Daily roundupFriday's key coronavirus developments from Luxembourg and abroad

Starting with Luxembourg

• The latest figures from Luxembourg show that 1,978 new cases of coronavirus were discovered over the last 24 hours, with two new deaths being reported.

• With government support for independent businesses likely ending in the summer, the Federation of Craftsmen has called on authorities to reconsider health restrictions.

• The experts are clear: vaccination is especially important during pregnancy and can be administered safely even while breastfeeding.

• On Thursday morning, infectious disease expert Dr Gérard Schockmel was live on RTL Radio to answer listeners’ questions about the planned vaccine mandate and Covid-19 in general.

• Xavier Bettel and Paulette Lenert addressed the media on Friday afternoon, confirming the government council’s decision to scrap certain Covid restrictions.

And abroad

• Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday poured cold water on sending in the military to clear protestors opposed to Covid vaccine mandates, whose convoy of big trucks are clogging Ottawa’s downtown.

• A Winter Olympics overshadowed by rights concerns and taking place inside a strict Covid-secure bubble officially began in Beijing on Friday with an opening ceremony at the “Bird’s Nest” stadium.
  
• Spain will end the mandatory use of face masks outdoors on Tuesday, ending a measure reimposed in late December to tackle a surge in Omicron cases.

• India’s official death toll from Covid-19 passed 500,000 on Friday, although many experts believe the real figure is likely much higher.

• France head coach Fabien Galthie said on Friday he had tested positive for coronavirus, two days before hosting Italy in their Six Nations opener.

• Starting this Monday (7 February), Greece will no longer require vaccinated persons to take a negative PCR or rapid test when entering the country.

• Austria’s president on Friday signed a law making Covid-19 vaccination mandatory for all adults, a first in the European Union.

• The US economy brushed off a spike in Covid-19 infections to add 467,000 jobs in January, far better than expected and a potential sign that the pandemic’s days of disrupting businesses are numbered.