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| Coronavirus live: Japan and Poland log record cases; Germany seven-day rate at new high | Coronavirus live: Japan and Poland log record cases; Germany seven-day rate at new high |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Concerns about new Omicron offshoot in England; France to bring in strict restrictions for unvaccinated people | Concerns about new Omicron offshoot in England; France to bring in strict restrictions for unvaccinated people |
| The UK detected 76,807 new Covid infections in the past 24 hours, a 54% drop on the 176,191 cases detected two weeks ago as the record-breaking Omicron wave appears to have spiked. | |
| The UK reported a further 297 people died within 28 days of a positive Covid test on Saturday, 3% up on the 287 deaths reported last Saturday. Over 177,000 people in the UK have Covid on their death certificate, according to the Office for National Statistics, the seventh highest tally in the world. | |
| It comes after the health secretary, Sajid Javid, reiterated his message the UK is “learning to live with” Covid. Javid confirmed steps on Wednesday to axe virtually all Covid restrictions in England despite warnings from senior NHS figures it could provoke a resurgent wave. | |
| Ahead of the deadline for England’s NHS workers to be vaccinated or lose their jobs on 1 April, Dr Nikki Kanani, deputy lead for the NHS Covid vaccination programme, said it’s the “duty” of staff to protect patients. Kanani’s comments were made amid protests against mandatory vaccines in London on Saturday. | |
| Read the full article here: | |
| France reported 389,320 new coronavirus cases today, after seeing four consecutive days with more than 400,000 new cases. | France reported 389,320 new coronavirus cases today, after seeing four consecutive days with more than 400,000 new cases. |
| The health ministry also reported 3,746 Covid patients in intensive care units, 46 fewer than on Friday and marking the fifth day in a row that the number of patients has fallen. | The health ministry also reported 3,746 Covid patients in intensive care units, 46 fewer than on Friday and marking the fifth day in a row that the number of patients has fallen. |
| Banners reading “Boot him out! - Stop Boris.com” were flown over Premier League matches held at Old Trafford in Manchester and Elland Road in Leeds. | Banners reading “Boot him out! - Stop Boris.com” were flown over Premier League matches held at Old Trafford in Manchester and Elland Road in Leeds. |
| Campaign group Open Britain told the PA news agency it had “booked the aircraft”, adding it was taking its “campaign fighting to have Boris Johnson removed from power...to the skies”. | Campaign group Open Britain told the PA news agency it had “booked the aircraft”, adding it was taking its “campaign fighting to have Boris Johnson removed from power...to the skies”. |
| The group said it had decided to “increase public pressure after the Prime Minister failed to step down this week” after he claimed “nobody warned me it was against the rules” for a drinks party to be hosted in Downing Street during the first lockdown. | The group said it had decided to “increase public pressure after the Prime Minister failed to step down this week” after he claimed “nobody warned me it was against the rules” for a drinks party to be hosted in Downing Street during the first lockdown. |
| The deadline for health workers to be vaccinated against Covid-19 should be delayed to prevent staff shortages in England, the Royal College of GPs has said. | The deadline for health workers to be vaccinated against Covid-19 should be delayed to prevent staff shortages in England, the Royal College of GPs has said. |
| Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Martin Marshall, the chairman of the college, described compulsory vaccination for health professionals as “not the right way forward”. | Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Martin Marshall, the chairman of the college, described compulsory vaccination for health professionals as “not the right way forward”. |
| He said the vast majority of NHS staff were vaccinated, but between 70,000 and 80,000 were not, accounting for 10% of staff at some hospital or GP surgeries. | He said the vast majority of NHS staff were vaccinated, but between 70,000 and 80,000 were not, accounting for 10% of staff at some hospital or GP surgeries. |
| If unvaccinated staff were taken out of frontline roles by 1 April, there would be “massive consequences” for the NHS, and a delay would allow time for booster jabs and a “sensible conversation” about whether vaccines should be mandatory at all, he said. | If unvaccinated staff were taken out of frontline roles by 1 April, there would be “massive consequences” for the NHS, and a delay would allow time for booster jabs and a “sensible conversation” about whether vaccines should be mandatory at all, he said. |
| The Fox News host Tucker Carlson has compared coronavirus vaccine mandates imposed by US President Joe Biden’s government to medical experiments conducted by Nazi Germany and imperial Japan. | The Fox News host Tucker Carlson has compared coronavirus vaccine mandates imposed by US President Joe Biden’s government to medical experiments conducted by Nazi Germany and imperial Japan. |
| “I thought that we had a kind of consensus,” he said on Friday. | “I thought that we had a kind of consensus,” he said on Friday. |
| “I mean, after watching what the imperial Japanese army and the Nazis did in their medical experiments, I thought that American physicians agreed that compulsory medical care was unethical, it was immoral and it could never be imposed on anyone. When did we forget that?” | “I mean, after watching what the imperial Japanese army and the Nazis did in their medical experiments, I thought that American physicians agreed that compulsory medical care was unethical, it was immoral and it could never be imposed on anyone. When did we forget that?” |
| Carlson’s guest, the virologist and anti-vaxxer Robert Malone, said: “Apparently about a year ago, I think yesterday” – a reference to Biden’s inauguration on 20 January 2021 – “was when we must have forgotten that, although Mr Biden prior to his election made clear statements that he wasn’t going to force vaccination.” | Carlson’s guest, the virologist and anti-vaxxer Robert Malone, said: “Apparently about a year ago, I think yesterday” – a reference to Biden’s inauguration on 20 January 2021 – “was when we must have forgotten that, although Mr Biden prior to his election made clear statements that he wasn’t going to force vaccination.” |
