Beijing bans journey for lunar new yr; France identifies case of infectious COVID-19 pressure; Thailand and South Korea debate more durable lockdowns

It additionally known as on corporations to not prepare enterprise journeys outdoors the town and overseas.

Churches in the Chinese capital abruptly cancelled mass on Christmas day in a last-minute move because of the outbreak, but shops remained open. — Church buildings within the Chinese language capital abruptly cancelled mass on Christmas day in a last-minute transfer due to the outbreak, however outlets remained open. Credit score:AP

Lunar New 12 months is February 12, 2021.

Lunar New 12 months celebrations in Wuhan this yr had been linked to the fast unfold of the then newly recognized nouvel coronavirus via the town and the world over, as folks took the virus overseas after visiting household in China.

Individually, officers within the northeastern port metropolis of Dalian stated Friday that that they had examined over 4.75 million folks for the coronavirus after 24 confirmed infections this month.

Authorities have shut faculties and all public areas in 5 neighbourhood divisions in Dalian and solely important staff can depart their compounds to go to work.

New coronavirus mutation in France

France recorded its first case of the brand new variant of coronavirus, because the variety of instances and deaths from COVID-19 mounted within the nation, growing considerations of a brand new wave of the virus hitting the euro zone’s second-biggest economic system.

The French well being ministry stated a Frenchman who lately arrived again in France from London had examined optimistic for the brand new variant of the coronavirus.

The ministry stated the case – the primary in France – had been discovered within the metropolis of Excursions. The person in query arrived from London on December 19. He was presently self-isolating and felt alright, the ministry added.

British Well being Secretary Matt Hancock had stated on December 14 {that a} spike in COVID instances in the UK may need been linked to the brand new variant of the virus within the nation.

Greater than 1,000 instances of the brand new variant had been recognized within the UK, primarily in southeastern England.

Nations all over the world have in latest days closed their borders to each Britain and South Africa following the identification of instances of the brand new, fast-spreading variant of the coronavirus in these international locations.

France registered 20,262 new, confirmed COVID-19 instances and 159 extra associated deaths in hospitals within the final 24 hours.

France’s variety of confirmed COVID-19 instances now stands at 2,547,771 whereas its COVID-19 dying toll stands at 62,427 – the seventh-highest on the planet.

Thailand’s outbreak worsens

Thailand on Saturday confirmed 110 new coronavirus infections, of which 64 had been native infections, related to an outbreak within the south-west province of Samut Sakhon, the nation’s coronavirus worst outbreak but.

Of the brand new infections, 30 had been amongst migrant staff and 16 had been imported instances, Taweesin Wisanuyothin, a spokesman for the nation’s COVID-19 job drive, instructed a briefing.

A health worker in Bangkok takes off the PPE gear, while her colleague seals the foam box containing swab samples. — A well being employee in Bangkok takes off the PPE gear, whereas her colleague seals the froth field containing swab samples.Credit score:Getty Photographs

On Christmas Eve, Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha dominated out a nationwide lockdown, insisting they may use localised controls because the outbreak amongst migrant seafood staff continued to unfold.

“I can guarantee that the federal government will do its greatest,” Prayuth stated in a dwell televised tackle after a gathering of the federal government’s COVID-19 coordinating centre. “The Public Well being Ministry confirms to me that it’s controllable if everybody offers cooperation.”

Thailand has been seen as profitable in combating the coronavirus due partly to its well-regarded public well being infrastructure and folks’s adherence to mask-wearing and different protocols.

However instances have jumped considerably since an outbreak was detected final week amongst migrants from Myanmar working at a seafood market in Samut Sakorn, a province close to the capital Bangkok. Tens of millions of low-wage jobs in Thailand are crammed by staff from much less prosperous neighbouring international locations, particularly Myanmar.

Thailand has a complete of 6,020 confirmed instances and 60 deaths.

South Korea’s Christmas caseload

South Korea has reported one other 1,132 coronavirus instances because the resurgence worsened over the Christmas week, placing strain on the federal government to implement stricter social distancing controls.

The figures on Saturday introduced the nation’s caseload to 55,902 with 793 deaths. Round 780 of the brand new instances had been from the higher capital space, residence to 26 million folks, the place well being staff found a big cluster in an enormous Seoul jail with greater than 500 inmates and staff.

Transmissions in latest weeks have additionally been tied to hospitals, nursing houses, church buildings, eating places and military models.

After months of complacency, authorities officers restored some distancing restrictions in latest weeks after easing them to the bottom tier in October and at the moment are clamping down on personal gatherings, shutting down ski resorts, limiting resort occupancy and setting fines for eating places in the event that they settle for giant teams.

The federal government will maintain a gathering on Sunday to find out whether or not to raise distancing controls to the best “Tier 3,” which might probably shutter lots of of 1000’s of non-essential companies. Officers have resisted such motion for weeks, saying it might unleash additional shock on an already weak economic system.

AP, Reuters