Mandatory vaccination in Austria and borders in Australia: What you need to know about Covid-19 around the world right now

The state of Western Australia has cancelled plans to reopen its borders on Feb 5 citing health risks from a surge in Omicron cases elsewhere in the country, as the tally of coronavirus cases in Australia since the pandemic began topped 2 million.

Here is a full snapshot of the current situation around the world: 

Europe

France will ease work-from-home rules from early February and allow nightclubs to reopen two weeks later as the general Covid-19 situation in the country is starting to improve, Prime Minister Jean Castex said.

Austria's lower house of parliament passed a bill making Covid-19 vaccinations compulsory for adults as of Feb. 1, bringing the country closer to introducing the first such sweeping vaccine mandate in the European Union.

Asia-Pacific 

China reported the lowest daily tally of local confirmed cases in nearly two months, after a national strategy to quickly curb flare-ups forced worst-hit cities to lock down affected communities and cut business activity.

The Beijing Winter Olympics torch relay will be cordoned off from the public because of concerns about the spread of the coronavirus, organisers said on Friday.

Pfizer said it received special approval in Japan for its Covid-19 vaccine to be given to children aged 5-11.

Americas

The Biden administration is giving U.S. colleges and universities another $198 million to help them curb Covid-19 and address student needs such as housing and food amid the ongoing pandemic, the U.S. Department of Education said.

The premier of Canada's Alberta province called on the federal government to pause a Covid-19 vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers that companies say will disrupt the supply chain and fuel inflation.

Africa and Middle East

Israel will ditch mandatory quarantine for children exposed to Covid-19 carriers, the government said, citing a need to relieve parents and schools as case numbers spiral due to the fast-spreading Omicron variant.

Medical developments 

Omicron is not likely to help countries achieve so-called herd immunity against Covid-19, in which enough people become immune to the virus that it can no longer spread, leading disease experts say.

Brazilian health regulator Anvisa has approved the emergency use of Sinovac Biotech's Covid-19 vaccine Coronavac on those without underlying health risks aged 6 to 17.

A small preliminary laboratory study has shown that levels of Omicron-neutralising antibodies of people vaccinated with Russia's Sputnik V vaccine did not decline as much as of those who had Pfizer shots.

Economic Impact

Asian share markets tumbled, tracking losses on Wall Street, as lingering concerns over the Federal Reserve's tightening and weaker-than-expected economic and earnings data weighed on sentiment.

Brazil's central bank chief Roberto Campos Neto said the Omicron variant has not yet had a major impact on the country's economy and was not expected to because the government has not placed restrictions on mobility.