Australia's New South Wales sees first omicron death

Sydney, Dec 27: In Australia, the most populous state of New South Wales has confirmed its first death from the omicron variant of coronavirus on Monday.

The death was of a man in his 80s who contracted the virus at a care home in western Sydney. He was fully inoculated but had other health issues besides the coronavirus.

On Monday, the state saw 6,324 new cases of COVID-19 infection, a dip from the record number of cases a day before.

Fresh restrictions went into force in New South Wales on Monday, including a cap of one person per 2 square meters (about 21 square feet) in bars and restaurants and mandatory "check-ins" with QR codes in all hospitality venues.

Asia

Cases of local symptomatic infections in China were on the rise again on Monday, with most recorded in the country's latest hot spot of Xian.

The northwestern city is in its fifth day of a lockdown.

China reported 162 new infections with confirmed symptoms, against 158 a day earlier.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong has suspended Korean Air flights for two weeks, the company said on Monday.

The decision came after some Korean Air passengers traveling from South Korea to Hong Kong tested positive upon landing last week.

The suspension is set to last until January 8.

Europe

In Germany, tighter curbs will take effect in four states on Monday with the rest of the country set to toughen restrictions on Tuesday.

Contacts in private and public life will further be restricted as the highly contagious omicron variant spreads.

Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania will be put under the new rules on Monday.

Germany reported 13,908 new coronavirus infections on Monday and 69 more deaths.

The seven-day incidence rose to 222.7 from 220.7 the previous day. The figure indicates how many people per 100,000 population have been infected with the virus in the past seven days.

Stricter coronavirus measures are also set to be imposed in the Czech Republic on Monday, after the country's COVID-19 state of emergency expired on Saturday.

Under the new restrictions, it would be mandatory for travelers entering the Czech Republic from other EU nations to produce a negative COVID-19 test before crossing the border, even if they are vaccinated or have recovered from the infection.

Only those who have received a booster dose and unvaccinated children below the age of 12 are exempted from the testing mandate.

Source: DW