Coronavirus - 23rd January 2022

Hundreds of thousands of Canadians are travelling abroad despite Omicron

Sophia Harris - CBC News
In December, more than 700,000 Canadian air passenger arrivals returned home from international travel.
Despite growing concerns across the globe last fall over the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, Sandy Long and her husband departed on Nov. 28 for a 10-day vacation in Mexico. 
Long said they felt comfortable travelling, because they planned to take strict safety precautions. Plus, the couple hadn't gone abroad for two years due to the pandemic and were yearning to get away.
"Life is short," said Long, 58, of Richmond, B.C. "We needed to feel some warmth [and] we really missed Mexico."
It appears many Canadians have a similar attitude toward travel these days despite Omicron's fast and furious spread, which prompted Canada to repost its advisory against non-essential international travel last month.
Statistics Canada tallied 742,417 Canadian air-passenger arrivals returning home from abroad in December. 
When adjusted to account for recent changes in tracking air travel, that total is almost six times the number of arrivals for the same month in 2020, and more than half the total for pre-pandemic December 2019.
The increase in international travel is likely to continue: there were 216,752 Canadian air-passenger arrivals to Canada during the week of Jan. 3 to Jan. 9, according to the latest data posted by the Canada Border Services Agency.
Travel agency owner Lesley Keyter said that since October, the number of clients booking trips has jumped by between 30 and 40 per cent compared with the same time last year. 
She said popular destinations for her clients, most of whom are aged 50 or older, include Europe, Mexico and Costa Rica. When Omicron cases started to surge in December, Keyter said some clients cancelled their trip, but most kept their travel plans. 
"People are saying, "Listen, we only have a limited time on this planet.… We've put off travel for two years now, I don't want to put it off anymore," said Keyter, owner of The Travel Lady Agency in Calgary.
She said travellers also feel confident with the added protection of their COVID-19 vaccine and booster shot. Because Omicron is so transmissible and more able to evade vaccines, even vaccinated people may get infected. However, they're less likely to wind up in the hospital.
But even if infected travellers only experience mild symptoms, they'll still face hurdles returning home.
To enter Canada, air passengers must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure. If a traveller tests positive, they must wait at least 11 days before boarding a flight home.
Read more here.

Russia breaks daily case total for third day in a row

Russia has again broken its record for the number of new Covid-19 cases, after reporting 63,205 new infections.
It is the third day in a row it has beaten its highest previous total, Reuters reports. More than 57,000 new cases were reported the day before. Another 679 people have died, bringing the death toll to 326,112.

Beijing strengthens precautions admid outbreak surge two weeks before Winter Olympics

The city government in Beijing has introduced new measures to deal with an outbreak of Covid-19, two weeks before the Winter Olympics begins in the city.
Nine cases were identified on Saturday, with six in the Chinese city’s Fengtai district.
Testing has been increased, with 2 million set to be checked, and authorities have asked residents from the district and other affected areas not to leave the city, and to avoid mass gatherings.
In Fengtai, some kindergartens have told parents that children who have not been vaccinated against coronavirus will not be able to attend, two parents told Reuters.
Some delegates, athletes and media personnel have already begun arriving in China ahead of the games which start on 4 February.

Wedding bells are postponed for New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

The 41-year old had planned to marry next weekend but is putting her nuptials on hold following the discovery of nine cases of the omicron variant in a single family that flew to Auckland, Associated Press reports.
Ardern announced new COVID-19 restrictions on Sunday to try and arrest the spread of the variant as one of the few remaining countries to have avoided any outbreaks of omicron finally succumbed.
“I just join many other New Zealanders who have had an experience like that as a result of the pandemic and to anyone who’s caught up in that scenario, I am so sorry,” she told reporters.
The so-called “red setting” of the country’s pandemic response includes heightened measures such as required mask wearing and limits on gatherings. The restrictions will go into effect on Monday. Businesses can remain open and people can still visit family and friends and move freely around the country.

Thousands of protestors have marched through Brussels opposing coronavirus rules

A sprawling crowd appeared far larger than previous demonstrations that have paraded through the Belgian capital to the seat of the European Union, according to reporters from Agence France-Presse.
Protesters carried signs slamming Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and the Covid Safe pass proving you are vaccinated or have tested negative that is required for entry into many venues.
Organisers including the World Wide Demonstration for Freedom and Europeans United for Freedom had called for people to come from other EU states and flags from Poland, the Netherlands and Romania could be seen.
“What has been happening since 2020 has allowed people to wake up to corruption,” said Francesca Fanara, who had travelled from northern France,
“It’s a health dictatorship,” said Adolfo Barbosa from Portugal. “It warms the heart to see these people here.”

