Jose Bautista is a journalist based in Brisbane City, Australia. He has worked as journalist and foreign correspondent for Spanish news agency EFE, Agence France Presse (AFP), Chinese news agency Xinhua, Spanish news agency Europa Press (EP) and Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA) in Colombia, Venezuela ...

Europeans Ponder Living With, Not Defeating, Covid

24 Dec 2021  |  www.nytimes.com  |  English  |  Vaccination

Covid-19 infections are rising across Spain, but the government is avoiding the strict restrictions of 2020, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez acknowledging public fatigue. Across Europe, there is a growing sentiment that the virus will become endemic, necessitating a shift in management strategies. Countries like Spain and Italy are implementing less intrusive measures, focusing on vaccination drives and mask mandates. Despite evidence suggesting the Omicron variant is milder for vaccinated individuals, experts warn that its high transmissibility could still overwhelm healthcare systems. Political and economic considerations are influencing public health decisions, especially during the Christmas season. The article highlights varying approaches and opinions on managing the pandemic, reflecting a balance between maintaining public health and economic stability.

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Robert Koch Institute Spanish Government Italian Government

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I am a journalist, researcher on international refugee law and writer. Author of "Refugees of Idomeni" (https://goo.gl/VAUv5w).

I hold an MA in International Relations from Queen Mary University of London.

I mostly cover politics, society, migration, refugees and human rights. My work ...

The lessons from three catalyzing events of the new coronavirus in Europe

05 Apr 2020  |  Terra  |  Portuguese  |  Virus Transmission

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's preference for ending social isolation despite the COVID-19 pandemic is contrasted with lessons from Europe, where events in Milan, Berlin, and Heinsberg led to rapid virus spread. The Champions League match in Milan, a Berlin nightclub party, and Carnival celebrations in Heinsberg are cited as examples of how the virus can propagate in crowded settings. Health experts emphasize the importance of social distancing to slow the spread, especially in densely populated areas. The World Health Organization continues to recommend physical distancing, and evidence from the University of Oxford supports the effectiveness of quarantine and public gathering bans. Bolsonaro's stance has been criticized by health experts who advocate for broader isolation measures.

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Robert Koch Institute World Health Organization

Allan Hall is a journalist based in Berlin, Germany.  Works for London Times, Daily Mail, the sun, Readers Digest and is the author of the best selling Penguin book Monster about the crimes of Joseph Fritzl as well as some 20 other works on crime, the paranormal and the papacy.

Germany's 'virus detectives' rely on old-fashioned approach and manually traced coronavirus

23 May 2020  |  Mail Online  |  English  |  Public Health

Germany has maintained a consistent effort in contact tracing for COVID-19, unlike the UK which ceased tracking new infections on March 12. Germany's approach includes manual tracing and the use of medical professionals and public sector workers as tracers. The country's contact tracing system is decentralized, with each of the 16 states responsible for their own recruitment, contrasting with the UK's central system. Germany's Robert Koch Institute emphasizes the importance of local knowledge in contact tracing, and the system is already operational, unlike in the UK.

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Robert Koch Institute

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Joyce Huang is a journalist based in Taipei, Taiwan. She currently works as a free-lancer, covering news about Taiwan and China. Throughout her journalistic career in the past two decades, she has had experience working for or contributing to both Taiwanese and foreign news outlets. Those include ...

Germany to Use Digital Immunity Certificate

12 May 2021  |  www.voanews.com  |  English  |  Digital Certificate

German Health Minister Jens Spahn announced the rollout of a digital immunity app by the end of June to facilitate proof of vaccination and travel. The certificate aims to be compatible with the EU's system, potentially setting a global benchmark. COVID-19 infection rates in Germany are declining, with significant vaccination progress. The Robert Koch Institute reports that schoolchildren and young adults have the highest infection rates.

