Nigeria has put six states and its capital on “red alert” over rising coronavirus cases, the government said late on Saturday, urging caution ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha. Africa’s most populous country, with some 210 million residents, has officially recorded around 169,000 cases and 2,126 deaths from Covid-19, but the real figures […]
virus
Bucks lose Thanasis Antetokounmpo to Covid-19 protocols
Milwaukee Bucks reserve forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo, the older brother of Greek star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, was placed into Covid-19 safety protocols on Saturday before game five of the NBA Finals. A game official and Bucks staffer were also sidelined from the contest at Phoenix after being pulled due to virus safety measures. On the eve of […]
Italian club Spezia hit with eight Covid cases in pre-season training
Serie A club Spezia announced on Saturday that a further six players and one staff member had tested positive for coronavirus during the team’s pre-season training camp at Prato dello Stelvio in northern Italy. It brings the total to eight after a player tested positive on Thursday in the north-western side now coached by former […]
Protesters denounce Thai PM for pandemic handling
Thai police deployed water cannon against protestors in Bangkok Sunday as demonstrators defied Covid-19 restrictions to call for Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha’s resignation and mark the one-year anniversary of a pro-democracy movement. The kingdom is currently facing its worst-ever Covid-19 wave, registering record numbers of cases daily as hospitals buckle under pressure. Exacerbating the toll has […]
Armed men who attacked Baghdad hospital arrested: police
Baghdad police said Saturday they had arrested a group of related men who allegedly attacked a hospital, as a security source told AFP the armed assault was carried out in retaliation after four Covid patients died when their oxygen was cut. Security forces “arrested an armed group which attacked al-Kindi hospital”, one of the main […]
Fauci: US might ‘still have polio’ if media back then opposed vaccine
Top US scientist Anthony Fauci on Saturday blasted commentators who sound an anti-vaccination theme, saying America might still be battling smallpox and polio if today’s kind of misinformation existed back then. The comments from the country’s leading infectious disease expert reflected mounting frustration over the sharp slowdown in the Covid-19 vaccination rate in the United […]
Anger as England extends restrictions on France travel
Frustrated holidaymakers and travel industry leaders rounded on the UK government Saturday after a last-minute change maintained quarantine for residents returning to England from France. From Monday, the government plans to lift most pandemic curbs on everyday life in England, and fully vaccinated residents will no longer have to quarantine after travel to “amber list” […]
EU says vaccine rate now higher than in US
European Union leaders on Saturday celebrated their coronavirus vaccination programme reaching a higher proportion of its people than in the US, which had outpaced the bloc for months. “We promised it and it’s done. The EU this week overtook the US as the continent with the most first doses in the world,” Commissioner Thierry Breton […]
UK health minister gets Covid ahead of ‘freedom day’
British Health Secretary Sajid Javid said Saturday he had tested positive for Covid-19 and was self-isolating — just as his government prepares to jettison most pandemic restrictions in England. “I was feeling a bit groggy last night, so I took a lateral flow test this morning and it’s come out positive,” he said in a […]
Senegal threatens to close borders over virus surge
Senegalese President Macky Sall has threatened to close borders and restrict internal travel as Covid-19 cases surge across the West African country. In a televised address on Friday, Sall urged people to limit gatherings and travel, wear masks and adhere to social distancing to curb the spread. But he added that he would take “all […]