With the Delta variant pushing US COVID cases back up, fully vaccinated people are wondering whether they need to start masking indoors again.Covid vaccines remain extremely effective against the worst outcomes of the disease –hospitalisation and death – and breakthrough infections remain uncommon.But experts say that one size doesn't fit all, and people should consider factors like community transmission, personal risk levels, and their own risk tolerance to help decide what's righ

The European medicines watchdog on Friday approved the use of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine for children aged 12 to 17, making it the second jab for adolescents for use on the continent."The use of the Spikevax vaccine in children from 12 to 17 years of age will be the same as in people aged 18 and above," the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said, using the vaccine's brand name. The vaccine will be given in two injections, each four weeks apart.The decision by the

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:Tokyo Games Open Japan’s Emperor Naruhito officially opens the Tokyo Olympics in a nearly empty stadium and under the cloud of COVID restrictions after the Games were postponed for a year because of the pandemic.Moderna For 12 And Up The European medicines watchdog approves the use of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine for children aged 12 to 17, making it the second jab, after Pfizer/BioNTech, for use on adolescents

The Philippines sent millions of children back into lockdown Friday as hospitals prepared for a surge in coronavirus cases fuelled by the highly contagious Delta variant ravaging neighbouring countries.Nearly half of the 47 cases of the more virulent strain detected so far were locally acquired, the health department said, raising fears of a sharp uptick in infections that have topped 1.5 million since the start of the pandemic."The Delta variant is more infectious and deadly," said

The speed and scale of the coronavirus outbreak in Indonesia has created a perfect breeding ground for a potential new super-strain that could be even more contagious and deadly than the Delta variant, infectious disease experts from around the world are warning.Last week Indonesia surpassed India and Brazil to become the country reporting the world’s highest number of daily cases. On Thursday, the archipelago reported more than 49,500 new cases and 1,449 deaths.

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:Origins Probe Row China's opposition to a World Health Organization (WHO) probe into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic is "irresponsible" and "dangerous," the White House says, after Beijing strongly criticises a WHO request to audit labs in areas where the first cases were identified. Half Of EU Adults JabbedThe European Union (EU) says that 200 million Europeans have been fully vaccinate

China on Thursday said a World Health Organization (WHO) proposal to audit Chinese labs as part of further investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic showed "disrespect" and "arrogance towards science".Last week, the WHO said a second stage of the international probe should include audits of Chinese labs, amid increasing pressure from the United States (US) for an investigation into a biotech lab in Wuhan. The proposal outlined by WHO chief Tedros

The Philippines' top judges have ruled the International Criminal Court (ICC) can prosecute "government actors" for alleged crimes committed before the country withdrew from the tribunal –contradicting President Rodrigo Duterte's assertion it has no jurisdiction.The Supreme Court ruling – made in March but released in full to the public on Wednesday – comes as prosecutors at the world's only permanent war crimes court seek a full-blown investigation into Duterte'

The highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19 is expected to become the dominant strain of the virus over the coming months, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday.Delta, which was first detected in India, has now been recorded in 124 territories – 13 more than last week – and already accounts for more than three-quarters of sequenced specimens in many major countries, the WHO said."It is expected that it will rapidly out-compete other variants and become the dominant circu

More people are being forced to isolate at home as overwhelmed hospitals turn patients away. Many are dying. In a residential street in Bogor, on the outskirts of the Indonesian capital, yet another family has lost a loved one to COVID-19.Sitting in front of her father’s body, a young woman sobs as she clutches her prayer beads.