These are the symptoms caused by the omicron variant of the new coronavirus
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2 hours ago
Fourth dose increases antibodies, but may not be enough against omicron
Early data from Israel suggests that a fourth dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna coronavirus vaccine may cause a surge in antibodies -- more than has been seen after a third dose -- but still thus it might not be enough to protect against infections caused by the omicron variant.
"These are very preliminary results. They predate any publication, but we are giving them because we understand the public's urgency for any possible information on the fourth dose," said Dr. Gili Regev-Yochay, director of the Prevention and Control Unit. of Infections at Sheba Medical Center, to reporters during a virtual press conference Monday about the data.
"We have a follow-up of the Pfizer vaccine for two weeks, and we have a follow-up of the Moderna vaccine for only one week at the moment. And what we see is that the Pfizer vaccine, after two weeks, you see an improvement or an increase in the number of antibodies and neutralizing antibodies, quite a nice increase. It's even a little higher than what we had after the third dose," Regev-Yochay said.
"However, this is probably not enough for the omicron."
Read the full note here
2 hours ago
One in five Americans have been infected with COVID-19
People get tested inside their vehicles at a COVID-19 testing station on January 14, 2022 in Monterey Park, California.
(Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
At least 20% of Americans have been infected with covid-19 over the course of the pandemic, according to data from Johns Hopkins University (JHU).
According to JHU data, at least 66,356,336 cases of covid-19 were detected over the course of the pandemic in the United States.
More than 800,000 people died.
According to JHU data, the United States currently records an average of 777,453 new cases and 1,797 new deaths per day.
US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said Sunday that the omicron wave is not moving across the country at the same pace.
Although cases are leveling off and even declining in some regions, Americans should not expect a national spike anytime soon and that the next few weeks will be difficult, Murthy said.
14 hours ago
Chile reduces the mandatory quarantine period from 10 to 7 days
By Maria Plaza
Chile reduces the mandatory quarantine period from 10 to seven days for people infected with coronavirus.
This was reported at a press conference on Monday by the Undersecretary of Public Health of Chile, MarĂa Teresa Valenzuela.
The official from the Health portfolio explained that the latest studies of the omicron variant allow this decision to be made, and that people confirmed as infected must be isolated for seven days and take as day zero when the samples were taken or when the tests were presented. first symptoms.
18 hours ago
Djokovic must comply with health regulations to compete in Spain
Pedro Sánchez, President of the Government of Spain.
(Credit: JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)
Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic has to comply with Spanish health regulations in order to compete in Spain, the president of the Spanish government, Pedro Sánchez, said on Monday.
When asked by a journalist about whether Djokovic could enter Spain to play the Madrid Open, which begins at the end of April, if he still had not been vaccinated against covid-19, Sánchez said: "Any athlete who wants to compete in our country must meet the health standards of Spain".
He praised Australia's decision to deport Djokovic, saying "full respect for the Australian government's decision."
"The rules are there to be followed and nobody is above the rules. And if those are the rules that the Australian government has approved, they have to be allowed," Sánchez said.
18 hours ago
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Milley, tests positive for covid-19
Gen. Mark Milley tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday and "is experiencing very mild symptoms," Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman Col. Dave Butler said in a statement Monday.
Milley "is working remotely and isolating himself from contact with others," Butler said, adding that the top US general "can perform all of his duties from the remote location."
"He has had his Covid-19 shots, including the booster," Butler said.
According to the statement, Milley had a more recent contact with President Joe Biden this Wednesday, January 12, at the funeral of General Raymond Odierno.
"He tested negative several days before and every day after contact with the president until yesterday," Butler said.
"All the other Chiefs of Staff except one tested negative for Covid-19 yesterday," he said.
19 hours ago
Greece's vaccination mandate goes into effect for people over 60
People wearing face masks to protect themselves from the coronavirus walk through Monastiraki Square in central Athens.
(Photo by ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP via Getty Images)
In Greece, a vaccination mandate is in force for those over 60 years of age.
Greek government spokesman Giannis Oikonomou suggested the mandate had helped vaccinate that group.
"It is important that 90%, nine out of ten, of our fellow citizens over 60 years of age, have already been vaccinated. Almost half of those who were not vaccinated, when the mandate was announced, made ... the decision to get vaccinated ", he said during a press conference.
"We call on those who are still skeptical to make the same decision as soon as possible. Not only to get out of the fine, but above all to protect themselves from serious illnesses. After all, that was the purpose of the mandate and that is what we intend. Compulsory vaccination is a means of individual and collective protection," added Oikonomou.
"In any case, as the deadline for his vaccination has expired, the law will be applied in its entirety."
The mandate, which came into force at midnight from Sunday to this Monday, Greek time, does not apply to those who have exemption approval for health reasons and does not impose fines on those who need to be vaccinated at home and are waiting for a slot. .
