RationalWiki:What is going on with the coronavirus?

March 2022
The first fines are issued to people who broke lockdown rules by attending parties at 10 Downing Street, at least some of which were attended by Boris Johnson Most remaining Covid restrictions are scrapped in Wales. China announces lockdown of Shanghai, a city of 25 million people. The FDA has asked people to stop putting COVID-19 test solution in their eyes and noses, after the agency received reports that people are injuring themselves with the tests. South Korea eyes ending Covid restrictions, even as Omicron sends daily new cases past 600,000. All remaining Covid travel restrictions for arrivals in the UK are scrapped. [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-60750364 Masks will still have to be worn in shops and on public transport in Scotland until April. All over restrictions stop being rules and become guidelines.] [https://www.france24.com/en/france/20220312-too-soon-covid-cases-on-the-rise-as-france-prepares-to-lift-restrictions Almost all Covid restrictions are lifted in France. Health professionals say it's too soon to do that in a country where cases are still rising and, with the presidential election a month away, the decision was a political one.] [https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/prince-charles-meets-childrens-stamp-6785878 Postage stamps designed by children that celebrate heroes of the pandemic go on sale. The featured heroes include delivery drivers, hospital cleaners and the late fundraiser Captain Sir Tom Moore.] A major study by the Center for Disease Control finds no connections between the Pfizer BioNTech or Moderna vaccines and deaths. [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-60582788 The state of Western Australia, dubbed the "hermit kingdom" of Oz due to its isolation, reopens its borders for the first time in almost two years. International visitors are allowed in if they're double-vaccinated. Other Australians are allowed in if they're triple-vaccinated.]

February 2022
If war isn't bad enough, reports by the World Health Organisation [https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/02/majority-of-ukrainian-hospitals-could-run-out-of-oxygen-today-as-omicron-rages-who/ say that Ukrainian hospitals are running out of oxygen due to a huge spike in omicron cases. WHO has said that there is a less than 24 hour supply left in the country.] Vaccine passports are no longer needed to get into large venues in Scotland and secondary school students no longer need to wear masks in the classroom. An extra booster vaccine will be offered to all over 75s and people in high-risk groups this spring, while another booster program for a wider range of the population is being planned for the Autumn. Australia reopens its border to foreign travellers, the borders have been closed to most people since March 2020. Queen Elizabeth has COVID-19, and is experiencing mild cold-like symptoms according to Buckingham Palace. Mandatory self-isolation for Covid-positive individuals set to be scrapped within days Update: Free mass testing will also end in early April. Authorities in New Zealand try to get rid of protesters against the vaccine mandate by constantly playing the "Macarena" and Barry Manilow's greatest hits. And perhaps as many as 30% of Kiwis support the protest - Down Under has become stupid :(  All children aged 5 to 11 will be offered Covid vaccines in Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland.   Schools in Illinois are closing or doing virtual learning as a court judge blocks Governor Pritzker's mask mandates in K-12 environments. Turkey sees record high daily COVID cases. Denmark becomes the first country in the European Union to get rid of Covid-19 restrictions completely.

