Coronavirus - 24th November 2021

Summary for Wednesday, 24th November

• A further 700,000 people could die of Covid by March in Europe and parts of Asia, the World Health Organization says
  
• Some 1.5 million Covid deaths have already been recorded in the WHO's Europe region of 53 countries
  
• It warns of "high or extreme stress" in intensive care units in 49 countries by March, as Europe battles surging cases
  
• New Zealand will relax its strict border rules next year, allowing fully vaccinated visitors by 30 April
  
• Some New Zealanders currently in long waiting lists for quarantine hotels will be able to travel home from mid-January
  
• Another 42,484 cases of Covid were reported in the UK on Tuesday, and 165 deaths within 28 days of a positive test
  

Good morning

Welcome to our live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.
Here are the main headlines this morning:

• A further 700,000 people could die of Covid by March in Europe and parts of Asia, the World Health Organization says, as the region battles a surge in cases
  
• Northern Ireland's commissioner for older people has called an inquiry into the handling of care home residents in the pandemic
  
• Spain seeks tighter Covid restrictions as Germany considers mandatory vaccinations.
  
• Europe reported an 11% increase in new weekly cases while the South-East Asia region reported a decrease of 11%, the latest World Health Organization weekly report reveals.
  
• The Biden administration seeks to reinstate workplace vaccine mandates after asking a federal appeals court on Tuesday to lift a court-ordered stay on a sweeping workplace Covid-19 vaccine rule that requires employees to be vaccinated or tested weekly. Delaying the rule would lead to thousands of hospitalisations and deaths, the administration said in a filing with the 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals.
  
• Kenya plans to deny government services to those who are unvaccinated. In a press briefing on 21 November, health minister Mutahi Kagwe said that from 21 December people seeking in-person government services should be fully vaccinated and should show proof of vaccination. The services include tax, immigration, port, and hospital services, he added.
  
• New Zealand to reopen borders to vaccinated visitors in the opening months of 2022, for the first time since a snap closure took effect in the first month of the pandemic. The country’s borders have been closed for more than a year and a half.
  
• Delays to England’s vaccination rollout may mean some 12- to 15-year-olds may not get their Covid jab until February next year – 15 weeks after the government’s original target for offering the jab to all eligible teenagers, according to Labour.
  
• Total Covid-19 deaths across Europe are likely to exceed 2 million by March next year, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said, adding that the pandemic had become the number one cause of death in the region.
  
• A third dose is likely needed to be fully vaccinated, Dr Anthony Fauci said, adding that the majority of Americans who have been vaccinated should receive the booster shot.
  
• Seven US doctors contracted Covid after attending an anti-vaccine summit in Florida.
  
• Justin Trudeau has said that his top priority for his new government is to get Covid-19 in Canada under control and get more people vaccinated as he pledged support to Canadian industries, which he said were still struggling due to the pandemic.
  
• According to an analysis of the Covid case rates across the UK, 75% of local authorities experienced a week-on-week rise in the seven days to 19 November.
  
• The UK reported a further 42,484 Covid-19 cases and 165 additional deaths, official data shows. The weekly tally was up by 9% to reach 297,658 who have tested positive.
  
• France announced that there were more than 30,000 Covid infections in the past 24 hours. On Monday, France reported 5,266 new cases.
  
• The Netherlands hit a new weekly record on Tuesday – with Covid cases rising by 39% – and intensive care unit admissions rising sharply. The figures show a 19% rise in hospital admissions over the last week and a 26% rise in intensive care unit admissions.
  
• Those in the UK were today urged to take a rapid Covid test before mixing in crowded indoor spaces, marking a change in government and NHS guidance. Previously, the guidance advised the public to use lateral flow tests twice a week.
  
• German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s husband blamed the nation’s poor vaccination rate in part on “a certain German laziness and complacency”.
  
• The Netherlands has started transporting coronavirus patients to Germany in a bid to ease pressure on hospitals struggling to cope with a surge in cases.
  

We will bring you the latest news on the pandemic throughout the day.

Europe faces 700,000 more Covid deaths by March - WHO

Europe and parts of Asia could reach 2.2 million Covid deaths by March next year, the World Health Organization has warned.
It says another 700,000 more people could die from the disease by March 2022, based on current trends.
It’s been 623 days since the health body declared Covid a pandemic in March 2020, and the region has already recorded 1.5 million deaths.
Covid is currently the top cause of death in Europe, it says.
It also warned that 49 countries in the region will reach "high or extreme stress" in intensive care units by March.
Read the full story here.

