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 people still must provide a recent negative test or proof of recent recovery to enter hospitals and nursing homes. A restaurant owner in Paris, Laurent Negre, praised the lifting of restrictions as “return to normal.” “We got used to these restrictions and complicated protocols, so we will enjoy work more now..

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History of this topic

Spain brings back mandatory facemasks in hospitals as Covid spikes again
11 months, 1 week ago

Spain brings back mandatory facemasks in hospitals as Covid spikes again

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails 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. Please try again later {{ …

I'm an A&E doctor and this is why it's time to start wearing masks again... as experts issue dire warnings over a virulent new Covid variant
11 months, 2 weeks ago

I'm an A&E doctor and this is why it's time to start wearing masks again... as experts issue dire warnings over a virulent new Covid variant

Daily Mail  

It’s that time again. Dr Saleyha Ahsan says she always wears a mask in crowded places Now one of the UK’s leading experts, Sir Andrew Pollard, who is a professor of infection and immunity at the University of Oxford, is predicting ‘a rise in infections in the population over the course of the next week’, driven by a highly infectious …

Why no one is talking about new mask rules even as COVID-19 rises in L.A.
1 year, 3 months ago

Why no one is talking about new mask rules even as COVID-19 rises in L.A.

LA Times  

Despite rising coronavirus outbreaks across Los Angeles County, officials said they have no plans for new public mask mandates — a sign of how COVID-19 policies have changed in an era of plentiful vaccines, lower death rates and back-to-normal culture. “We have such good tools right now that we really shouldn’t get there.” California COVID outbreaks hit workplaces, schools across …

Return of masks? COVID-19 cases surge; new variant ‘Pirola’ causes concern
1 year, 3 months ago

Return of masks? COVID-19 cases surge; new variant ‘Pirola’ causes concern

Live Mint  

COVID-19 cases in the United States have surged to levels reminiscent of the peak experienced last winter, causing concerns over the emergence of a new highly mutated variant known as "Pirola" BA.2.86 and the impending respiratory virus season. Dr. Georges Benjamin, the Executive Director of the American Public Health Association, highlights that masking remains a potent tool for mitigating COVID-19 …

COVID-19: should we start wearing masks again?
1 year, 3 months ago

COVID-19: should we start wearing masks again?

The Hindu  

One thing that can be guaranteed about COVID-19 is that evolution will provide us with a more or less constant stream of new coronavirus variants, some of which will be more successful at infecting people. It’s this worry that there may be a new wave of infections that has got some people talking about the need to reintroduce measures that …

New Covid wave has begun in UK and masks should be worn again, warn scientists
1 year, 4 months ago

New Covid wave has begun in UK and masks should be worn again, warn scientists

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery Rates have risen since early July Prof Pagel predicted the …

Wearing masks did ’little to nothing’ to help curb Covid spread, study reveals
1 year, 10 months ago

Wearing masks did ’little to nothing’ to help curb Covid spread, study reveals

Live Mint  

Face masks have done ‘little to nothing’ to curb the Covid-19 transmission, a new scientific review titled “Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses” suggested. It conducted research on the findings of 78 randomized controlled trials to find out whether the physical interventions, including face masks and hand wash, limited the spread of respiratory diseases. “Wearing …

Masks made little or no difference in Covid-19 spread, new study suggests
1 year, 10 months ago

Masks made little or no difference in Covid-19 spread, new study suggests

India TV News  

A new review led by 12 researchers from universities around the world has examined whether wearing face masks helped prevent the spread of Covid-19. According to the study published by the Cochrane Library, "Wearing masks in the community probably makes little or no difference" in controlling the spread of Covid-19. However, it's important to note that the review included studies …

No Covid restrictions needed yet, Health Min. says as vaccinations open to everyone 12+
2 years, 2 months ago

No Covid restrictions needed yet, Health Min. says as vaccinations open to everyone 12+

NL Times  

Companies and organizations don’t have to take measures against the coronavirus yet but are free to do so if they wish. People between the ages of 40 and 60 can make an appointment next week, and “in principle the week after,” everyone from 12 to 40 can do so, Kuipers said. But according to Kuipers, it is ‘not yet necessary …

New Zealand ends most Covid restrictions as pandemic worry eases
2 years, 3 months ago

New Zealand ends most Covid restrictions as pandemic worry eases

India Today  

New Zealand scrapped mask wearing rules and vaccine mandates on Monday, bringing an end to some of the toughest Covid-19 pandemic rules in the world about two years after they were put in place. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in a weekly news conference that it was time to safely turn the page on the country's Covid-19 management and live …

Covid restrictions could return if rising cases make NHS backlog worse
2 years, 5 months ago

