Covid information reside: 4,000 extra flights cancelled over Omicron; Israel to supply fourth jab to over-60s

Extra on the information from earlier concerning US protection secretary Lloyd Austin’s announcement he had examined optimistic for Covid.

In a statement on Sunday night time, Austin stated he was experiencing delicate signs whereas quarantining at residence and deliberate to attend key conferences and discussions nearly within the coming week “to the diploma potential”.

He stated deputy secretary Kathleen Hicks would characterize him in acceptable issues.

Austin stated:

I’ve knowledgeable my management staff of my optimistic check outcome, in addition to the president. My workers has begun contact tracing and testing of all these with whom I’ve come into contact during the last week.

Austin, 68, stated he was absolutely vaccinated and acquired a booster in October. He stated he requested a check on Sunday morning after experiencing signs whereas at residence on depart and, given the outcome, deliberate to stay in quarantine for 5 days, per tips from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.

The vaccines work and can stay a army medical requirement for our workforce. I proceed to encourage everybody eligible for a booster shot to get one. This stays a readiness concern.

Greater than 4,000 flights have been cancelled world wide on Sunday because of hostile climate and a surge in coronavirus circumstances brought on by the Omicron variant, Reuters stories.

The flights cancelled by 8pm GMT on Sunday included over 2,400 coming into, departing from or inside the USA, in accordance with monitoring web site FlightAware.com.

Globally, greater than 11,200 flights have been delayed.

Among the many airways with most cancellations have been SkyWest and SouthWest, with 510 and 419 cancellations respectively, FlightAware confirmed.

The Christmas and New Yr holidays are usually a peak time for air journey, however the fast unfold of the extremely transmissible Omicron variant has led to a pointy enhance in Covid infections, forcing airways to cancel flights as pilots and cabin crew quarantine.

US airline cabin crew, pilots and help workers have been reluctant to work time beyond regulation throughout the holidays, regardless of presents of hefty monetary incentives. Many feared contracting Covid and didn’t welcome the prospect of coping with unruly passengers, some airline unions stated.

Hiya it’s Samantha Lock again with you on the weblog to kick off the brand new yr.

Omicron is continuous to unleash chaos world wide with greater than 4,000 flights cancelled on Sunday, because the variant contributes to a surge in circumstances and quarantines flight crews. Greater than 11,200 flights have been additionally delayed, in accordance with monitoring web site FlightAware.com.

The cancellations disrupted the busy Christmas and New Yr interval, with hundreds compelled to desert plans.

Israel is ready to supply a fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to folks aged over 60 and to medical workers.

Prime minister Naftali Bennett made the announcement on Sunday amid a surge in Omicron variant infections, saying the nation’s high medical officer had permitted the shot.

“The Omicron wave is right here and we should defend ourselves,” Bennett stated.

Here’s a abstract of developments to this point:

• In England masks are returning to secondary faculty school rooms as Omicron continues to unfold throughout the nation. An extra 137,583 new circumstances of Covid-19 and 73 deaths have been reported in England and Wales.
• The federal government has instructed headteachers in England to start out making ready for workers shortages by utilizing help workers as fill-in academics, combining courses or utilizing hybrid studying.
• France has put the United States on its Covid-19 journey “pink checklist”, which means unvaccinated folks coming into the nation should quarantine for 10 days.
• France introduced an easing of Covid restrictions from Monday. Absolutely vaccinated folks in France who check optimistic will now need to isolate for less than seven days, and may depart quarantine after 5 days in the event that they present a unfavorable check. The nation additionally reported 58,432 new confirmed coronavirus circumstances in a 24-hour interval – a report seven-day common for brand new Covid circumstances.
• Dutch police dispersed anti-lockdown protesters in Amsterdam on Sunday.
• India reported 27,553 new Covid-19 infections over the previous 24 hours and Covid deaths rose by 284.
• Israel is to supply a fourth dose of the Covid vaccine for the over-60s and medical workers. The nation reported 4,206 new every day Covid infections, marking a 195% enhance over the previous week.
• Twitter has completely suspended the account of US congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene after the Republican repeatedly violated its coverage on Covid misinformation.
• Wintry climate and the coronavirus pandemic brought about greater than 2,300 US flights and greater than 3,900 worldwide to be cancelled.
• South Africa has recorded 4,379 new recognized coronavirus circumstances and 30 deaths.
• The US authorities’s high medical adviser, Dr Anthony Fauci, stated the US had been seeing virtually a “vertical enhance” of recent Covid circumstances, including he was involved the Omicron variant was inflicting “main disruption” on important providers.
• Dr Fauci stated hospitalisation figures shaped a greater information to the severity of the Omicron coronavirus variant than the standard case-count of recent infections.
• Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi was one in all 4 Paris Saint-Germain gamers to check optimistic for coronavirus, the membership introduced shortly earlier than a French Cup match.