CNN Karla Cripps, CNN The discovery of a new variant of the Covid-19 virus has left governments around the world scrambling, leading to a steady stream of increased travel restrictions since the World Health Organization designated B.1.1.529 ” as a “variant of concern” on November 26. Little is known about the new variant, dubbed Omicron,
Continue ReadingBy Martin Goillandeau and Ivana Kottasová, CNN The world is in a “race against time” with the Omicron coronavirus variant, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday, warning during a visit to Latvia that scientists and manufacturers will need weeks to fully understand the new variant. As more cases are identified and
Continue ReadingCNN By Holly Yan and Aya Elamroussi, CNN The new Omicron variant might prompt a return to stricter Covid-19 measures if not enough people get vaccinated or boosted, health experts say. Omicron — or the B.1.1.529 strain of novel coronavirus — has already spurred international travel bans. The World Health Organization officially called it a
Continue ReadingCNN By Devan Cole, CNN The director of the National Institutes of Health stressed Sunday that a newly emerged coronavirus variant “ought to redouble” vaccination efforts and other mitigation strategies, saying that while much is unknown about the variant, action should be taken now to avoid “a situation that makes this worse.” “It’s certainly not
Continue ReadingBy Martin Goillandeau, CNN Swiss voters on Sunday approved their government’s pandemic response plan in a referendum by a 62.01% majority, according to official results published on the Federal Chancellery’s website. With a 65.72% participation, the Sunday referendum showed that most Swiss voters are unwilling to give up restrictive measures against Covid-19, with the result
Continue ReadingBy Aya Elamroussi and Dakin Andone, CNN As the new Covid-19 Omicron variant spurs global travel bans, experts say concerns over its impact should prompt millions of unvaccinated Americans to get their shots — and for those who are eligible, to get their boosters. “I would hope that within the next week or two weeks,
Continue ReadingBy Ivana Kottasová, CNN As fears mount over the newly identified coronavirus variant Omicron, governments around the world are scrambling to protect their citizens from a potential outbreak. The new mutation, which is potentially more transmissible, was first discovered in South Africa and has since been detected in Australia, United Kingdom, Germany, Israel, Italy, the
Continue ReadingCNN By Tamara Hardingham-Gill, Laura Smith-Spark and Ivana Kottasová, CNN Major travel destinations including the European Union, Japan, Australia, the United States and Canada have moved to block flights from African countries following the discovery of the Omicron variant, echoing previous emergency responses that triggered a global freeze on travel. The speed with which the
Continue ReadingBy David McKenzie, Ghazi Balkiz, Ivana Kottasová and Laura Smith-Spark, CNN The discovery of a new and potentially more transmissible coronavirus variant by South African health authorities has sparked a forceful reaction across the world, with a number of countries banning travelers from several southern African countries. The World Health Organization announced Friday it has
Continue ReadingCNN By Kaitlan Collins, CNN President Joe Biden announced Friday the US will restrict travel from South Africa and seven other countries starting Monday as a new coronavirus variant has emerged. Acting on advice from the nation’s top infectious diseases expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Biden
Continue ReadingCNN, CNNBUSINESS By Michelle Toh and Mark Thompson, CNN Business Stocks in Asia fell on Monday while European markets and US futures edged higher as investors continued to digest news about a new Covid-19 variant. Japan’s Nikkei 225 closed down about 1.6%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index fell nearly 1%. European markets rebounded slightly
Continue ReadingCNN By David McKenzie and Ghazi Balkiz, CNN South Africa’s health minister announced Thursday the discovery of a new coronavirus variant that appears to be spreading rapidly in parts of the country. “Initially it looked like some cluster outbreaks, but from yesterday, the indication came from our scientists from the Network of Genomic Surveillance that
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In-person visitation with family and friends resumed Wednesday for vaccinated patients on the Oregon State Hospital Salem campus, with safety precautions in place to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.
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There are 50 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, including seven in Deschutes County, raising the state’s death toll to 5,116, the Oregon Health Authority reported Wednesday.
Continue ReadingBy Jacqueline Howard, CNN Thursday marks the second Thanksgiving during the coronavirus pandemic. Many grandparents are excitedly planning to see their grandchildren. Friends are dressing their dining tables for turkey and loved ones. Some people have flights booked or road trips scheduled. But in the background, Covid-19 case numbers are inching upward across the United
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There are 51 newly reported COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, including four in Central Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 5,066, the Oregon Health Authority reported Tuesday.
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Just in time for holiday travel, a second location offering no-cost rapid PCR COVID-19 testing is now open in Deschutes County. The site is made possible through an ongoing partnership between Deschutes County Health Services, Central Oregon Community College, the Oregon Health Authority and Curative.
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With promising recent signs in declining COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, the Oregon Health Authority on Tuesday lifted the requirement for outdoor mask wearing in crowded settings, which was imposed in August amid the surge in more contagious Delta variant cases.
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There are 103 new COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 5,017, the Oregon Health Authority reported Monday.
Continue ReadingVANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) — About two dozen people lodged in a southwest Washington jail have tested positive for COVID-19. The Columbian reports Clark County Jail Chief Phil Sample estimated as of Monday morning that between 20 to 25 inmates tested positive out of a facility population of about 340. That means about 7% of the
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