Daily roundupThursday's key coronavirus developments from Luxembourg and abroad

Starting with Luxembourg

• The latest figures from the Ministry of Health show that 209 new cases of coronavirus were discovered yesterday.

• More than 18,000 people had volunteered for the AstraZeneca jab by 12pm on Thursday afternoon, with the MyGuichet.lu site crashing due to unprecedented high levels of traffic following the launch of the vaccine registration service.

• Last week, health officials registered 2,828 active Covid infections, 358 fewer than during the previous week. Overall, infection figures seem to be on a downward trend.

• During Wednesday’s press conference, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel confirmed that the annual national holiday will have to be adapted for the second year in a row.

• Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa received their jabs at the Victor Hugo Hall in Limpertsberg on Tuesday.

And abroad

• India on Thursday posted a global record for the number of coronavirus cases in a day, as US President Joe Biden hailed his government’s “stunning” vaccination drive - a global overview. India is battling a record-breaking rise in Covid-19 infections that has overwhelmed hospitals and led to severe bed and oxygen shortages.

• Germany is in talks with Russia to buy 30 million doses of the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine once it is approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), Saxony state premier Michael Kretschmer said on Thursday.

• The Syrian government received more than 200,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine via the Covax programme Thursday, state media said, in the first such shipment to government-held territory.

• Greece will reopen outdoor bars and restaurants in early May, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced Wednesday, but he dashed hopes that travel restrictions might be relaxed before the Orthodox Easter.

• Tokyo Olympics organisers reported the first infection from the nationwide torch relay on Thursday, as the pandemic continues to play havoc with the massive event.

• Iceland has approved Johnson & Johnson’s Covid vaccine and will begin administering it next week with no age limit, the country’s health authority said Wednesday.

• Around 4,000 guests will be allowed to attend next month’s Brit Awards ceremony as part of the government’s pilot scheme easing coronavirus restrictions for live events, organisers said Thursday.

• A Norwegian climber hoping to summit Everest confirmed Thursday that he has tested positive for Covid-19, in a blow to Nepal’s hopes for a bumper mountaineering season on the world’s highest peak.