The Latest Breaking News from Covid-19

China domestic tourism picks up over Lunar New Year as COVID curbs end

Almost a quarter more domestic Chinese tourism trips have been made during this year's Lunar New Year holiday, while cross-border travel more than doubled in the first six days of the week-long break following the end of strict COVID-19 curbs.

Reuters · Jan 27, 2023

Japan to scrap mask rule in May

TOKYO: The government of Japan will drop its recommendation to wear masks indoors and downgrade its medical classification for Covid-19, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Friday.

Bangkok Post · Jan 27, 2023

Fact check: Are viral videos showing COVID-19 vaccine side effects accurate?

Videos appearing to show people experiencing severe side effects after allegedly receiving COVID-19 vaccines are making the rounds on social media as part of a renewed push from anti-vaccine movements to cast doubt on safety.

Tribune News Service · Jan 27, 2023

COVID-19 cases continue downward trend

Federal government data shows the number of average daily COVID-19 cases in Australia is continuing to trend downwards.

AAP · Jan 27, 2023

Bivalent COVID-19 shot should become standard, FDA advisers say

Bivalent COVID-19 shots should become the standard form of the vaccine, U.S. advisers said, part of a plan to offer a single booster to the public each year that gives protection against the most recent, dominant strains.

Tribune News Service · Jan 27, 2023

An FDA committee votes to roll out a new COVID vaccination strategy

Advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration today endorsed a proposal to make big changes in the nation's approach to vaccinating people against COVID-19.

WEKU · Jan 26, 2023

FDA committee plots future of COVID vaccines, with Omicron formula and potentially annual booster shots

The aim of Thursday’s meeting was to “determine if we’ve reached a point in the pandemic where we can simplify and take a more routine approach,” said Dr. David Kaslow, director of the Office of Vaccines Research and Review at the FDA.

Fortune · Jan 26, 2023

FDA advisers back the same COVID vaccine for initial shots, boosters

Advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday unanimously voted in favor of targeting the same coronavirus strain for initial COVID-19 vaccine doses and boosters going forward, but some expressed skepticism about whether all Americans need to receive the shots annually.

Reuters · Jan 26, 2023

Department of Health wasted £15bn on unused Covid supplies, watchdog finds

National Audit Office finds ‘extraordinary waste’ along with failures of governance, oversight and financial controls

The Guardian - UK · Jan 26, 2023

£14.9billion wasted on PPE, Covid tests and vaccine that won't be used

Labour’s Wes Streeting said it was 'staggering' the taxpayers’ money had been 'wasted on useless' as he warned the Conservatives can 'never again claim to be the careful stewards of the public finances'

Daily Mirror · Jan 26, 2023