(Reuters) – Here’s what you need to know about the coronavirus right now:
China’s local symptomatic COVID cases nearly double
Mainland China reported 402 locally transmitted COVID-19 infections with confirmed symptoms for March 9, official data showed on Thursday, nearly doubling from the daily count a day earlier.
Of those, 165 were in the northeastern province of Jilin, the National Health Commission said in a statement. That marks the highest daily count for the province since China contained its first national outbreak in early 2020.
An uncompromising response to a spike in local COVID-19 cases in the financial hub of Shanghai is testing the resolve of residents, with a wave of school closures and other draconian measures causing disruptions throughout the city.
Hong Kong leader plans to reopen city only after controlling latest outbreak
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said on Thursday it was not the time to lift a ban on flights from nine countries including the United States and Britain, with plans to reopen the city only after the government controls a deepening coronavirus outbreak.
The global financial hub has some of the most draconian restrictions in place to combat a surge in coronavirus cases that has seen the city suffer the most deaths globally per million people in the week to March 7, according to the Our World in Data publication.
Germany reports record COVID cases
Germany reported a record number of coronavirus infections on Thursday as the country prepares to lift most remaining restrictions.
Germany reported 262,752 new infections, 52,079 more than a week ago, with the seven-day incidence rate rising to 1,389 infections per 100,000 people, from 1,319 a day earlier. Another 259 people died, bringing the total death toll to 125,023.
COVID prevalence rising among over-55s in England
COVID-19 cases were rising among the over-55s in England, a study found on Thursday, with increased social contact, waning of booster protection and a more contagious subvariant of Omicron possibly driving an increase in hospitalisations.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson in February lifted the last coronavirus restrictions in England and abolished a legal requirement to self-isolate after testing positive for the virus.
COVID cases, deaths falling in Americas
The Pan American Health Organization on Wednesday said COVID-19 cases fell by 26% across the Americas last week while deaths from the virus dropped by nearly 19%, but cautioned that some effective measures to curb infections should be maintained.
The region recorded 1.1 million new infections during the period with 18,000 COVID-related deaths.
Canada’s Ontario to drop COVID curbs
Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, said on Wednesday it would end masking requirements for most indoor spaces later this month, and scrap virtually all COVID-19-related public health measures by end-April, citing the reduced threat of the pandemic.
Africa CDC has MOU with Pfizer for supplies of COVID pill
Africa’s top public health agency has agreed a memorandum of understanding with Pfizer to bring supplies of the pharmaceutical firm’s Paxlovid antiviral COVID-19 pills to the continent, its director said on Thursday.
Data from a mid-to-late stage study in November showed Paxlovid was nearly 90% effective in preventing hospitalisations and deaths compared with placebo, in adults at high risk of severe illness.
(Compiled by Linda Noakes; Editing by Alex Richardson)