South Korea's hospitals under pressure as cases surge

South Korea says it has registered more than 4,000 new coronavirus cases in the latest 24-hour period - a record daily number.
Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum has described the situation as worse than expected and said emergency measures should now be considered in and around the capital, Seoul.
Hospitals across the country are said to be rapidly filling up with serious and critical cases and the prime minister urged older people to have their Covid booster jabs.
South Korea has seen a sharp rise in infections since the country began gradually lifting restrictions earlier this month as part of a "living with Covid-19" plan.

New Zealand to reopen to vaccinated visitors

In the first phase of re-opening, fully vaccinated New Zealand citizens and residents who are currently in Australia will be allowed to return from 16 January

New Zealand has unveiled its plans to reopen its borders and allow foreigners to enter the country next year.
Fully vaccinated visitors can enter from 30 April, and will have to self-isolate for seven days upon arrival.
More New Zealanders will also be allowed to travel home from early next year under similar rules.
The move eases strict curbs that have locked out many citizens and tourists since borders were slammed shut at the start of the Covid pandemic.
Announcing the staged re-opening plans earlier this week, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said they were "the safest approach to ensure risk is carefully managed".
"This [phased approach] reduces any potential impacts on vulnerable communities and the New Zealand health system," he said.
Read the full story here.

Woman who rang GP surgery 286 times was told to ring back

Mark Simpson - BBC News NI

Sinn Féin's Órlaithí Flynn raised the woman's case at Stormont's health committee

A woman who rang a GP surgery in Belfast 286 times before her call was answered was then told to ring back the next day, assembly members in Northern Ireland have been told.
The woman's case was raised at Stormont's health committee, which is looking at the pressures on GP surgeries, which have worsened in the pandemic.
Frontline workers were quitting jobs at surgeries because of the abuse they faced on reception, the committee heard.
One practice had lost six of its seven staff, said Dr Laurence Dorman of the Royal College of GPs.
He said staff were demoralised and exhausted, adding: "We are genuinely fearful of what the winter period will bring."
Read the full story here.

US to require vaccines for all non-US nationals crossing into its borders

US president Joe Biden will require essential, nonresident travellers crossing US land borders, such as truck drivers, government and emergency response officials, to be fully vaccinated beginning on 22 January, the administration planned to announce Tuesday, the Associated Press reports.
A senior administration official said the requirement brings the rules for essential travellers in line with those that took effect earlier this month for leisure travellers, when the US reopened its borders to fully vaccinated individuals.
Essential travellers entering by ferry will also be required to be fully vaccinated by the same date, the official said.
The official spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to preview the announcement.
The rules pertain to non-US nationals. American citizens and permanent residents may still enter the US regardless of their vaccination status, but face additional testing hurdles.

US hospitals prepare for influx of Covid patients as millions travel for Thanksgiving
Melody Schreiber - The Guardian
As cases begin surging once more in the US, millions of people are expected to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday, and health workers and hospital systems are now preparing for an influx of Covid patients after having little time to recover from the summer surge.
Last year, there was a major surge in cases around the holidays. But this year, new tools could blunt the spread – if they are taken up quickly.
US scientific agencies on Friday recommended boosters for all adults six months after mRNA vaccination, and children over the age of five recently became eligible for vaccines.
Existing treatments like monoclonal antibodies are highly effective if given early, while two promising antiviral medications from Merck and Pfizer may be authorized in coming weeks. But the new treatments may come against a backdrop of rising cases during the holiday season.
“It is a race against time,” Kyle Enfield, the associate chief medical officer of critical care at University of Virginia Health, said.
More than 92,000 Americans are now testing positive for Covid-19 each day, and more than 1,000 people are dying from the virus every day, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cases are rising in a majority of states, with hotspots in the midwest, north-east and parts of the south-west.
Read more here.

Hungary sets record for new daily Covid cases at 12,637

A quick snap from Reuters here that Hungary reported a record number of new daily Covid cases at 12,637 today.
The seven-day average for the country stands at 9,435. That is up from 7,369 a week ago. Hungary’s vaccination rate is below the EU average, with 60% of the population having received one dose so far.
Here’s an updated map showing the latest caseload incidence across Europe.

