About: coronavirus mutation
For third day, COVID-19 crimps Americans’ holiday travels
US airlines cancelled more than 1,300 flights on Sunday (26 December) as COVID-19 thinned out the number of available crews, while several cruise ships had to cancel stops after outbreaks on board, upending the plans of thousands of Christmas travelers.
Vaccines, pills and data offer some Christmas cheer in face of Omicron advance
Omicron advanced across the world, with health experts warning the battle against the COVID-19 variant was far from over despite two drugmakers saying their vaccines protected against it and signs it carries a lower risk of hospitalisation.
Biden calls on Americans to vaccinate to fight Omicron as Europe braces for ‘storm’
Countries across Europe considered new curbs on movement on Tuesday (21 December) while US President Joe Biden appealed to all Americans to get vaccinated to fight the Omicron variant sweeping the world days before the second Christmas of the pandemic.
UK says COVID surge ‘extremely difficult’ as Omicron grips Europe
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday (20 December) he would tighten coronavirus curbs to slow the spread of the Omicron variant if needed, after the Netherlands began a fourth lockdown and as other European nations consider Christmas restrictions.
Conservative revolt over COVID curbs deals stinging blow to UK PM Johnson
Almost 100 Conservative lawmakers voted on Tuesday (14 December) against new coronavirus restrictions, dealing a major blow to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's authority and raising questions about his leadership.
WHO sounds alarm over rising COVID deaths in Europe
The World Health Organisation warned Monday (30 August) that 236,000 more people could die from COVID in Europe by December, sounding the alarm over rising infections and stagnating vaccine rates across the continent. Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czechia, North Macedonia and Bulgaria are among the countries with the highest mortality.
Ignoring WHO call, major nations stick to vaccine booster plans
Germany, France and Israel will go ahead with plans to administer COVID-19 vaccine boosters, disregarding an appeal by the World Health Organisation to hold off until more people are vaccinated around the world.
Half of Europeans vaccinated as Germany warns on rising virus cases
More than half of all European adults are now fully vaccinated, the EU said on Thursday (22 July), as countries across Europe and Asia battled fresh outbreaks blamed on the fast-spreading Delta variant.
J&J says its Covid vaccine effectively combats the Delta variant
Johnson and Johnson's single-shot Covid-19 vaccine is effective against the highly contagious Delta variant, with an immune response lasting at least eight months, the company said Thursday (1 June).
Johnson welcomes Merkel for swansong UK trip
Outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel will address Prime Minister Boris Johnson's cabinet of top ministers during a visit to Britain on Friday (2 July), the first time a foreign leader has done so in nearly 25 years.
Russia COVID-19 deaths hit new record as EU eyes tourism reboot
Russia's Covid-19 death toll reached a record on Wednesday (30 June) as the country battled the highly infectious Delta variant, even as Europe prepared to launch an EU-wide Covid certificate to boost its devastated tourism industry.
EU revives bloc-wide travel with COVID-19 pass but Delta poses threat
An EU-wide Covid certificate for easier travel comes into force on Thursday (1 July), just in time for Europe's busy summer vacation period, but the more-infectious Delta variant is already threatening to curtail its use.
EU’s Schinas says UEFA should rethink Wembley final
A top European Commission official has said he has "doubts" about COVID-hit Britain hosting the Euro 2020 semi-finals and final at Wembley and urged UEFA to "analyse" that choice of venue.
Delta variant spread upsets EU plans for return to relative normality
Moscow and Indonesia recorded their worst daily coronavirus death toll due to the highly contagious coronavirus Delta variant, while various EU countries envisaged new restrictions, likely to upset their plans for a return to relative normality this summer.
Temporary morgues set up as UK hospitals run out of space
British authorities have had to set up a temporary morgues in some areas after local hospital mortuaries ran out of space due to a surge in deaths caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
France extends UK border restrictions as virus variant spreads
France is to keep in place restrictions on its border with Britain "until further notice", Prime Minister Jean Castex said Thursday (7 January), after the country confirmed two clusters of the mutant UK coronavirus variant.