January 2022
There are reports that massive "Freedom Convoy" protests in Ottawa, started by truckers who objected to having to be vaccinated in order to cross the US border, have been joined by people who fly swastika flags and dance on the tomb of the unknown soldier. Spotify removes Neil Young music in feud over Joe Rogan’s false Covid claims Here we go again. New sub-variant of omicron, dubbed BA.2, or "stealth omicron," has been detected in more than 40 countries. No official word yet on transmissibility, or vaccine efficacy. And here's a non-paywall version California will require all schoolchildren to be vaccinated against COVID-19. New Zealand is to enter the highest level of Covid restrictions, forcing Prime Minister Jacinda Arden to cancel her wedding. In protest against what they see as inconsistency regarding which places are allowed to stay open during lockdown, Dutch museums and concert halls are rebranding themselves as nail salons, gyms and hairdressers. Mandatory face masks, Covid passes and work from home rules will be scrapped next week. Restrictions ease in Scotland and Wales. Novak Djokovic: Tennis star to be deported after losing Australia visa appeal Tennis player Novak Đoković's initial visa cancellation has been quashed by an immigration court, on the grounds of lack of clarity in the visa application. However, his visa could still be revoked by Immigration minister Alex Hawke and he could be banned from entry to Australia for three years. Tennis player Novak Đoković has had his visa to Australia cancelled, for failing to meet the country’s requirements over COVID-19. Unvaccinated Đoković sought an exemption to play in the Australian Open. Researchers in South Africa that are investigating microclots in chronic fatigue syndrome (ME) patients, are noticing similar microclots in sufferers of Long COVID. This could mean possible future advancements in treatment of both conditions. Hot on the heels of Omicron, French scientists have identified another highly mutated Covid strain, dubbed "IHU." United States' post-holiday backlog brings over one million COVID cases amid Omicron surge. Governor Kathy Hochul of New York requires SUNY and CUNY students to get booster to come back, once eligible. Many senior healthcare professionals throughout the UK receive honours for their services to medicine. This includes knighthoods for the Chief and Deputy Chief Medical Officers of England Prof Chris Whitty and Prof Jonathan Van-Tam. The Chief Medical Officer of Scotland, Gregor Smith, and of Wales, Dr Frank Atherton, who has also been knighted. While Dr Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, and Dr June Raine, head of the vaccines regulator MHRA, are to receive damehoods. In Northern Ireland, Richard Pengelly who is permanent secretary at the Department of Health, becomes a companion of the Order of the Bath.

December 2021
[https://www.euronews.com/culture/2021/12/30/french-cinemas-to-ban-popcorn-and-snacks-as-covid-19-restrictions-tighten No popcorn at the movies in France. In fact, no eating or drinking at all in any of the country's cinemas, theatres or sports venues for the next three weeks in a bid to stop the spread of Omicron.] One of the Netherlands' most noted COVID deniers Professor Robin Fransman has died of...COVID-19. Belgium's prime minister Alexander De Croo has told a Sunday newspaper that he is considering mandatary vaccination in the country, due to rising hospital infection rates due to Omicron. The Omicron variant is 50% - 70% less likely result in hospitalisation compared to other strains, according to early data from a major analysis. However, the benefit of the virus being milder could be negated by its increased transmissibility. [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-59756633 Nightclubs are to close in Northern Ireland on 26th December. From 27th December, no more than six people will be allowed to meet in pubs, restaurants or cinemas.] Update Nightclubs in Scotland will also close for three weeks from 27th December. The UK records over 100,000 new daily cases for the first time, since the pandemic began. All sporting events in Wales are limited to only 50 spectators, which means that many professional events will effectively be taking place behind closed doors. [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-59745262 The same is true for professional sporting events in Scotland. All outdoor events there are now limited to 500 people. Edinburgh's massive New Year's Eve celebrations have been cancelled.] Much like the Waffle House Hurricane Index, the Yankee Candle Bad Review Index provides an interesting indication of how the current wave is faring. Less than a week before Christmas, the Netherlands enters a strict month-long lockdown. [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-55333756 Restrictions are to be brought back in Wales due to Omicron. From 27th December, nightclubs will close and social distancing will be reintroduced in the workplace.] Update From 26th December, no more than six people will be allowed to meet in pubs, restaurants or cinemas. France bans almost all visitors from the UK to try to stop the spread of the Omicron variant. Update Germany bans most visitors from the UK too. Boris does a complete "reverse ferret" and introduces working from home, stricter mask rules and Covid passes Meet the Irish anti-vax superstar who made millions from Big Pharma (It's Irish national embarrassment Dolores Cahill as seen in a video on these pages a few months back.) A man attempting to get a vaccination certificate without getting the vaccine shows up to his appointment with a fake, silicone mould arm

