Forbes - A million new European cases

Plus: Philippines’ Duterte threatens to arrest unvaccinated who break lockdown

Over one million new Covid-19 cases were reported in the European Union on Wednesday. This figure is a new record for the continent as the omicron variant continues its spread throughout the world. This was the second consecutive record-breaking day for the EU - nearly 900,000 cases were reported yesterday. France reported the most cases with 332,000. Though no longer in the EU, the U.K is also seeing high numbers of new cases, reporting 195,000 yesterday. Over the past week, several U.K. hospitals have declared “critical incidents” due to high caseloads and staffing shortages. Several hospital trusts in the country have had to suspend non-urgent procedures, and large numbers of staff are having to isolate due to Covid infection and so are unable to work.   

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More Covid News

Walgreens reported more than $3.5 billion in quarterly profits thanks to a rush of customers being vaccinated against Covid-19 or tested for the virus as the omicron variant surges around the world.

The number of children being hospitalized with Covid-19 has soared to record highs in the U.S., a worrying trend experts believe is driven by low vaccination rates and possibly unique complications caused by the way omicron infects the lungs.  

Vaccinated Americans face an extremely low risk of dying from Covid-19 or developing severe illness, and most of those who do succumb to the disease have multiple underlying health conditions, according to a study released today by the CDC. 

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice said Thursday the state will ask federal health officials to let it administer fourth doses of the Covid-19 vaccine—the first state to do so. 

Demand for at-home Covid-19 test kits has skyrocketed over the past few weeks as omicron cases continue to surge nationwide, reportedly forcing some people to turn to stock-monitoring websites and other venues to get a hold of the increasingly hard to find tests.

What Else We Are Reading

• Containing Covid-19 requires rapid tests that are highly sensitive to infections. Why is the FDA asking for something different? (Stat)

• Omicron's feeble attack on the lungs could make it less dangerous (Nature)

• The Vatican’s Pontifical Academy for Life takes on vaccine skeptics on social media (Religion News Service)