Category: Covid-19

Health workers from Zendai organisation in personal protective equipment (PPE) take swab samples from people for a rapid antigen test amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Bangkok, Thailand, January 5, 2022. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

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BANGKOK, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Thailand is considering measures such as limiting large gatherings and banning alcohol sales in restaurants to discourage customers to avert a wave of coronavirus infections, a health official said on Wednesday.

The country reported 3,899 cases on Wednesday, up from an average of 2,600 daily cases towards the end of last year, and the Omicron variant itself has tripled from last month's holiday period, government data showed.

If measures like wearing masks and regular testing were not followed, infections could reach the "tens of thousands in the next two weeks," Sumanee Watcharasin, a spokeswoman for the country's coronavirus taskforce, said.

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She said the government will decide on new curbs on Friday and also review the suspended "Test & Go" scheme that allowed vaccinated arrivals to skip quarantine.

Since the pandemic began, Thailand has had a total of 2.2 million infections and nearly 22,000 coronavirus-related fatalities. Residents were concerned about further disruptions to life.

"I'm so worried with the situation, but I'm being very cautious," said Kundarat Yutakom, a 60-year-old shopkeeper in Bangkok who opened her shop after a seven-month interval on Wednesday.

Others feared a repeat of last year when cases surged, straining hospitals leaving many untreated.

"We really need to be prepared so we don't have a repeat of events of July and August when people were dying on the streets," said Chris Potranandana, head of the Zendai Foundation that helped people get medical help during last year's peak.

Thailand has vaccinated about 64.1% of an estimated 72 million people living in the country with two doses, but only 9.7% have received booster shots.

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Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng, Jiraporn Kuhakan and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani

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Thailand fears "tens of thousands" of new COVID-19 cases, weighs curbs - Reuters

People queue for COVID-19 tests in front of a laboratory in Paris amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in France, January 4, 2022. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier

PARIS, Jan 5 (Reuters) - A "supersonic" rise in French COVID-19 cases is set to continue in the coming days and there are no signs of the trend reversing, French government spokesman Gabriel Attal said on Wednesday.

He also said that infections were reaching "stratospheric levels" in the Ile-de-France region around Paris and some other parts of France and said that the situation in hospitals could worsen in coming weeks.

Attal also said that the government has decreed a health state of emergency in the French regions of Guadeloupe, Guyana, Mayotte, Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthlmy, where the infection rate is soaring.

At the end of the December, a health state of emergency was decreed in La Runion and was extended in Martinique, where it has been in place since mid-July.

On Tuesday, France reported a record 271,686 new COVID-19 infections over 24 hours.

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Reporting by Dominique Vidalon and Myriam Rivet, writing by Geert De Clercq; Editing by Jon Boyle and Frank Jack Daniel

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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"Supersonic" rise in French COVID-19 cases in coming days, government says - Reuters

Daily coronavirus infections in the Netherlands soared to a record high of around 24,500 as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus has become dominant in the country, official data showed.

Omicron is driving record daily cases of coronavirus from the United States to Australia, adding to pressure on health services.

Australia, once feted for its success in controlling the virus, reported 64,758 new cases on Wednesday most of them in the states of New South Wales and Victoria.

Meanwhile, China is doubling down on its COVID-zero strategy, announcing new city lockdowns in response to only a few cases, and Hong Kong is ordering people who were in some 57 locations visited by close contacts of a person later confirmed with Omicron to undergo compulsory testing.

Here are the latest updates for Wednesday:

8 mins ago (17:24 GMT)

French Health Minister Olivier Veran told parliament on Wednesday that todays COVID-19 new cases figure stood at around 335,000 new confirmed cases in France, marking a new record.

32 mins ago (17:01 GMT)

Turkey recorded 66,467 new coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours, the highest daily figure on record, health ministry data showed.

It also recorded 143 deaths over the coronavirus in the same period, the data showed. Cases in Turkey have more than doubled in just over a week as the Omicron variant became dominant in the country.

