The latest coronavirus news from Canada and around the world on Sunday. This file will be updated throughout the day. Web links to longer stories if available.
7:54 am: Australian officials confirmed on Sunday that two foreign travelers arriving in Sydney had tested positive for the omicron variant of the coronavirus, as nations around the world tightened controls against the worrying new strain.
The two passengers were among a group of 14 others who arrived in Australia from South Africa on Saturday, were asymptomatic and both were vaccinated against COVID-19. The remaining 12 have been quarantined.
Neighboring New Zealand announced that it was restricting travel from nine southern African countries due to the threat posed by the variant, and Japan expanded its border controls to include more countries in the region.
Tourist-dependent Thailand, which recently began relaxing its strict border restrictions for leisure travelers from certain countries, announced a ban of its own for visitors from eight African counties.
7:53 am: Swiss voters voiced their opinion in a referendum on Sunday on legislation that imposed the use of a special COVID-19 certificate that allows only people who have been vaccinated, recovered or negative to attend public events and meetings.
The vote offers a relatively rare gauge of public opinion, specifically on the subject of government policy to combat the coronavirus in Europe, currently the global epicenter of the pandemic.
The vote on the country’s “COVID-19 law,” which has also unlocked billions of Swiss francs in aid for workers and businesses affected by the pandemic, comes as Switzerland, like many other nations in Europe, faces a strong increase in coronavirus cases.
The Swiss federal government, unlike others, has not responded with new restrictions. Analysts say he does not want to generate further opposition to his anti-COVID-19 policies before facing Sunday’s test at the polls. However, if the Swiss approve, the government may well step up its anti-COVID efforts.
Polls suggest that a solid majority of Swiss will approve the measure, which is already in force and whose rejection would end restrictions as well as payments. But in recent weeks, opponents have raised piles of cash for their campaign and garnered support from abroad.
Sunday 7:52 am: Israel on Sunday approved a ban on foreign nationals and the use of controversial contact-tracing technology as part of its efforts to clamp down on a new variant of the coronavirus.
The Health Ministry said in a statement that the country’s cabinet against the coronavirus had authorized a series of measures, including red-list trips to 50 African countries, banning the entry of foreigners and ordering a quarantine for all Israelis arriving from abroad. .
It also approved the use of the controversial telephone monitoring technology of the internal security agency Shin Bet to carry out contact tracing of people confirmed with the new omicron variant of the coronavirus in Israel.
Read the news about the coronavirus on Saturday.
Reference-www.thestar.com