Coronavirus pandemic US health officials have halved the recommended isolation time for people with asymptomatic Covid-19 from 10 to five days, amid a surge in cases. The measure is expected to alleviate disruption caused by staff shortages in many areas because of infections. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says most transmissions happen in […]
Coronavirus pandemic New Covid-19 vaccine requirements have come into force in New York City, as infections continue to surge fuelled by the Omicron variant of the virus. Children aged 12 and over are required to show proof of full vaccination to access indoor dining areas and many extra-curricular school activities. The city is also […]
The US is to lift travel restrictions it imposed on eight southern African nations over a new coronavirus strain. The White House said the 29 November measure, affecting South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini and Malawi, would be lifted by New Year’s Eve. The official said the curbs were no longer necessary amid […]
Coronavirus pandemic Airlines in the US are continuing to be hit hard by cancellations as a spike in Omicron variant cases causes global travel disruption over Christmas. A quarter of the more than 4,000 flights cancelled worldwide on Friday and Saturday were in the US, according to website Flightaware. The issue came amid […]
Coronavirus pandemic US President Joe Biden’s administration is to make 500 million rapid tests for Covid available free, amid new measures to tackle the surging Omicron variant. Mr Biden will address the nation later, telling people to protect themselves as the holiday season gets under way. There will be more vaccines and more […]
Coronavirus pandemic Christmas travel will increase the spread of the Omicron Covid-19 variant, even among the fully vaccinated, the top US infectious disease expert says. “There’s no doubt about this, [Omicron] has an extraordinary capability of spreading,” Dr Anthony Fauci told NBC’s Meet the Press programme on Sunday. Dr Fauci, who advises the US […]
The US Congress has passed a bill that requires companies to prove that goods imported from China’s Xinjiang region were not produced with forced labour. The US has accused China of genocide in its repression of the predominantly Muslim Uyghur minority there – a charge that China has repeatedly rejected. The bill had been criticised […]
The Federal Reserve will cut back its stimulus programme more quickly than planned, as it ratchets up its response to rising inflation. The US central bank had already announced it was tapering off the monthly support, introduced to bolster the economy during the pandemic. But on Wednesday officials said the process would be speeded up, […]
Coronavirus pandemic IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGESImage caption, White flags represent each life lost in the US to Covid More than 800,000 Americans have now died from the coronavirus, the highest recorded national death toll from the global pandemic. It comes as the US reached 50 million confirmed cases of Covid-19 on Monday. Most deaths have […]
The US has said no American troops or officials will be held accountable for a drone strike that killed 10 people in Afghanistan in August. The attack took place during the final days of the US-led evacuation of Kabul after the Taliban seized control. An aid worker and nine members of his family, including seven […]
