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Coronavirus news live: China Covid cases surge to three-month high; Netherlands brings back masks Coronavirus live: China Covid cases surge to three-month high; Netherlands brings back masks
(32 minutes later)
China’s new locally transmitted Covid cases surge as tighter curbs are expected to contain the spread; the Dutch government re-imposes social distancing rules and face mask mandates China’s new local cases surge as tighter curbs expected to contain spread; Dutch government re-imposes social distancing rules and mask mandates
Economic secretary to the Treasury John Glen was asked about Covid in the UK on Sky News during his interview, and was pressed on two things in particular. Firstly he was asked about prime minister Boris Johnson saying he did not accept the premise that the UK was in a worse Covid situation than other comparable western European nations. Glen didn’t really have an answer for that – the numbers speak for themselves – he instead tried to simply go on about the success of the UK’s vaccination programme. Here is a map of case prevalence which clearly shows what an outlier the UK is – although both Belgium and the Netherlands have case numbers gathering pace.
Those vaccine figures don’t bear out Johnson or Glen’s argument though. The EU has collectively given one dose to 80.3% of eligible people, and has 75.2% of people fully vaccinated. The respective figures for the UK are 87% with a first dose and 79.5% fully vaccinated. So the UK rollout has performed better than the EU as a whole.
However, that EU-wide figure includes the extremely low rates in states like Bulgaria and Romania where the rate is around 27% and 40% respectively. The UK’s nearest neighbours, France and Ireland, both have higher first dose vaccination rates than the UK.
Secondly the minister was pressed on what the situation with deaths and hospitalisations would have to be for the government to take any action to enact “plan B” and introduce further Covid mitigation measures back to England.
He was unable to lay out that scenario, instead arguing that rates differed all over the country, that restrictions have consequences for people’s lives, and that the government continued to have a rolling discussion about the situation.
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday that local government officials will be punished for falling behind their targets for Covid-19 vaccinations.Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday that local government officials will be punished for falling behind their targets for Covid-19 vaccinations.
The Philippines has so far fully immunised a little over a third of 77 million people eligible for shots. Duterte said there was no reason why daily vaccinations could not be ramped up to at least a million from an average of 500,000 since the country has sufficient stock of vaccines.The Philippines has so far fully immunised a little over a third of 77 million people eligible for shots. Duterte said there was no reason why daily vaccinations could not be ramped up to at least a million from an average of 500,000 since the country has sufficient stock of vaccines.
“We saw fault lines in the overall picture of our vaccination programme. I am not contented,” Duterte said in a recorded address.“We saw fault lines in the overall picture of our vaccination programme. I am not contented,” Duterte said in a recorded address.
Karen Lema reports for Reuters that Duterte said local officials “who are not performing nor using the doses given to them in a most expeditious manner” would be sanctioned and made accountable. He did not spell out penalties.Karen Lema reports for Reuters that Duterte said local officials “who are not performing nor using the doses given to them in a most expeditious manner” would be sanctioned and made accountable. He did not spell out penalties.
The government has been gradually easing Covid-19 curbs, and on Wednesday, it announced it was lifting the nightly curfew imposed in the capital region from Thursday.The government has been gradually easing Covid-19 curbs, and on Wednesday, it announced it was lifting the nightly curfew imposed in the capital region from Thursday.
The seven-day average for new cases in the Philippines is currently around 4,000, down from a peak of around 21,000 in the peak of the last wave of the virus in mid-September.The seven-day average for new cases in the Philippines is currently around 4,000, down from a peak of around 21,000 in the peak of the last wave of the virus in mid-September.
Hello, it is Martin Belam here in London. I imagine much of the UK morning media will be dominated by Cop26 in Glasgow rather than Covid, but I will bring you any lines that emerge from the early interviews. There may be some fall-out from the resignation of Sir Jeremy Farrar from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), which emerged yesterday. John Glen, the economic secretary to the Treasury, is the government minister being put up for interviews today. Here is the latest UK Covid data.Hello, it is Martin Belam here in London. I imagine much of the UK morning media will be dominated by Cop26 in Glasgow rather than Covid, but I will bring you any lines that emerge from the early interviews. There may be some fall-out from the resignation of Sir Jeremy Farrar from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), which emerged yesterday. John Glen, the economic secretary to the Treasury, is the government minister being put up for interviews today. Here is the latest UK Covid data.