Covid restrictions could return if rising cases make NHS backlog worse

The Telegraph  

NHS organisations in Sussex, Norfolk and Norwich and the Midlands said the increase in cases in their communities necessitated a return to mask-wearing. The number of people in hospital in England who have tested positive for Covid has climbed to its highest level for nearly three months. However, while patient numbers are up week-on-week by 25 per cent, the rate …

Health experts say COVID-19 complacency has restricted freedoms of the immunocompromised and elderly
2 years, 5 months ago

Health experts say COVID-19 complacency has restricted freedoms of the immunocompromised and elderly

ABC  

From the isolation of her Melbourne home, Carol Davy fights a day-to-day battle against ovarian cancer and systemic lupus. Key points: Australia's COVID hospitalisation rates have spiked back to February highs Federal Health Minister Mark Butler has shot down any reintroduction of mask mandates Health experts say Australia's COVID complacency is leading to higher transmission rates With COVID-19 still casting …

Rising Covid infections prompt nursing homes to ask visitors to use face masks
2 years, 5 months ago

Rising Covid infections prompt nursing homes to ask visitors to use face masks

NL Times  

As the number of coronavirus infections rises again, more and more nursing homes are asking their healthcare workers to wear face masks. Staff shortages are already prompting some nursing homes to let employees work with a coronavirus infection if they are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, Actiz said to the Volkskrant. Almost 400 nursing homes across the Netherlands reported coronavirus …

With hospitalizations up, France weighs return to masks
2 years, 5 months ago

With hospitalizations up, France weighs return to masks

Associated Press  

NICE, France — Tourism is booming again in France — and so is COVID-19. French officials have “invited” or “recommended” people to go back to using face masks but stopped short of renewing restrictions that would scare visitors away or revive antigovernment protests. After the prime minister this week recommended that people resume wearing masks on public transportation, commuter Raphaelle …

Covid-19 task force recommends restoration of mask mandate
2 years, 6 months ago

Covid-19 task force recommends restoration of mask mandate

Hindustan Times  

Mumbai: Amid a surge in Covid-19 cases, the state Covid-19 task force has recommended that the state government make masks mandatory mask in crowded and poorly ventilated public places. Following Covid-19 appropriate behaviour will also help in combating other airborne diseases like tuberculosis,” said Dr Kedar Toraskar, critical care specialist and member of the state Covid-19 task force. In Wockhardt …

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 …

Travelling abroad this summer? You may still need a coronavirus pass
2 years, 7 months ago

Travelling abroad this summer? You may still need a coronavirus pass

Dutch News  

Regional health boards are expecting a run on coronavirus vaccinations heading into the summer now that the European Union has extended its vaccine passport for a year, the Telegraaf reported on Wednesday. ‘If the coronavirus entry pass remains in force in a certain country, then we expect the number of booster vaccinations to increase as we head towards the summer …

Travelling abroad this summer? You may still need a coronavirus pass
2 years, 7 months ago

Travelling abroad this summer? You may still need a coronavirus pass

Dutch News  

Regional health boards are expecting a run on coronavirus vaccinations heading into the summer now that the European Union has extended its vaccine passport for a year, the Telegraaf reported on Wednesday. ‘If the coronavirus entry pass remains in force in a certain country, then we expect the number of booster vaccinations to increase as we head towards the summer …

Face masks no longer recommended on European flights from Monday
2 years, 7 months ago

Face masks no longer recommended on European flights from Monday

NL Times  

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency will no longer recommend that people on airplanes wear face masks. In the Netherlands, an official face mask obligation remains, but airlines have based in the country decided weeks ago they will no longer enforce the rule because of increased confusion over changing policies, and …

EXPLAINED: What Happens in the Post-Mask World of Travel?
2 years, 8 months ago

EXPLAINED: What Happens in the Post-Mask World of Travel?

News 18  

A ruling by a US federal judge has ended — at least for now — the requirement that people wear masks on planes and public transportation, and there is plenty of confusion about the new, post-mask world of travel. In a 59-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in Tampa, Florida, said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and …

Big Cities Lift Covid Curbs, But Doctors Divided Over Mask Mandate, And Can It Prevent Next Wave?
2 years, 8 months ago

Big Cities Lift Covid Curbs, But Doctors Divided Over Mask Mandate, And Can It Prevent Next Wave?