39 mins ago (16:54 GMT)

Canada will ramp up supplies of rapid COVID-19 tests to the countrys 10 provinces, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters, promising there will be better days ahead.

Most provinces have reimposed restrictions on businesses and gatherings amid warnings from medical professionals that health care systems could be swamped.

59 mins ago (16:34 GMT)

The United States has the tools needed to keep schools open despite a surge of coronavirus cases driven by the highly transmissible Omicron variant, White House COVID-19 response coordinator Jeff Zients said.

We know how to keep our kids safe in school. About 96 percent of schools are open. Parents want schools open, and experts are clear that in-person learning is best for kids physical and mental health and further education. And the President couldnt be clearer; schools in this country should remain open, Zients told reporters.

1 hour ago (16:10 GMT)

Britain reported 194,747 further cases of COVID-19 and 334 more deaths within 28 days of a positive test, according to official data.

The deaths figures reported included four days of hospital data for England as the data catches up after a seasonal holiday.

2 hours ago (15:50 GMT)

Public schools in the US city of Chicago, Illinois were closed, after the teachers union voted in favour of switching to remote learning amid a surge in COVID-19 infections fueled by the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.

The state had rejected a return to distance learning, arguing it was harmful to childrens education and mental health. But the union argued the districts safety protocols were insufficient leaving both teachers and students vulnerable to the disease.

This decision was made with a heavy heart and a singular focus on student and community safety, the union said in a statement. Our teachers are not willing to report to work.

The Chicago Teachers Unions move was approved by 73 percent of members and called to continue remote instruction until cases substantially subside or union leaders reach an agreement on improved safety protocols.

We are deeply concerned about this decision but even more concerned about its impact on the health, safety, and well-being of our students and families, the district said in a statement.

2 hours ago (15:27 GMT)

Austrian police said they had raided two dozen homes, seizing equipment and placing 22 people under investigation on suspicion of forging vaccine certificates, weeks before COVID vaccines become mandatory.

Investigators suspect the 22 people were forging documents not just for themselves but for friends and acquaintances, the interior ministry said in a statement.

Organised trade and use of forged vaccine certificates is no trivial matter, but a criminal offence, said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner.

3 hours ago (14:44 GMT)

Cypriot authorities announced stricter controls on social gatherings to tackle the worlds worst COVID-19 infection rate per capita.

Ministers at a cabinet meeting imposed restrictions on church gatherings and home visits as Cypriots prepare to mark the Epiphany on Thursday, a key date in the Greek Orthodox religious calendar.

Home visits will be limited to 10 people, half the number previously permitted, and not including children under 12, while church attendance will be restricted to a maximum of 200 people.

3 hours ago (14:27 GMT)

The Netherlands reported more than 24,000 new COVID-19 infections in 24 hours, a record high, official data showed.

The figure came as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus became dominant in the country during a strict lockdown.

Infections were up almost 60 percent from last week despite a strict lockdown that has closed all but essential stores as well as restaurants, hairdressers, gyms, museums and other public places since December 19.

3 hours ago (14:05 GMT)

Qatar has introduced multiple new precautionary curbs as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the gulf nation, local media outlet The Peninsula reported.

The measures which will be effective January 8, include limited capacity at restaurants, recreational centres, weddings and other venues; only vaccinated people will be allowed in malls; and no under-12s will be allowed in mosques.

In the last 24 hours Qatar reported 1696 infections and no deaths.

4 hours ago (13:41 GMT)

Liverpools League Cup semi-final first leg match with Arsenal, scheduled to be played on Thursday, has been postponed due to several positive COVID cases, Liverpool announced on their website.

Liverpool closed their training ground and have manager Jurgen Klopp, assistant Pepijn Lijnders and several players presently isolating due to positive tests.

Klopp and three players, Alisson Becker, Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino, were already isolating before the latest wave of infections.

