ROME – As families across swathes of the world prepared for Christmas, a raft of new measures curtailed planned festivities in an effort to combat coronavirus infections fired globally by the Omicron variant ahead of Christmas.
Italy reimposed the mandatory wearing of face masks in outdoor spaces, with a higher grade version required for cinemas, theatres or on public transport.
“It’s a difficult phase,” said Health Minister Roberto Speranza, whose country has banned all celebrations and closed nightclubs until the end of January.
To the north, France and the United Kingdom on Thursday announced all-time records of Covid-19 daily infections.
Ecuador became the first country to make coronavirus vaccines obligatory for children as young as five, following the arrival of the Omicron variant in the South American country.
Vaccination is mandatory in Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Indonesia, Micronesia and New Caledonia, for adults.
British experts said the risk of hospitalisation was as much as 70 percent lower among people infected with Omicron compared to the previously dominant Delta strain.
Scientists have welcomed the similar conclusions of two British studies, but warned that Omicron is highly contagious and could still lead to more overall severe cases. – AFP, December 24, 2021
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