Covid news live: 4,000 more flights cancelled over Omicron; Israel to offer fourth jab to over-60s | World news

Right here’s a roundup of some Covid numbers throughout Asia.

Thailand has reported 2,927 new Covid instances and 18 deaths over the past 24 hours, the Public Well being Ministry introduced on Monday morning.

Singapore reported 429 new Covid instances on Sunday, together with 297 imported infections. There have been no deaths recorded, in keeping with the ministry of well being.

Malaysia reported 40,606 lively coronavirus instances, a discount of 428 from yesterday, and 19 deaths.

China reported one other 161 coronavirus instances on Sunday, down from 191 a day earlier, the nation’s well being authority mentioned on Monday.

Of the brand new infections, 101 had been regionally transmitted, in keeping with an announcement by China’s nationwide well being fee, down from 131 a day earlier.

A lot of the new native instances had been within the north-western province of Shanxi, the place the capital metropolis of Xian has been below a strict lockdown.

South Korea additionally reported one other 3,833 new confirmed instances, together with 150 imported instances. An extra 69 deaths had been additionally recorded.

Israel will supply a fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to individuals over 60 and to medical workers.

Prime minister Naftali Bennett made the announcement on Sunday amid a surge in Omicron variant infections, saying the nation’s prime medical officer had accredited the shot.

“The Omicron wave is right here and we should shield ourselves,” Bennett informed a information convention, including that the well being ministry had accredited the booster jab for individuals over 60 and well being staff.

Israel on Thursday authorised a fourth Covid vaccine for these with weakened immunity, changing into one of many first nations to take action.

Authorities on Sunday additionally reported 4,206 new Covid infections over the previous 24 hours, and a 195% improve over the previous week.

Bennett warned that instances may surge to round “50,000 instances per day quickly”, urging all adults and youngsters to get vaccinated.

Extra on the information from earlier concerning US protection secretary Lloyd Austin’s announcement he had examined optimistic for Covid.

In an announcement on Sunday evening, Austin mentioned he was experiencing delicate signs whereas quarantining at dwelling and deliberate to attend key conferences and discussions just about within the coming week “to the diploma potential”.

He mentioned deputy secretary Kathleen Hicks would symbolize him in acceptable issues.

Austin mentioned:

I’ve knowledgeable my management crew of my optimistic take a look at consequence, in addition to the president. My workers has begun contact tracing and testing of all these with whom I’ve come into contact over the past week.

Austin, 68, mentioned he was absolutely vaccinated and acquired a booster in October. He mentioned he requested a take a look at on Sunday morning after experiencing signs whereas at dwelling on go away and, given the consequence, deliberate to stay in quarantine for 5 days, per pointers from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.

The vaccines work and can stay a navy medical requirement for our workforce. I proceed to encourage everybody eligible for a booster shot to get one. This stays a readiness situation.

Greater than 4,000 flights had been cancelled all over the world on Sunday attributable to antagonistic climate and a surge in coronavirus instances brought on by the Omicron variant, Reuters stories.

The flights cancelled by 8pm GMT on Sunday included over 2,400 coming into, departing from or inside the US, in keeping with monitoring web site FlightAware.com.

Globally, greater than 11,200 flights had been delayed.

Among the many airways with most cancellations had been SkyWest and SouthWest, with 510 and 419 cancellations respectively, FlightAware confirmed.

The Christmas and New 12 months holidays are sometimes a peak time for air journey, however the speedy unfold of the extremely transmissible Omicron variant has led to a pointy improve in Covid infections, forcing airways to cancel flights as pilots and cabin crew quarantine.

US airline cabin crew, pilots and assist workers had been reluctant to work time beyond regulation throughout the holidays, regardless of provides of hefty monetary incentives. Many feared contracting Covid and didn’t welcome the prospect of coping with unruly passengers, some airline unions mentioned.

Hey it’s Samantha Lock again with you on the weblog to kick off the brand new 12 months.

Omicron is constant to unleash chaos all over the world with greater than 4,000 flights cancelled on Sunday, because the variant contributes to a surge in instances and quarantines flight crews. Greater than 11,200 flights had been additionally delayed, in keeping with monitoring web site FlightAware.com.

The cancellations disrupted the busy Christmas and New 12 months interval, with 1000’s compelled to desert plans.

Israel is ready to supply a fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to individuals aged over 60 and to medical workers.

Prime minister Naftali Bennett made the announcement on Sunday amid a surge in Omicron variant infections, saying the nation’s prime medical officer had accredited the shot.

“The Omicron wave is right here and we should shield ourselves,” Bennett mentioned.

Here’s a abstract of developments up to now:

• In England masks are returning to secondary college school rooms as Omicron continues to unfold throughout the nation. An extra 137,583 new instances of Covid-19 and 73 deaths had been reported in England and Wales.
• The federal government has informed headteachers in England to begin making ready for employees shortages by utilizing assist workers as fill-in academics, combining courses or utilizing hybrid studying.
• France has put the United States on its Covid-19 journey “crimson checklist”, which means unvaccinated individuals coming into the nation should quarantine for 10 days.
• France introduced an easing of Covid restrictions from Monday. Totally vaccinated individuals in France who take a look at optimistic will now should isolate for under seven days, and might go away quarantine after 5 days in the event that they present a detrimental take a look at. The nation additionally reported 58,432 new confirmed coronavirus instances in a 24-hour interval – a file seven-day common for brand spanking new Covid instances.
• Dutch police dispersed anti-lockdown protesters in Amsterdam on Sunday.
• India reported 27,553 new Covid-19 infections over the previous 24 hours and Covid deaths rose by 284.
• Israel is to supply a fourth dose of the Covid vaccine for the over-60s and medical workers. The nation reported 4,206 new every day Covid infections, marking a 195% improve over the previous week.
• Twitter has completely suspended the account of US congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene after the Republican repeatedly violated its coverage on Covid misinformation.
• Wintry climate and the coronavirus pandemic prompted greater than 2,300 US flights and greater than 3,900 worldwide to be cancelled.
• South Africa has recorded 4,379 new recognized coronavirus instances and 30 deaths.
• The US authorities’s prime medical adviser, Dr Anthony Fauci, mentioned the US had been seeing virtually a “vertical improve” of recent Covid instances, including he was involved the Omicron variant was inflicting “main disruption” on important providers.
• Dr Fauci mentioned hospitalisation figures fashioned a greater information to the severity of the Omicron coronavirus variant than the standard case-count of recent infections.
• Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi was considered one of 4 Paris Saint-Germain gamers to check optimistic for coronavirus, the membership introduced shortly earlier than a French Cup match.