19 hours ago
Omicron traces found in package sent from overseas to Beijing
Chinese health authorities reported Monday that traces of the omicron variant of the coronavirus had been found in a package sent from Canada to a woman who was later found to be infected with the variant in Beijing.
Globally, health agencies have said that surface transmission of the coronavirus is possible, but the risk is low.
The woman, who has not been identified by authorities, had tested positive for omicron on Saturday, marking the city's first case of this highly transmissible variant.
He had not been in contact with any confirmed cases and had not left the capital in the previous 14 days, according to detailed surveillance data collected by authorities.
On Monday, the deputy director of the Beijing health agency, Pang Xinghuo, said the infected woman had recently received an international package in which traces of the omicron variant had been found.
According to the Beijing health agency, the package was originally shipped from Toronto, Canada on January 7 and traveled to Beijing via the United States and Hong Kong.
The patient received it on Jan. 11, Pang said.
“We have taken 22 internal and external environmental samples from this international package and have found 2 external surface samples, 2 internal surface samples and 8 internal document samples that have tested positive for covid-19 nucleic acid testing with the omicron variant,” He said.
The omicron variant strain found on the package "does not belong to the same chain of transmission with the existing omicron strain in China," but was found to be similar to some strains in North America and Singapore based on genome sequencing, officials say. .
"The possibility that the patient was infected from foreign products cannot be ruled out," Pang said, adding that people should continue to minimize their purchases of products from abroad.
Transmission of the coronavirus is possible after touching a contaminated surface and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth before washing your hands, but the World Health Organization and other agencies have said the risk of transmission from surfaces is low in general.
Although the omicron variant has been found to be more airborne, there is no evidence to suggest that its surface transmissibility differs from previous coronavirus variants.
So far, the courier who delivered the package has tested negative, along with his relatives, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Post Office, Liao Lingzhu, said on Monday.
Three other couriers working with that courier have also tested negative and all the staff at the delivery site have been sent to the government-designated quarantine, Liao added.
On Monday, China's post office announced that it would step up efforts to prevent COVID-19 on parcels from abroad.
"It is necessary to comprehensively assess the epidemic risk level of the source of foreign parcels... and formulate epidemic prevention and control measures for foreign parcels from high-risk countries and regions," a statement said.
"[Companies] should reduce express delivery of goods from high-risk countries and regions abroad."
19 hours ago
Paris orders to wear masks in open-air markets
The prefectural police announced this Monday that the use of masks outside will be mandatory in certain areas with a large influx of people in Paris.
The new decree imposes the mandatory use of masks in areas where "the density of people does not guarantee, without the use of masks, the correct maintenance of barrier measures," says the prefecture's statement, referring to acts such as social distancing against Covid-19 infections.
According to the statement, the masks must be worn in open-air markets, in gatherings or gatherings of 10 or more people in public, while waiting for public transport or outside stations and shopping malls, as well as in the exterior of educational and cultural institutions.
This comes after the Paris administrative court ruled on Thursday that the mandate to wear masks outdoors throughout the city was "disproportionate".
Courts in the cities of Versailles and Nantes also ruled last week against citywide mask mandates.
20 hours ago
Moderna plans a combined vaccine against covid-19 and the flu
Moderna's combined covid-19 vaccine and flu booster could be available in some countries as early as fall 2023, CEO Stéphane Bancel said on Monday.
Speaking at the Davos Agenda, a virtual event held this week by the World Economic Forum, Bancel said this date was an "optimal scenario" but that he believed it was possible for some countries next year.
He explained that the company's goal is to have a single annual booster shot to avoid "compliance problems" where people are wary of getting multiple shots each winter.
21 hours ago
AMLO reappeared: "This variant does not have the same gravity as delta"
The president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, reappeared this Monday at the morning press conference after being infected with coronavirus a week ago.
"We are out of the contagion. It went well for us. It is demonstrable that this variant does not have the same severity as the previous one, the delta variant, in terms of symptoms and also in recovery time," said the president.
AMLO stated that the vaccine and the reinforcement are very important, that with this there are "fewer symptoms and we do not get worse."
In addition, he thanked everyone who was aware of his health.
AMLO announced on January 10 on his Twitter account that he had tested positive for covid-19, for the second time, that he had mild symptoms and that he would remain isolated.
22 hours ago
The vaccine will be mandatory in Austria for everyone over 18 years of age
A man gets vaccinated against Covid-19 on the first day of a temporary vaccination center on the passenger ship MS Vindobona on the Donaukanal (Danube Canal) in Vienna, Austria.
(Photo by Thomas Kronsteiner/Getty Images)
Austria will apply from February 1 a broad covid-19 vaccination mandate, which includes fines for unvaccinated adults.
The government announced last November that the vaccination mandate was necessary to address the low vaccination rate in the country.
