Herald section
The latest health reporting from The Belfast Herald.
Shanghai reported 2,573 symptomatic cases and 25,146 new asymptomatic cases in 24 hours, with officials citing test backlogs and household transmission. The city maintained its zero-Covid strategy despite rising infections.
The U.S. FDA announces that they have approved the first test to detect COVID-19 through breathing.
U.S. Health and Human Services secretary Xavier Becerra announces that the Biden administration has extended the COVID-19 state of emergency for 90 days. The state of emergency was expected to expire on April 16.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo test positive for COVID-19 after attending the Gridiron Club's annual dinner in Washington, D.C.. Several other attendees also tested positive.
Chinese authorities extend the lockdown in Shanghai after more than 13,000 people test positive for COVID-19.
China reports 13,146 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single-day total of new cases since the height of the pandemic in Wuhan in February 2020.
The Public Health Agency of Sweden recommends a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose for people over 65 and adults aged 18–64 with weakened immune response.
Around 25 million residents in Shanghai are ordered to undergo COVID-19 testing in an effort to contain the current COVID-19 outbreak.