A new strain of COVID-19, which has been predicted to become the dominant variant globally in the next few months, is rapidly spreading through Europe and the United States. The new variant, known as XEC, was first detected in Germany in June but has spread across 27 countries, including France and the United States, infecting more than 600 people. XEC …

United States President, Joe Biden has tested positive for Covid-19, according to the President/CEO of UnidosUS, Janet Murguía. “I was just on the phone with President Biden. And he shared his deep disappointment at not being able to join us this afternoon. “The president has been at many events as we all know and he just tested positive for Covid”, …

By the second Omicron wave, wearing masks was shown to offer no protection for adults and potentially increased the risk of infection in children. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, masks were a recommended public health measure to prevent transmission of the virus. Yet new research suggests masks were ineffective at reducing the risk of infection when Omicron became …

Children who received the AstraZeneca or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines faced an elevated risk of epilepsy and appendicitis, according to a new study. Pfizer recipients were also more likely to suffer from demyelinating disease or heart inflammation, researchers found. A Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Primary Health Care Sciences, United Kingdom, Dr. Julia Hippisley-Cox, …

The World Health Organisation (WHO), on Wednesday, warned that the coronavirus disease is still a major threat despite partially passing under the radar. The United Nations agency noted that almost 10,000 COVID-19 deaths were reported in December, saying data from various sources pointed to increased transmission last month, fuelled by gatherings over the Christmas holiday period and by the JN.1 …

A New York State Supreme Court has ordered all New York city employees who were fired for not being vaccinated against COVID-19 to be reinstated with back pay. The court found that “being vaccinated does not prevent an individual from contracting or transmitting COVID-19”. New York city mayor, Eric Adams, claimed earlier this year that his administration would not rehire …

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said the new COVID-19 variant which has been detected in 51 countries is not in Nigeria. In a statement on Saturday, NCDC’s Director-General, Dr Ifedayo Adetifa said that the centre is currently monitoring the new variant. He said: “NCDC is monitoring the new subvariants (descendants) of the Omicron variant of …

The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed the first case of Covid-19 variant BA.2.86 in the country. It said on its website on Friday that the case was confirmed in an individual with no recent travel history, which suggests a degree of community transmission within the UK. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the US health authorities had …

The World Health Organisation said on Friday that the Covid-19 pandemic was no longer considered a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). WHO’s Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, announced this in Geneva, Switzerland, while also lifting the highest alert level that can be imposed in the event of a threat, which has been in place for more than three years. This …

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Wednesday that Covid-19 deaths had dropped by 95 per cent since the start of the year — but warned the virus was still on the move. The WHO said Covid-19 is around to stay and countries would have to learn how to manage its ongoing non-emergency effects, including post-Covid-19 condition, or Long Covid. …