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Meáin Náisiúnta Seirbhíse Poiblí na hÉireann
Portugal is one of the most vaccinated countries in the world. To prevent the surge in Covid-19 cases, Portugal has reintroduced some restrictions and ordered all passengers flying to the country, even those who are fully vaccinated, upon arrival The test result was negative.
Prime Minister Antonio Costa said at today’s press conference: “No matter how successful the vaccination is, we must be aware that we are entering a stage of greater risk.”
"We have seen significant growth in the European Union (in the case), and Portugal is not an island."
Mr. Costa also announced that those who are fully vaccinated must also test negative for coronavirus to enter nightclubs, bars, large-scale event venues and nursing homes, and re-mandatory to wear masks in indoor spaces
Czech government bans Christmas markets
The Czech government has ordered bars and clubs to close at 10 pm and banned Christmas markets to curb one of the countries with the highest rate of coronavirus infections in the world.
The new restrictions also include up to 1,000 people participating in cultural and sporting events, avoiding a total blockade in neighbouring Austria and Slovakia, where infection rates are higher.
According to our data world, Czechs registered more than 25,000 new cases on Tuesday, a record high. In the past week, there were an average of 1,516 Covid-19 cases per million people per day, second only to Slovakia and Austria, ranking third in the world .
The restrictions on bars and activities are on top of the earlier restrictions that have prohibited people who have not been vaccinated or recovered from Covis-19 from entering places such as bars, restaurants, movie theaters, hairdressers, and gyms.
Germany today announced a record number of coronavirus deaths and infections. Its total death toll has exceeded 100,000. As the new government prepares to replace Angela Merkel's coalition, its worst virus wave is still swelling.
Europe's largest economy has recorded 351 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the official death toll since the pandemic began to 100,119. This is a "serious milestone" in the daily newspaper Bild.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Germany is at a stage where the number of coronavirus cases is increasing exponentially, adding that every day is important when developing social distancing measures aimed at slowing its spread.
Some allies of the outgoing conservative prime minister criticized the Social Democratic Party Olaf Schultz’s government for refusing to extend some of the blockade measures imposed by Merkel’s government.
Ms. Merkel said that more social distancing measures need to be taken.
Germany started asking people last week to prove that they have been vaccinated, recovered from Covid-19, or recently tested negative for the virus before they can take public transport or enter the workplace.
Several of the worst-hit areas have gone further, canceling large-scale events such as Christmas markets, and banning unvaccinated people from entering bars, gyms and leisure facilities.
Germany’s Covid-19 crisis is partly due to its relatively low vaccination rate, about 69%, while the vaccination rate in other Western European countries such as France is 75%.
According to the national broadcaster NOS, Dutch health experts recommend stricter lockdown measures against the surge in Covid-19. Dutch health experts recommend that the government close restaurants and non-essential stores before 5 pm. This is to slow down the spread of Covid-19 Part of the stricter lockdown measures. Prime Minister Mark Rutte is expected to announce new measures tomorrow to slow down the new infection cases that are currently at a historic high.
An official said that some hospitals have stopped chemotherapy and organ transplants to free up intensive care beds for the surge in Covid-19 patients.
The Dutch Association of Intensive Care Hospitals stated that it has asked the Minister of Health Hugo de Jonge to upgrade the national Covid-19 plan to a phase where routine care that requires overnight stays is eliminated.
The number of hospitalized coronavirus patients reached the highest level since early May, and experts warned that if the virus is not controlled, the hospital will reach full capacity in a little over a week.
This week, several Covid-19 patients were transferred to German hospitals.
Although approximately 85% of Dutch adults have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, yesterday’s new cases reached a record high of 23,709 in 24 hours and an increase of nearly 40% every week.
After ending most social distancing measures in late September, the Dutch government this month reintroduced the requirement to wear masks and re-implemented partial blockades.
Plans to restrict access to many public places for people who were vaccinated or recently recovered from Covid-19 have triggered riots over the three nights since last Friday, and more than 170 people have been arrested across the country.
France provides Covid-19 booster injections to all adults
French Health Minister Olivier Veran confirmed that starting this weekend, all adults can receive the Covid-19 booster vaccine, and the government hopes that this move will help contain a new wave of the epidemic.
Mr. Wayland also stated at the press conference that the delay between the comprehensive vaccination plan and the booster injection will be shortened to five months instead of six months.
France’s Haute Autorite de Sante (HAS) health regulator stated that it supports enhanced Covid vaccination for people 18 years and older, and the transition period between full vaccination and booster injections should be shortened to five months instead of Six months.
HAS mentions that the re-spread of the coronavirus is "stronger than expected", and the "R" reproduction rate of 1.35 indicates an "exponential increase" in infection.
Yesterday, the health authorities reported more than 30,000 new infections for the second day in a row, a sequence that has not been seen since the end of April.
The 7-day moving average of new daily cases-including reported violations-is at a three-month high of 21,761 and has almost quadrupled in a month.
The number of people in Covid-19 intensive care is close to 1,500, and this number last appeared at the end of September.
The administration of President Emmanuel Macron has stated that it will focus on stricter social distancing rules and faster strengthening of the injection program, and hopes to avoid another lockdown.
The unvaccinated PCR test is only valid for one day-not the current 72 hours-and it may be advisable to work from home as much as possible.
Enhanced injections will become a requirement for a valid health pass. In France, a health pass is required to enter restaurants, cafes, cinemas and museums, and other public places.
According to the data provided on the website of the Ministry of Health, France has a stock of more than 30 million vaccines.
At the same time, the European Commission proposes that if EU residents want to travel to another country in the EU next summer without testing or isolation, they need to be vaccinated with a booster shot of the Covid-19 vaccine.
The committee hopes to coordinate the rules of 27 EU countries to allow free movement, which is the cornerstone of the EU, but because cases broke records in Europe, many EU countries introduced enhanced doses and are therefore facing new restrictions.
It made its own recommendations because even after successful vaccination campaigns, Europe has once again become the epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic, prompting some countries to consider new restrictions on movement when the European continent enters winter.
European Union governments that need to approve the committee’s recommendations launched a debate on the subject on Tuesday.
The EU’s coordination of the Covid Pass shows whether the holder has been fully vaccinated or has recently had a negative test or recovered from infection, allowing the relaxation of restrictions on cross-border travel.
European Affairs Minister Thomas Byrne stated that the EU wants to see medical evidence to support any effectiveness restrictions, but no matter what happens, people can continue to travel, but must understand different and changing rules.
Speaking at RTÉ today with Claire Byrne, he said that the government is not currently considering imposing a time limit on the Covid Pass.
"This is a chaotic situation... We don't want to see the trip shut down again... Today, tomorrow and next week we have work to coordinate this matter."
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