The latest Coronavirus stories from sources around the world
In our weekly Coronavirus news, we give you updates about the new Covid-19 travel requirements in the UK, Canada, and Europe. We also present you with information about how vaccines protect pregnant women from becoming infected with Covid-19.
Final coronavirus regulations in England could be lifted as early as this month
UK Prime minister Boris Johnson has told the members of parliament that COVID restrictions in England (including self-isolation law) could be lifted this month. Instead of the planned date, the 24th of March 2022.
“Providing the current encouraging trends in the data continue, I expect we will end the last domestic restrictions. This is including the legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive, a full month early,” the prime minister told the Members of Parliament. Read more on this story on Skynews.
Canada makes coronavirus travel restrictions easy for fully vaccinated travelers
Canada’s Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos announced on February 15th, 2022, that the Canadian Federal Government will eliminate the PCR testing. The PCR testing is required for fully vaccinated travelers to take before arriving at Canada’s border starting February 28th, 2022.
The health minister clarified that the fight against the virus is not over. He noted that the country may still select fully vaccinated travelers for random testing upon arrival, but will no longer have to quarantine while awaiting their test results. Unvaccinated travelers will still be required to be tested on arrival in Canada and must quarantine for 14 days. Read more on this story on CTV News.
CDC reports that babies get COVID-19 protection from mothers vaccinated during pregnancy
According to new findings from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), expectant mothers who get a COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy pass immunity to their babies.
CDC’s Dr. Dana Meaney-Delman had this to say. “The chances that a child six months old or younger will be hospitalized because of COVID-19 are 61% lower. That is if the mother received two shots of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine while pregnant”. Click this link to read the full report.
COVID-19 testing is no longer required for fully vaccinated travelers in these EU/Schengen nations
Considering the increase in vaccine turnaround time in Europe, the European Union concluded that rigorous travel requirements no longer play a significant role in preventing the spread of the Coronavirus.
Recently, Schengen areas like Finland, France, Lithuania, Sweden, Portugal, and others have removed the requirement for pre-entry testing for fully vaccinated international travelers. This is provided they show evidence that they are fully vaccinated. Read on by clicking here.
Lagos State reviews the cost of PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test
We are grateful for your continued support and patronage. Your satisfaction is important to us. We remain committed to providing you with quality service, excellent healthcare standards, and continuous customer-centered improvement.
Therefore, following the receipt of approval from the Lagos State Government on the 26th of January 2022. Medbury will immediately institute a downward review of the cost of the (PCR) test from N50,400 to N45,250.
In line with state directives, all our sample collection sites will henceforth provide COVID-19 PCR Tests at the cost of N45,250. Click this link to take advantage of the review.
