A man waits at the reception of testing station in Duisburg, western Germany, on Nov 12, 2021, amid the ongoing coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.
(INA FASSBENDER / AFP)
ROME / PARIS / MONTERREY / BERLIN / MOSCOW / LISBON – Germany's expert panel on vaccine use is preparing to recommend a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose, the committee's head, Thomas Mertens, told media group Funke on Thursday.
"We have data from Israel that shows a fourth dose significantly improves protection from a severe case of illness," Mertens told Funke. "The STIKO will make the recommendation soon," he added.
The panel would recommend booster shots only with vaccines that are already available, Mertens added.
Meanwhile, Germany's expert panel on vaccine use on Thursday recommended Novavax's protein-based COVID-19 vaccine for basic immunization for people over 18.
Novavax's vaccine uses a different technology than the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna or the Johnson and Johnson shot.
People wait during an observation period after having received Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, in a vaccination center, in Nantes, western France on Dec 30, 2021. (JEREMIAS GONZELES / AP)
France
France's vaccine pass will remain in place until hospitals are able to function normally without cancelling non-emergency procedures to make room for COVID-19 patients in intensive care, Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Wednesday.
The government says the vaccine pass helps curb the spread of the coronavirus and has spurred more people to get the COVID-19 shot, alleviating pressure on hospitals. Critics say it impinges on civil liberties and some have taken to the streets in protest.
France was still a way off that point, with 3,700 COVID patients in intensive care, Veran said, suggesting that number would need to come down to around 1,000 before the vaccine pass rules could be removed.
Since mid-January, people in France have had to show proof of vaccination to enter bars, restaurants, cinemas and other public places. Previously, there had also been the option of showing a negative COVID-19 test or proof of recent infection.
Asked whether France would require a second booster shot, Veran said it would depend on whether there were further mutations of the virus.
People wait at an Italian Red Cross anti COVID-19 vaccination hub in Rome on Nov 29, 2021. (GREGORIO BORGIA / AP)
Italy
The Italian government on Wednesday relaxed anti-COVID-19 rules for schools, as the infection surge linked to the Omicron variant seemed to be gradually falling under control.
A key change was to cut the mandatory quarantine – from 10 days to 5 days – required to unvaccinated pupils who had a direct contact with a person positive for COVID-19
A key change was to cut the mandatory quarantine – from 10 days to 5 days – required to unvaccinated pupils who had a direct contact with a person positive for COVID-19.
Their vaccinated peers would not be subjected to quarantine, but only be asked to put in place a "self surveillance," meaning to use FFP2 face masks for 5 days and undergo a swab test. The same rule would apply to students who recovered from the disease within 120 days.
A second measure made unlimited the validity of the so-called "super green pass," the certificate showing proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19, for people who got the vaccine booster.
"School is at the heart of our country and we wanted to reduce distant learning as much as possible," Health Minister Roberto Speranza told a press conference.
"The step we took was allowed by the latest epidemiological picture, which is encouraging … as of this morning, some 91 percent of people aged over 12 have at least one vaccine dose," he added.
Prime Minister Mario Draghi was quoted as saying that the country would go towards a further opening phase in the next weeks, "if consistent with the scientific evidence on the pandemic situation."
The new rules will be implemented for pupils aged 6 to 19 in all primary, lower and upper secondary schools from Feb 7.
At the base of the decision concerning schools was the gradual push in vaccinations among the younger ones.
Almost 30 percent of children aged 5-11, and 84.5 percent of those aged 12-19, had received at least one vaccine dose, National Health Institute President Silvio Brusaferro said Friday.
Mexico
Mexico topped 5 million total confirmed coronavirus cases on Wednesday, registering 42,181 new cases and 573 new deaths, according to health ministry data.
The overall number of confirmed cases hit 5,027,870 and the death toll in the country rose to 307,493.
A woman wearing a face mask crosses a street in Lisbon on Nov 25, 2021. (ARMANDO FRANCA / AP)
Portugal
Portugal registered on Wednesday 56 more deaths associated with COVID-19, bringing the national death toll to 20,024, according to the Directorate-General for Health.
The daily epidemiological bulletin shows that there were 54,693 more new COVID-19 infections in the last 24 hours, bringing the national tally to 2,745,383.
According to the Portuguese health authorities, there are 2,442 people in hospital with COVID-19, with 149 of them in intensive care units.
Moreover, 33,989 COVID-19 patients were reported to have recovered in the last 24 hours.
The DGS also reported that 5,061,810 people have received a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot, and 8,798,287 people have completed primary vaccination, including 301,079 children aged five to 11.
Russia
Russia reported a record daily number of COVID-19 cases on Thursday as the Omicron coronavirus variant spread across the country, authorities said.
New daily cases jumped to 155,768, up from 141,883 a day earlier. The government coronavirus task force also reported 667 deaths in the last 24 hours.