Government set to announce lockdown in Slovakia as country sets new cases record

Slovakia reported its highest daily rise in new Covid-19 cases today, just ahead of a government meeting likely to agree a short-term lockdown to try and quell the surge. There were 10,315 new cases reported.
Jason Hovet reports for Reuters that ahead of a government meeting today, defence minister Jaroslav Nad said no alternative existed. “If we want to be responsible, we have only one option, the rest is populism,” he was quoted as saying by newspaper Dennik N, which earlier reported government parties had a preliminary agreement on a two-week lockdown.
In Slovakia, which has the European Union’s third-lowest vaccination rate, the surge is putting new pressure on hospitals.
The health ministry said the number of people hospitalised had reached a “critical point” at 3,200 and was approaching peaks of around 3,800 seen in the last wave of the pandemic. Most patients were unvaccinated, it said.

What do this morning's papers say?

Covid makes the headlines in several of today's front pages:


The Daily Telegraph reports the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine could offer longer-lasting immunity than other jabs. It says AstraZeneca is preparing to release new research on the jab's impact on T-cell immunity which it says could continue after antibodies wane. The paper says the development could explain why European countries are suffering a surge in infections yet to strike the UK.


The Times says patients facing long waits for treatment will be moved around the country to spare beds under NHS plans to deal with the post-pandemic backlog. Another idea will see routine follow-up appointments for outpatients scrapped for a range of illnesses and replaced by "patient-initiated" meetings.


Testive shopping, puns the Metro, as it reports that Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has asked Scots to increase the frequency they self-test for Covid, especially before going into crowded spaces like Christmas shopping.


The Scotsman lead says the Scottish government has "defied expectations" on a tightening of Covid rules before Christmas by deciding not to extend the vaccine passports scheme to pubs and restaurants.

Australian men charged over threats to behead politician

Mark McGowan is the premier of Western Australia

Two men in Western Australia have been charged after allegedly making a series of threatening phone calls to the state's Premier Mark McGowan, which included a threat to behead him and his family.
Mr McGowan and his staff have received an increasing number of threats following his government's decision to make Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory for 75% of Western Australia's workforce - about a million people.
He has already been forced to close his electoral office because of safety concerns for his staff, and has said his family is considering moving house.
His personal phone number was leaked and shared on anti-vaccination and anti-mandate online chat groups.
Mr McGowan said the threats were the worst he'd ever seen, and likened them to "Islamic fundamentalists".
“These sorts of threats, intimidation, violence, extremism [are] dangerous, it’s unhelpful, and it’s not going to change anything the government does,” he said.
Other Australian politicians have also received death threats or had violent messages directed at them.
In Brisbane, Queensland, a protester at an anti-mandate rally called for Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to be hanged. And in the state of Victoria, protesters used props like gallows to stage fake executions of that state's Premier Dan Andrews.

Shots fired at police during Martinique Covid protest

Police on the French Caribbean island of Martinique have launched an investigation after gunshots were reportedly fired at officers during a protest against Covid measures.
Demonstrations have been taking place against the introduction of mandatory vaccinations for healthcare workers and other civil service employees.
On Tuesday, crowds gathered in the capital, Fort-de-France, as a general strike in the country entered its second day.
Demonstrators set up barricades and blocked roads with burnt-out vehicles. Local authorities described the situation as "very tense".
The Fort-de-France prosecutor's office said in a statement that "gunfire targeted the security forces" in the city later on Tuesday, but that no injuries had been reported.
It added that investigators were looking into attempted murder charges.

Countries across Europe report record cases

Protests have already taken place in Slovakia against restrictions for the unvaccinated

European countries are reporting record numbers of daily Covid infections as a worrying surge sweeps across the continent, putting hospitals under pressure ahead of winter.
In Slovakia, an additional 10,315 cases were recorded in the latest 24-hour period, health ministry officials said on Wednesday.
It means the country - with its population of about 5.5 million - now has the highest per capita infection rise worldwide.
Ministers are due to debate later today whether to impose a short-term lockdown. President Zuzana Caputova said it was "an unpopular measure, but absolutely unavoidable".
Neighbour Poland, whose government has been reluctant to implement new measures, has reported 28,380 new daily cases, while daily infections in the Czech Republic have breached 25,000 for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
The surge in cases comes despite many countries already having some restrictions in place, such as barring unvaccinated people from visiting restaurants, cinemas and other services.
Meanwhile, Austria has this week returned to a full national lockdown. People have been asked to work from home and non-essential shops have closed as cases there have also risen sharply.

