Latest global developments on COVID-19: what you need to know

Travelers wearing protective face masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) reclaim their luggage at the airport in Denver, Colorado, U.S. REUTERS FILE PHOTO

PARIS — Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:

‘Unprecedented’ US case surge

The United States is experiencing “almost a vertical increase” in the number of new Covid cases but hospital admissions are not following suit, the White House’s top pandemic advisor Anthony Fauci said.

“We are definitely in the middle of a very severe surge and uptick in cases,” said Fauci, who called the situation “unprecedented” as the US reported more than 440,000 new infections on Friday.

Messi tests positive

Argentine football star Lionel Messi was one of four Paris Saint-Germain players to test positive for coronavirus, the club announced shortly before a French Cup match.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner returned the positive test result in his Argentine hometown of Rosario, where he was spending time with his family.

Infections fall in locked-down Xi’an

A rider travels on an empty road following lockdown measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Xian, Shaanxi province, China December 26, 2021.cnsphoto via REUTERS

New Covid cases have reached their lowest level in a week in the Chinese city of Xi’an, which has been under strict stay-at-home orders for 11 days, health officials said.

The historic northern city — home to the world-famous Terracotta Warriors — reported 122 new cases on Sunday, the lowest figure since December 25 and down on the 174 cases registered on Saturday.

France eases isolation rules for vaccinated

Fully vaccinated people in France who test positive for coronavirus will only have to isolate for seven days instead of 10 from Monday, regardless of the variant.

People, wearing protective face masks while at Trocadero square near the Eiffel Tower in Paris amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in France, December 6, 2021. | PHOTO: REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

The isolation period can be cut to five days with a negative test and close contacts who are fully inoculated will not have to quarantine at all.

France’s health ministry said the change would allow a “benefit-risk balance aimed at ensuring the virus is controlled while maintaining socio-economic life”.

Amsterdam Xmas lockdown protest

Thousands of people gathered in the Dutch capital Amsterdam to protest against a stringent Christmas lockdown introduced in response to a wave of Covid cases driven by the Omicron variant.

More than 5.4 million dead

The coronavirus has killed at least 5,438,312 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources on Sunday.

Overall, the United States has recorded the most Covid deaths with 825,819, followed by Brazil with 619,105, India with 481,770 and Russia with 310,518.

READ: Europe tops 100 million COVID-19 cases—AFP tally

Taking into account excess mortality linked to Covid-19, the World Health Organization estimates the overall death toll could be two to three times higher.

Beijing Winter Games bubble

China’s plans to prevent a COVID-19 outbreak during its upcoming Winter Games by sealing all participants inside a “closed loop” will be tested by the highly infectious Omicron variant. Restrictions at Games venues in Beijing and Zhangjiakou in neighboring Hebei province will be much tighter than those during last summer’s Tokyo Olympics.

Olympic participants must consistently test negative before being allowed to board specially arranged flights to Beijing. On arrival, participants must be vaccinated or face three weeks of quarantine. Everyone will be tested daily. However, such tests cannot be relied on to detect cases during the virus’ incubation period, and organizers have acknowledged that they expect a “certain number” of COVID-19 cases given the large number of international arrivals.

S. Korea reports first Omicron deaths

Two people who posthumously tested positive for the highly contagious Omicron variant of the coronavirus appear to be the first such reported deaths in the country, Yonhap news agency reported on Monday.

Officials are still investigating the exact cause of death for the two patients, who were both in their 90s, Yonhap reported, citing health authorities in the city of Gwangju.

Australia reopening amid record cases

Australia’s government said the milder impact of the Omicron strain of COVID-19 meant the country could push ahead with plans to reopen the economy even as new infections hit a record of more than 37,000 and the number of people hospitalized rose. Record daily case numbers were reported on Monday in the states of Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania, as well as the Australian Capital Territory.

FILE PHOTO: A person wearing a face mask walks along the harbour waterfront across from the Sydney Opera House during a lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Sydney, Australia, October 6, 2021. REUTERS/Loren Elliott

“We have to stop thinking about case numbers and think about serious illness, living with the virus, managing our own health and ensuring that we’re monitoring those symptoms and we keep our economy going,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Channel Seven. Health Minister Greg Hunt said the advice to the government was that the Omicron strain was more transmissible but also milder than other variants, which reduced the risk to both individuals and the health system.

Over 4,000 flight cancellations

Over 4,000 flights were cancelled around the world on Sunday, more than half of them U.S. flights, adding to the toll of holiday week travel disruptions due to adverse weather and the surge in coronavirus cases caused by the Omicron variant. The flights cancelled by 8 pm GMT on Sunday included over 2,400 entering, departing from or within the United States, according to tracking website FlightAware.com.

U.S. airline cabin crew, pilots and support staff were reluctant to work overtime during the holidays, despite offers of hefty financial incentives. Many feared contracting COVID-19 and did not welcome the prospect of dealing with unruly passengers, some airline unions said.

India starts vaccinating youth

India is set to launch a vaccination drive for children in the age group of 15 to 18 years from Monday and state governments were gearing up to administer doses at schools, hospitals and through special camps.

India reported more than 27,000 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, with infections sharply rising for a fifth consecutive day, but the chief minister of the capital New Delhi said there was no need to panic, citing low hospitalization rates.