Covid update: Coronavirus news from around the world | DW News

Germany has introduced new tougher restrictions for travelers arriving from countries designated as high-risk due to COVID 19. Border police stepped up controls at German airports for passengers from around 30 countries designated as high-risk or with high numbers of virus variants. All travelers now need to show a negative coronavirus test taken not more than 48 hours before arriving in Germany.
Germany's neighbor the Czech Republic is on the high-risk list. The new rules will affect thousands of people who cross the border every day to work in Germany. Big queues built up once the new regulations came into force.
Another country on Germany's high-risk list is Portugal. Voters there are going to the polls to elect a new president today, despite a deepening coronavirus crisis in the country. Incumbent Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is regarded as the clear front runner -- for the post, which is largely ceremonial. Election organizers have increased the number of polling stations and allowed for early voting to avoid overcrowding at the ballot box. Portugal is battling the worst coronavirus infection rate in the world. The seven-day incidence rate is 785. That's means Portugal has a rate more than double that of the UK and US – and seven times that of Germany.
Israel has expanded its COVID-19 vaccination drive to include 16 to 18 year olds, with parental permission. The government says it will allow them to return to school and take exams. Israel has the world's highest vaccination rate and hopes to re-open its economy next month.
EU Council chief Charles Michel has warned Covid-19 vaccine manufacturers of possible legal consequences after they announced delays in delivering doses. Vaccine partners BioNTech and Pfizer blamed supply chain issues, while AstraZeneca said a production glitch would hamper supplies to Europe.
German health authorities have imposed a quarantine on a Berlin hospital after after six employees and 14 patients tested positive for a highly infectious variant of the coronavirus. A spokeswoman said the Humboldt Hospital will no longer be allowed to admit new patients and expects the number infected to rise.
New Zealand has reported its first coronavirus case, outside of a quarantine facility, in more than two months. The case was a 56-year-old woman who recently returned from Europe and tested negative twice while in quarantine. Health officials are investigating how she caught the virus and which variant it was.

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[Giogiogio]

Alease you have test. In the USA we pretty much just got to sit around and die from it. Or spend $150, 000+ in the ER with our $7.00 min wage and zero jobs.

[joycealice]

*No 1: Don't Only Hope On Government For Income, *

*No 2: As An Individual Look For Different Self Income Not Only Waiting on Monthly Wages, *

*No 3: Always Save The Little You Can And Think Of What To Do With It When It Become Good For Capital.*

*It's 100% Good To Have Different Ways To Gain Income*

*Because Government have failed us so therefore let's try and survive*

[sporttrolling]

Coronavirus is like that one kid at school who's allergic to peanuts and no one else is allowed to have a peanut butter sandwich.

[alki]

Media: no, were not fear mongering.

Also media: *puts thumbnail of coffins in relation to the Rona* 😐😅

[rochagugu]

Why Portugal has those numbers? I was shocked when my political family told me there was no test required to enter to country and no quarantine needed back in December.

[leonardhenderson]

"They may be one or two hours late for work..."
...or dead from a global pandemic...

[cheekztv]

Also my mother in Abu dhabi is a victim of this corona virus, she's 57 years old.. Luckily she's a bit okay now in abu dhabi quarantine facilities.. Hoping that all the positive patient will recover to this virus as soon

[LongNguyen-lxif]

On day 8th of being infected with covid. I’m now recovering on my own 😁. Good luck people, you’ll need it. Oh, and keep healthy is your best bet to fight this

[crisshsk]

For this kind of virus, our vaccine will be one step behind, every year, because the virus mutates too often.

[wildbill]

I'm happy I don't have children lol it's a mad world to be bringing kids into this sad planet

[Machster]

N95s filter aerosolized virus particles. They work through electrostatic charge. Germany requires that people wear them or the equivalent. If they are caught wearing a cloth face covering they are heavily fined. OSHA does not recognize cloth face coverings as personal protective equipment (PPE). For a list of approved N95s check out the CDC-NIOSH website.

[byronleigh]

I am not sure if COVID cares about the inconvenience. Employers should not penalise staff if they have missed a couple of hours due to a test. The faster people fall into line the sooner life will return to normal.

[chriscelis]

How is the virus able to spread so quickly when everyone stays at home and follows the rules? It was said that the virus can only be transmitted from person to person. I would expect the infections go to zero then within a short period of time. How can the virus be passed on if everyone stays at home?

[achristian]

Even production of vaccine is slower, the West is gone, totally gone. Capital will go east for more stable economic growth.

[musicloverUK]

Surely the Brazil variant is also a factor in Portugal's off the scale cases? Given that the UK's cases are half what Portugal's are??

[CMoore]

They should have been testing them from the beginning of the pandemic.

[nothinglastsforever]

The only made in China product that’s sturdy & long-lasting

[morgantracy]

Please have a sense of urgency, people.

[seb]

Why has DW removed the documentary entitled "world health organization becomes us-china battleground" ? Was DW under pressure to do so? This is questionable for a news organization that claims to be objective!

[sentdc]

I'm wondering if travellers arriving from US to Germany just for a layover be required that 48-hr covid test?