Poland surge putting strain on hospitals

Adam Easton - Warsaw Correspondent
Poland's 28,380 new coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours is a 17% increase from cases reported a week ago, and the first time the number has exceeded 25,000 since April.
There were 460 daily coronavirus-related deaths reported.
Over the last five weeks, Poland has seen a gradual rise in cases and hospitalisations.
The highest rise in death rates has taken place in the eastern regions with the lowest vaccination rates. The country's vaccination rate - 64% of all adults - is below the EU average of 74%.
The government has been reluctant to introduce more restrictions, citing street protests in the Netherlands and Austria.
Health Minister Adam Niedzielski said earlier this week that if the infection rate did not begin to fall by mid-December, then restrictions could be reintroduced.
There are now 18,707 people in hospital with Covid, up 38% in a week, and an increase of 387 in the previous 24 hours. Most of the new admissions are people who are not vaccinated, health ministry officials say.
Temporary hospitals have been reactivated to accommodate the rising number of hospitalisations.
Poland has reported more than 3.4 million Covid infections since the start of the pandemic and 81,688 coronavirus-related deaths.

NHS considering radical ideas to clear backlog - health boss

The NHS is considering "radical ideas" to help tackle the post-pandemic care backlog, including sending patients to different regions for treatment, the chief executive of NHS Providers says.
Chris Hopson says it's more likely that people will be asked to go to neighbouring hospitals rather than different parts of the country.
More than 5.45 million are waiting for NHS hospital treatment in England.
Hopson, whose organisation represents hospital trusts, said there was a "moral obligation" on trusts to leave "no stone unturned" to get through the care backlogs.
The number of follow-up appointments after some procedures could also be cut as part of the plans.
But he says: "The implication that we're suddenly just going to say to everybody 'We don't want to see you anymore' - absolutely not. It will be risk-based, as it always is."

• Read more: Why is the NHS struggling like never before?
  

Czech Republic records new record daily caseload of 25,864

Coronavirus infections in the Czech Republic have reached another record high. The daily tally hit 25,864 on Tuesday, about 3,000 more than the previous record registered on Friday. Just over 58% of the Czech population has been fully vaccinated.
Associated Press report that the government has been considering mandatory vaccination for certain groups of people, including the elderly, medical and military personnel and police officers. Another proposal under consideration is shortening the time between a second shot and a booster from six to five months.
The Czech Republic’s approach to the new surge is being hampered by the protracted changeover of government. Some of the proposals and measures imposed by the outgoing government of Andrej Babiš are opposed by a coalition of five parties that agreed to form a new government.
The new coalition strictly rejects any mandatory vaccination. Vlastimil Válek, the candidate to be the new health minister, said on Wednesday that “it’s not a solution, it only further divides the society”.
Some new restrictions targeting the unvaccinated took effect Monday, with only those with proof of vaccination able to access public events, go to bars and restaurants, visit hairdressers, museums and similar facilities or use hotels. The incoming coalition has said it wants to return to a system where negative tests would also act as a pass for those venues and activities.

Italy considers 'super green pass' and new rules that could see restrictions on unvaccinated

Politicians in Italy are considering new Covid measures that could see restrictions on unvaccinated people.
Prime minister Mario Draghi’s government is today discussing the details of a “super green pass” for the vaccinated, reports Bloomberg.
The measures, which are being debated today, would reportedly only permit those with proof of vaccination to get into venues including cinemas and theatres. But it is understood tthe rules would still allow unvaccinated people to go to workplaces after testing negative.
Governments across Europe are considering new restrictions as cases surge across the continent. Meanwhile, Austria is bringing back a full lockdown.
Italy has also reduced the time people must wait before getting a booster dose of the vaccine from six months to five.
It comes after last month Italy introduced a digital “green pass”, required for all workers, prompting protests.

One in four adults in England ignore self-isolation rules after testing positive for Covid

One in four adults in England who test positive for Covid are ignoring self-isolation rules, according to a survey by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The research found just 75% of respondents fully followed isolation requirements for 10 days after testing positive.
It marks a fall from September, when 78% said they adhered, and a significant drop since May, when the figure was 86%.
The latest figures are based on responses collected from adults in England between 1 and 6 November.
The ONS said the attitude change between May and November was “statistically significant”.
Tim Gibbs, head of the ONS public services analysis team, said:

The latest results show that although the majority of those testing positive for Covid-19 are following self-isolation requirements, there has been a decrease since earlier this year.
It’s important that we continue to self-isolate when necessary in order to help keep everyone safe and stop the spread of the virus, especially as we are moving into the winter months.