The Netherlands is bringing back coronavirus measures including a requirement for face masks in many public spaces to combat a surge in cases, prime minister Mark Rutte said on Tuesday.The Netherlands is bringing back coronavirus measures including a requirement for face masks in many public spaces to combat a surge in cases, prime minister Mark Rutte said on Tuesday.
He said the government will be reintroducing social distancing rules, extending so-called Covid passes to places such as museums and restaurant terraces, AFP reports.He said the government will be reintroducing social distancing rules, extending so-called Covid passes to places such as museums and restaurant terraces, AFP reports.
People are also being advised to work from home for at least half the week and avoid rush-hour travel.People are also being advised to work from home for at least half the week and avoid rush-hour travel.
The move – which makes the Netherlands one of the first in western Europe to bring back restrictions – comes less than two months after it drastically relaxed anti-Covid measures.The move – which makes the Netherlands one of the first in western Europe to bring back restrictions – comes less than two months after it drastically relaxed anti-Covid measures.
Infections have since been rising for a month after most social distancing measures were scrapped in late September,Infections have since been rising for a month after most social distancing measures were scrapped in late September,
“It won’t surprise anyone that we have a difficult message tonight. Infections and hospital admissions are rising quickly,” Rutte told a press conference.“It won’t surprise anyone that we have a difficult message tonight. Infections and hospital admissions are rising quickly,” Rutte told a press conference.
The Netherlands had some of Europe’s most lax restrictions early in the pandemic but drastically tightened up during a brutal second wave last year.The Netherlands had some of Europe’s most lax restrictions early in the pandemic but drastically tightened up during a brutal second wave last year.
Rutte said masks would be required again in shops and for professions including hairdressers and massage parlours. They were already still obligatory on public transport, although not in stations or on platforms.Rutte said masks would be required again in shops and for professions including hairdressers and massage parlours. They were already still obligatory on public transport, although not in stations or on platforms.
Sex workers in the Netherlands – where prostitution is legal – will continue to be excluded from the mask rule.Sex workers in the Netherlands – where prostitution is legal – will continue to be excluded from the mask rule.
Here’s a fun story out of New Zealand today.Here’s a fun story out of New Zealand today.
Seven gang leaders, representing four of the countries most well-known street gangs, joined forces in a video urging their communities to get vaccinated.Seven gang leaders, representing four of the countries most well-known street gangs, joined forces in a video urging their communities to get vaccinated.
The video was commissioned by the minister for Maori development, Willie Jackson, after a discussion with gang leaders, who then provided footage that was edited by Jackson’s son, Hikurangi, the Herald reported.The video was commissioned by the minister for Maori development, Willie Jackson, after a discussion with gang leaders, who then provided footage that was edited by Jackson’s son, Hikurangi, the Herald reported.
In the four-minute video, Denis O’Reilly, who joined the Black Power gang aged 19, says he had “taken a few shots” in his time, including the two shots against Covid-19, and he is asking his community “to do the same”.In the four-minute video, Denis O’Reilly, who joined the Black Power gang aged 19, says he had “taken a few shots” in his time, including the two shots against Covid-19, and he is asking his community “to do the same”.
Read the full story here.Read the full story here.
Hi and welcome back to our global Covid blog.Hi and welcome back to our global Covid blog.
I’m Samantha Lock and I’ll be reporting from Sydney, Australia, to bring you all the latest developments from around the world.I’m Samantha Lock and I’ll be reporting from Sydney, Australia, to bring you all the latest developments from around the world.
Less than two months after drastically relaxing Covid restrictions, the Netherlands has become one of the first countries in western Europe to bring back them back again.Less than two months after drastically relaxing Covid restrictions, the Netherlands has become one of the first countries in western Europe to bring back them back again.
Faced with sharply rising coronavirus cases, the prime minister Mark Rutte said the Dutch government would be reinstating an order to wear face masks in public places and mandating an extension for the use of Covid passes in light of rapidly increasing case counts.Faced with sharply rising coronavirus cases, the prime minister Mark Rutte said the Dutch government would be reinstating an order to wear face masks in public places and mandating an extension for the use of Covid passes in light of rapidly increasing case counts.
The country’s public health institute reported Tuesday that confirmed infections rose 39% compared to the week before and hospital admissions were up 31%.The country’s public health institute reported Tuesday that confirmed infections rose 39% compared to the week before and hospital admissions were up 31%.
