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23:13
Greek scientists advising the government on how to handle the pandemic debated for more than eight hours over what measures should be tightened before further restrictions were announced a few hours ago.
In another sign of how difficult the on-off approach to lockdown has become for countries reeling from the economic effects of coronavirus, epidemiologists held their longest session yet before extra curbs were eventually unveiled.
At just over 162,000 coronavirus cases, Greece has fared better than most other European nations.
But the arrival of the “British variant” of the virus and lax rule keeping has helped spur a surge in its case count with diagnoses doubling over the course of the last week alone.
The extent of the lockdown and whether it should include all retail stores – already limited to customers having to pre-book visiting slots to stores – taxed experts most, along with the issue of whether all schools should also re-close.
Ultimately a night time curfew was brought forward to 6 PM (from 9 PM) over the weekend while only super markets, grocery stores, petrol stations and chemists were spared being closed.
Hairdressers and beauty salons are among the stores that can continue to operate but only on weekdays. The measures, which include high schools returning to remote learning, will be enforced until at least February 15th.
On Friday, 1195 infections were confirmed by the public health organisation, EODY, continuing a trend that has seen rates surpass the 1,000 mark since Tuesday. A further 19 fatalities were also announced this evening bringing the death toll to 5922.
The Greek economy contracted by just over 10 percent in 2020 with a second lockdown in November exacerbating the toll on public and private finances that were only starting to recover from the country’s punishing long-running debt crisis.
Pedestrians wearing protective face masks to curb the spread of coronavirus walk in outside a closed coffee shop, in Psiri district of Athens, on Friday. Photograph: Petros Giannakouris/AP
23:03
New Zealand reports fifth Covid case from quarantine hotel
New Zealand’s health authorities say they have detected a fifth positive case of coronavirus from a quarantine hotel.
The person had spent 14 days in the hotel before spending a further five days in isolation at home in Hamilton on the north island. For that reason, authorities think the risk to the community is low.
A statement from the NZ Ministry of Health says: “The case reinforces the importance of the self-isolation and repeat testing strategy we have adopted around people leaving managed isolation at the Pullman [Hotel].”
Ministry of Health – Manatū Hauora (@minhealthnz)
An individual who had been a guest at the managed isolation facility at the Pullman Hotel and has been isolating at home in Hamilton since 30 January has tested positive for #COVID19
Victoria reports no new Covid cases in past 24 hours
More than 23,000 people in Victoria were tested for coronavirus over the past 24 hours, with no positive results returned.
That will be a huge relief for the Australian state, where the Australian Open tennis tournament is about to start.
Health authorities have also confirmed that all 17 close contacts of a positive case of hotel quarantine worker in one of the hotels used in preparation for the tournament have also tested negative.
VicGovDH (@VicGovDH)
Yesterday there were 0 new cases reported. 23,227 test results were received – thank you for getting tested. #EveryTestHelps us #StaySafeStayOpen.
Hello wherever you are and whatever time it is. Graham Readfearn here in Australia to take you through the next several hours of the Guardian’s live coverage of the global Covid-19 pandemic.
A quick update on where things are at.
Greece has joined several other European countries, including France, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, in deciding not to give people over 65 the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Lebanon is to start an easing of its countrywide lockdown that has been in place since 14 January. Intensive care capacity is at 90% across the country.
A major study from economists has tracked an “unprecedented” rise in poverty, caused by the pandemic, in many developing countries across three continents.
All 17 close contacts of a Melbourne hotel quarantine worker have tested negative for the virus. The case had put the Australian Open tennis tournament at risk.
The UK government is exploring the idea of documentation that would allow travellers to prove they have been vaccinated against coronavirus, the Foreign Office minister James Cleverly has said.
Latest figures from Johns Hopkins University show 165m people have caught covid-19 during the pandemic, with 2.29m deaths.
Thanks for staying with us. I hope you are as safe as you can be.
Hafta Ichi
Source: The Guardian
Keyword: Coronavirus live news: Greece limits AstraZeneca jab to under 65s; close contacts of Melbourne hotel worker test negative | World news