November 2021
Greece to make vaccines 'compulsory' for the over-60s, with unvaccinated over-60s facing monthly fines of €100 from January. Face masks will once again be mandatory in shops and on public transport in England, and PCR tests for everyone entering the UK will be compulsory in new measures to try to tackle the Omicron variant. Update: All over 18s will be offered a booster jab after 3 months, previously boosters were reserved for the over 40's, immunocompromised and health care workers. The highly mutated "Omicron" (B.1.1.529) “Variant of Concern” —of the Virus SARS-CoV-2–has been detected in Southern Africa, raising concerns of its transmissibility and resistance to vaccines. In response, the UK has red-listed 6 countries from the region, and global markets have responded negatively to the news. Cases have also been detected in Belgium and Hong Kong. Walloon health authorities are investigating a doctor who has sold more than 2000 fake COVID vaccination certificates, and are questioning a further dozen medics over similar practices. Austria is to make COVID-19 vaccinations compulsory from February 2022, making it the first major nation to require everyone to be vaccinated. Austria, which recently imposed restrictions on the unvaccinated, will go into a full lockdown for 20 days. Anti-vaxxers have said they are boycotting the UK's largest supermarket chain Tesco, ... after they showed Father Christmas having a COVID passport in their Christmas advert. Update: The ASA has received over 3000 complaints including one from 'Dr' Gillian McKeith, against the commercial, mostly about the COVID pass. This has made the advert the most complained about advertisement to the ASA this year. White supremacist Nick Fuentes has to take a break from leading anti-vax protests in New York, because he's "sick." Western Europe's first partial lockdown of the winter is announced with 3 weeks of restrictions in the Netherlands. No, you cannot remove the COVID vaccine from your body by bathing in baking soda, Epsom salts, Bentonite clay or Borax. Austria could soon impose lockdown restrictions on anyone who isn’t fully vaccinated, as new infections rise. Covid passes, already required to get into nightclubs and large events in Wales, will also be needed to get into cinemas, theatres and concert halls from Monday 15th November. Due to an increase in cases, Denmark is to reintroduce Covid passes two months after dropping them. Covid vaccines are to be made compulsory for front-line NHS staff in England from April next year. Republicans including Ted Cruz have found a new enemy — they are upset that Sesame Street's Big Bird got his COVID vaccine. Cruz called Big Bird's vaccine tweet "government propaganda" and Fox News says that Big Bird is "brainwashing children." The US allows in double-jabbed visitors from several other countries, reopening its borders for the first time in 20 months. Costa Rica becomes the first country in the world to make Covid-19 vaccines mandatory for children. Pfizer's new pill cuts hospitalisation or death by 89%, trial results indicate Instead of taking the vaccine, NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers opted to have his doctor give him a homeopathic COVID-19 treatment. Unsurprisingly, he tested positive. Go Packers. An antiviral pill, believed to reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death by half, as been approved by the UK medicines regulator. The Department of Health and Social Care has mandated COVID vaccines for all 1.45 million NHS Staff in England from April.

October 2021
Tonga reports its first case of Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic. Drug company Merck has done a deal with the UN backed to allow generic manufacture of its anti-viral COVID-19 drug  in the global south. University of Toronto researchers create mirror-image peptides that can neutralize SARS-CoV-2 Brazilian senators vote to recommend charging President Jair Bolsonaro with offenses including crimes against humanity for his mishandling of the Covid situation that has led to 600,000 deaths. Don’t ‘bash’ UK over high number of Covid cases, Oxford vaccine creator says EU scientists reveal long-term brain damage caused by Covid Moscow will have a week-long lockdown, as Russia's daily deaths soars to record highs. Dennis Prager tests positive for COVID-19. Bizarrely, he said he was trying to get the virus this whole time. Colin Powell, military leader and first Black US secretary of state, dies after complications from Covid-19. He was fully vaccinated, but had cancer and was therefore severely immunocompromised. [https://theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/16/covid-vaxathon-new-zealanders-jabbed-in-one-day New Zealand holds a "vaxathon" on "Super Saturday". 127,341 vaccines are administered. 2.5% of the country's population gets jabbed in a single day.] A report by Members of Parliament from various parties slams the UK government's early response to the pandemic as "one of the worst ever public health failures". Vaccines arrive in Antarctica.

