Great Britain extends booster vaccination to over 40s
In the UK, booster vaccinations against the coronavirus are to be offered to everyone over 40 years of age. Health Minister Sajid Javid announced this following a recommendation from the National Vaccination Commission in London. The experts also advised giving 16- and 17-year-olds a second vaccination. All four parts of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland wanted to follow the recommendations, the minister said.
In the UK, more than 12.6 million people have received a so-called booster vaccination. So far, however, they have been reserved for people over 50 and groups at higher risk. Such vaccinations are an important tool in the fight against a new wave of infections.
Japan’s economy shrinks in the third quarter
Japan’s economy contracted in the third quarter amid weak domestic and international demand. Compared to the previous quarter, the gross domestic product (GDP) fell from July to September by 0.8 percent, as the government announced on the basis of preliminary data. Projected over the year, GDP declined by 3.0 percent.
According to the figures, the decline is mainly due to lower exports and the continued weak demand from private households due to the corona. Many economists had expected a somewhat smaller decline in GDP.
Travel industry: Globetrotter boss expects the dry spell to continue despite the recovery
Despite the increasing demand due to the recent openings of important travel countries such as the USA or Thailand, Globetrotter group leader André Lüthi expects a long dry spell. Until the pre-corona level of 2019 is reached again, it could be 2025. This said the head of the fourth largest Swiss travel group of the news agency AWP.
The European business of the major Swiss tour operators is likely to have reached around 50 to 60 percent of the 2019 level. “The people who wanted to stay in Europe have booked,” said Lüthi. But all the long-haul trips to Australia, Asia or South America have been canceled.
Even if distant destinations such as Botswana, Namibia, Costa Rica or the Maldives have been open again since the summer, you can still feel a certain reluctance, says Lüthi. People come to the travel agency to get advice on long-distance destinations. “But they’re not booking yet.”
China wants to have all 3 to 11 year olds vaccinated by the end of the year
In China, all children between the ages of 3 and 11 should be vaccinated against Covid-19 by the end of the year – that is a total of around 160 million children. Almost 49.5 million children have already received two doses, around 84.4 million have been vaccinated once. This is announced by the national health commission, according to media reports.
Swiss Solidarity is helping with CHF 43.5 million
Swiss Solidarity has helped people in Switzerland who are suffering from the consequences of the corona crisis with 209 projects and a total of 43.5 million francs so far. The rapid and unbureaucratic help reached 1.7 million people, according to a message from Swiss Solidarity. Food and financial support were therefore among the most urgent needs.
A study has now examined the effect of the help and has shown that among those seeking help during the corona crisis, the proportion of employed, men, minors and people with disabilities increased, but that most people received help without any problems. Exceptions were people who were not cared for by any institution before the lockdown or who were not entitled to public assistance.
The study was commissioned in September 2020 from the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) and the University of Social Work and Health in Lausanne (HETSL).
China is sending 10,000 students into quarantine – because of 60 cases
In China, the authorities have quarantined several thousand students. In the metropolis of Dalian in the northeast of the People’s Republic, more than 10,000 students have been obliged to stay in the rooms of their dormitories or to go to quarantine hotels. According to the DPA news agency, the authorities reacted to a corona outbreak among students with around 60 infections. In the 6 million city, the number of infections was more than 200.
The Chinese government is pursuing a strict “zero covid strategy”. With curfews, mass tests, contact tracing, quarantine and strict entry restrictions, the country has the virus largely under control. So far, the rigorous procedure has actually always meant that the mostly small outbreaks could be brought back under control after a few weeks. However, new waves have accumulated since the appearance of the much more contagious Delta variant.
A third of all infections in Germany fall on Bavaria
More than a third of the new corona infections registered across Germany have been reported in Bavaria. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reported exactly 8,629 new infections for the Free State on Monday morning. The health authorities across Germany reported 23,607 infections to the RKI within one day. The seven-day incidence throughout Bavaria rose to 525.7. Nationwide, the number of new infections per 100,000 inhabitants and week on Monday morning was 303 – a high since the start of the pandemic. According to the new information, 43 deaths were recorded across Germany within 24 hours – 13 of them in Bavaria.
In view of the rapidly increasing number of infections and increasing vaccination breakthroughs, Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) announced that a mask would be required for Bavaria from Tuesday where only those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered have access – for example in hotels, restaurants, cinemas and theaters.
Legend:
Markus Söder (CSU), Prime Minister of Bavaria.
Keystone
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Cambodia ends quarantine for vaccinated travelers
Anyone who has been vaccinated against Covid-19 and is traveling to Cambodia no longer has to be in quarantine. This is what Prime Minister Hun Sen said according to the Reuters news agency. Travelers would also have to show a negative test.
Cambodia has vaccinated nearly 90 percent of its 16 million plus residents. This is one of the highest vaccination rates in Asia.
The Southeast Asian country is very popular with travelers and is world famous for the ruins of the temple city of Angkor Wat.
Israel approves Biontech vaccine for children aged five and over
The corona vaccine from Biontech / Pfizer can now also be given to children between the ages of five and eleven in Israel. The Ministry of Health decided on Sunday after an advisory committee had already voted in favor of it. So far, the vaccination approval was only valid for children from the age of twelve and adults. The additionally required doses are to be delivered to Israel in the coming days and enable the vaccination campaign for smaller children to start immediately, as the newspaper “Haaretz” reported.
The advisors consulted by the Ministry of Health came to the practically unanimous conclusion that “the benefits of the vaccine far outweigh its risks,” it said.
The most important things from the previous evening and from the night
- After the lockdown for the unvaccinated, the thinks Austrian government also on night exit restrictions for all citizens. According to Health Minister Wolfgang Mückstein, the decision will be made on Wednesday.
- The Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder announces in view of the dramatic increase in new infections stricter corona rules for the Free State and also demands this throughout Germany.
- In view of the fourth corona wave in various countries of the European Union Israel is considering a travel ban to certain countries.
- Here you will find the most important developments of the corona pandemic of the past week
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