4 hours ago (13:20 GMT)

President Emmanuel Macron has faced anger from opponents and chaos in parliament after issuing a provocative warning to people in France not yet vaccinated against COVID-19 that he would pressure them as much as possible by limiting access to key aspects of life.

Macron, who has not yet formally declared his candidacy for re-election in April, came under fire from challengers already in the race, accusing him of overstepping the line with his remarks.

Read more here.

6 hours ago (11:30 GMT)

Polish President Andrzej Duda has tested positive for coronavirus, a top aide told the state news agency PAP.

The president is in isolation, the aide added.

7 hours ago (10:59 GMT)

Israel is giving groups at high COVID-19 risk priority access to PCR tests, and allowing vaccinated people who are exposed to carriers to make an initial determination of quarantine status with home tests, the Health Ministry announced.

7 hours ago (10:46 GMT)

Tokyo authorities may ask Japans government to reinstate emergency measures as a rise in COVID-19 cases spurs concern that the capital is experiencing a sixth wave of infections, the Sankei newspaper reported.

Tokyo metropolitan government officials are preparing to make the request for a declaration of what are known in Japan as quasi-emergency measures, the paper reported, citing unidentified sources.

Such measures, which include restrictions on restaurant and bar opening hours, were lifted across Japan in September.

7 hours ago (10:52 GMT)

Hong Kong has announced a two-week ban on incoming flights from eight countries and tightened coronavirus restrictions after detecting cases of the Omicron variant.

Carrie Lam, the chief executive of Hong Kong, told reporters on Wednesday that incoming flights from Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and the United States, including interchanges, would be banned from January 8 to January 21.

The government will ban indoor dining after 6pm from Friday, she said, and close swimming pools, sports centres, bars and clubs, museums and other venues for at least two weeks.

Read more here.

7 hours ago (10:31 GMT)

Singapore expects the Omicron coronavirus variant to cause a bigger wave of infections than Delta, the health ministry said, adding a booster dose will soon be required for adults to be considered fully vaccinated.

From February 14, eligible persons aged 18 years and above should have received a booster dose no later than 270 days after the last dose in the primary vaccination series to be considered fully vaccinated, the ministry said.

The city-state of 5.5 million people allows only those counted as fully vaccinated to enter malls or dine in restaurants or at hawker stalls.

7 hours ago (10:30 GMT)

The leader of Britains opposition Labour Party, Keir Starmer, has tested positive for COVID-19, his spokesperson said.

8 hours ago (09:59 GMT)

Xu Mingfei, vice mayor of Xian, has said that more than 42,000 people were in centralized COVID-19 quarantine facilities in the Chinese city.

Mingfei told a news briefing that residents should continue to avoid going out or leaving the city for non-essential reasons.

In Xian, which is two weeks into a lockdown, authorities reported 35 domestically transmitted cases with confirmed symptoms on Tuesday, compared to 95 the previous day and 150 or more per day during the December 25-31 period, official data showed.

8 hours ago (09:52 GMT)

Philippine authorities have cancelled an annual procession, which normally draws millions of Catholic devotees accompanying a black wooden statue of Jesus Christ through the streets of Manila, for a second straight year due to coronavirus concerns.

The governments coronavirus task force cancelled the Black Nazerene procession, which is one of the countrys largest religious festivals, before celebrations related to the Jan. 9 procession, were due to start on Friday because of rising COVID-19 infections.

Unlike last year, there will be no in-person masses in the church housing the centuries-old statue, and police will be deployed to discourage people from gathering outside the building, authorities said.

We understand (the cancellation) for our safety and health reasons, Father Douglas Badong, Parochial Vicar of Quiapo Church, told a news conference. He said physical masses will take place in other provinces and online masses for devotees in the capital.

8 hours ago (09:51 GMT)

Japans Okinawa region has emerged as the epicentre of a new coronavirus surge with cases more than doubling from the previous day and officials were considering imposing emergency steps to contain it.