According to the Moderna CEO, the pandemic could be over in a year. New Zealand announces that it plans to discontinue their hardline, elimination approach to covid-19, that used aggressive contact tracing and lockdowns to eliminate spread. This decision comes as they confront an ever growing outbreak, now at over 1,300 cases, and has now spread outside of Auckland, where it was originally found. Despite seven weeks of lockdowns, they can't get the number of cases down to zero. [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-58783591 The UK government keeps its "red list" but gets rid of the rest of its "traffic light system" for categorizing countries by levels of infection. Most fully vaccinated people arriving in the UK from abroad will no longer have to quarantine for ten days.] Merck's antiviral Covid pill, molnupiravir, has shown such good trial results in reducing the risk of hospitalisation and death from Covid infections, that the company is going to seek U.S. approval for pill as soon as possible. This is, however, a treatment, not a vaccine. Inside the Radicalised Anti-Vaxxer Network ‘Influencing’ Government Vaccine Advisory Panel

September 2021
[https://taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4299593 Restrictions continue to ease in Taiwan. Cinemas, theaters and sports venues will soon be allowed to fill to 100% capacity again. Karaoke bars can reopen on October 5th. Businesses that offer sexual services have to remain closed.] [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-58700986 Social distancing rules for shops and theatres in Northern Ireland will be scrapped on 30th September. But people will still be required to wear masks in those places and there will be no changes in pubs and restaurants yet.] Ben Garrison, the right-wing "cartoonist," who's made attacking Fauci, vaccines, masks and science his thing lately, has.... Covid. Anti-vaxxers, led by far-right FOTL activist Antonio Mureddu, filmed themselves helping a Covid patient leave a hospital, with tragically predictable results. Hot on the heels of Hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin, anti-vaxxers are now gargling with iodine. The biggest and toughest competition in dog mushing the Iditarod, is requiring all human participants in the 2022 race to be fully vaccinated. It should be noted that the race was started in 1972, as a celebration of the 1925 anti-diphteria serum run to Nome. The Ministry of Health reports that Egypt will be able to meet African countries' demand for coronavirus vaccines in 45 days A 20-year-old petrol station cashier in the Rheinland town of Idar-Oberstein, has been shot dead by a 49-year-old man after the cashier asked the customer in question to put on a mask while buying beer in the store. Covid, with the aid of Republicans and anti-vaxxers, has now killed more Americans than the 1918/19 Spanish flu. Visitors from the UK and EU will be allowed into the US from November if they're fully vaccinated. China needs to rethink its not-letting-people-die-from-Covid policy. An analysis and deconstruction of the muh economy kind of thinking Great news! Over 90% of Irish adults are now double-vaccinated. Dolores Cahill, Ireland's most notable COVID-19 sceptic and anti-vaxxer has left her teaching position at University College Dublin. [https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/09/17/1038240183/italy-vaccine-health-pass-for-employees Italy will require all workers in the country to have and show COVID health passes in order to keep working, starting October 15. Failure to do so will result in the worker facing suspension without pay.] From 11th October, people in Wales will need to prove they've been vaccinated or tested negative for Covid in the past 48 hours before they're allowed to go into nightclubs or to join large indoor or outdoor gatherings. According to health officials this year circa 97% of deaths, 95% of hospitalizations and 94% of infections related to COVID-19 are amongst the unvaccinated Miami International Airport is introducing four special detection dogs that have been trained to smell out COVID-19 from passengers arriving at the airport. One of the dogs a seven-year-old Belgian Malionois called Cobra, is said to 99.4% accurate. Vladimir Putin is currently self-isolating after several members of his presidential entourage have tested positive for COVID-19. Adding to the four anti-vaxx conservative US talk radio hosts who died of COVID-19 in August 2021, conservative talk radio host, known for his anti-vaxxer, anti-science and extremist fundamentalist views on homosexuality and abortion, has also succumbed to COVID-19. Booster jabs will be offered to all adults over 50, and some younger adults with underlying health conditions ahead of winter. It has been revealed that secondary infections and associated complications are becoming widespread in American hospitals, caused by bed blockages by COVID-19 patients. Examples include a 46-year-old who died of pancreatitis, while waiting for a bed and a six-year-old getting a ruptured appendix after waiting six hours in a hospital. People in England will need to show proof they've been vaccinated before they're allowed into nightclubs from the end of September. People in Scotland will need to show proof they've been fully vaccinated before they're allowed into nightclubs from the start of October.Update The proposed vaccine passport rules for nightclubs and large venues in England have been scrapped A World Cup-qualifying soccer match between Brazil and Argentina is abandoned minutes after kick-off when Brazilian health authorities accuse UK-based Argentine players of breaking quarantine rules. The UK's vaccine advisory body has refused to approve vaccinating healthy children aged 12-15 years old against Covid. The World Health Organisation is considering naming Covid variants after constellations, or Greek or Roman gods, once they've run through the 24-letter Greek alphabet, of which 11 letters have already been used.

