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'China's Fauci' calls for protecting 'normal life' in Omicron fight
A top doctor in China's pandemic fight who came under pressure last year for questioning the country’s zero-Covid policy has called again for balancing anti-virus measures with maintenance of normal life as China struggles with an Omicron surge.
Covid comeback seen in parts of US as funding runs dry
Covid is making its latest comeback in parts of the northeastern United States as the BA.2 coronavirus variant becomes dominant in the country, officials said Wednesday, while urging Congress to pass new funding or risk the supply of future treatments and vaccines.
Kenya says over 800,000 Covid jabs have expired, blames hesitancy
Kenya announced on Wednesday that nearly 840,000 Covid-19 vaccines received through donations had expired, blaming hesitancy and a short shelf life for jabs going unused.
Moderna says infant Covid vaccine succeeded in trial
US biotech firm Moderna on Wednesday said it was pursuing regulatory approval for its Covid vaccine in children aged six months to six years after the two-shot regimen was found to be safe and produced a strong immune response.
First cruise ship in three years docks in Tunisia
A cruise ship docked in a Tunisian port on Wednesday for the first time since 2019, carrying over 700 passengers and rare good news for tourism operators battered by the Covid pandemic.
Shanghai warns against 'panic' as Covid cases mount
Shanghai authorities on Wednesday called for calm as worried citizens swamped online grocery platforms to stock up on food over fears of impending lockdowns in a city struggling to halt a Covid spike.
Ukraine's tuberculosis progress 'stopped in one day'
As Ukraine struggles to cope with the immediate casualties of Russia's invasion, there are fears the war will also ruin the country's progress in its fight against tuberculosis.
The scientists helping farmers kick the chemical habit
In a field in western France, the small purple and white flowers quivering among tender shoots of wheat are a clue that this is not conventional single-crop farmland.
New Zealand to ease domestic virus restrictions
New Zealand will relax its strict Covid-19 rules this week because case numbers have peaked and the population has high levels of immunity, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Wednesday.
Hong Kong's top scientsts urge shift from Beijing's zero-Covid strategy
Hong Kong's top scientists urged the government on Tuesday to transition from China's zero-Covid strategy before the next outbreak unless the financial hub wants to be a "closed port forever".
Hong Kong's top scientsts urge shift from Beijing's zero-Covid
Hong Kong's top scientists urged the government on Tuesday to transition from China's zero-Covid strategy before the next outbreak unless the financial hub wants to be a "closed port forever".
China locks down city of 9 million as virus ripples across country
China locked down an industrial city of nine million people overnight and reported more than 4,000 virus cases on Tuesday, as the nation's "zero-Covid" strategy is confronted by an Omicron wave.
'Perfect storm': Europe Covid rise due to fewer curbs, subvariant
Covid-19 is again surging in Western Europe due to a "perfect storm" of governments lifting restrictions, waning immunity and the more contagious BA.2 Omicron subvariant, experts said Monday.
Socceroos coach fined for breaching Covid-19 isolation
Football Australia said Monday they have fined coach Graham Arnold Aus$25,000 (US$18,500) for breaking self-isolation rules after testing positive for Covid-19.
Hong Kong to lift ban on flights from nine countries
Hong Kong will resume international flights from the United States, Britain and seven other countries, the government said Monday as it announced a loosening of some of the world's toughest Covid-19 restrictions.
Hong Kong to lift ban on flights from nine countries in April
Hong Kong will resume international flights from nine countries including the United States and Britain in April, city leader Carrie Lam said Monday.
China reports two Covid-19 deaths, first in more than a year
China reported two Covid-19 deaths on Saturday, its first in more than a year, underlining the threat posed by an Omicron outbreak that has triggered the country's highest case counts since the pandemic's outset.
China reports first two Covid-19 deaths in more than a year
China reported its first two Covid-19 deaths in more than a year on Saturday, the National Health Commission said, both coming in the northeastern province of Jilin as the country faces its worst case upsurge since the pandemic's outset.
Myanmar to reopen to international tourists
Myanmar will resume international passenger flights from April 17, the military said Saturday, lifting a two-year ban on foreign tourists.
Kyiv psychiatric home puts brave face on war
Sometimes, when war makes the walls of her Kyiv psychiatric hospital shudder, head nurse Oksana Padalka hides so she can cry.
Shenzhen eases lockdown as pandemic gnaws at China economy
China's southern tech powerhouse Shenzhen has partially eased lockdown measures, after President Xi Jinping stressed the need to "minimise the impact" of the coronavirus pandemic on the nation's economy.
Irish PM's White House meeting goes virtual after positive Covid test
President Joe Biden and Ireland's prime minister Micheal Martin canceled plans to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day together in the White House on Thursday and switched to a virtual meeting after Martin tested positive for Covid-19, although the US president was said to be in no danger.
China to 'stick with' zero-Covid strategy, President Xi says
Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday the country will "stick with" its zero-Covid strategy, state TV reported, as the world's most populous nation battles its largest outbreak since the early days of the pandemic.
South Korea reports record Covid cases amid Omicron surge
South Korea reported a record of more than 600,000 coronavirus cases Thursday, with authorities saying the country was near the peak of an Omicron-fuelled infection wave.
Hong Kong's Lam mulls easing Covid rules as public tolerance 'fading'
Hong Kong's leader said Thursday she was mulling easing some of the city's coronavirus restrictions due to waning public tolerance, but could not provide a roadmap out of the current Omicron-fuelled crisis.
Morgues overflowing as Hong Kong suffers deadly Covid wave
Workers in PPE gear in Hong Kong carted the bodies of coronavirus victims into refrigerated shipping containers on Wednesday, as the city's morgues run out of space from a deadly Omicron surge.
Hong Kong to close off beaches after mainland China uproar
Hong Kong will close most of the city's beaches, leader Carrie Lam said Wednesday, after photos of maskless residents enjoying sun and surf sparked outrage in mainland China.
South Korea hits record 400,000 plus cases amid Omicron wave
South Korea reported more than 400,000 new coronavirus cases Wednesday, a new record, as the country continues to ease restrictions despite the Omicron-fuelled wave of infections.
China boosts bed spaces as Omicron outbreak spreads
China has moved to free up hospital beds as officials on Wednesday reported thousands of new cases from an Omicron-led coronavirus outbreak that has put millions under lockdown and raised fears for the health system.
'Safe' New Zealand to reopen borders early
New Zealand will scrap its strict border controls early because the country's world-leading pandemic response has made it "a safe place to visit", Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Wednesday.
Millions under lockdown in China as virus surges
Tens of millions of people were under lockdown across China on Tuesday, as surging virus cases prompted the return of mass tests and hazmat-suited health officials to streets on a scale not seen since the start of the pandemic.
Hazmat suits and panic buying: pandemic images return to China
A Shanghai pedestrian swarmed by hazmat-clad health officials, police tape wrapped around entire blocks, and panic buying at a Shenzhen shopping centre: China is returning to virus controls many hoped it had long left behind.