Corona vaccinations can be made mandatory in Greece, according to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Mitsotakis said that this is not unconstitutional, as opponents of vaccination have repeatedly claimed. “The state is entitled to demand that all citizens fulfill their duty of social and national solidarity.” This is in Article 25 of the Greek Constitution and thus the compulsory vaccination is in line with the Constitution, according to the head of government.
Anti-vaccination demonstrations had taken place in Athens and other cities in Greece in the past few days. They accused the government of compulsory vaccination not being constitutional. Many right-wing extremists and religious zealots were among the demonstrators. In some cases there were riots. The police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse radical opponents of vaccination.
The conservative government had enforced a law on Thursday that only vaccinated people are allowed to stay in the interior of restaurants and cultural establishments. In addition, workers in the health sector must be vaccinated. Otherwise, they can be suspended from duty. They would then not get any money as long as they are not vaccinated. In the private sector, employers are also allowed to require their employees to be vaccinated. Otherwise they too can be released. (23.07.2021)
London lifts isolation requirements in grocery stores
The British government has introduced short-term exemptions for employees in grocery stores who have had contact with people infected with corona. The background is staff shortages and empty supermarket shelves in some places. The government said that employees in food distribution centers are now exempt from the obligation to self-isolate and instead carry out regular corona tests.
Previously, more and more people had been “pinged” via the Corona warning app or by employees of the health service, which means that they were identified as contact persons and asked to quarantine at home. This leads to staff shortages in many areas. For example, gas stations have been closed and schoolchildren have been sent early on summer vacation. British media therefore speak of a “pingdemic”.
In the UK, the number of infections has been rising again for weeks. This is mainly attributed to the strong spread of the highly contagious delta variant. In addition, the British government has now lifted almost all corona measures for most of England. The seven-day incidence was last given as 488. (23.07.2021)
New Zealand stops quarantine-free travel with Australia
After an increase in new corona infections in Australia due to the highly contagious Delta variant, New Zealand has suspended quarantine-free travel between the two countries for the time being. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that the regulation will apply from Friday night (local time) for at least two months. “This is not a decision we made lightly, but it is the right decision to ensure the safety of New Zealanders,” she said.
In Australia, the corona numbers have recently increased. The state of New South Wales with the metropolis of Sydney is particularly affected. Nationwide, around half of the population Down Under is in lockdown. “My strong message to every New Zealander in Australia who doesn’t want to stay there permanently is: come home,” said Ardern.
Both countries allowed quarantine-free travel between the two countries for the first time in mid-April. Otherwise, the borders have been largely closed since March 2020.
New Zealand with a population of five million has so far got the virus under control due to extremely strict measures and has only recorded around 2500 infections so far. 26 people in the Pacific country have died in connection with Covid-19. In Australia, with its 25 million inhabitants, authorities have confirmed around 32,000 cases and more than 900 deaths since the pandemic began. (23.07.2021)
Israel is tightening its corona rules
In view of the increasing number of corona infections in Israel, the so-called green passport is to be reintroduced in the country. The Corona cabinet decided on Thursday to again impose restrictions on gatherings of more than 100 people. Participants who are older than twelve must therefore show a certificate for vaccinated or convalescent or a negative corona test result at the entrance. This should apply, among other things, to sports and cultural events as well as fitness studios, restaurants, conferences and houses of prayer.
In addition, the Corona cabinet decided new restrictions on air travelers. The list of “red” countries that can only be visited with special permission has been expanded to include Great Britain, Georgia, Cyprus and Turkey. Vaccinated travelers must also be quarantined when entering Israel until they have a negative test result. Unvaccinated travelers must be quarantined for one week.
The new regulations, which have yet to be approved by the whole government, are due to come into effect in a week. Restrictions on festival halls had already been imposed on Wednesday, and the mask requirement in closed rooms, which was lifted in June, is now back in force. According to the decision of the Corona cabinet, people who do not want to be vaccinated against Corona will have to bear the costs of tests themselves from August 8th.
The Green Pass, which brought relief for those who had been vaccinated and those who had recovered, was introduced in Israel in February. After a significant decrease in the number of infections, however, most of the restrictions had been lifted again. However, the number of new corona infections reported in Israel within one day had recently exceeded the 1000 mark again. (07/22/2021)
Italy is also introducing a Green Passport
In order to contain the corona infections, which have recently increased again, Italy wants to require proof of immunity at numerous facilities and events. Health Minister Roberto Speranza announced that the “Green Pass” will be required from August 6th to visit sports stadiums, fitness centers, museums, cinemas, swimming pools and trade fairs, for example. The guests would also have to show the certificate for the interior of restaurants. In Italy it certifies that a person has been vaccinated, tested negative or recovered at least once. (07/22/2021)
According to the study, Biontech and Astra Zeneca are highly effective against the Delta variant
One British study confirms the high effectiveness of the vaccines from Biontech / Pfizer and Astra Zeneca against the delta variant of the coronavirus. According to im, two doses of the vaccine from Biontech / Pfizer or Astra Zeneca are almost as effective against the highly transmissible delta variant of the coronavirus as against the previously dominant alpha variant New England Journal of Medicine published investigation.
Accordingly, two vaccinations with Biontech / Pfizer are 88 percent effective in preventing symptomatic illness from the Delta variant, compared with an effectiveness of 93.7 percent against the Alpha variant. The double vaccination with Astra Zeneca protects 67 percent effectively against the Delta variant, compared with 74.5 percent against the Alpha variant. (07/22/2021)
Shortly before the start of the Olympic Games: Almost 2000 new infections in Tokyo
Shortly before the opening of the Olympic Games in Tokyo, the number of new infections in the Japanese capital rises to the highest level since January. The city administration announced that 1979 people tested positive for the corona virus within 24 hours. That is 671 cases more than on Thursday last week. The 2020 Summer Olympics, which have been postponed by a year due to the pandemic, will open on Friday, and individual competitions are already taking place. (07/22/2021)
China rejects WHO plans for laboratory inspections
China opposes plans by the WHO to inspect laboratories in the central Chinese metropolis of Wuhan in search of the origin of the coronavirus. China cannot accept such a plan, said Zeng Yixin, vice minister of China’s National Health Commission, on Thursday. He was surprised when he studied the WHO’s new plans. The focus on a possible laboratory outbreak testifies to an arrogant attitude towards science.
Looking for the origin of the coronavirus, the WHO announced a new permanent working group in a letter to the member countries last week. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also emphasized that in addition to examining wild animals and animal markets in Wuhan, China, where the virus first appeared at the end of 2019, the laboratories there must also be inspected. China had delayed the journey of the first WHO research team for months. Although the WHO wants to continue the investigation in China, Beijing is making no move to allow it.
The subject is delicate. The US accuses China of preventing transparent analyzes. Beijing suspects that the US wants to blame China for spreading the virus. At the same time, the theory is being spread in China that the virus could have escaped from a US military laboratory.