August 2021
Ohio judge orders hospital to treat ventilated patient with Ivermectin, as per the patient's wife's wishes. Liberty University, which reopened with no mask, vaccine, or other Covid protocols in place, has gone into a campus-wide quarantine, as Covid infections surge. In a paper, released by South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases, they've identified a new strain of Covid. This is the "most mutated" variant yet, and it could be more infectious and evade vaccines. According to Right Wing Watch using social media, Milo Yiannopoulos has self-diagnosed himself as having COVID-19, and wait for it, he has injected himself ivermectin to cure it. Although members of the US intelligence community are divided on the origins of Covid-19, they're certain it wasn't developed as a bioweapon. [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58273322 Meanwhile, a conspiracy theory stating that the coronavirus leaked from the US Army base Fort Detrick in Maryland is gaining popularity in China. The PRC government is almost certainly helping to spread that lie.] Delta Air Lines has said that due to high medical costs of hospitalising unvaccinated staff, they will charge a monthly $200 (€170, £145) health premium for unvaccinated workers. [https://www.star-telegram.com/news/state/texas/article253786678.html Caleb Wallace, a Texan man who played a major role in galvanizing public opposition to mask orders, is now dying from COVID-19. According to his pregnant wife, his doctors say they're out of options. He has three children who may be left fatherless because of his decisions]. Update: Wallace has died from COVID. According to government data, 54.6% of the Dominican adult population has received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine New York's death toll under reported 12,000 deaths new governor Kathy Hochul reveals. Right-wing lawyer for many of the Jan 6th insurgents, John Pierce, who claimed he wouldn't get vaccinated, even if forced to, is apparently now on a ventilator and unresponsive. [https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202108210009 Taiwan's Level 2 Covid restrictions ease a bit. The number of people who can meet indoors increases from 50 to 80. The number of people who can meet outdoors increases from 100 to 300. But other restrictions will stay in place until 6 September and possibly until the end of the year.] The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine now has full FDA approval, replacing the emergency use authorization in place previously. Anti-vaxxers are now reportedly refusing blood transfusions from vaccinated donors, because they believe they're tainted. The Egyptian government has made vaccination mandatory to everyone over 18 in schools and universities, both public and private. The students will not have to register for vaccination as their institutions will vaccinate them either way. Fiji's outbreak isn't going away - the island nation of about 950,000 people is now reporting 9 deaths per day - despite 90% of the population having had 1 dose and 40% being fully vaccinated. [https://www.npr.org/2021/08/20/1029916190/save-water-because-covid-19-orlando-florida-oxygen Orlando, Florida usually treats its water with liquid oxygen, but those supplies are now being heavily redirected towards hospitals for COVID treatment. As a result, the city is concerned about running through its potable water supply and is asking residents to cut back.] Pope Francis encourages people to go forward with the COVID vaccine and says that getting it is "an act of love". [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-58277503 Sydney will stay under lockdown until the end of September. A curfew is also in place between 9:00 at night and 5:00 in the morning.] The Delta variant spreads in New Zealand which is of great concern as NZ has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the OECD at only 20% Five cases have all been linked to the first case It is likely the lockdown measures will continue One case of community spread is all it took for New Zealand to [https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/126100337/covid19-live-nz-moves-to-alert-level-4-from-midnight-after-positive-man-travels-to-coromandel lockdown for 3 days for most of the country.... with Auckland locked down for