WHO:New COVID wave in Europe, UAE imposes travel ban

COVID infections have risen by 10% in a week in Europe after two months in decline and the risk of a new wave of cases is growing. As per the World Health Organization Regional Director Hans Kluge,the risk had been heightened by sluggish vaccine rollouts, new variants and increased social mixing. There was also a danger that Euro 2020 could act as a super-spreader. Hundreds of fans returning from London and St Petersburg have tested positive. WHO senior emergency officer Catherine Smallwood called on host cities to do more to monitor the movement of fans.
Russia has seen record numbers of deaths for the past three days, with 672 fatalities and 23,543 new cases reported Thursday alone. Most of the new cases in Moscow are of the Delta variant, and top health officials are also talking of a new Delta-plus variant.Euro 2020 host city St Petersburg recorded 115 deaths in the past 24 hours on Thursday on the eve of its sixth and last tournament match between Spain and Switzerland.

On the other hand, Australia will halve the number of arrivals from overseas as its coronavirus hotel quarantine system creaks under pressure from outbreaks of the highly transmissible Delta variant.Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia will now only accept about 3,000 travellers from overseas per week. He added that lowering the cap will be finalised by July 14, though some states can move earlier. Morrison also said a four-phase plan had been agreed to reopen Australia after lockdowns triggered by the latest outbreaks. He said this would be based on achieving vaccination levels aimed at suppressing COVID-19 to a stage where it would be managed like other infectious diseases like the flu. Australia shut its international borders early last year largely to non-citizens. Permanent residents and returning Australian travellers, except those exiting New Zealand, have to quarantine in hotels for two weeks at their own expense.

Meanwhile, The United Arab Emirates has banned its citizens from traveling to several countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. This comes after the UAE  last month extended the travel ban on passengers from 14 countries until July 21 in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The UAE's  Foreign Ministry and the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority stated that, with the start of the travel season, citizens need to comply with all precautionary and preventive measures related to Covid-19. In a notice issued to Airmen, UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority, said flights from 14 countries, includes Liberia, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic Of Congo, Uganda, Zambia, Vietnam, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and South Africa, will remain suspended until 23:59 hours of July 21, 2021. However, cargo flights, as well as business and charter flights, would be exempted from the restrictions.The UAE authorities also instructed citizens to adhere to self-isolation if they get Covid-19 positive during their travel and to ensure compliance with all instructions, requirements and health protocols applied by their host countries. Meanwhile, infected Emiratis will be allowed to return to the UAE after getting the necessary approvals from the relevant authorities in the host country as well as the competent health departments in the UAE.