The first draft of the law was published in December, and a revised draft was published on Monday and is now going through Parliament.
All people over the age of 18 living in Austria must be vaccinated against covid-19, according to the latest project.
Some groups of people are exempt, such as pregnant women, people who have recovered from a covid-19 infection (who are exempt after 180 days of a positive PCR test), and people who cannot be vaccinated without jeopardizing their health. Health.
"Mandatory vaccination does not come suddenly, but rather in stages," Chancellor Karl Nehammer told the public broadcaster ORF on Sunday.
No fines will be imposed during the initial phase, which lasts until mid-March, Nehammer said.
Starting March 15, law enforcement will start checking whether people comply with the new law, for example by checking their vaccination status at traffic checkpoints.
People face fines of up to 600 euros ($685) if they don't have a vaccination certificate or an exemption.
So-called "reminder dates" can also be established, in which people are reminded by letter that they should be vaccinated.
In the third phase of the mandate, these reminder dates will be followed by "vaccination dates".
People who have not been vaccinated or do not have an exemption by then will be fined.
There will be two "shot dates" each year.
A person can receive a maximum of four fines a year, which would mean a total of 2,400 euros ($2,741).
The vaccination mandate is scheduled to last until January 31, 2024 and will be continuously evaluated until then, according to the Austrian Ministry of Health.
22 hours ago
Travelers to Hawaii may need a booster shot
The crisis has forced Hawaii, traditionally open to tourists, to be very strict with visitors.
(Photo: Shutterstock)
Hawaii is likely to soon require visitors to get a Covid booster shot if they want to travel to the islands.
State Governor David Ige told reporters that his office is seriously considering changing its definition of "fully vaccinated" from two doses of an approved Covid vaccine to three.
That would mean travelers who haven't received booster shots will have to self-isolate for five days upon arrival in Hawaii, at their own expense.
Currently, only US travelers can visit Hawaii, with very few exceptions for international tourists.
Tourism is regulated through the state's Safe Travels program, in which people can upload their vaccination records to the online portal before their flight.
22 hours ago
More problems for Djokovic: France requires athletes to be vaccinated
A view of Court Philippe-Chatrier at Roland Garros in Paris, France, in this file photo dated September 21, 2020. (Photo: Stephane Cardinale/Corbis/Getty Images)MOREHIDE
All professional athletes who wish to compete in France will have to be vaccinated against the covid-19 virus, the French Sports Ministry reported to CNN on Monday.
The vaccine approval law in France, sanctioned by parliament this Sunday, will require people to have a vaccination certificate to enter public places such as restaurants, cafes, cinemas and sports stadiums, among others.
"The rule is simple. The pass of the vaccine will be required once the law comes into force in establishments that were already subject to the sanitary pass (sports or cultural). It will apply to everyone (spectators, professional athletes)" a spokeswoman for the French sports ministry told CNN.
The new legislation jeopardizes Novak Djokovic's chances of competing at the French Open in May, the second tennis Grand Slam of the year.
Previously, the French Open allowed unvaccinated players to compete while operating in a bubble around the tournament.
Djokovic is the current men's singles champion on clay courts at Roland Garros.
"As for Roland Garros, it is in May. The situation may change by then and it is expected to be more favourable. So we will see, but now it is clear that it is not an exception [to the regulations]," the spokeswoman added.
The world number 1, who has not been vaccinated against covid-19, was deported from Australia on Sunday after losing his legal challenge against the decision to revoke his visa for a second time.
22 hours ago
China will not sell tickets for the Winter Olympics
Tickets for the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics will not be sold to the general public in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Beijing Winter Games Organizing Committee announced on Monday.
Instead, they will be distributed by the authorities.
"Considering the grim and complex situation of epidemic prevention and control [and] to protect the health and safety of Olympic staff and spectators, we have decided to change the original public ticket sales plan," it announced. the committee.
"Dada la situaciĂłn actual de la pandemia de covid-19, con el fin de garantizar la seguridad de todos los participantes y espectadores, se decidiĂł que las entradas ya no se vendan, sino que formen parte de un programa adaptado que invitará a grupos de espectadores a estar presentes in situ durante los Juegos", señalĂł el ComitĂ© OlĂmpico Internacional en un comunicado publicado este lunes.
Este anuncio se produce después de que la capital china informara el sábado de su primer caso de la variante ómicron, altamente transmisible.
La polĂtica de control de la prevenciĂłn emitida en septiembre ya habĂa restringido la venta de entradas Ăşnicamente a los espectadores residentes en la China continental y que cumplieran los requisitos de las contramedidas de covid-19.
The Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee added that the public must continue to "strictly comply with the prevention and control requirements of covid-19 before, during and after watching the Games."
The Games will begin on Friday, February 4.
coronavirusĂłmicron
