New cases of COVID-19 in the United States have soared to their highest level on record, largely driven by the highly contagious Omicron coronavirus variant.
Australia also hit a new record on Thursday as it narrowed its definition of close contacts of coronavirus cases and relaxed requirements for COVID-19 tests, in a bid to relieve pressure on testing sites.Meanwhile, the World Health Organization warned that the Omicron and Delta variants could produce a “tsunami” of COVID-19 cases that will put “immense pressure” on healthcare systems.
New Year’s parties and gathering of more than four people in public places have been prohibited in the Indian city of Mumbai, officials said on Thursday.
Gatherings of four or more people have will be banned until January 7, under Section 144 of the Indian penal code.
No rules had been specified for house parties, but Mumbai’s governing civic body has appealed to citizens to be cautious and responsible.The number of daily new cases in the city has risen from 1,769 on December 14 to 5,803 on Thursday.
England is building temporary structures at hospitals around the country to prepare for a surge of COVID-19 patients as the Omicron variant fuels a new wave of infections.
The National Health Service (NHS) said on Thursday it will begin setting up “surge hubs” this week at eight hospitals, each with the capacity to treat about 100 patients. Staff are preparing plans to create as many as 4,000 “super surge” beds should they be needed.
The UK reported a record 183,037 confirmed new coronavirus infections on Wednesday, 32 percent more than the previous day.
French officials on Thursday decried an act of vandalism committed against a ruling party lawmaker by suspected anti-vaccination protesters in Chambly, north of Paris.
The house of Pascal Bois, an MP for President Emmanuel Macron’s ruling LREM party, was targeted in the night between Tuesday and Wednesday.The garage was set on fire and an adjacent wall spray-painted with phrases including “Vote No”.
“Such criminal acts of intimidation are not acceptable in a democracy,” Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on his Twitter account on Thursday, adding that police had opened an investigation.