Daily roundupWednesday's key coronavirus developments from Luxembourg and abroad

Starting with Luxembourg

• The latest figures from Luxembourg show that 239 new cases of coronavirus were discovered over the last 24 hours.

• “We are in a fourth wave”, said Minister of Health Paulette Lenertin a press briefing on Wednesday. Luxembourg saw a 25% increase in infections last week.

• Two restaurant managers spoke to our RTL colleagues about the end of rapid tests.

• A year on from their Covid infection, Mireille Mulheims and Nicolas Grandidier are still dealing with the aftermath - a symptom called ‘Long Covid’.

And abroad

• The UKgovernment largely wasted a mammoth £37 billion (44 billion euros) on a test and trace programme that failed to control the spread of Covid-19 last year, a report by lawmakers said Wednesday.

• A Brazilian Senate commission approved a damning report on Tuesday that recommends criminal charges be brought against President Jair Bolsonaro, including crimes against humanity, for his Covid policies.

• US drugmaker Merck & Co. on Wednesday announced a deal that could see generic versions of its anti-Covid-19 medication for people infected with the disease widely distributed in poorer countries.

• Hotels, street food carts and tuk-tuks are gearing up for the return of tourists to Bangkok as Thailand prepares to re-open on November 1 to fully vaccinated visitors after 18 months of Covid travel curbs.

• Protecting the Beijing Winter Olympics from the coronavirus is the “biggest challenge”, organisers said Wednesday, as millions of people in China were under stay-at-home orders to contain small outbreaks 100 days before the Games.

• Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich has been told to get vaccinated against Covid-19 by Germany’s acting interior minister.

• Ukrainians rushed to get vaccinated Wednesday after Kiev rolled out new anti-Covid measures as it battles a fresh rise in cases. People visiting and working in public venues, including cinemas and gyms, are required to be vaccinated from Saturday.