Countries should consider mandatory Covid vaccination, says WHO Europe

Countries should consider implementing mandatory Covid vaccination, the director of World Health Organization (WHO) Europe said today.
Robb Butler said that although “mandatory vaccine can, but does not always, increase uptake”, he suggested countries should start thinking about the issue.
It comes after Germany’s tourism commissioner, Thomas Bareiss, said he expected vaccination to become mandatory in the country. Austria plans to make it compulsory from February.
Butler told Sky News that mandates could come at the “expense of trust and social inclusion”.
But, he added:

We believe it’s time to have that conversation from both an individual and a population-based perspective. It’s a healthy debate to have.

France to announce new Covid measures as infections surge

France is to announce new Covid measures tomorrow as infections surge across the country.
Spokesman Gabriel Attal said today that the government wants to strengthen social distancing and speed up vaccinations and said they are doing all they can to save the Christmas holiday season.
They also plan to tighten regulations on using the country’s health pass.
Despite this, he said the situation is likely to worsen in the coming days. The incidence rate (infections per week per 100,000 people) is expected to rise above 200 this week.

Social distancing becomes mandatory in the Netherlands amid calls for tougher measures
As social distancing once again became mandatory today in the Netherlands amid soaring Covid infections, the country’s leading intensive care physician called for even tougher measures.
The country entered a partial lockdown on 13 November, under which bars, restaurants and supermarkets have to close at 8pm and people were urged to work from home.
From today, 1.5 metre social distancing was made compulsory for all adults in locations where Covid passes are not required.

The Netherlands to announce additional Covid measures on Friday
More from the Netherlands where the health minister has said that the government will announce new Covid measures on Friday, reports Reuters, as hospitals struggle to cope with a surge in cases.
“The infection rate is higher than ever before”, Hugo de Jonge said in a letter to parliament. “Hospital admissions keep exceeding expectations and we have not seen the worst yet.”

40% of Israeli Covid-19 cases in children under 12

Nearly 40% of Israel's Covid-19 patients are below the age of 12, the country's Health Ministry has said.
Officials said that of 6,505 Israelis currently infected with the disease, 2,574 of those are children.
The announcement comes as the government launched its vaccination campaign for children aged 5-11 this week. Around 1.2 million children will be inoculated with two doses of the Pfizer vaccine over the coming months.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett had his nine-year-old son vaccinated in front of media on Tuesday and urged other lawmakers to set a similar example.
Israel recently emerged from a fourth Covid-19 wave which saw daily infections peak at more than 8,000 cases per day. But daily infections have been relatively low for the last few weeks and million of people have now received a third booster jab.
But despite the country's progress, the government has extended "Green Pass" regulations meant to restrict access to certain venues to vaccinated or recovered individuals for another two weeks.

London Tube workers 'facing danger' as mask-wearing dips

London Underground workers are being put in potentially dangerous situations as mask-wearing is now being "openly ignored" on a large scale, unions are warning.
The train drivers' union Aslef says there has been a noticeable dip in travellers wearing masks on the Tube - even though it's a requirement.
And Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT), says: "It's no wonder there's talk of new restrictions and controls if we can't even deliver the basics."
Transport for London - which runs the Tube network - said it has 500 enforcement officers to ask customers to comply with its mask rules.
It says it has refused entry to 408 people and asked 126 to leave services since national rules were relaxed in July.
Read more: What are the rules on mask wearing now?

What are the travel rules in France, Spain, the US and more?

For anyone considering travelling in the pandemic, the variety and complexity of rules can feel a bit overwhelming, with the broad spectrum of testing, vaccination and self-isolation requirements in place around the world.
However, to give prospective tourists and travelling business people a hand we've picked a selection of destinations many British people might be planning to travel to, aiming to explain their rules as simply as possible.
The seven countries we've selected are - Spain, France, Italy, the US, Irish Republic, Greece and Germany.
The key points covered include:

• What you need to do to enter - for example the testing and vaccination requirements
  
• The existing rules and restrictions in place once there - like vaccine passports, mask requirements
  
• What you need to do to return to the UK
  

For anyone who'd like to read the full details of each place click here.

What's happening in Taiwan?

