MOSCOW: Work-from-home restrictions were reimposed in Moscow on Monday as Russia tried to stem a deadly coronavirus wave delta version, while many Asian countries also tightened restrictions to stem the rise the outbreak.
While many wealthy countries have rapidly reduced infection through vaccination, outbreaks are still on the rise, from Bangladesh and Indonesia to South America, many inspired by the highly infectious Delta variant that was first found in India. Were.
Russia has seen an explosion of new cases over the past two weeks because of this type, and officials announced new restrictions in the capital from Monday as they pushed vaccinated citizens to get a shot.
“To stop the epidemic, one thing is needed: rapid, mass vaccination,” Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin told State TV on Saturday.
“No one has found any other solution.”
From Monday, people will have to work from home in Moscow – the epicenter of Russia’s outbreak – with the exception of vaccinated workers.
They must also present a QR code to enter the restaurant, certifying that they have either been vaccinated, have COVID-19 in the past six months, or have a valid negative test.
The outbreak in Russia – already one of the worst-affected countries in the world – has also caused alarm due to the Euro 2020 football tournament, with thousands of fans attending matches in various countries across the continent.
St Petersburg has already hosted six matches, and is the venue for one of the quarter-finals on Friday. Viewership has been capped at half capacity, but still tops out at 26,000 people.
Covid-19 is known to have claimed the lives of nearly four million people worldwide since it first emerged in China in late 2019, and is still spreading with many forms in circulation.
The Delta variant is now in 85 countries and by far the most contagious of any identified World Health Organization.
The virus also persisted across the Asia-Pacific region, where Bangladesh on Monday tightened lockdowns, curbing most of its economic activity.
The South Asian nation, where more than 160 million people live, will close shops, markets, transport and offices in phases by Thursday, and the decision sparked the exodus of thousands of migrant workers from cities.
“We had no choice but to leave (the capital) Dhaka),” Fatima Begum, 60, told AFP as she waited for a ferry.
“During the lockdown, there is no work. And if we don’t work, how do we pay the rent?”
Thailand banned restaurants, construction sites and gatherings from Monday due to a spike in cases in the capital Bangkok and its suburbs.
Indonesia, battling one of the worst outbreaks in Asia, reported a daily record 21,000 new cases on Sunday, as fears grew about its ability to handle a surge of sprawling hospitals.
To its south, Australia was also battling fresh outbreaks prompted by the delta variant, with its largest cities Sydney and Darwin to the north going into lockdown on Sunday.
New restrictions were also announced on Sunday in South Africa, where President Cyril Ramaphosa said “health facilities are stretched to the limit”.
The government of Africa’s worst-affected country has banned the sale of alcohol and all gatherings except funerals. The overnight curfew has been extended by an hour, and only takeaways are allowed in restaurants.
But the situation has improved dramatically in wealthy Western countries, which were once the epicenter of the pandemic, thanks to rapid vaccination campaigns.
From Monday the whole of Italy became a mask-free, “low-risk” zone, a dramatic change from early last year when it was a global icon of the coronavirus crisis.
Despite progress, however, Health Minister Roberto Speranza urged Italians to be vigilant.
“Caution and prudence are still needed, especially because of the new forms,” he wrote on Saturday.
“The battle is not won yet.”
While many wealthy countries have rapidly reduced infection through vaccination, outbreaks are still on the rise, from Bangladesh and Indonesia to South America, many inspired by the highly infectious Delta variant that was first found in India. Were.
Russia has seen an explosion of new cases over the past two weeks because of this type, and officials announced new restrictions in the capital from Monday as they pushed vaccinated citizens to get a shot.
“To stop the epidemic, one thing is needed: rapid, mass vaccination,” Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin told State TV on Saturday.
“No one has found any other solution.”
From Monday, people will have to work from home in Moscow – the epicenter of Russia’s outbreak – with the exception of vaccinated workers.
They must also present a QR code to enter the restaurant, certifying that they have either been vaccinated, have COVID-19 in the past six months, or have a valid negative test.
The outbreak in Russia – already one of the worst-affected countries in the world – has also caused alarm due to the Euro 2020 football tournament, with thousands of fans attending matches in various countries across the continent.
St Petersburg has already hosted six matches, and is the venue for one of the quarter-finals on Friday. Viewership has been capped at half capacity, but still tops out at 26,000 people.
Covid-19 is known to have claimed the lives of nearly four million people worldwide since it first emerged in China in late 2019, and is still spreading with many forms in circulation.
The Delta variant is now in 85 countries and by far the most contagious of any identified World Health Organization.
The virus also persisted across the Asia-Pacific region, where Bangladesh on Monday tightened lockdowns, curbing most of its economic activity.
The South Asian nation, where more than 160 million people live, will close shops, markets, transport and offices in phases by Thursday, and the decision sparked the exodus of thousands of migrant workers from cities.
“We had no choice but to leave (the capital) Dhaka),” Fatima Begum, 60, told AFP as she waited for a ferry.
“During the lockdown, there is no work. And if we don’t work, how do we pay the rent?”
Thailand banned restaurants, construction sites and gatherings from Monday due to a spike in cases in the capital Bangkok and its suburbs.
Indonesia, battling one of the worst outbreaks in Asia, reported a daily record 21,000 new cases on Sunday, as fears grew about its ability to handle a surge of sprawling hospitals.
To its south, Australia was also battling fresh outbreaks prompted by the delta variant, with its largest cities Sydney and Darwin to the north going into lockdown on Sunday.
New restrictions were also announced on Sunday in South Africa, where President Cyril Ramaphosa said “health facilities are stretched to the limit”.
The government of Africa’s worst-affected country has banned the sale of alcohol and all gatherings except funerals. The overnight curfew has been extended by an hour, and only takeaways are allowed in restaurants.
But the situation has improved dramatically in wealthy Western countries, which were once the epicenter of the pandemic, thanks to rapid vaccination campaigns.
From Monday the whole of Italy became a mask-free, “low-risk” zone, a dramatic change from early last year when it was a global icon of the coronavirus crisis.
Despite progress, however, Health Minister Roberto Speranza urged Italians to be vigilant.
“Caution and prudence are still needed, especially because of the new forms,” he wrote on Saturday.
“The battle is not won yet.”
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