Daily roundupThursday's key coronavirus developments from Luxembourg and abroad

Starting with Luxembourg

• The latest figures from Luxembourg show that 1,994 new cases of coronavirus were discovered over the last 24 hours, while the death toll remained at zero.

• The weekly coronavirus review from the Ministry of Health has shown a slight rise in hospitalisations from Covid-19, as the Omicron wave continues to hit Luxembourg.

• Minister of Health Paulette Lenertheld a press briefing on Thursday, providing more insight into the impact of long Covid, and the current situation in general.

• Luxembourg businesses are struggling to cope with high levels of staff absences due to Covid infections, particularly companies which cannot function from home.

• Although cases of severe side effects from coronavirus vaccines exist, they remain rare, explained Dr Jean-Claude Schmit on Thursday.

• The Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR) issued a press release on Wednesday to argue that “1 March 2022 should become the day of freedom for Luxembourg”.

And abroad

• Two years after the outbreak of Covid-19, Europe could soon enter a “long period of tranquility” due to high vaccination rates, the milder Omicron variant and the end of winter, the WHO said Thursday.

• New Zealand will start easing some of the world’s toughest pandemic border restrictions this month but will not fully reopen until October, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Thursday.

• Germany on Thursday recommended a fourth coronavirus vaccine for at-risk groups, following in the footsteps of Israel and several European countries. It should be given to people over 70 and anyone over the age of five with a weakened immune system, health experts say.

• One day before the opening of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, organisers detected 55 new Covid cases. 29 infections were detected in participants of the Games who arrived the day before. Another 26 infections were found in people who had travelled to Beijing before and were already in the closed Olympic bubble. 287 infections have been recorded in total.

• Czechs will no longer have to submit vaccination certificates at restaurants, cultural and sports events from next week despite a spike in coronavirus infections, the prime minister said Wednesday.

• Sweden said Thursday it would lift most of its coronavirus restrictions on February 9 as the pandemic enters a “whole new phase” with the highly contagious but milder Omicron variant. Vaccine passes for indoor events will no longer be required, and face masks will no longer be recommended on public transport at peak times.

• Italy‘s government decided Wednesday to ease several anti-Covid restrictions. Among the changes announced was the end of distance learning for primary and secondary students regardless of the number who had tested positive in their class.

• Dutch nightclubs said Wednesday they will throw open their doors 10 days from now despite government restrictions and rising infection rates.