Global COVID-19 infections hit a record high over the past seven-day period, Reuters data showed on December 29, as the Omicron variant raced out of control and governments tried to contain its spread without paralyzing fragile economies.
Germany decided on December 2 to bar the unvaccinated from all but the most essential business and the United States prepared further travel restrictions as the world scrambled to curb the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
World Health Organization emergencies head Michael Ryan urged countries on July 7 to use extreme caution when lifting Covid-19 restrictions so as “not to lose the gains you’ve made.”
The Euro 2020 soccer tournament was blamed for a surge in coronavirus cases as fans have flocked to stadiums, bars and spectator zones across Europe to watch the action while the pandemic still raged.
New Delhi will start relaxing its strict coronavirus lockdown next week if new cases continue to drop in the city, the chief minister of India’s capital said on May 23.
The governors of two more U.S. states said on May 6 they were lifting most restrictions that were put in place to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus after sharp drops in infection rates and deaths.
Germany’s CureVac, which is gearing up to publish results of a key Covid-19 vaccine trial, said U.S. export restrictions on key materials are making it impossible to predict the company’s short-term supply ramp-up in Europe.
India reported a record rise in Covid-19 infections on April 5, becoming the second country after the United States to post more than 100,000 new cases in a day, as politicians stage massive election rallies raising fears of further spreading the virus.
The United States crossed 30 million coronavirus cases on March 24, according to a Reuters tally, as states accelerate the vaccination process by lowering age limits.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, said on March 14 he hopes former President Donald Trump will push his supporters to get the Covid-19 vaccine and emphasized that pandemic-related restrictions should not be lifted prematurely.