 | | | | Brazil has had 9,278 new cases of the novel coronavirus reported in the past 24 hours, and 206 deaths from COVID-19, the health ministry said on Thursday. | | | | | | The United States has administered 477,433,765 doses of COVID-19 vaccines in the country as of Thursday morning and distributed 588,422,575 doses, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. | | | | | | Laboratory studies released this week suggest that the Omicron variant of the coronavirus will blunt the power of Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccine to prevent COVID-19 infection after two doses, although a third dose may restore that protection. | | | | | | Several Wall Street banks are increasing efforts to ensure staff get coronavirus booster shots, after Jefferies reported a surge in COVID-19 cases and as countries and industries grapple with how to respond to the spread of the Omicron variant. | | | | | | Britain's finance firms have began issuing an array of updated work from home guidance to staff after the government toughened up rules. | | | | | | South Africa's fourth COVID-19 wave linked to the Omicron coronavirus variant produced a record 22,391 new cases, but only 22 deaths, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases said in its daily update on Thursday. | | | | | | Malta will return to mandatory mask-wearing in outdoor and indoor spaces as from Saturday, Health Minister Chris Fearne said on Thursday. | | | | | | U.S. regulatorson Thursday expanded eligibility for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots to 16- and 17-year-olds, as public health officials have urged Americans to get a third shot due to concerns about the new Omicron variant of the virus. | | | | | | The World Health Organization warned wealthy countries on Thursday against hoarding COVID-19 vaccines for booster shots as they try to fight off the new Omicron variant, threatening supplies to poorer countries where inoculation rates are low. | | | | | | Britain is experiencing it worst ever outbreak of bird flu, farming and environment minister George Eustice told parliament on Thursday. | | | | | |
