Herald section
The latest health reporting from The Belfast Herald.
The New Zealand Government announces a vaccine mandate requiring healthcare and disability workers to be fully vaccinated by December 1, 2021, and teachers by January 1, 2022, as the country shifts from its zero-COVID strategy amid the Delta variant outbreak.
Singapore recorded 3,703 new cases in 24 hours, bringing the national total to 124,157, with 113 more cases than the previous day and 113 new infections above age 60.
Victoria reported 1,965 new cases and five deaths from COVID-19, marking the highest daily case count in any Australian state or territory. The state also announced changes to quarantine rules for secondary close contacts.
Malaysia has conditionally approved the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine as a booster for individuals over 18 who completed their primary series at least six months prior. The approval includes eligibility for senior citizens, immunocompromised individuals, and healthcare workers.
President Nicos Anastasiades receives a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Singapore reports a record 3,590 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 120,454.
Victoria reported a record 1,838 new locally acquired cases and five deaths from COVID-19 in 24 hours, the highest daily total among Australian states since the pandemic began.
Malaysia has signed an agreement with Merck & Co. to obtain 150,000 courses of the experimental antiviral drug Molnupiravir as part of its transition to managing Covid-19 as an endemic disease.