Coronavirus digest: Singapore probes 'unusual' case surge

Singapore is looking into an "unusually high" rise in infections as the city-state recorded an all-time high of 5,324 new cases of the virus within 24 hours. With 10 new deaths, the toll has risen to 349.

"The infection numbers are unusually high today," the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a statement late Wednesday.

"MOH is looking into this unusual surge in cases within a relatively short window, and closely monitoring the trends for the next few days."

Last week, Singapore extended some virus-linked curbs to ease the pressure on the country's healthcare system.

Restrictions, including limits on social interactions and limiting dining out to two people, have been reimposed. 

Notably, about 84% of Singapore's population has been vaccinated against COVID.

Here are some more coronavirus headlines from around the world:

Oceania

New Zealand is set to loosen border quarantine requirements to make it easier for New Zealanders stuck abroad to return home starting next month. However, the borders will not be open for tourists. 

Starting next month, most people arriving in the country would need to spend seven days in a quarantine hotel, which is half the previous requirement.

Some people arriving from low-risk Pacific island countries could even skip quarantine altogether by isolating at home.

Further reopening will be announced once over 90% of New Zealand’s population aged 12 and over is fully vaccinated, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said.

Australia has eased its COVID-related travel advisory for several countries, including the United States, Canada and Britain, as the country moves toward opening borders next week.

Australia’s outbound travel ban will be lifted for fully vaccinated residents from November 1.

"The changes announced today are a vital next step in reuniting Australian families and safely reopening Australia to the world," Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne said on Thursday.

Europe

European security experts say counterfeit vaccine certificates with valid digital signatures are currently being sold on the dark net. Available for €300 ($350), the certificates allow purchasers to display proof of vaccination despite not having gotten the jab. Experts say the certificates, which were first discovered in Italy and then in Germany, were likely accessed via security loopholes at doctor's offices and pharmacies. 

Germany has reported 28,037 new cases of the coronavirus, taking the country's total tally to 4,534,452, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases.

With 126 deaths reported in the past 24 hours, Germany’s death toll has risen to 95,485.

A new poll by the country's Health Ministry found that 88% of unvaccinated residents said they would not likely get the jab over the next two months despite warnings that the country could be hit by another wave of infections as winter arrives. Roughly 66.5% percent of German residents are fully vaccinated, but among those who are not, some 65% say there is "no way" they will get the jab — 23% say they "likely won't." Only 5% of those polled said they would "definitely" get the jab. Infection rates in Germany have again risen to levels comparable to their previous high-water mark around Christmas last year.

In the German state of Bavaria, State Premier Markus Söder announced that schoolchildren returning from fall break will likely be required to wear masks while in class. He also called on improved cooperation between state and federal governments as Germany prepares to let its national emergency rules lapse in late November, saying "It would make sense to quickly meet and determine where things will go from here."

Doctors in Germany have voiced grave concern over the number of intensive care unit beds occupied by the unvaccinated infected.

Denmark and Norway have also recorded soaring infection rates over the past week. In Denmark, infection rates were up 73%, with the capital Copenhagen being hardest hit. In Norway, the number of infections rose by 53% for the week. Despite increasing infections, authorities say the number of individuals in need of hospitalization remains low. Both countries dropped almost all coronavirus protection measures last week.

Americas

A cheap antidepressant has shown promise in reducing the need for hospitalization among high-risk adults with COVID-19, a new study has shown. Usually used for depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, the pill is known to reduce inflammation. 

Researchers have sent their results to the United States National Institutes of Health and hope to receive a World Health Organization recommendation. 

If recommended, the pill, called fluvoxamine, would cost $4 for a course of COVID-19 treatment. In comparison, intravenous antibody treatments cost nearly $2,000 and Merck's experimental antiviral COVID-19 pill costs about $700 per course. 

A New York judge has refused to remove a vaccine mandate for New York City’s municipal workforce, which is scheduled to take effect on Friday.

Police officers, firefighters and most other city workers must show proof of vaccination by 5 p.m. Friday to stay on the job.

Brazil's Rio de Janeiro has lifted its mask requirement for outdoor areas from Thursday, the state's governor announced.

"We are going to relax the requirement on wearing masks outdoors, which is cause for celebration," Governor Claudio Castro wrote on Twitter.

"More than a year and a half after thestate of public emergency was declared over the pandemic, this is an important victory for us all."

Masks will now be required only in indoor public spaces.

Honduras has set aside doses of COVID vaccines for citizens of neighboring Nicaragua, and set up vaccination sites along the country's border.

The government of Honduras said it has set aside 100,000 doses for its neighbors.

Nicaraguans have flocked to these vaccination stands for BioNTech-Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, as their country offers only Cuban and Russian shots.

Africa

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that a major lack of syringes could halt African vaccination campaigns. The organization expects large deliveries of vaccine to the continent in 2022, but says they will be worthless without the tools to administer them. Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa have already complained about a lack of syringes. The UN's child aid organization UNICEF says some 2.2 billion syringes are needed. Currently, only 6% of Africans are fully inoculated against the coronavirus.
 
Most vaccines administered in Africa come from the global Covax program for vaccine equity. On Thursday, the WHO put forth a $23.4 billion (€20.3 billion) plan to bring COVID-19 vaccines, tests and drugs to poorer countries over the next year, asking G20 leaders meeting this weekend for funding.

Middle East

Israel is set to allow vaccinated tourists into the country starting November 1 after a successful booster campaign helped drive down infections, the government has announced. 

Travelers from all countries will be allowed if they can show a vaccine certificate that is less than six months old. They will also need to take a virus test on departure and arrival.

js,see/rt (Reuters, AP, AFP)