As Germany sees Covid surge, ‘2G rule’ enforced

16 federal states are restricting event, restaurant, bar access to the unvaccinated

As Germany’s COVID-19 infection rate has risen to its highest recorded level yet, some of the country’s 16 federal states started to restrict event, restaurant and bar access to unvaccinated patrons.

The list of states that now apply the so-called “2G rule” was joined by North-Rhine Westphalia, the country’s most populous. 2G stands for “geimpft” (vaccinated) and “getestet” (tested), Xinhua news agency reported. In order to attend events during Germany’s Carnival season, also known as the “Fifth Season” that began on November 11, people must additionally comply with the new rule, according to which vaccinated or recovered individuals must also show a fresh negative COVID-19 test. Children and young people are exempted from most of these measures. “The COVID-19 situation is getting worse,” said Hendrick Wuest, minister president of North-Rhine Westphalia, during a press conference on Tuesday, stressing that the country’s east and south were particularly hard hit.

Having increased by more than 100 within one week, the seven-day incidence rate in Germany stood at a new all-time high of 312.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants on Tuesday, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases said. Last week, the daily number of new infections exceeded 50,000 for the first time since the start of the pandemic. On Tuesday, the RKI registered 32,048 new infections.

Japan to extend jabs to under 12-yr-olds

Japan’s health ministry said on Wednesday that the COVID-19 vaccination programme is likely to be expanded to children under 12 years old in February next year. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare notified municipalities across the country to begin preparation for the vaccination programme for kids aged between 5 and 11.

South Korea to cut primary vax-booster gap

South Korea will cut the dosage interval between primary vaccination and COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for senior citizens in a move to curb breakthrough infections and serious cases, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said on Wednesday. Booster shots for people aged 60 or older and nursing hospital patients can be administered four months after they received their last dose, while those in their 50s can get extra jabs five months after their primary vaccination, Kim said.

Brazil to give booster shots to people over 18 years

All Brazilians aged above 18 will be eligible to get booster shots against COVID-19, Brazilian Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga said. “We have decided to extend the booster shot to those over 18 years of age who received the second shot five months ago,” said Queiroga.

‘Scandal of vaccine disparity must stop’

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said that the “scandal” of global COVID-19 vaccine disparity must stop, according to a recent report by Voice of America (VOA). 

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