New infections in the southern prefecture jumped to 623 from 225 on Tuesday, the most since August when Japan was in the midst of its fifth and biggest wave of COVID-19.

Okinawa governor Denny Tamaki told reporters the region had entered a sixth wave of infections and the highly transmissible Omicron variant was responsible.

As of Tuesday, a total of 1,191 cases of the Omicron variant had been found in Japan, including 479 cases considered community transmissions, according to the health ministry.

9 hours ago (09:03 GMT)

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has said that the government will introduce a series of new measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, as she warned the global financial hub was on the verge of another outbreak.

The new rules include a ban on flights from eight countries for two weeks from Jan. 8, effecting Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia, Pakistan, Philippines, France and India.

Lam was speaking as Hong Kong authorities launched a city-wide search for the contacts of a COVID-19 patient and ordered a Royal Caribbean cruise to nowhere ship to return to port early, as health officials feared a fifth wave of infections.

Read more here.

9 hours ago (08:42 GMT)

Israels health ministry has announced nearly 12,000 new coronavirus cases, constituting the largest daily rise in infections since the beginning of the pandemic nearly two years ago.

According to the figures, 11,978 new COVID cases were detected over the course of Tuesday, surpassing the countrys previous record high of 11,344 cases recorded on September 2 last year.

While there were currently nearly 60,000 people with COVID in Israel, the number of serious cases on Wednesday was only 125, according to the health ministry.

Nearly 4.3 million of Israels 9.4 million inhabitants have received three shots of coronavirus vaccine. In recent days, authorities began administering fourth shots to at-risk groups.

9 hours ago (08:31 GMT)

Hungary has reported 5,270 new COVID-19 cases, a sharp rise from the 3,005 recorded a week ago, amid the spread of the Omicron variant.

Omicron accounted for more than 11 percent of new cases, the government said.

9 hours ago (08:14 GMT)

India has reported 58,097 new daily COVID-19 cases, twice the number seen only four days ago, with a top health official in the national capital saying the pandemics third wave in the country has set in.

Deaths rose by 534, including the southern state of Keralas updated death toll of 423, lifting the national total to 482,551, according to the health ministry data on Wednesday.

The total number of cases officially reported so far are more than 35 million, as the highly transmissibleOmicron variantbegins to overtake Delta, a strain first discovered in India.

More here:

Netherlands hits new daily COVID record as Omicron surges: Live - Al Jazeera English

Hospitalizations increased to near a pandemic peak on Wednesday as signs emerge that the omicron variant is taking over in Maine.

Maine is reporting 382 hospitalizations statewide on Wednesday, up from 373 on Tuesday and close to the pandemic high point of 387 on Dec. 21. On Wednesday, 117 COVID-19 patients were in critical care and 59 were on ventilators.

At MaineHealths NorDx laboratories, 45 positive cases sequenced did not detect the presence of the delta variant, which for months had been the dominant strain in the state, said MaineHealth spokesman John Porter on Tuesday. Because NorDx is set up to test for delta and not omicron, those samples will be sent to the Maine CDC labs to screen them for omicron.

Officially, omicron comprises 8.75 percent of positive samples sequenced by The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor for the Maine CDC, representing sequencing conducted Dec. 19-25. But with the lag in reporting and the variants exponential growth, scientists at The Jackson Laboratory say they expect omicron will soon be the dominant strain in Maine, if it isnt already.

Meanwhile,Maine is reporting 1,326 cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, and 26 additional deaths.

Dr. Nirav Shah, Maine CDC director, is expected to brief the media at 2 p.m. today.

Since the pandemic began, Maine has logged 149,543 cases of COVID-19, and 1,582 deaths. The case count is increasingly becoming less reliable as a public health metric, experts say, because of the number of people taking at-home tests, which are not included in the case count.

On the vaccination front, 71.5 percent of Maines 1.3 million population are fully vaccinated, and 36 percent have received their booster shot.

