COVID digest: Queen Elizabeth tests positive
February 20, 2022
Queen Elizabeth has tested positive for the coronavirus, UK officials announced on Sunday.
"The queen has today tested positive for COVID," Buckingham Palace said in a statement. "Her Majesty is experiencing mild cold like symptoms but expects to continue light duties at Windsor over the coming week."
"She will continue to receive medical attention and will follow all the appropriate guidelines," they added.
Both the Queen's son, Prince Charles, and his wife Camilla tested positive for COVID earlier this month, though it wasn't immediately clear if the UK head of state became infected due to contact with the other two royals.
The 95-year-old has already had three coronavirus vaccines.
Senior politicians have been posting get well wishes for the monarch on social media platforms.
"I’m sure I speak for everyone in wishing Her Majesty The Queen a swift recovery from Covid and a rapid return to vibrant good health," tweeted Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
"On behalf of myself and the whole of UK Labour, wishing Her Majesty The Queen good health and a speedy recovery. Get well soon, Ma’am," oppposition Labour leader Keir Starmer tweeted.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan spoke of the Queen's commitment to the country and said she "continues to be unwavering."
People who test positive for the virus are required to self-isolate for at least five days, though the British government plans to lift that restriction for England in the coming week.
On February 6, the Queen marked 70 years on the British throne.
Here are the latest major coronavirus developments from around the world:
Europe
In the United Kingdom, the government is set to announce that people who are infected with COVID-19, will no longer be legally required to self-isolate. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to set out the plans before parliament on Monday.
Speaking to broadcaster BBC on Sunday, Johnson said: "I'm not saying that we should throw caution to the winds, but now is the moment for everybody to get their confidence back."
"We've reached a stage where we think you can shift the balance away from state mandation, away from banning certain courses of action, compelling certain courses of action, in favor of encouraging personal responsibility," Johnson said.
Germany's Family Minister Anne Spiegel has called for a COVID-19 mandate for adults aged 18 and above.
"We have made extensive efforts to reach people through vaccination campaigns and other outreach offers, but now we've reached the end of the line," Spiegel told Bild am Sonntag newspaper.
The minister said that the mandate was needed to increase the number of people who are vaccinated in the country. Spiegel warned that there could be dangerous mutations of the virus in future.
"They will lead to a severe autumn and winter if we don't significantly increase the vaccination rate," Spiegel said.
Meanwhile, also in Germany, the government plans to ease its travel restrictions next month ahead of the Easter travel period, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach told the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung.
From March 4, countries will only be deemed high-risk if a variant more dangerous than Omicron — such as the Delta variant — is present there.
"This should make travel easier for families," Lauterbach told the newspaper. "They should nonetheless be careful on holiday."
Six football players at German Bundesliga outfit Hertha Belin have tested positive for COVID ahead of their clash with RB Leipzig on Sunday.
"Lukas Klünter, Maximilian Mittelstädt, Marvin Plattenhardt, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Jurgen Ekkelenkamp and Dongjun Lee have all tested positive for COVID-19 and are in isolation. Speedy recovery guys," the German club tweeted.
Italy's health ministry has recommended that people who have severely compromised immune systems get a fourth mRNA vaccine shot. The ministry said it should only be done after at least 120 days had passed since the previous shot.
According to the ministry the decision came in light of the high circulation rate of the virus. The efficacy that boosters had against severe illness and death was also pointed out.
Middle East
Israel announced on Sunday that unvaccinated tourists would be allowed to enter the country from next month as the latest wave dies down.
"We are seeing a consistent decline in morbidity data, so it is time to gradually open up," said Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
Both vaccinated and unvaccinated visitors to the country would be required to have a PCR test before boarding a flight and have another one upon landing.
Israeli citizens would only be required to take a PCR test upon arrival.
On Thursday Bennett announced an end of the green pass, which proved vaccination in order to enter certain places.
Asia
Authorities in Hong Kong are ramping up efforts to contain and treat cases following an outbreak that is being driven by the omicron variant.
As cases moved past the 6000 mark on Saturday, government said that the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal would be converted into a COVID-19 facility with 1000 beds to help ease the burden on the territory's hospitals.
"We are in a critical situation amid this smokeless battle," Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said in a statement.
China has sent medics and equipment to help authorities deal with the situation.
Oceania
Australia will open its doors again to visitors on Monday after almost two years of closed borders.
Speaking at a briefing at Melbourne International Airport, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said: "The wait is over."
The move marks a departure from government's attempts at a zero-COVID-19 strategy to now living with the virus. More than 94% of people over the age of 16 have received two doses of vaccine, and there have been just under 5000 deaths recorded since the start of the pandemic.
kb,jsi/dj (AFP, dpa, AP, Reuters)