UK reports 54,674 new infections, most Covid-19 cases since January

The UK reported 54,674 new Covid cases on Saturday, the most since January 15 as the spread of the Delta variant pushes infection rates near records for the entire pandemic. hospitalizations rose to 3,964, the most since late March.

The success of the country’s vaccine drive has limited death counts under the latest wave, with 41 deaths reported Saturday, compared with more than 1,800 in a single day at the peak in January.

Meanwhile, British Health Secretary Sajid Javid said he tested positive for Covid-19, less than a month after returning to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s cabinet to lead the government’s response to the pandemic.

Johnson may have to spend Monday, which he has dubbed “Freedom Day,” in self-isolation because he met Javid on Friday. The UK is due to remove virtually all coronavirus restrictions on July 19.

Key developments: Malaysia reports 12,528 new cases

MALAYSIA added 12,528 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, according to the health ministry, a day after the government decided not to extend tightened movement restrictions in Selangor.

The country’s most industrialized state accounted for the majority of cases, with 4,985 new infections, followed by capital city Kuala Lumpur at 1,740. Malaysia is struggling to curb new cases, which surpassed a record 13,000 for the first time on Thursday.

The country plans to ease restrictions for individuals who have been fully inoculated and may allow companies to be fully operational if their workers receive both doses of vaccine. Almost 13% of the population have been fully vaccinated, and the government aims to boost that to 60% by the end of September.

Thailand bans gatherings amid record cases

THAILAND banned gatherings nationwide and may implement further restrictions as the country saw daily coronavirus cases and deaths surge to fresh records.

The Southeast Asian nation reported 10,082 new infections on Saturday, exceeding 10,000 for the first time, despite the imposition of lockdown-like restrictions since Monday. There were 141 deaths, data from the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration show.

Jokowi urges ‘sense of crisis’ in world hotspot

INDONESIA’S President Joko Widodo urged ministers to adopt a “sense of crisis” as the country overtook Brazil in daily coronavirus cases to become the worst in the world.

Jokowi, as the president is known, called off a paid vaccination plan and told state officials not to travel overseas after a wide public backlash, urging them to exercise “social sensitivity,” Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said.

Only the foreign minister and those given special permission by the president can travel abroad, he added. “The president has emphasized that in this period of emergency curbs, surely there must be a sense of crisis throughout all ministries, institutions and leaders,” Anung said.

Taiwan eyes easing lockdown

TAIWAN’S top health official indicated he’s likely to lift softlockdown measures when they expire on July 26, giving a boost to sectors struggling to stay afloat amid widespread Covid-19 restrictions.

Cases have fallen rapidly, and the Centers for Disease Control reported just eight new local infections Saturday, the first single-digit total since May 11.

Sydney tightens virus restrictions

LOCKDOWN measures across Sydney are being tightened as authorities struggle to contain the Delta variant, with tougher rules applied to retail trading and some emerging local hotspots subject to extra movement restrictions.

The government ordered noncritical retail outlets to shutter from midnight. Construction work must cease until July 30, when the current lockdown order is due to end.

The state recorded 111 new cases on Saturday, including 29 that were infectious in the community despite being told to stay at home, bringing the total cases in the current outbreak to well over 1,000. Supermarkets, pharmacists and banks are allowed to remain open.

NY daily cases above 1,000 again

NEW york state reported more than 1,000 new cases for the first time since mid-may, as a city council member called for renewed mask mandates in indoor public spaces. “We need to reverse this trend,” City Councilman Mark D. Levine, who chairs the health committee, tweeted on Saturday.

This week, Los Angeles reimposed mask mandates indoors— regardless of vaccination status —and San Francisco and Las Vegas issued mask recommendations as cases driven by the Delta variant continue to rise. The variant now represents 41% of samples tested in new york City, a jump from 26% for the previous week.

Earlier this week, Mayor Bill de Blasio said there were no plans to reimpose mask mandates in new york City.

At the state level, 1,156 new infections were reported on Saturday by Governor Andrew Cuomo after daily case counts briefly dipped below 300 in June. The positive test rate has also been rising, to a seven-day average of 1.19%. Hospitalizations remain low, at 354, as do deaths, at 4.

France, UK tighten borders

FR ANCE confirmed it’s toughening rules on travel and boosting border checks from Sunday in an effort to contain a spike in cases linked to the Covid-19 delta variant, and to avoid further lockdowns.

Travelers from the UK without proof of full vaccination must test negative for Covid-19 within 24 hours of travel, the prime minister’s office said in a statement. Late on Friday the UK said arrivals from France would need to quarantine for 10 days, beginning on Monday, regardless of vaccination status. Reeling from the delta variant, the UK is now looking to contain the beta variant.

non-fully vaccinated travelers from Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, the netherlands and Greece, EU countries where cases are rising sharply, will also need a negative test taken less than 24 hours before arrival in France.

Visitors vaccinated with a version of the Astrazeneca Plc vaccine made by India’s Serum Institute will now be allowed to enter France, the statement said.

Olympics athletes’ village finds first case

THE Tokyo Olympic Games registered its first coronavirus case at the athletes’ village, less than a week before the opening ceremony.

A foreign personnel member— not an athlete— tested positive and is in quarantine, a document from organizers showed on Saturday. So far there have been 45 positive cases tied to the Tokyo Games, but this is the first to come from within the Olympic Village. The infections underscore the challenge for organizers who’ve pledged to provide a safe Olympics.

Prefectures surrounding Tokyo expanded an advisory limiting restaurant openings, alcohol sales and spectator numbers.