Kerry Allen - BBC Monitoring, Chinese Media Analyst
Taiwan has not recorded any local Covid cases since 4 November, according to official data.
Also, according to the national news agency CNA, the share of fully vaccinated people in the country is close to reaching 50%. More than 11.6 million people have received two vaccine doses in Taiwan - 49.8% of the population. More than 77% have received at least one vaccine dose.
The Central Epidemic Command Centre is conditionally relaxing Covid restrictions "for attending funerals or visiting relatives for people in home isolation/quarantine".
On Thursday, it will begin to offer recipients of the AstraZeneca vaccine second doses of either Pfizer or Moderna. This was the first vaccine that was made available to residents in Taiwan, and the Taipei Times says that people can apply online for these "mix and match bookings".
The Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna, and locally-made Medigen vaccine are available there.
The latter has gained some international recognition – Taiwan News says that Palau now allows visitors to enter if they have received the Taiwan-made vaccine. However, it reports that a man has been refused transit to Palau from the US pacific island territory of Guam, as the vaccine is not yet recognised there.

Why was Scotland's vaccine passport expansion dropped?

Philip Sim - BBC Scotland political correspondent
As we heard yesterday, the Scottish government has decided not to expand its vaccine passport scheme to more venues.
It's been branded a "U-turn" by opposition parties.
So what was it that changed their minds?

• Case numbers: First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said "our position is definitely more positive than we might have expected it to be at this point", as case numbers dip slightly to a "relatively stable" position
  
• Legal issues: A key legal test of Covid rules is that they are "necessary and proportionate" - and with case numbers dropping and high vaccine take-up, ministers may have feared the move would be that bit more difficult to justify in court
  
• Industry concerns: Worries about the latest proposals were notably widespread - particularly surrounding implementation costs at venues which don't normally employ door staff
  
• Political pressure: The Conservatives argued against the plans, citing the concerns of business; Labour lobbied for more testing like has been done in Wales; and the Lib Dems want "Covid ID cards" scrapped altogether.
  

Read the full analysis here.

Hundreds of anti-vaccination protesters take to Kyiv streets

Protesters carry a banner reading "no to genocide of Ukrainians" through Kyiv
Hundreds of demonstrators have taken to the streets of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv to protest against Covid measures and the country's mandatory vaccination programme for some workers.
Protesters carried placards reading "no to genocide of Ukrainians" and "say 'no' to lies".
Some were also demanding the release of anti-vaccine activist Ostap Stakhiv, who was arrested in the city of Lviv last week accused of undermining public health through alleged links with Russia.
Mr Stakhiv has denied all the allegations against him.
Ukraine, which has recently seen a rise in vaccination numbers after imposing restrictions in public places, is still struggling to persuade a large number of its citizens who remain hesitant to receive their shots.
The country is experiencing a new surge in coronavirus cases as the highly transmissible Delta variant sweeps across Europe.
Ukraine today reported 14,325 new daily Covid cases and 595 coronavirus-related deaths.

Dutch consider new curbs after record number of cases

The Dutch government looks set to announce a raft of new coronavirus restrictions after the country recorded a record number of cases of the virus.
Officials announced on Wednesday that more than 23,700 Covid-19 infections had been recorded in 24 hours, the highest number since the beginning of the pandemic.
It means that cases have jumped by more than 40% over the past week, despite more than 85% of Dutch people being fully vaccinated.
Experts have warned that hospitals will reach full capacity in less than a week if new restrictions are not introduced.
"The infection rate is higher than ever before", Health Minister Hugo de Jonge said in a letter to parliament on Wednesday. "Hospital admissions keep exceeding expectations and we have not seen the worst yet."
He said the government's panel of health experts would provide fresh policy advice by Thursday and that a decision would follow on Friday.
Plans to restrict access to many public places to people who have been vaccinated or have recently recovered from COVID-19 prompted three nights of rioting last week and more than 170 people have been arrested.

Slovakian government has approved a two-week lockdown, amid a record rise in cases
There was speculation earlier that a new lockdown would be announced, after the country reported a record 10,315 new cases.
Slovakian media cited the economy minister, Richard Sulik, as saying the lockdown would be imposed, according to Reuters. There were no details on when it will come into force.
Officials had been debating whether to impose restrictions for both vaccinated and unvaccinated Slovaks after Austria implemented similar measures this week.
This is Damien Gayle taking the helm on the live blog for the next hour or so while Miranda has a break.

