Greece has imposed a five-hour evening curfew and different restrictions on the favored journey island of Mykonos due to a “worrying” spike in native Covid-19 infections, officers mentioned.
The measures embrace a curfew from 1am to 6am and a ban on bars, golf equipment and eating places from taking part in music, and are efficient instantly till 26 July, deputy civil safety minister Nikos Hardalias mentioned in an announcement.
“We name on the residents, guests and enterprise homeowners of our lovely island to comply with the measures faithfully…in order that the unfold of the virus might be swiftly checked and Mykonos can return to regular,” Mr Hardalias mentioned.
One among Greece’s prime journey locations, Mykonos attracts a whole bunch of hundreds of tourists yearly – together with a gentle stream of celebrities – to its picturesque seashores and vibrant nightlife.
However Greek authorities have been these days alarmed by the variety of clandestine events held within the island’s quite a few villas.
Mr Hardalias on 15 July had warned that lively instances on Mykonos had quadrupled to over 300 in only a week.
He mentioned at the moment organisers of personal gatherings of over 20 individuals danger fines of as much as €200,000.
Greece is experiencing a gentle climb in Covid-19 infections in current days, largely blamed on the extra contagious Delta variant.
Almost 2,700 new instances have been introduced nationwide yesterday, in comparison with fewer than 400 three weeks prior.
France tightens guidelines for some arrivals from Europe
France has introduced it’ll require individuals arriving from some European international locations who aren’t absolutely vaccinated to indicate a detrimental Covid take a look at taken throughout the earlier 24 hours.
Arrivals from the UK, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece and the Netherlands might be topic to the brand new rule, which comes into impact from midnight, Prime Minister Jean Castex mentioned in an announcement.
So far, individuals arriving from the UK are required to indicate a detrimental take a look at taken throughout the previous 48 hours.
Arrivals from Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, the Netherlands and Greece have needed to present assessments taken inside 72 hours.
However Mr Castex mentioned that people who find themselves absolutely vaccinated with a jab recognised by the European Medicines Company – Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johson — is not going to be required to indicate a take a look at.
The assertion mentioned the exemption was in place as a result of “vaccines are efficient towards the virus, and particularly its variant Delta”.
Tunisia, Mozambique, Cuba and Indonesia have additionally been added to France’s so-called crimson checklist.
Journey from crimson checklist international locations is simply allowed on urgent grounds and even then vaccinated travellers should self-isolate for seven days.
Mecca welcomes absolutely vaccinated pilgrims
Pilgrims will start to reach within the Muslim holy metropolis of Mecca at the moment for the second downsized hajj staged throughout the coronavirus pandemic with solely absolutely vaccinated residents permitted to take part.
The dominion seeks to repeat final 12 months’s success that noticed no virus outbreak throughout the five-day ritual however nonetheless prompted resentment amongst Muslims overseas.
It’s permitting 60,000 residents of Saudi Arabia to take part by means of a lottery, greater than in 2020 however drastically decrease than in regular occasions. Spiritual rites will start tomorrow.
In 2019, 2.5 million Muslims from all over the world participated within the annual hajj — a key pillar of Islam that may be a should for able-bodied Muslims a minimum of as soon as of their lifetime.
Earlier this month, the hajj ministry mentioned it was engaged on the “highest ranges of well being precautions” in gentle of the pandemic and the emergence of latest variants.
The hajj went forward final 12 months on the smallest scale in trendy historical past, with authorities initially saying just one,000 pilgrims could be allowed, earlier than native media mentioned as much as 10,000 took half.
No infections have been reported as authorities arrange a number of well being amenities, cell clinics and ambulances to cater for the pilgrims, who have been taken to the spiritual websites in small batches.
In regular years, the pilgrimage packs giant crowds into congested spiritual websites, however even this 12 months’s downscaled occasions are seen as a possible mechanism for contagion.
Russia nears six million instances
Russia reported 25,116 new Covid-19 instances this morning, together with four,561 in Moscow, taking the official nationwide tally for the reason that pandemic started to five,933,115.
Russia is within the grip of a surge in instances that authorities have blamed on the contagious Delta variant and the gradual charge of vaccinations.
The federal government coronavirus activity pressure mentioned 787 individuals had died of coronavirus-linked causes prior to now 24 hours, pushing the nationwide loss of life toll to 147,655.
The federal statistics company has saved a separate depend and has mentioned Russia recorded round 290,000 deaths associated to Covid-19 from April 2020 to Could 2021.
Covid-19 outbreak hits Scottish jail
An outbreak of coronavirus has hit a Scottish jail, with practically 100 inmates affected to this point.
Some 97 prisoners at HMP Perth examined optimistic for the virus forcing everybody dwelling there to isolate whereas mass testing will get below method, the Scottish Jail Service (SPS) mentioned.
Inmates is not going to have entry to courts, attorneys, household visits and can’t use the gymnasium, however might be allowed recent air and showers in addition to use of cellphones, the SPS added.
The service mentioned a “vital quantity” of affected prisoners didn’t have signs.
HMP Perth holds a mean of 678 prisoners per day and is dwelling to male offenders on remand and quick and long-term offenders, together with prisoners serving life sentences.
A spokesman mentioned: “The security and wellbeing of all these dwelling and dealing in our institutions is a precedence for the Scottish Jail Service.
“We’re presently managing an outbreak in HMP Perth. There are presently 97 confirmed instances of Covid amongst these in our care at HMP Perth. A big variety of these people are asymptomatic positives.
“As a precautionary measure, all people dwelling in HMP Perth are presently isolating while mass testing is carried out.”
An additional replace might be offered on Monday, the spokesman added.