| Carlson is vastly influential, commanding huge primetime audiences. He has promoted resistance to vaccine mandates and conspiracy theories about the effects of the shots. It is not known if he is vaccinated, but Fox News has strict rules for its staff. | Carlson is vastly influential, commanding huge primetime audiences. He has promoted resistance to vaccine mandates and conspiracy theories about the effects of the shots. It is not known if he is vaccinated, but Fox News has strict rules for its staff. |
| Read the full article here: | Read the full article here: |
| Italy reported 171,263 new cases on Saturday, down from 179,106 on Friday, the health ministry said. | Italy reported 171,263 new cases on Saturday, down from 179,106 on Friday, the health ministry said. |
| A further 333 deaths were also recorded, against 373 the previous day. The country’s overall toll stands at 143,296, the second-highest in Europe after the UK and the ninth highest in the world. | A further 333 deaths were also recorded, against 373 the previous day. The country’s overall toll stands at 143,296, the second-highest in Europe after the UK and the ninth highest in the world. |
| The small Pacific nation of Samoa has been placed under a 48-hour nationwide lockdown after 15 passengers on a flight from Australia tested positive for Covid-19. | The small Pacific nation of Samoa has been placed under a 48-hour nationwide lockdown after 15 passengers on a flight from Australia tested positive for Covid-19. |
| The passengers were on a flight from Brisbane carrying 73 people, all of whom were fully vaccinated and had tested negative for Covid-19 before departure. | The passengers were on a flight from Brisbane carrying 73 people, all of whom were fully vaccinated and had tested negative for Covid-19 before departure. |
| The prime minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, said government may cancel further flights from Australia. The local governor in neighbouring American Samoa announced the cancellation of flights between the territory and Samoa for a week. | The prime minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, said government may cancel further flights from Australia. The local governor in neighbouring American Samoa announced the cancellation of flights between the territory and Samoa for a week. |
| Another Pacific island, Kiribati, went into lockdown on Friday after two-thirds of passengers on the first commercial flight in almost two years tested positive for Covid-19. | Another Pacific island, Kiribati, went into lockdown on Friday after two-thirds of passengers on the first commercial flight in almost two years tested positive for Covid-19. |
| Thousands of people took to the streets of Sweden’s two biggest cities, Stockholm and Gothenburg, on Saturday to protest against the use of vaccine passes. Police had warned of possible clashes between neo-Nazi groups and opponents but the marches unfolded calmly, Agence France-Presse reports. | Thousands of people took to the streets of Sweden’s two biggest cities, Stockholm and Gothenburg, on Saturday to protest against the use of vaccine passes. Police had warned of possible clashes between neo-Nazi groups and opponents but the marches unfolded calmly, Agence France-Presse reports. |
| Vaccine passes have been mandatory for indoor events of more than 50 people in Sweden since 12 January. More than 83% of Swedes over the age of 12 are fully vaccinated. | Vaccine passes have been mandatory for indoor events of more than 50 people in Sweden since 12 January. More than 83% of Swedes over the age of 12 are fully vaccinated. |
| In France, hundreds of people took part in small-scale demonstrations two days before tighter restrictions come into force against unvaccinated people. Although the size of protests has dropped off in recent weeks, a hard core remain angry at the country’s president, Emmanuel Macron, who has said he will continue to extend restrictions forthose who have not been vaccinated. | In France, hundreds of people took part in small-scale demonstrations two days before tighter restrictions come into force against unvaccinated people. Although the size of protests has dropped off in recent weeks, a hard core remain angry at the country’s president, Emmanuel Macron, who has said he will continue to extend restrictions forthose who have not been vaccinated. |
| From Monday, a new vaccine health passport system will require those aged 16 and above to show they have been vaccinated in order to access restaurants or bars, leisure activities or use inter-regional public transport. A negative Covid test will no longer be sufficient except to access health services. | From Monday, a new vaccine health passport system will require those aged 16 and above to show they have been vaccinated in order to access restaurants or bars, leisure activities or use inter-regional public transport. A negative Covid test will no longer be sufficient except to access health services. |
| According to the UK government’s daily dashboard, 641,929 people had a confirmed positive test result for Covid-19 between 16 and 22 January, a decrease of 22.2% compared with the previous seven days. | According to the UK government’s daily dashboard, 641,929 people had a confirmed positive test result for Covid-19 between 16 and 22 January, a decrease of 22.2% compared with the previous seven days. |
| There were 1,888 deaths within 28 days of a positive test in the same period, increase of 2.4% compared with the previous seven days. | There were 1,888 deaths within 28 days of a positive test in the same period, increase of 2.4% compared with the previous seven days. |
| Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show there have been 177,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate. | Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show there have been 177,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate. |
| Hello, I’m Léonie Chao-Fong taking over from Jedidajah Otte to bring you all the latest global development on the coronavirus pandemic for the next few hours. Feel free to get in touch on Twitter or via email. | Hello, I’m Léonie Chao-Fong taking over from Jedidajah Otte to bring you all the latest global development on the coronavirus pandemic for the next few hours. Feel free to get in touch on Twitter or via email. |
| This from my colleague Jason Rodrigues on anti-vaccine protests in London today: | This from my colleague Jason Rodrigues on anti-vaccine protests in London today: |