Tighter curbs are also expected in China after the National Health Commission reported Covid cases surged to a near 3-month high with 93 new local symptomatic cases recorded for Tuesday, up from 54 a day earlier.Tighter curbs are also expected in China after the National Health Commission reported Covid cases surged to a near 3-month high with 93 new local symptomatic cases recorded for Tuesday, up from 54 a day earlier.
A key gathering of the highest-ranking members of the Communist Party in Beijing is expected to go ahead next week.A key gathering of the highest-ranking members of the Communist Party in Beijing is expected to go ahead next week.
Here’s a round-up of the Covid headlines you might have missed.Here’s a round-up of the Covid headlines you might have missed.
Australia may soon welcome foreign workers back into the country. NSW premier has pushed for further border re-openings as the state grapples with skilled labour shortages after 18 months of closed borders.Australia may soon welcome foreign workers back into the country. NSW premier has pushed for further border re-openings as the state grapples with skilled labour shortages after 18 months of closed borders.
Australia also remains on track to reach 80% of the population over 16 being fully vaccinated against Covid-19 in a matter of days.Australia also remains on track to reach 80% of the population over 16 being fully vaccinated against Covid-19 in a matter of days.
The Dutch government has reintroduced face masks in an attempt to stop rising Covid-19 cases. Prime minister Mark Rutte said the use of Covid passports would also be broadened out to include museums, gyms and outdoor terraces. The advice comes amid a major surge in new cases in the Netherlands.The Dutch government has reintroduced face masks in an attempt to stop rising Covid-19 cases. Prime minister Mark Rutte said the use of Covid passports would also be broadened out to include museums, gyms and outdoor terraces. The advice comes amid a major surge in new cases in the Netherlands.
The UK has had its highest number of daily Covid deaths reported since late February, as another 293 people have died within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test.The UK has had its highest number of daily Covid deaths reported since late February, as another 293 people have died within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test.
UK government is increasingly worried that hospitalisations and deaths among double-vaccinated people could rise due to waning immunity as an estimated 4.5 million people have failed to get their booster shots despite being eligible.UK government is increasingly worried that hospitalisations and deaths among double-vaccinated people could rise due to waning immunity as an estimated 4.5 million people have failed to get their booster shots despite being eligible.
The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) unanimously voted in favour of the broad use of Pfizer and BioNTech jabs for children as young as 5. The shots could be administered as soon as Wednesday.The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) unanimously voted in favour of the broad use of Pfizer and BioNTech jabs for children as young as 5. The shots could be administered as soon as Wednesday.
China has urged its citizens to stockpile daily necessities, prompting panic-buying, amid surging vegetable prices linked to recent extreme weather, fears of supply shortages and an ongoing Covid outbreak.China has urged its citizens to stockpile daily necessities, prompting panic-buying, amid surging vegetable prices linked to recent extreme weather, fears of supply shortages and an ongoing Covid outbreak.
Romania broke its daily death toll record, after another 591 people died from Covid. It has lagged behind on vaccinations and is well below the average within the EU.Romania broke its daily death toll record, after another 591 people died from Covid. It has lagged behind on vaccinations and is well below the average within the EU.
Russia also set another daily record for Covid deaths reporting 1,178 on Tuesday.Russia also set another daily record for Covid deaths reporting 1,178 on Tuesday.
Greece announced new restrictions on non-vaccinated people and increased fines for non-compliance after reporting a daily record high of Covid-19 cases on Tuesday.Greece announced new restrictions on non-vaccinated people and increased fines for non-compliance after reporting a daily record high of Covid-19 cases on Tuesday.
Public health officials in Ireland say that its case numbers are at their highest point since January, as another 3,726 were registered – 70% higher than a week ago.Public health officials in Ireland say that its case numbers are at their highest point since January, as another 3,726 were registered – 70% higher than a week ago.
A scientist has quit the UK government’s pandemic advisery body Sage, saying that the Covid crisis is “a long way from over”. Sir Jeremy Farrar, quit the body at the end of October.A scientist has quit the UK government’s pandemic advisery body Sage, saying that the Covid crisis is “a long way from over”. Sir Jeremy Farrar, quit the body at the end of October.
The UK government’s independent vaccine advisers recommended against Covid shots for healthy teenagers despite considering evidence that the jabs would reduce infections, hospitalisations and some deaths in the age group.The UK government’s independent vaccine advisers recommended against Covid shots for healthy teenagers despite considering evidence that the jabs would reduce infections, hospitalisations and some deaths in the age group.