Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel tested positive for the corona virus after the EU summit in Brussels. The Luxembourg government announced this on Sunday evening. The 48-year-old has mild symptoms such as fever and headache, but will continue his work from home. Ten days of quarantine are planned.
At the summit, Bettel had contact with many other European heads of state and government, including Chancellor Angela Merkel. According to his own statements, he has so far been vaccinated against the corona virus. He should have had his second vaccination this week, said a government spokeswoman for the German press agency. For Merkel, Bettel’s positive test is unlikely to have any consequences. The Luxembourg government does not classify any other heads of state or government as a close contact, according to the spokeswoman Bettels. According to the information, this is only the case in Luxembourg if two people are closer than two meters together in a closed room without a mask for more than 15 minutes. A spokesman for EU Council President Charles Michel pointed out on Twitter that the hygiene rules had been observed at the summit.
1300 new infections in EM city St. Petersburg
In the European Championship game city of St. Petersburg, the number of new corona infections rose before the quarter-final game on next Friday. On Sunday, authorities in the Russian port city reported almost 1,300 new cases in one day, 50 more than the previous day. There were again more than 100 deaths within 24 hours. Nationwide, the authorities spoke of 21,600 new infections. The capital Moscow is worst affected, where there were 6,700 new sick people and 114 deaths, more than ever since the beginning of the pandemic, as reported by the Interfax agency.
Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin threatened state television with a lockdown. With a view to the rapid spread of the delta variant, he said: “To solve this problem fundamentally, you have to get vaccinated or go into a lockdown.” Moscow reopened its EM fan zone on Saturday after it had been closed. The numbers in Russia have been increasing rapidly since the beginning of June.
In view of the widespread skepticism about vaccinations, certain professions are required to be vaccinated in several regions of Russia. By contrast, up to 100 people reportedly demonstrated in Moscow on Saturday. According to human rights activists, at least eight people were temporarily held in police custody. (27.06.2021)
Wave of new infections in Great Britain
Because of the spread of the Delta variant, the number of new infections in the UK has risen to its highest level in more than four months. On Saturday, authorities reported 18,270 new cases – about 2,400 more than the previous day and the number since February 5. Compared to the previous Saturday, the number has almost doubled.
With the help of a month-long lockdown and a vaccination program, Great Britain had pushed the number of new infections, corona deaths and hospital patients far down. The highly contagious Delta variant has been causing a contrary trend for several weeks. The cancellation of all Corona measures planned for June 21 has been postponed by four weeks.
Nevertheless, thousands protested against the British government’s corona rules on Saturday in London and demanded that they be lifted immediately. The crowd moved from Hyde Park to Parliament via Oxford Street. There, some participants threw tennis balls with critical and insulting labels over the fences.
A stir in Great Britain is the fact that around 2,500 people who came to the country between February and May and then tested positive for the virus could not be contacted by the authorities. You had given incorrect or incorrect information about your whereabouts when you entered the country. (26.06.2021)
South Africa is increasingly in the grip of the Delta variant
In South Africa, the number of new infections is rising again significantly. According to the government, the country with more than 56 million inhabitants is increasingly in the grip of the particularly contagious Delta variant. According to official information, there were 18,762 new infections within 24 hours – 11,777 of them in the metropolitan area around the capital Pretoria and Johannesburg. The health infrastructure there is now at the limit of its capacity.
In terms of numbers, South Africa is the hardest hit country in Africa. To date, 1.9 million cases have been documented. Almost 60,000 people died as a result of an infection.
Another variant of the Sars-CoV-2 virus, which is considered to be particularly contagious, is also circulating in the country. Because of this, many countries have imposed restrictions on travelers from South Africa. The previous restrictions have had a devastating effect on the economy. Millions of people are struggling to survive, poverty and food insecurity have worsened dramatically in just a few weeks. (26.06.2021)
Too few volunteers: Paris discos postpone opening test
Scientists wanted to test the risk of transmission in two well-known Parisian discotheques over the weekend – but nothing will come of it for the time being. As announced by the infectious diseases facility ANRS, the number of volunteers is insufficient. Under the motto “Reviens la nuit” (roughly: “Come back at night”), 4400 adults between the ages of 18 and 65 were searched for. The party goers should be fully vaccinated. The experiment should now be rescheduled for a later date.
The government had announced that parties in France’s clubs could rise again from July 9th. The compulsory break for night clubs lasted for 15 months. Guests should show proof of test, vaccination or recovery. For the time being, the clubs are only allowed to receive a limited number of people inside. However, a mask requirement does not apply. (26.06.2021)
The Netherlands are lifting almost all corona measures
The Netherlands has taken a big step back to a public life with almost no corona restrictions. Almost all measures introduced in the wake of the pandemic have been lifted since Saturday. The only central rule is the safety distance of 1.5 meters. If this – such as in a disco – cannot be adhered to, access is only possible with test or vaccination proof. However, the government continued to warn citizens to be cautious – also with a view to the rapidly spreading delta variant of the virus, which is considered particularly contagious.
More than 15 months after the forced closure, discos and nightclubs opened again in numerous cities at midnight. Visitors could have themselves tested before entering.
There are also no restrictions for restaurants, museums and theaters. And football fans can now watch the European Championship games together with others on screens in cafés and pubs. Other events, even with tens of thousands of visitors, are again possible with a test or vaccination certificate.
The mask requirement was also almost completely lifted. They only have to be worn on buses and trains, at airports and in test and vaccination centers. The Netherlands currently has around 29 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants per week. More than 50 percent of the population received at least one dose of vaccine. Almost every third person is fully vaccinated. (26.06.2021)
Two weeks of hard lockdown in Sydney and the surrounding area
The lockdown in Sydney is extended. From Saturday, stricter regulations will apply in Australia’s largest city and suburbs for two weeks. The reason for the measures is an outbreak of the delta variant of the corona virus with 80 infections. The health authorities said that the measures taken so far have not been sufficient. The cases have risen too much. (26.06.2021)
US gives 1.5 million doses of vaccine to Honduras
Honduras will receive 1.5 million doses of the Moderna vaccine from the United States on Sunday. As the US Presidential Office announced, this is the first part of a delivery for the country as part of the Covax international vaccine program. “We share vaccines with Honduras because it is right for the health of the population from a global perspective,” said Juan Gonzalez, director for the western hemisphere on the US National Security Council, in a statement. (26.06.2021)
FDA provides vaccines with supplemented package inserts
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has added a warning to the package inserts for the vaccines from Pfizer, Biontech and Moderna, indicating the rare risk of heart inflammation. The decision follows an extensive review by the US CDC. According to the authority, heart muscle inflammation had unexpectedly often developed in adolescents and young adults, especially after the second dose. (26.06.2021)
EU Commission wants to double the vaccination effort in the fight against Delta variant
The European Commission is calling for EU states to do more to combat the spread of the delta variant of the coronavirus. “For the unvaccinated and only partially vaccinated, the Delta variant is a real threat,” said EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides of “Welt” (Saturday edition) according to a preliminary report. As long as a higher level of second vaccinations has not been reached, everything must be done to interrupt the transmission chain of the delta variant. The EU Health Commissioner also stated that further policy action needed to be taken if necessary. Action must be taken now to prevent a new wave of Covid. (26.06.2021)