Measures against its spread are being tightened in various countries COVID-19, in the light of the rapid spread of the Omicron mutation, but also the increase of coronavirus cases in general.
USA
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A U.S. Court of Appeals on Friday reinstated mandatory vaccination for all employees in large companies, as the government of President Joe Biden wanted, in order to fight its pandemic. Covid-19.
Under the measure, millions of employees in companies with more than 4 employees will have to be vaccinated by January 100th. Otherwise they will be forced to undergo continuous testing. The measure was first announced in mid-September and approved by the White House in early November.
They immediately appealed for its cancellation to states such as Texas, which is controlled by Republicans, who categorically disagree with the mandatory vaccination for the pandemic. On November 6, the Texas Court of Appeals suspended its application, pending consideration of the merits.
Another New Orleans Court of Appeals upheld the suspension, saying the mandatory vaccination exceeded the federal government's authority.
Germany
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Germany reported 42.813 new cases of infection from COVID-19 with the total number of cases recorded at 6.764.188 cases, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute. 414 new deaths were also reported, with the total number of deaths reaching 108.053.
Australia
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Australia hit a record high for the third day in a row today, with infections rising in the two most populous states, but Prime Minister Scott Morrison downplayed the risk as the country continues to ease pandemic measures.
In New South Wales, 2.482 new cases were reported, in Victoria 1.504 and in Queensland 31. In total, they exceeded 3.820 cases, the record set yesterday. Morrison reiterated that the data that should be of interest are hospitalizations and admissions to intensive care units or intubation and not the number of cases, as the country learns to live with the coronavirus.
So far, the rising incidence in New South Wales does not translate into increased pressure on hospitals, as only 26 people are being treated in the ICU, he explained.
India
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India reported 7.145 new cases of infection from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, with the total number of infections having reached 34.733.194 infections, as announced today by the Ministry of Health and Family Social Policy. 289 new deaths were also reported, with the total number of deaths reaching 477.158. More than 34,17 million people have recovered from it COVID-19 in India, since the outbreak of the outbreak. The previous day, the same ministry had confirmed 7.447 new cases of infection and 391 new deaths.
Egypt
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Egypt has recorded the first three cases of the Omicron variant of the new coronavirus, as it became known by the country's Ministry of Health yesterday. "Two cases have not shown any symptoms, while the third has shown mild symptoms," the ministry said in a statement.
Switzerland
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Switzerland will order more doses of vaccines against it Covid-19, the government announced today as it strengthens the restrictions due to the pandemic, having, however, chosen not to adopt - for the time being - an even stricter and more restrictive lockdown.
The health authorities will order 7 million doses from Moderna and as many from Pfizer and BioNTech for the second half of next year, increasing their stock to 34 million doses by 2022 and ensuring that anyone can be vaccinated.
After consulting with regional authorities, the federal government announced that it would extend from Monday the requirement for a coronavirus vaccination or recovery certificate to access many indoor areas, such as restaurants. For nightclubs such as discos and bars where no masks can be worn, guests should also show a negative test.
The measures, which will last until January 24, restore mandatory work from home and limit private gatherings to 10 people if someone aged 16 and over has not been vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19.
France
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The French government announced yesterday the tightening of access conditions with the health pass, in order to face the Omicron mutation, "which will become dominant from the beginning of 2022".
The announcement came after a meeting of the health defense council convened to consider measures ahead of its fifth wave. Covid-19 and the highly contagious Omicron variant. The Omicron mutation, which is spreading rapidly "around us in Europe", "will spread very quickly to the point where it will become dominant by the beginning of 2022" in France, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced.
Meanwhile, the President, Emanuel Macron, yesterday canceled his trip to Mali to meet the interim president and celebrate Christmas with the French troops, due to the crisis of Covid-19, announced the French Presidency.
The French Prime Minister also decided to cancel his planned New Year's trip to Jordan in order to "avoid the introduction of the Omicron mutation in our troops located in exposed territory", his office announced.
Castex was to travel to Jordan to "show the country's support for the French troops involved in Operation Chammal along with France's allies in the area." He would be accompanied by Armed Forces Minister Florence Parley and Government Spokesman Gabriel Atal.
Germany
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Germany yesterday ranked France and Denmark in the "high risk" areas due to the outbreak of coronavirus infections and will therefore impose a quarantine period on unvaccinated travelers from these countries, the Institute of Health Surveillance announced.
As of Sunday, this measure, which will also apply to travelers from Norway, Lebanon and Andorra, requires that people who have not been vaccinated or have not already been infected with Covid-19 should be quarantined possibly doing a diagnostic test on the fifth day.
Germany, which is already suffering from a significant increase in coronavirus infections, must prepare for a new "mass wave" associated with the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has previously warned.
Denmark
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Denmark announced yesterday that it is closing a huge part of its cultural scene and imposing a new restriction on nightlife, in an effort to reduce the outbreak of cases Covid-19 and the new Omicron mutation. Denmark today set a new absolute record with more than 11.000 cases in 24 hours, including a new peak with more than 2.500 Omicron cases, according to the government.
Ireland
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The Irish government yesterday ordered bars and restaurants to close at 8pm and reduced the number of attendees to all public events, in a bid to limit the spread of the Omicron variant.
The Prime Minister of Ireland, Michael Martin, said that the measures, which will start on Sunday, lasting 6 weeks, are necessary, because Omicron is likely to carry a level of infection "much higher than what we have seen so far".
Martin stressed that the variant spreads "aggressively" to all age groups. "The need to slow down the spread of Omicron and get more people to take its booster dose is clear," he said.
Omicron accounted for 35% of cases in Ireland yesterday, up from 14% on Tuesday, according to health officials. 90% of adults in Ireland have been vaccinated and about one third of them have also received a booster dose.
Netherlands
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Health experts advising the Dutch government on its strategy for covid-19, recommended the country to enter a "strict" lockdown, Dutch media reported, a few days after a partial lockdown was extended until mid-January.
The television network RTL Nieuws and the newspaper NRC Handelsblad cited sources within the team of experts and broadcast that they recommended the closure of all stores, except necessary.
Health Minister Hugo de Jong told reporters outside the chamber where the cabinet met earlier today that he was "deeply concerned" about Omicron's rapid dispersal.
"I will not say what additional measures may be needed," de Jong said, adding, however, that the government would follow the experts' recommendations.
(KYPE- APE-BPE- Reuters-AFP - Sputnik / MK / GBA)