Daily roundupThursday's key coronavirus developments in Luxembourg and abroad

Starting with Luxembourg

• The latest figures from the Ministry of Health show that 266 new cases of coronavirus were discovered yesterday from 9,795 tests (positivity rate 2.72%). One more death was registered.

• Opposition MPs have demanded an urgent enquiry into an infection cluster detected in a Niederkorn retirement home, after 19 people died as a result.

• The Grand Duchy’s hospitality sector has urged the government to allow them to reopen, offering to be part of the solution.

• For the week of 8-14 March, Luxembourg saw a 5% increase in Covid-19 cases, rising from 1,194 to 1,249. The number of identified contacts has increased by 24,5% from 2,847 to 3,669, according to the weekly summary published by the Ministry of Health.

• Conversely, no infection clusters were detected in schools in the same week.

• Although there has so far been no support for treating vaccinated people differently, Luxembourg’s national ethics commission believes that the introduction of a certificate is unavoidable in the long term.

• [block type="summary”]Pharmacies in Luxembourg are ready to conduct rapid tests for the virus, although the union is still waiting for the government to give them the green light.

  And around the world

  • The EU’s drugs regulator said on Thursday that the AstraZeneca vaccine was “safe and effective” and was not linked to an increased risk of blood clots.
  • France recorded its highest daily number of coronavirus cases in nearly four months on Wednesday, with the hard-hit Paris region bracing for a possible weekend lockdown to stem the rising tide of cases.

  • [block type="summary”]Hong Kong health authorities have defended the practice of physically restraining some babies and children to beds in coronavirus isolation wards after criticism built over the treatment of families under the city’s strict anti-virus measures.