Coronavirus: Latest global developments

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:

– Hong Kong’s health system buckles –

Hong Kong’s hospitals buckle under an Omicron-fuelled wave with patients shivering on gurneys outside overflowing wards.

– No Olympic infections –

Beijing Olympics organisers say there were no new Covid cases in the Games’ “closed-loop” bubble for the first time, hailing the success of China’s strict approach.

– Canada orders truckers to leave –

Canadian police issue an ultimatum to protesters who have been choking Ottawa streets for 20 days to leave the capital, as provincial and US state leaders call for an end to the cross-border vaccine requirement that sparked the trucker-led movement.

– ‘World better prepared’ –

The world is becoming “better prepared” to deal with future variants of the virus, the CEO and co-founder of German vaccine-maker BioNTech tells AFP, as the company works on an Omicron-specific shot.

– Japan eases strict border bar –

Japan will ease its strict virus border rules to allow students and businesspeople into the country from March, but tourists will still be barred.

– Portugal to lift most Covid rules –

Portugal will no longer require people to present a health pass when going to restaurants and hotels, the government says, without providing a fixed date. Proof of vaccination is still necessary to enter the country.

– Swiss president tests positive –

On the day Switzerland lifts almost all remaining coronavirus restrictions, the government announces President Ignazio Cassis has tested positive.

– Over 5.8 million dead –

Coronavirus has killed at least 5,848,104 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources Thursday at 1100 GMT.

The US has recorded the most Covid deaths with 928,519, followed by Brazil with 640,774, and India 510,413.

Taking into account excess mortality linked to Covid-19, the WHO estimates the true death toll could be two to three times higher.

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