at least 7 days] [https://www.bbc.com/sport/disability-sport/58228049 Due to Tokyo's ongoing struggle against Covid, spectators will not be allowed at the delayed Summer Paralympics. The state of emergency in place in the city will continue and be extended to other parts of Japan.] [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-58226678 People in England and Northern Ireland who've had two Covid vaccines no longer need to self-isolate for 10 days if they come into contact with someone who's tested positive for the virus. That was already the case in Scotland and Wales.] Plans by students to stop a COVID vaccine mandate on all students, lecturers and staff at Indiana University have been blocked by the SCOTUS. The Pentagon is moving toward making COVID-19 vaccines obligatory for all defense employees. Update: The National Guard and the US Coast Guard have come out to require mandated COVID vaccines by mid-September. Studies show that antibodies from the Sinovac vaccine fade below threshold levels after 6 months, and a booster shot will be required. As many as 8,500 mostly elderly people will require another vaccination, after an anti-vax nurse in Germany switched the vaccine for a saline solution. Canberra, along with all of the Australian Capital Territory, goes into a snap one-week lockdown. New Zealand is to keep its borders closed for the rest of the year to guard against Covid variants. Despite Jersey having one of the highest vaccination rates in Europe with 79% of all islanders double-jabbed, police were called to a youth drop-in vaccination site due to harassment by anti-vaxxers. After Florida and Texas relax almost all Covid precautions, including mask mandates, and no requirement for contact tracing in Texan schools, the predictable surge in cases has resulted in Florida requesting 300 additional ventilators from the Federal government, and Texas requesting aid from out-of-state health workers. [https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/08/10/1025463260/alabama-just-tossed-65-000-vaccines-turns-out-its-not-easy-to-donate-unused-dose Due to low demand, tens of thousands of Pfizer vaccine doses are expiring and being tossed out. Most recently, Alabama threw away 65,000 doses, and Arkansas tossed 80,000. Millions more will likely expire soon as well]. Florida governor Ron DeSantis ® says the state's Board of Education is considering withholding salaries as a means of punishing school superintendents who decide to implement mask mandates in classrooms. [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-58136277 Nearly all remaining anti-Covid restrictions are lifted in Scotland. Nightclubs reopen. Large outdoor gatherings are allowed. Face masks, however, still have to be worn in indoor public places and on public transport.] Anti-vaxxer talk radio gobshite Dick Farrel dies after contracting covid. [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-58086808 Wales moves to Covid alert level zero. All businesses and premises can reopen and social distancing rules are scrapped. Face masks are, however, still required in most indoor public places.] Some anti-vaxxers are declaring themselves vegan to get around an employers' requirement that they should get vaxxed according to the Daily Telegraph, because the vaccines have been tested on animals as legally required. [https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/566272-arkansas-governor-says-he-regrets-signing-ban-on-mask-mandates Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson ® says he regrets signing a ban on mask mandates in schools as Delta cases are now spiking rapidly. He's asking the state legislature to pass a new law reversing the ban.] A Barbie doll is made in the likeness of Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert, co-developer of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. Days after the St. Louis County Council, in Missouri, voted to end the county’s mask mandate, hundreds of attendees are being advised to quarantine, following a positive Covid test by one of the protestors who attended. People fully vaccinated in the EU and the US can now visit Britain without having to quarantine.> Sky News Australia has been banned from uploading videos onto YouTube for a week, for breaking YouTube's policy of uploading misinformation about COVID-19.