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Chinese city locks down, Shanghai shuts schools as Covid spikes
A Chinese city of nine million was ordered into lockdown on Friday and Shanghai shut its schools as authorities scrambled to halt a Covid-19 outbreak that has pushed nationwide cases to their highest levels in two years.
Australia battles spread of Japanese encephalitis
Australia said Friday it is buying extra vaccines to fight the potentially deadly, mosquito-borne Japanese encephalitis virus, which has spread down the flood-hit east coast for the first time.
Hong Kong refugees face 'dire' food crisis in Covid outbreak: survey
Nearly three-quarters of Hong Kong's refugees are struggling to put food on the table, according to a survey released Friday, as fears over the city's plans to control its worst-ever coronavirus outbreak spark bouts of panic-buying.
Elderly care homes in eye of Hong Kong's deadly Covid storm
Kathleen Wong thought her 89-year-old mother was lucky to get a coveted spot in a government nursing home, but now she watches in horror as a coronavirus wave tears through Hong Kong's elderly population.
WHO frustration two years on since pandemic declaration
Friday marks two years to the day since the World Health Organization first described Covid-19 as a pandemic, shaking countries into action as the disease ripped around the planet.
United Airlines allowed unvaccinated employees to return to work
United Airlines, one of the first American companies to have imposed a Covid-19 vaccine mandate for its staff, announced Thursday it will allow employees who have been granted an exemption to return to work.
First pig heart transplant patient dies after two months
The first person to receive a heart transplant from a genetically modified pig has died two months after the medical milestone, the hospital that carried out the surgery said Wednesday.
As inflation bites, Nigerians turn to herbal medicines
Despite his financial services job in the north Nigerian city of Kano, two years ago Usman Ahmad started buying cheaper herbal drugs to treat his family's ailments after surging inflation left modern medicines beyond his budget.
Mandatory Hong Kong Covid testing 'not a priority': city leader
Hong Kong's leader said Wednesday that mandatory coronavirus testing was no longer a priority after plans for mass screening of all 7.4 million residents and an accompanying citywide lockdown triggered panic.
Over six million people have died from Covid: AFP count
Over six million people have died worldwide from Covid-19 since the pandemic began, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP on Tuesday.
Malaysia to re-open for tourists after two-year Covid closure
Malaysia will re-open to all vaccinated tourists from April 1, authorities said Tuesday, joining a growing number of countries removing restrictions in an attempt to live with Covid.
Wales say Francis available despite surgeon's warning on head injury
Wales say prop Tomas Francis is available for selection against France in the Six Nations on Friday despite a strong warning from a surgeon that he risks "serious harm" after suffering a head injury against England.
Four people die of yellow fever in Kenya
An outbreak of yellow fever, an acute and contagious viral disease, has claimed four lives in Kenya since it was first detected in January, the health ministry said Monday.
Queen Elizabeth II greets Trudeau in person after Covid scare
Queen Elizabeth II met visiting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday, in her first in-person engagement since falling ill with Covid-19.
Moderna announces first African vaccine facility in Kenya
US vaccine maker Moderna announced Monday that it would build its first mRNA jab-manufacturing facility in Africa after signing an agreement with Kenya's government to produce up to 500 million doses a year.
China's zero-Covid policy under pressure as cases rise
China on Monday reported its highest number of coronavirus cases in two years as clusters emerged in more than a dozen cities, posing a fresh challenge to Beijing's zero-Covid policy.
'A question of time': experts fear Balkans measles outbreak
Despite vaccinating her first child, Vanja drew a line when it came time to inoculate her second and decided he would not be receiving the measles shot.
Hong Kong suspends court system as virus crisis deepens
Hong Kong on Friday announced it would suspend court services for a month as the city recorded more than 50,000 new coronavirus cases for the third consecutive day.
Top Hong Kong Covid expert says mass-testing plan 'unhelpful'
One of Hong Kong's top coronavirus experts on Thursday joined a growing chorus of criticism over plans to test the entire city, saying doing so during its worst-ever outbreak would have little impact.
Two years into the pandemic, is the end in sight?
Two years after the official start of the pandemic, some countries are now trying to "live with Covid", however scientists warn that potential new variants and unequal vaccination rates threaten any long-awaited return to normality.
Disarray grips Hong Kong ahead of mass Covid testing, isolation
Overflowing hospitals, empty supermarket shelves and grim quarantine camps -- Hong Kong is in chaos battling a ballooning Covid outbreak in a business hub once renowned for its efficiency.
China should eventually 'co-exist' with Covid: top scientist
China should aim to co-exist with the virus and could move away from its zero-Covid strategy "in the near future," a top Chinese scientist said in a possible sign that the country's leadership is rethinking its strict approach.
China could eventually 'co-exist' with Covid: top scientist
China could move away from its zero-Covid strategy "in the near future" and co-exist with the virus, a top Chinese scientist said in a possible sign that the country's leadership is rethinking its strict approach.
Lockdown fears spark panic buying in Hong Kong
Hong Kongers stripped supermarket shelves bare Tuesday as panic buying set in following mixed messaging from the government over whether it plans a lockdown this month.
Virus wave deepens grim conditions for Hong Kong domestic workers
Janice Obiang stifled sobs as she packed goods to send to the Philippines, gifts for loved ones she hasn't seen in years as life for domestic workers in virus-hit Hong Kong goes from bad to worse.
Virus-hit Hong Kong considers lockdown as bodies pile up
Hong Kong may impose a China-style hard lockdown that confines people to their homes, authorities signalled Monday, with the city's zero-Covid strategy in tatters and bodies piling up in hospitals.
Virus-hit Hong Kong considering lockdown: health chief
Hong Kong may impose a China-style hard lockdown that confines people to their homes, authorities signalled Monday, with the city's zero-Covid strategy in tatters and bodies piling up in hospitals.
US health agency loosens Covid mask guidelines
The United States top health agency on Friday drastically revised its guidelines for masking to stop Covid-19 transmission, a decision that means most Americans won't be advised to wear them in indoor public spaces, including school children.
Scotland star Watson out of France match with Covid-19
Scotland suffered a major setback on the eve of Saturday's Six Nations match at home to France when star back-row Hamish Watson was ruled out after testing positive for Covid-19.
Hong Kong's Omicron-fuelled outbreak spreads within prisons
Hong Kong prisons on Friday reported a worsening coronavirus outbreak involving more than 200 inmates at a time when hundreds of political activists and protesters are being kept behind bars.
Hong Kong and Singapore virus response a tale of two very different cities
Rivals Singapore and Hong Kong have become pandemic polar opposites, the former opting to live with the coronavirus and reopen to the world while the latter doubles down on zero-Covid and its international isolation.
Covid rages in Iraq as vaccinations lag
In the stores and buses of Iraq masks are rare even as Covid-19 spreads widely, vaccines are viewed with suspicion and the sick see hospitals as a last resort.