Herald section
The latest reporting from across the Belfast Herald news desks.
South Korea will end all social distancing measures from April 18, retaining only the indoor mask mandate. The government cited stabilized pandemic conditions and medical system capacity as reasons for the change.
Egyptian agriculture minister confirms India has approved wheat imports, part of efforts to secure new sources amid global supply disruptions from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Hong Kong authorities announced the relaxation of strict social distancing rules effective 21 April 2022, including reopening most premises, lifting bans on private gatherings, and extending restaurant dine-in hours.
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.
The UK government and Rwanda have agreed on a deal to relocate individuals who arrive in the UK by boat to processing centres in Rwanda.
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.
Two Breslov-Hasidic Israelis are shot in Nablus after they attempted to enter through an unmanned checkpoint in order to pray at Joseph's Tomb. Fire damage is discovered inside several chambers of the tomb and is attributed to Palestinian rioters who were throwing stones at the tomb two days prior.