New UK mask rules start as PM Boris Johnson under fire over parties

People wear masks on an escalator to curb the spread of coronavirus, at Bond Street underground station, in London. Pic/AP

Tighter restrictions to curb coronavirus came into force in Britain on Friday, as the government faced new allegations that officials flouted rules they had imposed on the nation with lockdown-breaking parties last Christmas. Masks are once again compulsory in indoor public spaces in England under the measures British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced this week to slow the spread of the new omicron virus variant. Vaccination passes will be needed for nightclubs and large events starting next week, and residents will be told to work from home, if possible.

The emergence of omicron, which is spreading quickly in Britain, has shaken the government's hopes that vaccinations would be enough to keep the virus in check. British scientists and officials say omicron spreads more quickly than the currently dominant delta variant and likely is more resistant to current vaccines. It is not yet clear whether it causes more severe, or milder, cases of COVID-19. Along with the new restrictions, the British government is offering everyone 18 and up a third, booster dose of vaccine to try to slow the spread of the virus.

The return of restrictions is unwelcome for many, and revelations of apparent rule-breaking by government officials during tough lockdowns last winter have heightened opposition to the new measures. The government has asked Britain's most senior civil servant to investigate several gatherings, including a Dec. 18, 2020, event at the prime minister's 10 Downing St. offices, where staff reportedly enjoyed wine, food, games and a festive gift exchange at a time when pandemic regulations banned most social gatherings.

Pfizer booster can cut mortality from Delta by 90 per cent: Study

The third dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine can reduce mortality due to the Delta variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus by 90 per cent, according to a study conducted in Israel. The research, published in The New England Journal of Medicine on Thursday, included data from participants 50 years of age or older who had received two doses of Pfizer vaccine at least five months earlier.

Lawmakers in Germany back vaccine mandate

German lawmakers have overwhelmingly backed a bill that requires staff at hospitals and nursing homes to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. Of the 689 votes cast in the lower house on the measure, 571 were in favor and 80 were against. Abstentions were recorded for 38 lawmakers. The bill, still needs to be approved by the upper house.

6,44,923
No. of new cases reported globally in the past 24 hours

26,71,84,623
Total no. of cases worldwide

52,77,327
Total no. of deaths worldwide

Source: WHO/Johns Hopkins

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