Coronavirus latest as restrictions eased across Wales and Northern Ireland; new Omicron variant detected in the UK; the row over masks in schools continues; EU prepares fourth jab; Adele forced to reschedule Las Vegas shows due to COVID.
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ER doctor Craig Spencer has shared this “stunning” graph showing COVID cases, hospitalisations and deaths among vaccinated people versus those who are unvaccinated.
The data is from New York City’s latest Omicron surge, and it shows how all three factors have skyrocketed among unvaccinated people.
Meanwhile, vaccinated people have seen much less of an impact.
Researchers have reviewed data on nearly 80,000 US children under the age of five who had been infected with COVID for the first time.
After accounting for other risk factors such as medical conditions and socioeconomic circumstances, the researchers found children infected during the Omicron surge had a 29% lower risk of emergency department visits, a 67% lower risk of hospitalization, a 68% lower risk of needing intensive care, and a 71% lower risk of needing machines to breathe, compared to children infected with Delta.
However, there may have still been a greater overall number of emergency department visits, hospitalisations and ICU admissions because of Omicron’s increased transmissibility.
Infection rates were disproportionately higher among black and Hispanic children, the study found.
The analysis has been published on medRxiv ahead of peer review.
The annual celebration in Ireland is taking place in person for the first time since the pandemic.
It had moved online for the last two years, but Ireland’s minister for tourism confirmed a physical parade will go ahead following the removal of most COVID restrictions.
“All of this is being worked on, we’ve been doing contingency plans behind the scenes but we’re delighted now that a physical parade will take place and we will announce the details on that shortly,” Catherine Martin said.
Earlier this evening, the Irish government announced nearly all restrictions will be removed from 6am tomorrow.
It means there will no longer be a limit on gatherings both indoors and outdoors.
The Postal Service has started sending out millions of orders after a federal website was launched allowing people to get free lateral flow tests.
It is the first time America has offered free rapid flow tests to large swathes of the country.
The surge in Omicron cases is beginning to subside in some states, with the average daily cases falling about 5% in the past week.
Over the past seven days, there were about 744,600 daily cases on average.
Bad news for fans of the franchise: the seventh and eighth instalments have been postponed until 2023 and 2024.
Paramount Pictures said it had taken the decision “after thoughtful consideration” due to the pandemic.
Mission: Impossible 7 had been scheduled to debut in cinemas in September this year, while Mission: Impossible 8 was meant to go out in July 2023.
Lech Walesa, the former president and Solidarity pro-democracy movement leader, has confirmed he has the infection on Facebook.
“I can’t believe it: I received 3 shots, …. (but) I’m infected. (I have a) headache, I can’t warm up my body. I feel like my flesh is tearing away from the bones,” Mr Walesa wrote.
“After this painful lesson I will never separate from my mask.”
The 78-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate was fitted with a pacemaker in 2008 and had heart surgery last year.
He led the nationwide Solidarity movement in the 1980s that eventually toppled Poland’s communist leaders in an election in 1989.
The country has approved a new pass that means people will have to show proof of vaccination to enter public spaces including bars, restaurants and cinemas.
President Emmanuel Macron recently said he wanted to “p*** off” the unvaccinated by making their lives difficult.
The new ruling by France’s Constitutional Council means the pass can take effect from 24 January.
However, it overturned a requirement for vaccine passes to be shown at political rallies.
The Council said without this provision, it would impinge on people’s freedom to share views and opinions.
A US man who faked his own death and hid in Scotland to escape sex charges has been denied bail and remanded in custody.
Nicholas Rossi, who goes by at least 10 other aliases, is being sought by international authorities after fleeing multiple charges involving fraud and a 2008 sexual assault charge.
The 34-year-old was arrested in Scotland on 13 December after being admitted to Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital with COVID.
He was due to appear via video link at a court hearing on 23 December as it was understood he would need to be in hospital for a few weeks.
But prosecutors said Rossi discharged himself from hospital the next day and went back to his home in Glasgow.
He allegedly made several attempts to leave, including trying to pay a taxi £100 to take him back.
He was arrested a second time on 20 January at his house for failing to attend an extradition.
Sheriff Alistair Noble said Rossi now “cannot be trusted” and he was remanded in custody, receiving medical treatment in prison instead.
In an address to the nation, Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin has confirmed nearly all restrictions will be lifted from 6am tomorrow.
He says Ireland has now “weathered the Omicron storm” and the data shows things have “stabilised” and are “going in the right direction”.
Guidance of household visiting will no longer apply, there can be a phased return to the workplace and restrictions on indoor and outdoor capacities have been lifted.
A nighttime curfew for the hospitality sector is being lifted and there will be no restrictions on movement around venues.
The COVID pass will also be scrapped.
However, Mr Martin says a “limited number of measures” will remain in place.
Face masks will still need to be worn in settings where they are currently mandated, self-isolation rules still apply and protective measures in schools will continue.
There will also be no changes to rules on international travel.
Mr Martin says these will be reviewed by the end of February.