Meanwhile, MaineHealth is opening a vaccination clinic this week at its offices 110 Free St., Portland. The clinic is by appointment only, with hours from noon-6 p.m. Wednesday, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday. First and second dose appointments are available to anyone 5 and older, and booster shots are available for those 16 and older. The clinic has the Pfizer, Moderna and J&J vaccines.

To schedule an appointment, go to vaccine.mainehealth.org.

Also, Northern Light Health has reopened its walk-in vaccination clinic at the former Pier One store at the Maine Mall in South Portland. Walk-ins can stop by for a vaccine from 1-7 p.m. on Thursday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

This story will be updated.

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COVID-19 hospitalizations increase in Maine to near pandemic peak - Press Herald

One week remains in the NFLs now 18-week season. As always, there are plenty of headlineson and off the fieldrelated to the business of football.

Stephen Lew/USA TODAY Sports

COVID-19 has brought challenges to anyone trying to do business as usual, and the business of sports is no exception. While many thought the adjustments of 2020 would be one-and-done, we are constantly reminded that the coronavirus is nowhere near being in our rear-view mirror.

As we followed the NFL in 2020, many of us were aghast at the unheard-of notions that a Ravens team could play a game despite having 20-plus infections, or that a Broncos practice squad receiver could start at quarterback. Now, these stories have become commonplace. Multiple teams have experienced having 20-plus players test positive within a game week. And play at the quarterback position has been among the worst we have ever seen, with third- and fourth-string options starting important games. I recently turned on the television to see quarterback Garrett Gilbert, signed that Saturday, starting a Tuesday night game at quarterback for Washington (he has since been released). If ever there was a sign of the times, that was it.

The NFL was, and is, built on competitive balance. All of the systematic restraints against a free market systemthe draft, salary cap, limits on free agencyare implemented in the name of competitive balance. Even with competitive balance baked into the NFL system, it has been no match for COVID-19.

Were competitive balance the paramount NFL goal for 2020 and 21, there would have been some kind of pause, some way to operate to ensure the best players played, with a nod to competitive balance. But the business of sports is winning against that other foundation of the league.

As there have been multiple teams with in-facility outbreaks in recent weeks, many have asked about some kind of pause to the season. My sense is that the NFL will do that only as an absolute last resort and in the playoffs, using the week off before the Super Bowl as a potential surrender, but only if absolutely, positively necessary.

With the NFL playing through 20-plus infections on teams, it is hard to know what would cause a pushback. Would the league, say, postpone a playoff game with a superstar quarterback on the sidelines with a COVID-19 infection? Of course, the Twidicule would rain down on the league no matter what decision it made (not that the league should care about that).

The bottom line, of course, is the bottom line. It is hard to think of a scenario in which the NFL does not play every scheduled game. The NFLs mantra in Year Two of COVID-19, fresh off negotiating eye-popping media contracts worth $110 billion, has been simple: Were playing through.

My fathers generation didnt know he played; they only knew him as a coach.

My generation didnt know he coached; we only knew him as a broadcaster.

My sons generation didnt know he broadcasted; they only knew the wildly popular video game was named after him.

Depending on your age, you have different associations with him, but everyone who knows the game of footballand even many who do notknow the name John Madden. His broadcasting style changed the way we view not only football but all sports, bringing sharp and clear analysis as well as humor and an everyman vision of the game. I, like millions of others, looked forward to listening to Madden. He was a game-changer in so many different ways.

During an era in the early 2000s, there was no more popular athlete, in any sport, than Brett Favre, and no more popular sports television personality, in any sport, than John Madden. And Madden adored Brett; he loved his gunslinging play and witty sense of humor behind the country boy faade. Brett admired Madden right back; they were kindred spirits.

Before each road game, the broadcast crew would always, of course, request Brett for an interview, and he would gladly go, knowing his celebrity would not allow him to leave the hotel. And he truly enjoyed talking football with Madden.

