Australia vows to “push through” Omicron wave as infections cross a million
Sydney, AustraliaReuters Australia must “push through” the fast-moving Omicron outbreak, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Monday, as infections surpassed one million, more than half in the past week alone, throwing a strain on hospitals and supply chains. Although aggressive lockdowns and tough border controls kept a lid on infections earlier in the pandemic, Australia […]
Mexico nears 300,000 deaths from COVID-19 as cases surge after holidays
Mexico CityReuters Mexico is likely to surpass 300,000 deaths from COVID-19 this week – the fifth highest death toll worldwide – as infections rise after the holiday season, fueled by the Omicron coronavirus variant and largely unrestricted tourism. Infections have more than doubled to 20,000 during the last week when many tourists visited Mexico from […]
Bearing Christmas cheer but no sweets, the Three Wise Men return to Madrid
Madrid, SpainReuters Flanked by dancers and live camels the Three Wise Men paraded down Madrid’s central avenue atop glittering floats on Wednesday evening as traditional Epiphany celebrations returned – with restrictions – after last year’s COVID-19 cancellations. Most Spanish children receive their Christmas presents on 6th January, the day when Melchior, Balthazar and Caspar are […]
Omicron-related disruptions cause over 4,000 flight cancellations to kick off 2022
Reuters More than 4,000 flights were cancelled around the world on Sunday, more than half of them US flights, adding to the toll of holiday week travel disruptions due to adverse weather and the surge in coronavirus cases caused by the Omicron variant. The flights cancelled by 8pm GMT on Sunday included over 2,400 entering, […]
Updated: Omicron dampens global New Year celebrations, fewer watch ball drop in Times Square
Updated: 5.30pm (AEDT)Reuters The Omicron coronavirus variant dampened New Year festivities around much of the world, with Paris cancelling its fireworks show, London relegating its to television, and New York City scaling down its famous ball drop celebration in Times Square. The illuminated ball made of Waterford crystal panels slid down its poll at the […]
Some nations look to shorten isolation rules as Omicron races around the world
Rome, Italy/Washington DC, USReuters Global COVID-19 infections hit a record high over the past seven-day period, Reuters data showed on Wednesday, as the Omicron variant raced out of control and governments wrestled with how to contain its spread without paralysing fragile economies. Almost 900,000 cases were detected on average each day around the world between […]
Australia COVID numbers hit a peak as Omicron outbreak strains domestic politics
Sydney, AustraliaReuters Australia recorded another record surge in COVID-19 infections on Tuesday as an outbreak of the highly infectious Omicron variant disrupted reopening of the economy, while state leaders argued over domestic border controls. The country reported 10,269 new cases of the coronavirus in the previous day, according to a Reuters calculation of state figures, […]
Look beyond the lights and remember the poor, Pope says on Christmas Eve
Vatican CityReuters Pope Francis, leading the world’s Roman Catholics into Christmas, said on Friday that people who are indifferent to the poor offend God, urging all to “look beyond all the lights and decorations” and remember the neediest. Francis, ushering in the ninth Christmas of his pontificate, celebrated a solemn vigil Mass in St Peter’s […]
COVID and Christmas: Wary of Omicron, US churches shift services online
JACK JENKINS, of Religion News Service, reports on how Omicron has changed the Christmas plans of some US churches…
Vaccines, pills and data offer some Christmas cheer in face of Omicron advance
Johannesburg, South Africa/London, UKReuters Omicron advanced across the world on Thursday, with health experts warning the battle against the COVID-19 variant was far from over despite two drugmakers saying their vaccines protected against it and signs it carries a lower risk of hospitalisation. Coronavirus infections have soared wherever the highly infectious Omicron variant has spread, […]