World / Europe

Italy plans to relax isolation rules for contacts of COVID-19 sufferers -statement 29 Dec 2021 - 09:23 pm

ROME- The Italian government on Wednesday said it is planning to relax isolation rules for those who came into close contact with COVID-19...

Greece introduces new coronavirus curbs as Omicron cases jump 29 Dec 2021 - 08:35 pm

ATHENS- Greece is introducing new restrictions on the hospitality sector from Thursday, bringing forward measures planned for early January as coronavirus infections surge....

Swiss see worsening COVID-19 situation as infections hit record 29 Dec 2021 - 08:21 pm

ZURICH- New COVID-19 infections in Switzerland hit a record high of 17,634 within the last 24 hours, figures published on the health authorities'...

German COVID incidence rate 2-3 times higher than reported - minister 29 Dec 2021 - 07:30 pm

BERLIN- German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said on Wednesday that the number of new coronavirus cases has been under-reported and the actual incidence...

Spain cuts isolation for COVID-positive to 7 days from 10 days 29 Dec 2021 - 06:50 pm

Madrid: Spain's Health Minister Carolina Darias and regional health chiefs decided on Wednesday to cut the isolation period for people who tested positive...

UK's Johnson warns of hospital risk for unvaccinated 29 Dec 2021 - 02:43 pm

LONDON: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned on Wednesday that the overwhelming majority of patients ending up in intensive care with COVID-19 had...

Poland reports highest number of COVID-related deaths in fourth wave 29 Dec 2021 - 11:23 am

WARSAW: Poland reported 794 COVID-related deaths on Wednesday, the highest number in the fourth wave of the pandemic, a deputy health minister said,...

Italy gives safe port to 558 migrants rescued at sea 28 Dec 2021 - 07:48 pm

Catania: Italy on Tuesday allowed a charity boat carrying hundreds of migrants rescued at sea to dock in the Sicilian port of Augusta,...

Spain sets pandemic record for new cases 28 Dec 2021 - 01:43 pm

MADRID - Spain is dealing with the highest ever number of coronavirus infections, with some regions considering further curbs on social life ahead...

France further tightens COVID measures, but no curfew for New Year's Eve 27 Dec 2021 - 11:05 pm

PARIS- Faced with the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, France will further tighten COVID-19 measures, but there will be no curfew for...

British government says no new COVID curbs for England in 2021 27 Dec 2021 - 09:49 pm

LONDON- England will not get any new COVID-19 restrictions before the end of 2021, British health minister Sajid Javid said on Monday, as...

Health experts say Italy faces paralysis under quarantine rules 27 Dec 2021 - 08:06 pm

ROME- Health experts urged the Italian government on Monday to relax COVID-19 quarantine rules, saying that the country otherwise risked paralysis as the...

Greece expands restrictions to contain Omicron variant surge 27 Dec 2021 - 07:42 pm

ATHENS- Greece on Monday announced further restrictions effective from Jan. 3-16 to contain a further upsurge in COVID-19 infections including the Omicron variant,...

UK's daily COVID-19 infections dip under 100,000 mark 27 Dec 2021 - 07:37 pm

LONDON-Britain reported 98,515 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday and 143 deaths within 28 days of a positive test result. Data was also...

'No culture, no future': Belgian artists decry virus rules 27 Dec 2021 - 11:59 am

Brussels: Thousands of Belgian performers, cinema operators, event organizers and others joined together Sunday to protest the government’s decision to close down the...

Kosovo reports first cases of COVID-19 Omicron 26 Dec 2021 - 11:46 pm

PRISTINA- Kosovo's health ministry said on Sunday it had registered its first nine cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant in the Balkan country....

British man arrested at Windsor Castle detained under Mental Health Act 26 Dec 2021 - 09:00 pm

LONDON- A man armed with a crossbow who was arrested after attempting to break into Windsor Castle where Queen Elizabeth was celebrating Christmas...

Germany hits goal in push for 30 million new vaccine shots 26 Dec 2021 - 07:36 pm

FRANKFURT, Germany- Germany has reached its goal of 30 million additional immunizations against COVID-19 by year's end, a push aimed at re-energizing a...