Coronavirus

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11,171 new cases, 24 further deaths and 200 in hospital in New Zealand

Of the new cases, 4630 are reinfections reports RNZ.

The ministry reported 24 deaths over the past week.

The ministry said 26 deaths were attributable to Covid-19. It said the change in total deaths with Covid-19 may not be equal to the number of new deaths reported today.

"This is because deaths that occurred more than 28 days after a positive test that are subsequently determined to be unrelated to Covid are removed from the total."

Fiji revokes “No Jab No Job Regulation”

The regulation is effective from the date of gazettal.

“Cabinet on 14 February 2023 endorsed that the Health and Safety at Work (General Workplace Conditions) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (2021 Amendment Regulations) in relation to the “No Jab, No Job” regulations be revoked. Such revocation will be effective from the date the same is published in the Gazette.”

The Attorney-General Siromi Turaga highlighted this will mean those who lost their jobs when the policy came in can apply for jobs again.

Hong Kong ends mask mandate after 945 days

The virus is under control in Hong Kong with no major signs of a rebound, the city's leader John Lee said.

BBC reports under the mandate, which began in July 2020 and lasted for 945 days, people could be fined up to HK$5,000 (£530; $640).

"With the removal of the mandate, Hong Kong will return to normalcy," Mr Lee said on Tuesday.

"In this year and the coming year, we will go all out for the economy and development at full speed."

Before Wednesday, people living in Hong Kong had to wear a mask in any public area.

New Zealand reports 9100 new cases, 40 deaths and 200 in hospital

Of the new cases, were 3813 reinfections.

Of the deaths being reported today, one was from Northland, 15 were from the Auckland region, two were from Hawke's Bay, two were from Taranaki, one was from MidCentral, two were from Whanganui, five were from Wellington region, three were from Nelson Marlborough, four were from Canterbury, one was from West Coast and three were from Southern.

Fiji removes remaining Covid-19 related border health measures

The removal of all Covid-19 related border health measures are now in effect.

The Government said the move comes following careful consideration of the global and national Covid-19 situation by the Covid-19 Risk Mitigation Taskforce (CRMT) and applies to both arrivals from air and sea.

Previously, all travellers 16 years and above were required to produce proof of full vaccination and travel insurance covering Covid-19.

Niue says it has stamped out Covid-19 in the community

Community transmission was first announced in November last year.

RNZ Pacific reports there was a peak in December with the number of positive cases reaching 390 out of a population of about 1400.

Since then, January saw 210 positive cases, which gradually decreased as people recovered and very few new cases were detected or reported to the Health Department.

Minister for Health Sauni Tongatule said he was very pleased that there are now no active cases.

Covid sub variants in America Samoa

The department's health advisory said according to recent sequencing results, the Omicron sub variants of BQ1.1, BQ1.1.24 and CH 1.1.3 are present.

RNZ Pacific reports the advisory says as of the period of January 16-22, there were five active Covid cases in the community.

It says if a person was symptomatic but tested negative initially, it is recommended to perform a second rapid antigen test 48 hours later.

 

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China's Covid-19 wave: Coffins sell out, crematoriums busy

We watched the skilled craftsmen as they carved elaborate decorations into the freshly-cut wood. Over recent months, they say, they haven't had time to stop.

One villager, a customer, said that at times the coffins have sold out. Laughing with a dose of the black humour you find in the area, he added that those in the funeral industry had been "earning a small fortune".

BBC reports there has been much debate about the real number of Covid-19 deaths in China, after the virus ripped through its megacities.

New Zealand has13,880 new cases, 79 deaths and 242 in hospital

The seven-day rolling average of community cases is 1979 - last Monday it was 2738. Of the new cases, 5357 are reinfections.

There were also 242 people in hospital at midnight Sunday including seven cases in ICU.

RNZ reports the ministry also reported 79 deaths with Covid-19.

Those who lost relatives to Covid-19 in China angry at failure to protect elderly

While her father was never tested, Ailia and her mother were both confirmed positive around the same time and she believes Covid-19 was a cause in his death.

As hundreds of millions of Chinese travel to reunite with families for the Lunar New Year holiday starting 21 January, many will do so after mourning relatives who died in the Covid-19 wave that has raged across the world's largest population.