I was lucky enough to be a fly on the wall a couple of times for this once-in-a-lifetime broadcasterplayer interaction. When Brett sat with a crew involving Madden, both would light up. They would talk ball, of course, but mostly they would swap stories; Brett was as good a storyteller as I have ever met. When our team meetings would start at night, there were times we would be looking for Brett, only to realize that he was still chopping it up with Madden. Madden would be laughing away, often using the stories from Brett (Uncle Rube was one) during the broadcast the next night, especially if it was a blowout.

Madden and Favre were a match made in heaven. And now John is there first.

Vincent Carchietta/USA TODAY Sports

When I heard reports Sunday that Antonio Brown hadin the middle of a gametaken his jersey off and left the stadium, my first reaction was: Sounds about right. Indeed, if I had to pick one player among the entire NFL player population to do that, it would be him.

When we last saw Brown off the field, he was accepting a three-game suspension for using a fake vaccination card, ratted out by one of a litany of people whove been stiffed after providing services to him. The Buccaneers somehow kept him on the roster through the suspension but, of course, their patience ran out on Sunday.

The Steelers tolerated Brown for years before choosing to take on a $21 million dead-cap charge in trading him for two mid-round draft picks rather than keeping him around. Brown lasted a couple of months with the Raiders; he never played a regular-season game for them. He then lasted a week with the Patriots.

It has been interesting to note all the comments hoping Brown gets help and worries for his mental health. I saw none of that through many years of similar antics. The awareness surrounding mental health is a positive sign.

Brown has had many enablers, but I know he has also had people telling him what he needs to hear, not only what he wants to hear. And they have usually been cut off or fired. Scores of coaches, teammates, friends and others have been hoping Brown would change through dozens of second chances. We all know people who constantly say their friend, significant other, business associate or whoever else will change, and then never does. There is an Antonio Brown in all of our lives.

At some point we all have to realize Brown is who he is; there is no change coming there. In the NFL, greater talent means greater tolerance, but Browns tolerance level has moved way past his talent level.

Cryptocurrency exchanges have made a loud entry into the business of sports. Crypto.com is now the naming rights sponsor of the former Staples Center in L.A., and FTX.com has a sponsorship deal with Tom Brady as well as naming rights to the Miami Heats arena. Now both companies have bought into the mainstream with the pinnacle of sports advertising: Super Bowl ads. They will pay the unparalleled price of $6.5 million per 30 seconds, up from $5.5 million last year.

The business of crypto is now in the business of sports.

More NFL Coverage:

MMQB: Teams Clinch As Playoff Field Takes Shape The Buccaneers Enabled Antonio Brown Until the End Maddens Revolutionary Impact, Style Will Never Be Replicated Brady Says Antonio Brown Needs Help. We Should Listen.

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Business of Football: COVID-19 Surge; Brett Favre with John Madden; Antonio Browns Antics - Sports Illustrated

Novak Djokovic ended speculation over his Australian Open title defence by announcing on Tuesday that he would compete at the tennis season's opening Grand Slam event after receiving a medical exemption from getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

The world No. 1, who had declined to reveal his vaccination status, said previously that he was unsure whether he would compete at the Jan. 17-30 tournament in Melbourne due to concerns over Australia's quarantine rules.

"I've spent fantastic quality time with my loved ones over the break and today I'm heading Down Under with an exemption permission. Let's go 2022," the Serbian said on Instagram.

Organisers of the Australian Open had stipulated that all participants must be vaccinated against the coronavirus or have a medical exemption granted by an independent panel of experts.

The organisers issued a statement later on Tuesday to confirm Djokovic will be allowed to compete and is on his way to Australia.

"Djokovic applied for a medical exemption which was granted following a rigorous review process involving two separate independent panels of medical experts,'' the statement said.

"One of those was the Independent Medical Exemption Review Panel appointed by the Victorian Department of Health. They assessed all applications to see if they met the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation guidelines.''

Tennis Australia said the process included the redaction of personal information to ensure privacy for all applicants. That means Djokovic was not obliged to make his exemption public.

Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said "fair and independent protocols were established for assessing medical exemption applications that will enable us to ensure Australian Open 2022 is safe and enjoyable for everyone.''

Tiley on Wednesday said 26 players or support staff made anonymous applications for a medical exemption, although only a "handful'' were granted. He said Djokovic was treated no differently to anyone.

"... Seventy-five to 80% of those that apply for medical exemption, it was not granted,'' Tiley told Melbourne's 3AW radio. Djokovic "went through that process and it's completely legitimate application and process.''

Victoria state Deputy Premier James Merlino last month insisted the medical exemptions would not be "a loophole for privileged tennis players.''

"It is a medical exemption in exceptional circumstances if you have an acute medical condition,'' Merlino said at the time.

Jaala Pulford, the state's acting minister for sports, on Wednesday said "no one is or will be receiving special treatment because of who they are or what they have achieved professionally."

"Lots of people in the Victorian community will find this to be a disappointing outcome, but the process is the process," Pulford said. "Nobody has had special treatment. The process is incredibly robust, it's de-identified and we are where we are, and so tennis can begin and we'll have a terrific event.''

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the decision was a matter for the government of Victoria, where Melbourne is the state capital.

"They have provided (Djokovic) with an exemption to come to Australia, and so we then act in accordance with that,'' Morrison said. "States provide exemptions for people to enter on those basis, and that's been happening for the last two years."

The decision is being widely debated in a city where most people endured months of strict lockdowns and harsh travel restrictions at the height of the pandemic. Reaction on social media quickly turned to questions about the grounds for Djokovic's exemption, and what quarantine conditions he will have to meet.

He will avoid hotel quarantine upon arrival, with visitors to Australia who have medical exemptions for the vaccination treated the same as fully vaccinated people.

Reasons for exemptions can include an acute major medical condition, serious adverse reaction to a previous dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, or evidence of a COVID-19 infection within the previous six months.

Tiley said he wasn't aware of the grounds for Djokovic's exemption, adding: "The only way we could access that information is if an individual decides to share it.'' But, he said, it would be "helpful'' if Djokovic chose to explain.

"I would encourage him to talk to the community about it," Tiley said. "We have been through a very tough period over the last two years and would appreciate some answers to that.''

Djokovic's father, Srdjan, had told a Serbian television channel that his son would probably pull out of the major, saying Tennis Australia's stance on mandatory vaccination was tantamount to "blackmail."

Djokovic pulled out of the Serbia team for the ATP Cup in Sydney to raise further doubts over his participation in the year's first Grand Slam.

"I'm ready to live and breathe tennis in the next few weeks of competition. Thanks everyone for the support," Djokovic added in his post, which was accompanied by a picture of him in an airport.

He heads to Australia having trained in Marbella, Spain, over the past few days.

Djokovic has won a record nine Australian Open titles, including the past three, and is in a three-way tie on 20 majors with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on the all-time list.

Information from The Associated Press and Reuters was used in this report.

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Novak Djokovic to defend Australian Open tennis title after exemption from COVID-19 vaccination - ESPN

Dear Stanford community,

I hope you were able to enjoy the winter break. I am writing with a brief update on the COVID-19 situation, and some reminders, as we begin the winter quarter amid the continued spread of the Omicron variant.

As we had planned and expected, rapid testing is allowing us to quickly identify COVID-positive cases as students return to campus. As of this afternoon, 146 students are isolating in Stanford student housing, either in designated isolation housing or in their assigned housing unit if it has a private bedroom and single-occupancy bathroom. Most of these students tested positive with rapid tests upon returning to campus over the weekend; the others were on campus over the winter break and tested positive prior to the weekend.

Under our isolation procedures, Stanford is providing delivered meals, medical consultation and other support for students who are in isolation. Because we are beginning the first two weeks of the quarter with online instruction, students who are in isolation are able to access their classes. Our previously announced temporary limitations on student gatherings also are in effect and will help prevent transmission on campus.

