Covid news live: Tokyo sees record number of daily infections as US to require vaccines for federal workers – The Independent

People wearing masks cross a road in Tokyo, Japan, on 27 July, 2021.

(Getty Images)

Tokyo has recorded its highest ever number of daily Covid-19 infections, with officials growing increasing alarmed by the countrys outbreak.

The capital. which is currently hosting the 2020 Olympic Games, announced 3,177 new infections on Wednesday, several hundred higher than the 2,848 seen on Tuesday.

This comes as the country had more than 10,000 cases on Thursday, the most cases seen in a 24-hour period since the start of the pandemic.

We have never experienced an expansion in the infections of this magnitude, chief cabinet secretary Katsunobu Kato said.

In response, Yoshihide Suga, the Japanese prime minister, said the government will decide on Friday whether to declare regional states of emergency.

Meanwhile, federal workers in the US will need to be vaccinated against Covid-19 or be tested regularly, reports suggest.

President Joe Biden is expected to announce the policy in a press conference later on Thursday. It will affect at least 2.18 million civilian employees.

Vietnam will speed up its vaccination programme in Ho Chi Minh City, authorities have said.

The coronavirus hotspot is battling an outbreak of the Delta variant.

The countrys health ministry said it planned to partially vaccinate 70 per cent of the citys inhabitants in August.

It must be done quickly, using up all the vaccines as they arrive, health minister Nguyen Thanh Long said.

Rory Sullivan29 July 2021 15:30

People should only travel to Greeces south Aegean islands for essential reasons, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has warned.

The group of 13 islands, which include Mykonos and Rhodes, are coloured dark red on the health bodys Covid-19 map because of a surge in infections there.

This comes as Greece tries to kickstart its travel industry by promoting its Covid-free islands.

Rory Sullivan29 July 2021 15:10

A French island in the Indian Ocean is the reason holidaymakers travelling from France to the UK need to self-isolate upon arrival, the foreign secretary has said.

Dominic Raab told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that the country was on the amber plus travel list based on the prevalence of the so-called Beta variant, in particular in the Reunion bit of France.

He added that we want to get France up the traffic light system as soon as possible.

In response, a spokesperson for Brittany Ferries said: This is madness. It would be like France hammering British holidaymakers due to a Covid outbreak on the Falkland Islands.

It makes you wonder if those in the centre of power have access to an atlas or a geography GCSE between them.

Rory Sullivan29 July 2021 14:50

From this weekend, all travellers arriving in Germany will have to prove immunity from Covid-19 or show a negative test result.

This was previously only required of passengers travelling from high-incidence areas.

The incidence level in Germany is currently quite low in comparison to other states, the health ministry said in a paper on Wednesday. Increased travel activity risks turning that trend.

Germany had 3,142 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, far below the levels seen in places like the UK.

Rory Sullivan29 July 2021 14:30

The country should expect a bumpy autumn and winter, Englands deputy chief medical officer has warned.

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam told the BBC that he was unsure whether there would be a fourth coronavirus wave.

Rory Sullivan29 July 2021 14:25

Around 60,000 deaths and 22 million Covid-19 cases have been prevented by coronavirus vaccines, Public Health England figures show.

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam announced the latest figures while speaking to the BBC on Thursday afternoon.

This was truly massive, Englands deputy chief medical officer said.

Rory Sullivan29 July 2021 14:21

Bookings for flights from the US to the UK have soared after the government announced it will lift its quarantine requirement from Monday.

Juha Jarvinen, the chief commercial officer at Virgin Atlantic, said: Flight bookings are up by more than 100 per cent week-on-week, with bookings from New York to London increasing by nearly 250 per cent, compared to the previous week. Weve missed flying our US-based customers and were excited to welcome them back on board soon.

He added that the UK was still overly cautious in its approach to international travel.

Rory Sullivan29 July 2021 14:00

Israel will start offering a third dose of the Pfizer jab to its over-60s, local media reports suggest.

The move comes in a bid to ward off the threat of the Delta variant.

Rory Sullivan29 July 2021 13:41

On Thursday, Japans daily coronavirus cases rose above 10,000 for the first time.

In response, Yoshihide Suga, the Japanese prime minister, said the government will decide whether to declare regional states of emergency.

The worsening outbreak comes a week into the Tokyo Olympics.

Rory Sullivan29 July 2021 13:17

Fears over the shadow cast by long Covid on the UKs military have been raised after more than 450 personnel sought rehabilitation help for the effects of the virus.

Government data shows 462 armed forces personnel have sought out at least one Covid-related appointment at a special rehabilitation centre.

Of those, 447 had a check-up via a Covid outpatient appointment, and 260 attended a Defence Covid Recovery Service appointment.

Another form of support, a Covid course appointment, was provided to 224 people.

The numbers asking for rehabilitation support were described as deeply concerning by Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, who chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus.

She said: These striking figures add to an already concerning picture of the shadow being cast by long Covid over our armed forces. The total inadequacy of the Governments response to the rise of this condition so far is plain to see.

We rely on our armed forces for our protection, so its deeply concerning to hear that such numbers have been living with this often life-limiting condition. With personnel numbers already cut back so far in recent years, we cant afford to let long Covid add to that any further.

An urgent strategy is needed to respond to the threat posed by long Covid and provide support to the thousands of people suffering from the long-term consequences of this pandemic.

Jane Dalton29 July 2021 13:03

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Covid news live: Tokyo sees record number of daily infections as US to require vaccines for federal workers - The Independent