Covid live news: infections hit all-time highs across Europe; South Africa restores contact tracking and isolation | World news

Epidemiologist of Infectious Diseases i World Health Organization No Covid-19 technician Maria Van Kerkhove, has warned not to fall “asleep” in the face of rising numbers of cases.

Don’t fall asleep with these numbers. Everyone is a person, a family, a friend, a loved one … Don’t be complacent.

Even if Omicron is less serious. Many places are seeing a record number of cases and hospitalization rates … We can do more. We need to end this pandemic. “

South Korea has just published its Covid daily report.

The Asian nation reported another 5,409 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 36 deaths, according to data released by the Korea Disease Prevention and Control Agency.

California became the first state to record more than 5 million known coronavirus infections, according to the state department of public health and data at Johns Hopkins University.

The state with 40 million residents was preparing for an increase in new infections amid holiday holidays and forced family reunions inland by a series of winter storms.

The case load of California is ahead of other large states, but it can be attributed to its larger population. Last week the state recorded an average of 16.4 new cases per 100,000 people, less than a third of the national rate.

Coronavirus-related hospitalizations have been slowly increasing in California, up 12% in the last 7 days to 4,401. That’s less than half as much as during the late summer peak and a fifth a year ago, before vaccines became widely available.

California has reported more than 75,500 Covid-19-related deaths, with 27,555 in Los Angeles alone.

He World Health Organization has warned that the Omicron coronavirus variant could lead to overflowing healthcare systems, although early studies suggest it causes a milder disease.

The WHO warned against complacency even though preliminary findings suggest Omicron could cause a milder illness.

Covid’s Director of Incidents at WHO in Europe, Catherine Smallwood, warned:

A rapid growth of Omicron … even if combined with a slightly milder disease, will still result in a large number of hospitalizations, especially among unvaccinated groups, and will lead to widespread disruption to health systems. and other critical services “.

However, the WHO noted a 29% decrease in the incidence of cases observed in South Africa, the country that first reported the variant to the WHO on 24 November.

He said early data from Britain, South Africa and Denmark, which currently have the highest infection rate per person in the world, suggest that there was a reduced risk of hospitalization for Omicron compared to Delta.

However, more data were needed to understand the severity of Omicron in terms of clinical markers, including oxygen utilization, mechanical ventilation, and death. More data was also needed on how severity could be affected by previous Covid infection or vaccination.

Read the full story here.

US airlines Delta Airlines i Alaska Air Group canceled hundreds of flights on Tuesday due to adverse weather conditions and increasing cases of the Omicron variant.

Delta said it expected to cancel more than 250 of the 4,133 flights scheduled for Tuesday, while Alaska Air canceled 150 flights to and from Seattle and warned of more cancellations and delays throughout the day, Reuters reports.

The total number of cancellations at 14:00 ET in, within or outside the United States was 1,034, with 2,694 flights delayed, representing a fifth day of flight cancellations.

Delta said it was working to reorient and replace some aircraft.

Thousands of flights were suspended over the Christmas holiday weekend as airlines struggled with staff shortages due to Covid-19 infections and bad weather in parts of the country.

Hello and welcome back to our live Covid blog. My name is Samantha Lock and I will bring you all the latest coronavirus developments as they happen.

Two days later, on December 31, it will be two years since Wuhan health authorities reported an outbreak of pneumonia unknown to colleagues at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Beijing.

It is also just over a month since South Africa announced the first Omicron case.

Countries across Europe they have reported a record number of infections as authorities strive to curb the rise. On Tuesday, the UK a record 129,471 new Covid cases were recorded, up from 98,515 reported yesterday. France recorded 179,807 new cases, by far the highest number since the start of the pandemic. Greece also reported a new daily record of 21,657 Covid cases, more than double the previous day. Denmark i Iceland in the same way It broke pandemic records with Denmark with the highest infection rate in the world with 1,612 cases per 100,000 people.

in the meantime South Africa, officially the most affected country in Africa, has recalled rules that no longer required people without symptoms of Covid-19 to isolate themselves or take tests if they have been in contact with a positive case, the government announced on Tuesday .

If you have any stories, tips, or comments, please email samantha.lock@theguardian.com or Twitter @Samantha__Lock. I’d love to hear from you.

Here’s a quick snapshot of how Covid is developing in the world:

Europe:

• Omicron “It seems less serious and many people spend relatively little time in hospital,” said Sir John Bell, a professor of medicine at Oxford University and a leading immunologist.
• UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he will not introduce further restrictions on Covid in England until 2022 by approving mass events and leaving nightclubs open for New Year’s Eve. Scientists say it is “the biggest divergence between scientific advice and legislation” seen since the start of the pandemic.
• He UK recorded 129,471 new cases of Covid on Tuesday, the highest total ever recorded, and more than the 98,515 reported yesterday.
• More than 500 children hospitalized with Covid England per week until Boxing Day.
• France has reduced the waiting time for a third booster injection to three months out of four. Starting Monday, all indoor meetings will be limited to 2,000 people, and 5,000 people for outdoor events. The consumption of drinks and food in long-distance transport will be prohibited and homework will be mandatory for at least three days a week whenever possible.
• France reported 179,807 new confirmed cases on Tuesday, by far the highest number since the start of the pandemic.
• Denmark i Iceland Covid’s daily case record was reported on Monday. Denmark now has the highest infection rate in the world, with 1,612 cases per 100,000 people.
• Greece will impose more restrictions from January 3, including the closing of bars and restaurants at midnight, no customers standing in entertainment venues and a maximum limit of six people per table.
• Greece reported on Tuesday a new daily record of 21,657 Covid cases, more than double the previous day.
• Germany tightens Covid restrictions with size-restricted indoor and outdoor meetings and leisure facilities that close in several states.

Asia:

• Daily cases a Australia it surpassed 10,000 for the second day in a row, with a total of 11,264 new Covid cases nationwide, the highest figure since the start of the pandemic.
• In Yan’an, China, Hundreds of thousands more were ordered to stay at home, joining millions under strict blockade in Xi’an. Coronavirus cases in China rose on Monday for the fourth day in a row.
• Delhi, India, announces new Covid restrictions. They will close schools, colleges and educational institutions, as well as sports complexes, cinemas, conference rooms, stadiums and swimming pools. Offices will operate at 50% capacity, as will restaurants with a curfew at 22:00.
• Japanese Officials have detected a five-person cluster of Omicron cases in the city of Osaka.
• Hong Kong it will tighten the quarantine rules for the air cargo crew.
• Malaysia it will reduce the waiting time for the booster shot to three months and has banned mass celebrations for New Year’s Eve with negative Covid tests needed for private meetings.
• India has approved Merck’s Covid-19 pill and two more vaccines for emergency use.

United States: