Live coronavirus news: two visitors for England nursing home residents since mid-April; Cases in India Hit Their Highest Level in Six Months | World News

The Philippine Ministry of Health has reported 12,576 new cases of Covid, the second highest daily increase in infections.

Russia reported 9,021 new cases of Covid-19 on Saturday, including 2,011 in Moscow, bringing the total count of infections in the country to 4,572,077 since the pandemic began a year ago.
The government’s coronavirus task force said 384 people had died from the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, bringing Russia’s death toll to 100,017.
Russia’s Rosstat statistics service, which keeps a separate tally, has reported a much higher number of victims. It said on Friday that it had recorded more than 225,000 COVID-19-related deaths since the pandemic began in April.

Millions of Christians around the world prepared on Saturday to spend another Easter weekend under restrictions due to the coronavirus waves, but there was good news from the United States, which crossed the 100 million vaccine milestone.

There have been worrisome spikes in infections in many parts of the world, even as vaccine launch accelerates, forcing deeply unpopular restrictions to be re-imposed, including in European nations.

Italy A strict Easter lockdown began on Saturday, and the entire country was considered a high-risk “red zone” for coronavirus during a time when families often hold reunions.

At the Vatican on Good Friday, a handful of onlookers caught a glimpse of Pope Francis presiding over the “Via Crucis” ceremony in an empty St. Peter’s Square, with Covid-19 restrictions preventing large gatherings there for the second year in a row.

The new restrictions also went into effect on Saturday in France, where authorities are struggling to deal with a dramatic spike in cases that has overwhelmed hospitals in the capital Paris.

Residents of nursing homes will be allowed a second regular indoor visitor starting April 12, the government announced, while infants and toddlers can also attend.

Babies and children are not counted as one of the two visitors, meaning that residents will be able to see tiny bubbles from family or friends for the first time in months.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said that the drop in community infection and the rapid launch of the vaccine means that the increase in the number of visitors can go ahead as set out in the government’s roadmap to exit the blocking.

DHSC said visitors would be allowed to hold hands, but personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn. A negative rapid lateral flow test will also be required from adult visitors before entry is allowed, but some will be allowed to have their tests done at home so that more visits can be made.

Boris Johnson said: “Bringing together family and friends has been a priority every time restrictions are lowered, and the next step will be no different.

“I am especially pleased to allow residents to have more visitors, including grandchildren, given the isolation and concern so many felt last year.

“Thanks to the tireless work of the care center staff and the successful launch of the vaccine, we are able to increase the number of visits in a safe and controlled manner.”

Ukraine reported a record rise in new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, with 20,341 new infections in the previous 24 hours, Health Minister Maxim Stepanov said.

Writing on his social media page, Stepanov said that 5,186 people were hospitalized in the same period and 396 people died.

British who have received both doses of the coronavirus vaccine could avoid quarantine measures under the government’s plans to restart international travel, it has been reported.

Boris Johnson is expected to signal Monday that overseas travel will return with restrictions based on a traffic light system that classifies countries as red, amber or green based on Covid infection rates, vaccination levels and prevalence of variants. .

Hesitation towards the vaccine in parts of continental Europe may mean that continental destinations traditionally favored among British tourists are considered higher risk than those in the US and Israel, where vaccination rates are good.

Holidays abroad are currently banned due to coronavirus lockdown measures in the UK, but Boris Johnson plans to make an announcement on Easter Monday about the lifting of restrictions in England.

IndiaDaily coronavirus infections hit another record Saturday for the highest count since September, while daily deaths hit a five-month high, a Reuters tally based on data from the Health Ministry showed.

The South Asian nation recorded 89,129 new infections and 714 deaths, the ministry said. That was the biggest one-day increase since September 20 last year and the most deaths since October 21, according to a Reuters tally.

Infections have risen in India since the beginning of March, with its wealthiest state of Maharashtra, home to the financial capital of Mumbai, being the hardest hit. Late on Friday, the state prime minister warned of a total lockdown to curb infections if people did not limit their movements.