NY to ask state employees to get Covid-19 vaccines or get tested
In mandating either the shots, or frequent testing for government workers, Cuomo is following on the heels of California and NYC, which announced similar policies for employees earlier this week.
New York will require all state employees to get vaccinated against the coronavirus by Labour Day or undergo weekly tests for Covid-19, governor Andrew Cuomo said on Wednesday. “It’s smart, it’s fair and it’s in everyone’s interest,” Cuomo said.
In mandating either the shots, or frequent testing for government workers, Cuomo is following on the heels of California and NYC, which announced similar policies for employees earlier this week. New York, like other US states, has seen a rising number of coronavirus cases linked to the Delta variant.
England skips quarantine of vaccinated visitors
Fully vaccinated travellers from the US and much of Europe can enter England without quarantining starting next week.
The British government said that people who have received both doses of a vaccine approved by the FDA in the US or the European Medicines Agency, can take pre and post-arrival coronavirus tests instead of self-isolating.
Pfizer: 3rd dose boosts protection against Delta
A third dose of the Pfizer jab can increase protection against the Delta variant of Covid-19 - as compared with the protection given by two doses - according to data posted online by Pfizer, the CNN reports.
The data reportedly shows that antibody levels against Delta in the 18-55 age group who receive a third dose are more than five-fold than after a second dose. In the 65-85 age group, antibody levels against Delta after a third dose are more than 11-fold, the report says.
France to start anti-Covid passes for cafes, trains
France will from August 9 enforce new legislation that will make a health pass compulsory to visit a cafe, board a plane or travel on an intercity train, a government spokesman said. The legislation was passed by parliament during the weekend.
Israel approves jabs for at risk children aged 5-11
Children in Israel aged five to 11 at risk of serious health complications can be vaccinated against Covid-19 as of August 1, Israeli health officials said on Wednesday.
“This is a special authorisation, and each vaccination will be studied on a case-by-case basis,” a ministry spokesperson told AFP on Wednesday.