Europe is epicentre of pandemic once again - WHO

Imogen Foulkes - BBC News, Geneva
Europe is once again at the epicentre of the pandemic, the World Health Organization has said.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO's director general, said more than 60% of the world's cases and deaths were in Europe over the last week.
The organisation said the highly infectious Delta variant has increased the risk of transmission among vaccinated people.
Dr Tedros warned against a "false sense of security" created by the vaccines, stressing that those who are vaccinated can still get and spread the virus.
Those who are vaccinated must therefore continue to take precautions, such as mask wearing, social distancing, avoiding crowds, and meeting others outside or in well-ventilated rooms, he said.
Dr Tedros stressed, however, that the vaccines do reduce the risk of severe illness and death.

• Look up: Covid cases, deaths, vaccinations by country
  

 

UK reports 43,676 new daily Covid infections

There have been 43,676 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, according to the latest data.
This means there have been 303,071 people who have tested positive for the virus in the last seven days, - up by 11.1% on the week before.
There have also been 149 deaths of people within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19, taking the weekly total to 926 - a 9.4% fall on the previous seven-day period.
Around 80.4% of people over the age of 12 are fully vaccinated, while 88.4% have had a single dose of a Covid jab and 27.8% have received a third booster dose.

Fresh measures but no lockdown expected in France

France is set to announce fresh measures on Thursday to curb the spread of Covid-19, as infection rates surge domestically and across Europe.
However, French government spokesman Gabriel Attal says there are no plans to introduce a new lockdown as some EU countries have done, the Reuters news agency reports.
Speaking at a news conference, Attal says the government is looking to avoid major restrictions on public life.
He explains it is instead looking to use other means of suppressing transmission like stricter social distancing, increasing the number and pace of booster jabs and tightening vaccine passport rules.
"We must protect the French people by building on what we have, to save the end-of-year festivities and get through the winter as well as possible," the minister says.
France's vaccine passport - known as the health pass - allows entry to cafes, restaurants, museums, cinemas and other public places for those who are fully vaccinated or have recently tested negative.
The seven-day average of cases exceeded 20,000 for the first time since August on Tuesday, while coronavirus patients in intensive care rose to 1,455.
Attal declined to specify what measures may be announced on Thursday, but the government is expected to follow the advice of France's health regulator to allow anyone over-40 to access a third dose of a Covid vaccine.

Netherlands records over 23,700 new daily Covid cases - highest since start of pandemic
The Netherlands has reported more than 23,700 new Covid cases - the highest since the start of the pandemic, reports Reuters.

Slovakia to enter two-week lockdown

Slovakia will limit movement as part of a two-week lockdown in an attempt to stem a fast rise in Covid-19 cases, the government has announced.
Slovakians will only be permitted to travel for essential shopping, work, school or medical visits, government ministers said on Wednesday.
They will assess the situation after 10 days, although any easing of restrictions will be limited to those fully vaccinated against the virus.
The decision to return to a lockdown comes after the government imposed new restrictions on unvaccinated people earlier this week in an attempt to push up vaccinations.
Slovakia has the third-lowest vaccination rate in the EU. Less than 50% of people in the country of 5.5 million have been vaccinated and the vast majority of people in hospital are unvaccinated.

Positive coronavirus tests on the rise in the UK

The number of people testing positive for coronavirus is on the rise in the UK, with 43,676 new cases according to the latest figures.
According to the 4pm update of the UK government’s coronavirus dashboard, 303,071 people have tested positive for the virus in the past seven days - a rise of 11.1%.
A total of 112,627,026 doses of coronavirus vaccine have now been administered, the data show. Of those, 50,827,554 have been first doses, 46,208,81 have been second doses, and 16,004,629 have been third or booster doses.
Uptake of coronavirus vaccines has been high in the UK compared to some other European countries, with 80.4% of people aged over 12 in the country having completed their two-dose course of Covid vaccinations.

Weekly Covid rates rising in nearly three quarters of UK local authorities

Nearly three quarters of local authorities in the UK experienced a week-on-week rise in Covid rates in the seven days to 20 November.
According to an analysis by PA Media, 74% of Britain’s 377 local authority areas saw a rise, 25% a fall and the remainder were unchanged.
Torridge in Devon continues to have the highest rate in the UK - with 1,030 new cases per 100,000 people - followed by Mid Sussex (849 per 100,000) and Gwynedd in Wales (848 per 100,000).
Mid Ulster has the highest rate in Northern Ireland (837 per 100,000) and Falkirk the highest rate in Scotland (544 per 100,000).
The five areas with the biggest rises in the UK were: Guildford, Eastbourne, Shetland Islands, East Hampshire and Newark & Sherwood.