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Robert Koch Institute for Infectious Diseases German Health Ministry European Union

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I'm a journalist based in Medellín , Colombia (but I often go to Bogotá, as well). I've worked with multimedia contents and I also have experience as writer and producer for printed, TV and digital media outlets. I have a Sony FX6 camera and I'm available to travel to any place in the country. I'm ...

Germany imposes restrictions on its border with France

28 Feb 2021  |  www.france24.com  |  Spanish  |  Health Policy

Germany has declared the French department of Moselle a risk area due to a South African coronavirus variant, leading to suspended public transport and required negative COVID-19 tests for private travelers, though without strict border control. France's European Affairs Minister Clement Beaune is in talks with Germany to ease measures. The UK has confirmed six cases of the Brazilian variant, and the US CDC has recommended Johnson & Johnson's vaccine. Chile faces high COVID-19 cases ahead of school reopenings, while Mexico reports new cases and deaths. Brazil continues to experience high death rates, and Nigeria expects COVAX vaccine deliveries. New Zealand's Auckland enters a second lockdown due to the UK variant, and Israel agrees to vaccinate Palestinian workers.

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Robert Koch Institute Public Health England Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVAX GAVI

Sertan Sanderson is a seasoned journalist with a rich background in covering news and current affairs. Specialising in social change, migration, and cultural impacts, his work is characterised by a deep exploration of the intersection of politics and human rights. 

His reporting has taken him ...

Coronavirus digest: Brazil's top court orders Bolsonaro COVID response inquiry

09 Apr 2021  |  dw.com  |  English  |  Vaccine Distribution

Brazil's Supreme Court has mandated a senate inquiry into President Jair Bolsonaro's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, while also upholding local authorities' power to close churches. Brazil is currently a global hotspot for the virus, with hospitals in a dire state. Germany's infection rate has increased, and Australia has suspended the AstraZeneca vaccine for under 50s, opting for BioNTech-Pfizer instead. The US faces a significant drop in Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses. Mexico's President intends to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine, and Africa's CDC criticizes vaccine passports. India investigates potential vaccine-related blood clots amid a surge in cases.

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Robert Koch Institute Supreme Court of Brazil Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention

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Sarah Thust studied Journalism and Psychology in Leipzig, Germany. Since her studies she works as freelance journalist within a broad range of media and subjects.

Sarah spent three years in Cambodia as a freelance reporter. She worked for German newspapers & radio stations, English newspapers & ...

No, the ECDC has no evidence of a connection between monkeypox and a bioweapons lab in Ukraine

08 Jun 2022  |  correctiv.org  |  German  |  Ukraine Conflict

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) refutes claims circulating on social media that monkeypox cases are linked to a bioweapons lab in Ukraine. The ECDC states there is no evidence supporting these allegations, and current cases are closely related to the Nigerian strain of the virus. The article highlights that such misinformation has been spreading since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with no substantiated proof of bioweapons research in Ukraine. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) provide additional context on monkeypox, emphasizing the rarity of human-to-human transmission and the nature of the virus variants.

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Robert Koch Institute European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control World Health Organization

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Maud Watine is a journalist based in Barcelona, Spain.
15 years of experience
I work for AFPTV, France Television, France 24, RTBF, Arte, UN agencies
I produce, shoot, edit news package and documentaries

Young people, important vectors of coronavirus and difficult population to dissuade

07 Aug 2020  |  infobae  |  Spanish  |  Youth Behavior

Young people are identified by entities like the WHO and health authorities as accelerators of coronavirus outbreaks but are difficult to dissuade, especially during summer. Authorities in various countries, including Switzerland, the UK, and Spain, are struggling to manage the situation as young people continue to gather in large numbers despite restrictions. Some experts suggest pragmatic approaches, such as allowing young people to acquire herd immunity while protecting the elderly. Public health campaigns and potential punitive measures are being considered to control the spread among this demographic.

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Robert Koch Institute World Health Organization Ministry of Health (Spain)

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