. Texas Governor Greg Abbott on Thursday ordered …

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