Not all students have returned to campus yet. We continue to have isolation space available, and our dedicated university staff continue working with students to provide support and guidance as they arrive. We are monitoring the situation closely and will keep you informed of any changes in campus protocols that may become necessary.

University operations have resumed following the Winter Close. While some employees are needed for in-person work, leaders of schools and units are providing flexibility for remote work where feasible. Please check with your manager if you have questions about your units plans. Test twice with Color during your first week back on campus, and as always, please stay home if you are sick.

We remain hopeful that Omicron will peak soon, as a number of models are suggesting, and then recede. In the meantime, please keep in mind the following:

While this is not the way any of us had hoped to begin 2022, were deeply grateful for everything you are doing to support the health of our community through this period. Thank you, and we will continue to keep you informed.

Sincerely,

Russell FurrAssociate Vice ProvostEnvironmental Health & Safety

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As winter quarter begins, a COVID-19 update and reminders - Stanford Report - Stanford University News

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COVID-19 test kit distribution continues in these cities, towns - WFSB

GREENSBORO, N.C. (WGHP) COVID testing and vaccination sites are becoming overpopulated with people wanting to get results quick and fast, and the testing sites in the Piedmont Triad are no exceptions.

Testing sites have seen lines wrapping around the parking lot, and people wanting to get rapid results have felt the brunt of the long waits.

Christine George said since her recovery from COVID over the holiday, her husband has been told by his employer to show negative results before returning to work.

George said the problem is there are no appointments available with rapid results, and lines are so long the wait time for a test can take all day and get results back are even longer.

He needs a test to show he doesnt have COVID so he can return to work. Because hes not getting paid while hes looking for this test, said George.

George said after days of searching, they made an appointment for her husband so he could get a COVID test and get results the same day.

George said the next step is to make an appointment for her son once she finds an open time slot at any testing site.

I have other people that are in this house that need tests now. My husband, were focused on him because hes the one thats working, but there should be a way that we can all go get tested, said George.

Early Tuesday, Mayor Nancy Vaughn said the City of Greensboro is working with Guilford County Health Department and Cone Health to work on a new testing and vaccine site at Piedmont Hall tentatively in the next few days.

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It is frustrating; family deals with long wait for COVID-19 test results in order to return to work - WGHP FOX8 Greensboro

Gov. Whitmer signs state budget for 2022

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the last pieces of the $70 billion 2022 state budget at Lansing Community College Wednesday. To Whitmer's left is Mariah Lawrence, a student participating in the Michigan Reconnect program the budgetfunds.

Paul Egan, DFP, Wochit

LANSING Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is isolating afterher husband, Marc Mallory, tested positive for coronavirus, a spokesman said Tuesday.

Today, the first gentleman tested positive for COVID-19 after feeling under the weather," said Whitmer spokesman Bobby Leddy.

"After the positive test, Gov.Whitmer took a rapid test, which came back negative, and is awaiting the results of a PCR test out of an abundance of caution."

Mallory is a retired dentist.

The coronavirus hit Whitmer's family as the omicron variant has case numbers reaching new heights in Michigan and around the country.

More: 96 Michigan children hospitalized with COVID-19, breaking pandemic record

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"Like so many families around the country, the governor and her husband took extra precautions to limit contact with others to stay safe over the holidays as they celebrated Christmas with their immediate family members in Michigan," Leddy said.

"Thankfully, the entire family is fully vaccinated and boosted, so the governor has not tested positive and is not experiencing symptoms. Until the PCR test comes back, the governor is isolating in a separate area of the house and has taken steps to complete contact tracing to keep others safe."

Whitmer is preparing for her annual State of the State address, expected later this month. She has not yet announced a date or said whether she will deliver the speech remotely or in person.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com.Follow him on Twitter @paulegan4. Read more on Michigan politics and sign up for our elections newsletter.

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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer isolating after her husband tests positive for COVID-19 - Detroit Free Press