News 18  

Even as Maharashtra and Delhi have made masks optional, the doctor community is divided over the new move, and some believe that masks should still be mandatory despite India seeing a big drop in Covid cases. Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chairman of Indian Medical Association ’s national Covid task force, said, “It is dangerous if more states make wearing masks optional. …

COVID-19: Too early, say experts as states across India ease mask mandate
2 years, 8 months ago

COVID-19: Too early, say experts as states across India ease mask mandate

Firstpost  

The promotion of voluntary wearing of masks in public places can help reduce inhalation of dust and other respiratory transmitted agents, including TB bacilli, flu virus, other respiratory viruses said virologist T Jacob John New Delhi: Even though some states have decided to stop penalising people for not wearing masks as COVID-19 cases continue to drop, healthcare experts are of …

France reopens to unvaccinated travellers
2 years, 8 months ago

France reopens to unvaccinated travellers

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy From today, France will reopen to unvaccinated travellers after a months-long ban, the country’s consul général …

Many more masks in litter since Covid restrictions relaxed
2 years, 9 months ago

Many more masks in litter since Covid restrictions relaxed

NL Times  

The share of face masks in litter increased sharply since the government relaxed coronavirus restrictions in mid-February, cleanup organizer Nederland Schoon told NU.nl. Based on that data and their own research, the organization concluded that face masks are now the fourth most common type of litter in the Netherlands. Many face masks were found around stations and near tram and …

‘Return to normal’: France lifts most COVID-19 restrictions
2 years, 9 months ago

‘Return to normal’: France lifts most COVID-19 restrictions

Al Jazeera  

But in recent days, the number of new COVID-19 infections has started increasing, raising concerns from some that it may be too soon to lift restrictions. France lifted most COVID-19 restrictions on Monday, abolishing the need to wear face masks in most settings and allowing people who aren’t vaccinated back into restaurants, sports arenas and other venues. Starting Monday, people …

COVID: France to start administering 4th vaccine dose
2 years, 9 months ago

COVID: France to start administering 4th vaccine dose

India TV News  

Highlights France will start offering fourth COVID vaccination shot on Mar 14 It'll be given to people who're over 80-years-old and have received their booster dose France is witnessing rebound of COVID pandemic cases On Monday, France will start offering a fourth COVID-19 vaccination shot to people over 80 years old who have received their booster dose, French Prime Minister …

More coronavirus rules may go, despite rise in new infections: AD
2 years, 9 months ago

More coronavirus rules may go, despite rise in new infections: AD

Dutch News  

Government health advisors on the Outbreak Management Team will meet at the end of this week to discuss lifting the final coronavirus restrictions in operation in the Netherlands. The number of new coronavirus cases reached a three-week high at the weekend, following the Carnaval celebrations and the February half-term holidays and the number of new infections hit almost 67,000 in …

More coronavirus rules may go, despite rise in new infections: AD
2 years, 9 months ago

More coronavirus rules may go, despite rise in new infections: AD

Dutch News  

Government health advisors on the Outbreak Management Team will meet at the end of this week to discuss lifting the final coronavirus restrictions in operation in the Netherlands. The number of new coronavirus cases reached a three-week high at the weekend, following the Carnaval celebrations and the February half-term holidays and the number of new infections hit almost 67,000 in …

Washington officials to assess new mask guidance from CDC
2 years, 9 months ago

Washington officials to assess new mask guidance from CDC

Associated Press  

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington’s March 21 date to lift the statewide mask mandate remains in place for now as state officials review new guidance Friday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that says people in most places can safely take a break from wearing facial coverings. Jay Inslee, said in an email Friday that the office has not …

CDC to significantly ease pandemic mask guidelines Friday
2 years, 10 months ago

CDC to significantly ease pandemic mask guidelines Friday

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration will significantly loosen federal mask-wearing guidelines to protect against COVID-19 transmission on Friday, according to two people familiar with the matter, meaning most Americans will no longer be advised to wear masks in indoor public settings. The change comes as nearly all U.S. states that had put in place indoor mask-wearing mandates for the winter …

New US COVID guidelines allow most Americans to go mask-free
2 years, 10 months ago

New US COVID guidelines allow most Americans to go mask-free

Al Jazeera  

New US coronavirus masking policy is broken down into three risk categories based on hospital capacity and cases. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has dramatically eased its COVID-19 guidelines for when people should wear masks indoors, a move that means 72 percent of the US population will reside in communities where indoor face coverings are no …

More COVID-19 rules fall as CDC hints at better times ahead
2 years, 10 months ago

More COVID-19 rules fall as CDC hints at better times ahead

LA Times  

Customers eat at the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia on Feb. 16, 2022. The nation’s leading health officials said Wednesday that the U.S. is moving closer to the point that COVID-19 is no longer a “constant crisis” as more cities, businesses and sports venues began lifting pandemic restrictions around the country. Philadelphia officials said Wednesday the city’s vaccine mandate for …

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 …

Spain, France and Norway ease Covid travel rules
2 years, 10 months ago

Spain, France and Norway ease Covid travel rules

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The French Embassy in London says: “Vaccinated people do not need to take any Covid-19 travel tests before they travel …

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 …

England lifts COVID restrictions as omicron threat recedes
2 years, 10 months ago

