Tag Archives: Delta variant

New Zealand on Friday extended pandemic restrictions by four days after which they will be eased slightly, although businesses and schools will remain shut and the biggest city Auckland will be locked down for longer. New Zealand had been largely virus-free, barring a small number of cases in February, but …

Russia on Thursday recorded its highest daily coronavirus death toll as the country struggles with the aggressive delta variant and slowing vaccination rates. A government tally reported 820 fatalities over the past 24 hours and 19,630 new cases. Russia, the fourth worst-hit country in the world in terms of cases, …

The US state of Arkansas is out of beds in the intensive care unit (ICU) to treat Covid-19 patients as the Delta variant is taking more lives. “Our ICU beds for Covid patients are full in Arkansas,” Gov. Asa Hutchinson said during a weekly briefing. More than 92 percent of …

Oil prices were down for a seventh straight session on Friday near three-month lows and heading for a weekly loss of over 7% as new lockdowns in countries facing surging cases of the COVID-19 Delta variant dampened the outlook for fuel demand. Broader investor risk aversion also weighed on oil …

Five states have intensive care units over 90% full. The United States is facing a COVID-19 surge this summer as the more contagious delta variant spreads. More than 622,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 and over 4.3 million people have died from the disease worldwide, according to real-time data compiled …

The Ministry of Health and Environment announced on Monday, the inauguration of an advanced laboratory to detect the mutated strains of Coronavirus. The Director-General of Public Health Department at MOH, Riyadh Abdul-Amir said, that “an advanced laboratory has been inaugurated to analyze the genetic sequences of viruses, noting that the …

U.S. health experts say most people don’t need a COVID-19 booster shot — yet. But all three companies, which make the vaccines being used in the U.S., are studying whether, and when, they might be. The CEO of Pfizer says it appears a booster will be needed between eight and …

Russia on Thursday reported its highest daily coronavirus death toll since the start of the pandemic, as a third wave persists despite an intensifying vaccination drive. A government tally reported 808 fatalities over the past 24 hours — the first time Russia has crossed the 800-mark for daily virus deaths …

Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine shows great results against the Delta coronavirus strain, with its effectiveness against it reaching around 83%, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said on Wednesday. “Today, the Sputnik V vaccine shows the most effective results in preventing and fighting the Delta strain. The latest data show that its …

Oil prices rose more than 1% on Tuesday, recouping some of the losses in the previous session when prices hit a three-week low, but gains are likely to be limited on worries that rising COVID-19 cases and restrictions in China will dent fuel demand. Brent crude was up by 84 …

The prevalence of the lambda COVID-19 variant, deemed a “variant of interest” by the World Health Organization, has increased in the US. “There are currently more than 1,300 lambda sequences in the US as of August 4, 2021, and the lambda variant has been identified in 44 states,” Centers for …

Australian officials warned Sydney residents on Friday to brace for a surge in COVID-19 cases after the country’s largest city logged record infections for the second straight day despite a weeks-long lockdown to stamp out an outbreak of Delta variant. “Just based on the trend in the last few days …

However, a booster dose will be necessary prior to the winter season as antibody levels are likely to wane, Moderna said. Moderna said on Thursday its Covid-19 shot was about 93 percent effective through six months after the second dose, showing hardly any change from the 94 percent efficacy reported …

The New York International Auto Show, which had been scheduled to open to the public in just two weeks, has been canceled due to concerns about the Covid-19 Delta variant and the steps being taken to prevent it. The show was first canceled in the spring of 2020 due to …

Coronavirus cases worldwide surpassed 200 million on Wednesday, according to a Reuters tally, as the more infectious Delta variant threatens areas with low vaccination rates and strains healthcare systems. The global surge in cases is highlighting the widening gap in inoculation rates between wealthy and poor nations. Cases are rising …

Authorities in Wuhan on Tuesday said they would test its entire population for Covid-19 after the central Chinese city where the coronavirus emerged reported its first local infections in more than a year. The city of 11 million is “swiftly launching comprehensive nucleic acid testing of all residents”, senior Wuhan …

Qantas Airways Ltd is temporarily idling about 2,500 employees without pay for at least two months in a bid to cope with fresh COVID-19 restrictions in Australia slashing domestic travel demand. The decision will directly impact domestic pilots, cabin crew, and airport workers, mostly in New South Wales, the airline …

Even though Barack Obama plans to celebrate his 60th birthday adhering to all the current health guidelines, the former president has come under fire – mainly from the Republican camp – for throwing a large party amid a resurgence of coronavirus cases due to the Delta variant. The celebration is …

With a new wave of COVID-19 infections fueled by the Delta variant striking countries worldwide, disease experts are scrambling to learn whether the latest version of coronavirus is making people – mainly the unvaccinated – sicker than before. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that Delta, first …

Millions of people were confined to their homes in China Monday as the country tried to contain its largest coronavirus outbreak in months with mass testing and travel curbs. China on Monday reported 55 new locally transmitted coronavirus cases, as an outbreak of the fast-spreading Delta variant reached over 20 …