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Destinations

Italy's tourism industry pleas for more aid as visitor numbers fall

Only 60 million tourists visited Italy this year compared to over 100 million in 2019.

Health news

Omicron may enhance immunity against Delta, new study suggests

The study, which has not been peer-reviewed, found that those infected with Omicron developed an enhanced immunity to Delta.

Culture news

'No culture, no future': Belgian cultural workers appeal COVID rules

After meeting Tuesday with sector representatives, Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke told state broadcaster RTBF that “there’s no possibility to immediately revise the (government’s) decision.”

Destinations

COVID-19: Austrian resorts concerned over new tourist entry rules

From December 25, restrictions on people entering Austria from the UK, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway will be tighter, as the countries will be classified as "virus variant areas", which means that a quarantine of ten days will be mandatory.

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United Kingdom

UK PM Boris Johnson urges public to get vaccinated in Xmas address

The Prime Minister has rejected harsher virus restrictions in England over Christmas despite the UK setting a new record on Thursday of almost 120,000 cases in 24 hours.

China

Winter Olympics: Beijing 'strongly advises' Olympians to get booster

The organisers also "regret" the decision by the National Hockey League (NHL) not to send players to the Beijing Winter games.

Nigeria

Nigeria destroys more than one million expired COVID-19 vaccines

Officials blamed "vaccine nationalism" in developed countries for hoarding vaccines until they "were about to expire" before donating them.

World News

Get vaccinated even if you've had COVID before, urges WHO Europe

It comes with Europe in the midst of another wave of COVID, driven in some countries by the more transmissible Omicron variant.

Israel

Israel says it's world's first country to rollout a fourth COVID jab

"The world will follow in our footsteps," said Israeli PM Naftali Bennett

USA

President Biden to outline measures to tackle Omicron surge

Omicron has already become the dominant strain in the US, accounting for nearly three-quarters of new infections last week.

Health news

COVID vaccines are not enough for Omicron variant, warns BioNTech CEO

"We must be aware that even triple-vaccinated are likely to transmit the disease’” Ughur Sahin said, the CEO of the German company behind the mRNA vaccine produced with Pfizer.

United Kingdom

UK pleas for out-of-work teachers to return amid 'Omicron tidal wave'

Education workers are 26% more likely to contract COVID-19 than the general population, according to a union.

World News

WHO: Omicron found in 89 countries

According to WHO, the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus has spread to 89 countries to date, continuing to spread at a rapid pace.

Denmark

Denmark closes theatres and museums as Omicron cases surge

The Danish government said they would close theatres, cinemas and other areas of public gathering after registering a record-high number of COVID-19 cases.

Work

No jab, no job: Google gets tough on employee COVID vaccine policy

“Anyone entering a Google building must be fully vaccinated or have an approved accommodation that allows them to work or come onsite,” the tech giant said in a leaked memo.

Travel News

Brits should urgently check their vaxx certificate under this new rule

Half-term travellers whose second jab was more than nine months ago will be deemed ‘unvaccinated’ in the EU.

Health news

Omicron resistant to two major vaccines, new study says

Two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines may not be sufficient protection against the new variant, Hong Kong researchers said, calling on individuals to seek a third booster jab.

World News

Omicron variant expected to be dominant in EU by mid-January

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that the new Omicron COVID-19 variant is expected to become dominant in the EU by mid-January.

Health news

Is this needle-free vaccine the answer to COVID variants?

Those with a phobia of needles could be in luck. This new vaccine could also better protect us against COVID mutations.

Health news

Omicron: What are the symptoms of the latest COVID variant?

Top US scientist Anthony Fauci said Omicron is "almost certainly" not more severe than the Delta variant.