Brussels Police Fire Water Cannon, Tear Gas During Covid-19 Curbs Protest
https://www.news18.com/news/world/brussels-police-fire-water-cannon-tear-gas-during-covid-19-curbs-protest-4690349.html

Dozens of Olympic Games personnel have tested positive for Covid, according to organisers of the Beijing event which starts in 12 days

They reported 72 cases among 2,586 Games-related personnel arriving in China from Jan 4 to Jan 22. But there were no cases among the 171 athletes and team officials arriving during that period, according to Reuters in the Chinese capital.
Of the confirmed positive cases, 39 were found in testing at the airport and 33 inside the “closed loop” bubble that separates all event personnel from the public. Participants in the bubble are subject to daily testing.

Surrendered Hong Kong hamster tests positive for Covid as cull continues

It’s not just people who are feeling the effects of the pandemic, as a cull of hamsters is underway in Hong Kong.
On Tuesday officials ordered the killing of hamsters from dozens of pet shops after tracing a Covid-19 outbreak to a worker and asked people to surrender any of the animals bought on or after 22 December. One who had been surrendered to authorities has tested positive.
While a handful of hamsters had already tested positive for the virus, this case is the first involving a hamster in the care of a pet owner that has tested positive.

As reported earlier, thousands of protesters are demonstrating in Brussels, Belgium today against Covid-19 measures in the country.
Police have set off tear gas and used water cannon in an attempt to control and deter crowds.

Police set off tear gas against protestors during a demonstration in Brussels. Demonstrators gathered in the Belgian capital to protest what they regard as overly extreme measures by the government, including a vaccine pass regulating access to certain places and activities and possible compulsory vaccines. Photograph: Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP


Crowds march through Brussels on Sunday as part of a demonstration organised by Europeans United. Photograph: REX/Shutterstock

Indian Vice President Naidu tests positive

ANI/Khaleej Times
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, who is in Hyderabad, on Sunday tested positive for Covid-19 infection.
After testing Covid-19 positive, Naidu has decided to remain in self-isolation for a week and advised all those who came in contact with him to isolate themselves and get tested.

"Vice President Naidu has decided to remain in self-isolation for a week. He has advised all those who came in contact with him to isolate themselves and get tested,” Vice President of India tweeted.
Meanwhile, India reported 333,533 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the active caseload to 2,187,205, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday.
While the daily positivity rate and weekly positivity rate stand at 17.78 per cent and 16.87 per cent respectively, the recovery rate stands at 93.18 per cent. The active cases account for 5.57 per cent of the total cases. With this India’s tally of cases rises to 3,92,37,264.

74,799 new Covid-19 cases reported in UK

There were 74,799 new cases of Covid-19 reported in the UK on Sunday, the Government said.
The Government also said a further 75 people have died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19, bringing the total to 153,862.
A total of 52,223,105 first doses of Covid-19 vaccine had been delivered in the UK by January 22, Government figures show.
Some 48,158,421 second doses have been delivered, an increase of 42,473.
A combined total of 36,890,079 booster and third doses have been given, a day-on-day rise of 68,795.

UAE sees 2,813 new coronavirus cases, 3 deaths in 24 hours

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter
The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) announced 2,813 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of recorded cases in the UAE to 825,699.
The Ministry stressed in a statement on Sunday that its aim to continue expanding the nationwide testing scope to facilitate the early detection of coronavirus cases and carry out the necessary treatment.
As part of its intensified testing campaign, MoHAP announced that it conducted 517,107 additional COVID-19 tests over the past 24 hours, using state-of-the-art medical testing equipment.
The infected individuals are from various nationalities, are stable, and receive the necessary care, according to the ministry.
MoHAP also announced three deaths due to COVID-19 complications, bringing the total number of deaths in the country to 2,214.
The Ministry expressed its sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and wished COVID-19 patients a speedy and full recovery. It called on all society members to cooperate with health authorities and adhere to the instructions and physical distance to ensure the health and safety of all.
MoHAP also noted that an additional 1,028 individuals had fully recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of recoveries to 768,343.
MoHAP has announced that 32,775 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were given in the past 24 hours.
The total number of doses provided up to Sunday stands at 23,313,672 with a rate of vaccine distribution of 235.72 doses per 100 people.

Cyprus: Three deaths and 1,813 new cases reported on Sunday

Katy Turner - Cyprus Mail
Three people died from coronavirus on Sunday as the ministry reported 1,813 new Covid cases.
The three deaths bring to 712 the total number who have died from the virus since the start of the pandemic.
Meanwhile there are 238 patients in hospital, of which 76 are in a serious condition.
Of all patients in hospital 73.53 per cent have no history of vaccinations.
A total of 83,323 tests were carried out on Sunday meaning the 1,813 new cases was a positivity rate of 2.18 per cent.
The total number of cases since the start of the pandemic has reached 235,958.