Crown in the world: Chancellor of Austria: Normality 2021 – Health

Sebastian Kurz predicts relaxation. “I think the tests will be an absolute normality in the coming months, like brushing your teeth every day,” the Austrian chancellor told ORF. Expect a third wave of infections in Europe in early 2021. Thanks to vaccines and testing, relaxation can be expected afterward, he said. “I hope we can get back to normal to a great extent in the summer.” The number of new infections, calculated per 100,000 inhabitants, recently fell below the values ​​in Germany.

The third lockdown started in Austria on Saturday. Except for grocery stores, pharmacies and drugstores, the stores will be closed for the next three weeks. Banks and bike shops can stay awake too, hairdressers can’t. Houses and apartments can only be left for the whole day for good reason, but this also includes sports or taking a walk. Cable cars have halved the number of guests that can be transported by gondola and tickets must be purchased online in advance.

First case of the British variant of the coronavirus in France

In France, a first case of the variant of the coronavirus that occurred in Great Britain has been detected. A Frenchman living in Britain was infected, the AFP news agency reported on Saturday night, citing the Health Ministry. The man had traveled from London to Tours in western France a week ago. He has no symptoms and is isolated.

A mutated variant of the corona virus recently appeared in Britain. It is possibly significantly more contagious than the previously known form.

Thousands of truckers had been stuck in England since last Sunday after France completely closed its border to island travelers due to a new strain of the coronavirus.

A deal was then struck between London and Paris on Wednesday: Truck drivers and other travelers must undergo a rapid corona test before they are allowed to cross the English Channel into France. France wants to start vaccinations in two places on Sunday.

The Netherlands and Turkey require a negative corona test for travelers

Turkey will require a negative corona test for all future entries. For air passengers, this already applies from this Monday, for all other travelers from Wednesday, as Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Friday night. The PCR test should not be older than 72 hours. Passengers without proof shouldn’t even board, he said. And those coming from Britain, South Africa or Denmark will be quarantined separately after entry. In the United States, mutant viruses were recently detected, which are supposedly significantly more contagious.

Turkey also expects a first shipment of a Chinese vaccine on Monday, Koca said. An order has also been placed with the manufacturers Biontech / Pfizer. Since March, some 2.1 million infections have been recorded in Turkey, which has about 82 million inhabitants. On Friday, authorities reported 17,543 new infections with the corona virus and 256 deaths.

If you want to fly to the Netherlands, you need a negative PCR corona test when you register from December 29. This also applies to travelers by train, bus or boat, as announced by the Foreign Ministry on Friday evening. The test should not be longer than 72 hours.

According to the Federal Foreign Office, the Netherlands has declared Germany a risk zone. Anyone who has arrived in the Netherlands is strongly advised to undergo a ten-day home quarantine. The negative test required to enter the Netherlands is not a substitute for quarantine.

Reina: “You are not alone”

British Queen Elizabeth II encouraged sad and grieving people in her traditional Christmas speech. “You are not alone,” the monarch said in the speech broadcast on Friday.

For many, the holiday season was tinged with misery and mourning for loved ones, while others missed friends and family who couldn’t be with them due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 94-year-old said. The only thing they really want for Christmas is a hug or a handshake. “If you are one of these people, then you are not alone and you are sure of my thoughts and prayers,” said the Queen. He praised the work of the volunteers during the pandemic. “Good Samaritans have appeared throughout society and have shown care and respect for everyone.”

The Queen and Prince Philip, 99, spend Christmas without their relatives at Windsor Castle, as confirmed by a palace spokesman at the request of the German Press Agency.

This year the royal couple had not traveled to Sandringham in eastern England for the first time in decades. Usually British royalty gather there during the Christmas period. Hundreds of spectators gather each year on Christmas Day to watch the Queen and her relatives go to church. But this year everything is different due to the pandemic, confirmed the palace spokesman: there are no visits, there is no public assistance to the church. Instead, the deeply religious Queen will attend a small private service in a chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle, she said.

Contagious virus variant is increasing infections in South Africa

A new variant of the coronavirus has increased the number of infections in South Africa. 14,305 new cases have been confirmed in 24 hours, more than ever in the country. The South African variant 501.V2 is more contagious than the original Covid-19 virus and dominates the country.

The seven-day average rose from 8.65 new cases per 100,000 residents a day on December 10 to 18.25 on Christmas Eve, more than doubling in two weeks.

Malian opposition leader dies after infection

Malian opposition leader Soumaila Cissé died in Paris, according to his family. The 71-year-old man died after being infected with the corona virus, his eldest son, Bocar, told the AP news agency. Acting President Sem Ba N’Daw expressed his condolences to Cissé’s family and supporters and said millions of Malians were in shock.

Cissé’s death creates uncertainty in Malian politics. He was ranked second in the last three presidential elections, and according to many, he had the best chance of winning the election the following year.

In March, jihadists captured Cissé while traveling to his hometown of Niafunké in northern Mali for the parliamentary election campaign. Under public pressure, the government obtained the release of Cissé and hostages from France and Italy in exchange for the release of some 200 jihadists from state prisons.

British virus mutation also discovered in Japan and Ireland

The coronavirus mutation, which appeared in Britain, was also detected for the first time in Japan. Health Minister Norihisa Tamura announced that the much more infectious form of the virus was discovered in five passengers who arrived from Britain by plane. The mutated virus was also detected in Germany for the first time on Thursday. It was a woman who had come from the UK to visit relatives.

The highly infectious variant of the coronavirus is also detected in Ireland. More tests will be conducted in the coming days and weeks to clarify the spread of the mutation, announced Health Director Tony Holohan.

Obligation of isolation in Russia due to the mutation of the British virus

According to a media report, Russia is imposing a two-week self-isolation for travelers from Britain due to the mutation of the virus there. This was reported by the Interfax news agency, citing the health authorities. Flights to and from Britain have been suspended for a week in Russia since Tuesday.