COPENHAGEN, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) Denmark took a first tentative step towards reopening amid the coronavirus crisis when Minister for Health and Senior Citizens Magnus Heunicke announced at a press conference on Monday that from Feb. 8 the country s youngest students would be heading back to school. Our goal with the massive closure was to reduce the number of COVID-19 infections and give breathing space to our hospitals. We can now state that it has succeeded. Therefore we can reopen our schools for students in first to fourth grade, Heunicke said. All other students will continue to be subject to the coronavirus restrictions, which have been in place since Dec. 12, 2020.
BRUSSELS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has promised to increase its vaccine supply to the European Union (EU), European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday. The Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company will deliver 9 million additional doses in the first quarter of this year, bringing the total quarterly supply to 40 million, compared to last week s offer, von der Leyen said on Twitter. The company will start deliveries one week earlier than scheduled, she added, and it will also expand its manufacturing capacity in Europe. The message came as a relief after a heated quarrel between the bloc and the company over the latter s limited capacity to deliver on its commitment, after the company announced last week to considerably reduce the amount of doses to the EU.
PARIS, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) The number of people who tested positive for COVID-19 in France increased by 24,392, while another 242 people have died in the past 24 hours, according to figures released by health authorities on Saturday.
THE HAGUE, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) Primary schools in the Netherlands will be fully reopened from Feb. 8, the outgoing government decided on Sunday. According to the Outbreak Management Team, the advisory body of the government, it is justified if primary schools as well as daycare and special primary education open their doors again amid declining COVID-19 infection figures. The demissionary government of Prime Minister Mark Rutte took that advice. Out-of-school childcare and secondary schools will remain closed. As part of the current strict lockdown, Dutch primary schools closed on Dec. 16. On Jan. 12, the lockdown was extended till Feb. 9. It is a relief that the schools can reopen, for parents and teachers, but of course especially for the children. Because children learn best at school, also socially, said Education Minister Arie Slob in a press statement.
PARIS. KAZINFORM «We will do everything we can to avoid a new lockdown,» said French Prime Minister Jean Castex on Friday when announcing a new raft of tighter restrictions including border control to contain COVID-19.