Italy unveils new Covid measures banning unvaccinated from numerous venues, extending compulsory vaccination and expanding booster shots to all adults
Italy has unveiled new Covid measures, set to come into force on 6 December, that will ban unvaccinated people from entering venues including cinemas, restaurants and sports events.
“We are seeing the situation in bordering countries is very serious and we also see that the situation in Italy is gradually but constantly getting worse,” the prime minister, Mario Draghi, told reporters after the cabinet approved the new rules.
“We want to be very prudent to try to safeguard what Italians have achieved in the last year.”
From 15 December, mandatory vaccination will be extended to include all school staff, police and the military. Healthcare workers are already required to be vaccinated.
Booster shots, currently available to people aged 40-plus, will be made available to all adults.

Headlines round-up from today

Thank you for joining us today. As our live coverage comes to an end, here are some of Thursday's key developments in the pandemic:

• The WHO has warned Europe faces another 700,000 deaths by March, describing the continent as the epicentre of the current phase of the pandemic
  
• However, the global health organisation also called on richer countries to donate doses of Covid jabs ahead of vaccinating children, who are less vulnerable to severe illness and death
  
• Many European countries are considering or have already introduced new Covid restrictions, as cases in the continent continue to rise
  
• In the last day, Poland has reported more than 28,000 cases, the Czech Republic more than 25,000, while Slovakia has the highest per-capita infection rise in the world
  
• In this vein, the Netherlands is set to announce new curbs on Thursday, after daily cases there also reached record levels - with nearly 24,000 new cases reported
  
• Back in the UK, there have been more than 43,000 new cases of coronavirus in the last day
  
• A man has been jailed after sending a fake bomb to a Covid vaccine factory in Wales, which briefly resulted in the facility being closed.
  
• Italy has unveiled new Covid measures banning the unvaccinated from numerous venues, extending compulsory vaccination and expanding booster shots to all adults. “We are seeing the situation in bordering countries is very serious and we also see that the situation in Italy is gradually but constantly getting worse,” the prime minister, Mario Draghi, said.
  
• Portugal’s health secretary today pledged to give Covid booster shots to a quarter of the population by the end of January to tackle the “pandemic storm that has not yet passed”. More than 850,000 people in Portugal have already received a booster shot. Antonio Sales said 2.5 million would get the additional dose by the end of January.
  
• Nearly three-quarters of local authorities in the UK experienced a week-on-week rise in Covid rates in the seven days to 20 November. According to an analysis by PA Media, 74% of Britain’s 377 local authority areas saw a rise, 25% a fall and the remainder were unchanged.
  
• The number of people testing positive for coronavirus is on the rise in the UK, with 43,676 new cases according to the latest figures. 149 more people have died. 303,071 people have tested positive for the virus in the past seven days - a rise of 11.1%.
  
• Dr Michael Ryan, the executive director of the World Health Organization’s health emergencies programme, said the UK had “led the world” on how to approach measurement of pandemics.
  
• The World Health Organization director-general has declared that Europe is once again at the epicentre of the pandemic and warned that “no country or region is out of the woods”.
  
• The Netherlands reported more than 23,700 new Covid cases – the highest since the start of the pandemic.
  
• The head of the EU’s disease control agency has warned that mandatory Covid vaccination is “not a magic wand” as she warned that European governments needed to take urgent action faced with a rising wave of infections.
  
• The Netherlands health minister has said the government will announce new Covid measures on Friday as hospitals struggle to cope with a surge in cases. “The infection rate is higher than ever before,” Hugo de Jonge said in a letter to parliament. “Hospital admissions keep exceeding expectations and we have not seen the worst yet.”
  
• France is to announce new Covid measures tomorrow as infections surge across the country. Spokesman Gabriel Attal said today that the government wants to strengthen social distancing and speed up vaccinations and said they are doing all they can to save the Christmas holiday season.
  
• Countries should consider implementing mandatory Covid vaccination, the director of World Health Organization (WHO) Europe said today. Robb Butler said that although “mandatory vaccine can, but does not always, increase uptake”, he suggested countries should start thinking about the issue.
  
• One in four adults in England who test positive for Covid are ignoring self-isolation rules, according to a survey by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The research found just 75% of respondents fully followed isolation requirements for 10 days after testing positive.
  
• Politicians in Italy are considering new Covid measures that could see restrictions on unvaccinated people. Prime minister Mario Draghi’s government is today discussing the details of a “super green pass” for the vaccinated.