|
 China COVID-19 cases spike ahead of Communist Party conclave
China's new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases spiked to a near
three-month high and tighter curbs to contain the spread are
expected in the capital Beijing in the run-up to a key gathering of
the highest-ranking members of the Communist Party next week. The
National Health Commission confirmed on Wednesday 93 new local
symptomatic cases for Nov. 2, up from 54 a day earlier and the
highest daily count since Aug. 9 at the peak of China's last major
outbreak.
While the new cases accrued each day by the Chinese capital city
since late October have remained very modest compared to outside of
China, the country's zero-tolerance policy has meant the imposition
of strict measures to contain the spread of the virus at all costs.
U.S. CDC director backs vaccine for children aged 5 to 11
The director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) on Tuesday backed broad use of Pfizer's and BioNTech's
COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 5 to 11, clearing the way for
shots to go into young arms as soon as Wednesday.
Pfizer and BioNTech have asked for authorization of a 10-microgram
dose of the vaccine, a third of the dose size given to people 12 and
older. The vaccine is still a two-shot vaccine, with doses given
around three weeks apart.
Dutch reintroduce face masks as COVID-19 cases surge
The Dutch government on Tuesday decided to reimpose measures,
including the wearing of face masks, aimed at slowing the latest
spike in COVID-19 infections, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said.
Coronavirus infections in the Netherlands have been rising for a
month after most social distancing measures were scrapped in late
September, and reached their highest level since July in the past
week.
The use of a "corona pass", showing proof of a COVID-19 vaccination
or recent negative coronavirus test, would be broadened as of Nov. 6
to public places including museums, gyms and outdoor terraces, Rutte
said. The government next week could decide to broaden the use of
the corona pass to the workplace, Rutte said.
[to top of second column] |
 Unvaccinated Greeks will need a
negative test to access services
Unvaccinated Greeks will need to show a negative
COVID-19 test to access state services, banks,
restaurants and retail shops as cases hit a new
daily record on Tuesday, health authorities
said. Greece reported 6,700 new coronavirus
infections in the preceding 24 hours on Tuesday,
breaking a previous single-day record of 5,449
that was recorded on Monday.
All unvaccinated workers should also test
negative twice a week, Plevris said, adding that
the new measures will take effect on Nov. 6.
Most unvaccinated people in Greece are now
required to present a negative test once a week
to get to their workplace.
Vietnam says its Nike manufacturers back to full
operations
About 200 contracted factories that make
sportswear for Nike Inc across Vietnam have
resumed operations after months of COVID-19
suspension, the government said on Wednesday, as
it races to get its key manufacturing sector
back on track.
Nearly 80% of Nike's footwear makers and half of
its apparel providers in Vietnam were forced to
halt production in mid-July, after authorities
had imposed restrictions on movement to stop a
major outbreak from spreading. Those curbs were
lifted a month ago, but the country is now
facing labour shortages. At least 3 million
people in Vietnam work in textiles and footwear
manufacturing.
(Compiled by Karishma Singh; Editing by Stephen
Coates)
[© 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content
 |