England lifts COVID restrictions as omicron threat recedes

Associated Press  

LONDON — Most coronavirus restrictions, including mandatory face masks, were lifted in England on Thursday after Britain’s government said its vaccine booster rollout successfully reduced serious illness and COVID-19 hospitalizations. England’s so-called “Plan B” measures were introduced in early December to stop the rapid spread of omicron from overwhelming health services and to buy time for the population to get …

COVID: Denmark ends most virus restrictions, as Sweden extends them
2 years, 10 months ago

COVID: Denmark ends most virus restrictions, as Sweden extends them

India TV News  

Highlights Denmark’s govt said it'll scrap most pandemic restrictions next week Danish PM Frederiksen said that as of Feb 1 Danes will enjoy free access to restaurants, cafes etc. Face masks use will cease to be mandatory in Denmark Denmark’s government said on Wednesday it will scrap most pandemic restrictions next week, even as neighboring Sweden extended its own measures …

Covid: How well do face masks protect us against the virus?
2 years, 11 months ago

Covid: How well do face masks protect us against the virus?

The Independent  

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. …

No vaccine? No cafe, according to new French virus law
2 years, 11 months ago

No vaccine? No cafe, according to new French virus law

Associated Press  

PARIS — France’s parliament approved a law Sunday that will exclude unvaccinated people from all restaurants, sports arenas and other venues, the central measure of government efforts to protect hospitals amid record numbers of infections driven by the highly contagious omicron variant. Macron’s government is hoping the new pass will be enough to limit the number of patients filling up …

France hits staggering new case record, Europe’s highest
2 years, 11 months ago

France hits staggering new case record, Europe’s highest

Associated Press  

PARIS — France announced a staggering 332,252 daily virus cases Wednesday, smashing a string of recent records, as hospitals prepared drastic measures to brace for patient surges and the government strained to avoid a new lockdown. With Europe’s highest-ever single-day confirmed infection count, France is facing an omicron-driven surge that is dominating the race for April’s presidential election and increasingly …

Covid: France 6th country with over 10mn cases, records 2L infections daily
2 years, 11 months ago

Covid: France 6th country with over 10mn cases, records 2L infections daily

Live Mint  

France became the sixth country in the world to report more than 10 million COVID-19 infections since the outbreak of the pandemic, according to official data published on Saturday. French health authorities reported 219,126 new confirmed cases in a 24-hour period, the fourth day in a row that the country has recorded more than 200,000 cases. In his New Year's …

France to cut COVID isolation time for fully vaccinated people
2 years, 11 months ago

France to cut COVID isolation time for fully vaccinated people

Al Jazeera  

Beginning on Monday, fully vaccinated people who test positive for COVID-19 will isolate for seven days instead of 10. France says it will reduce the isolation period for fully vaccinated people who test positive for COVID-19. Health Minister Olivier Veran told the newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche on Sunday that fully vaccinated people will only have to isolate for seven …

France Says Children Must Wear Masks on Transport From Age 6
2 years, 11 months ago

France Says Children Must Wear Masks on Transport From Age 6

News 18  

Children on French public transport will soon have to wear a face mask from the age of six upwards, the government decreed Saturday, as part of its latest measures against coronavirus. Children aged six and older will have to don a mask on all means of public transport within national borders from Monday, while carriers will not serve any food …

France ups pressure on unvaccinated amid record infections
2 years, 11 months ago

France ups pressure on unvaccinated amid record infections

Associated Press  

PARIS — France’s government is forging ahead with efforts to increase pressure on unvaccinated people to get coronavirus shots, as the country reported 208,000 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday — a record fueled by the omicron variant. Speaking to those not vaccinated, he said: “There is really little chance that this time you can escape : The virus is spreading too …

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 …

France urges vaccine uptake, bans New Year’s concerts
3 years ago

France urges vaccine uptake, bans New Year’s concerts

Associated Press  

PARIS — French authorities on Friday urged people to get vaccinated against the coronavirus ahead of the holiday festivities as infections surge and the government tries to avoid another lockdown. To curb the spread of the virus during the holidays, the government banned public concerts and fireworks displays at New Year’s celebrations and called on people to avoid large gatherings …

Kerry Chant urges people to keep masks on in NSW as mandate scrapped and COVID-19 infections surge
3 years ago

Kerry Chant urges people to keep masks on in NSW as mandate scrapped and COVID-19 infections surge

ABC  

Publicly, it's been a united front for almost two years: NSW's top medico Kerry Chant standing beside a premier, who has proclaimed whatever COVID-19 decision they were making was "based on the health advice". On the same day NSW scrapped face mask mandates in most settings, Dr Chant — the state's Chief Health Officer — admitted she wanted people to …

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