Queen Elizabeth, U.K. Easing, Hong Kong Cases: Virus Update

(Bloomberg) --

Queen Elizabeth II, the U.K.’s 95-year-old monarch, has tested positive for Covid-19, Buckingham Palace confirmed. 

The announcement came a day before U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to lift remaining virus restrictions for England and put it on a path to “living with Covid.” 

Hong Kong reported more than 6,000 daily Covid-19 cases for the second straight day Sunday, and officials warned tighter social-distancing measures may be necessary to get its Covid Zero strategy on track.

Police dislodged anti-vaccine protesters from the street in front of Canada’s parliament building, clearing the center of a weeks-long blockade that paralyzed the capital city’s downtown and plunged the nation into crisis.

Key Developments:

• Virus Tracker: Cases pass 423 million; deaths approach 5.9 million
• Vaccine Tracker: More than 10.5 billion doses administered
• Hong Kong tycoons offer land for makeshift virus hospitals
• Unmasking comes too soon for some still wary of Covid’s wiles
• Expat exodus builds in Hong Kong but escape is expensive

England’s Queen Elizabeth, 95, Tests Positive for Covid-19 (8.50 p.m HK)

Queen Elizabeth II, the U.K.’s 95-year-old monarch, has tested positive for Covid-19, Buckingham Palace confirmed. The queen is experiencing mild “cold-like symptoms” but expects to continue “light duties” at Windsor over the coming week, the palace said. 

Concerns about the queen contracting Covid heightened this month after her son and heir to the throne, Prince Charles, tested positive after having had contact with her. 

Germany Eases Travel From U.S., U.K, Spain (7 p.m HK)

Travelers from the U.S., the U.K., Spain and Ireland and a dozen other countries won’t have to quarantine if they travel to Germany. The country’s public-health institute removed the nations from a list of high-risk countries as of Sunday. 

U.K.’s Johnson Defends Plan to End Covid Restrictions, Free Testing (6:55 p.m HK)

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson defended his plan to lift remaining Covid-19 restrictions in England from criticism by the medical community. While acknowledging that the virus remains dangerous, he said declining case numbers and hospitalizations justify easing the rules.

Johnson will announce Monday that those testing positive will no longer be required to self isolate and that the government also plans to wind down providing free tests. The prime minister told the BBC on Sunday that the British government can no longer afford to spend about 2 billion pounds ($2.7 billion) a month on the free testing Hong Kong Reported Over 6,000 Daily Virus Cases Sunday (6.30 p.m HK)

The city recorded 6,067 new coronavirus cases Sunday, 12 of them imported. Authorities will maintain social-distancing measures and would consider tightening them if high numbers of infections persist, health department officials said at a press conference. The officials reported 14 deaths from the virus and said 10 people were in critical condition.

Slovenia to Lift Curbs From Monday (5:35 p.m HK)

Slovenia will lift all virus restrictions in industry, trade, tourism and hospitality and other services as of Monday, the country’s state news agency reported on Saturday evening. The government will also extend the opening hours of restaurants and reopen nightclubs.

Hong Kong Studies Tighter Social Distancing Measures (2:16 p.m. HK)

Hong Kong’s Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan told Commercial Radio Hong Kong the tightening is being considered, without elaborating on what might be involved. The department has met with epidemiological experts from mainland China in the past few days to review sampling and collection methods.

Johnson to Announce ‘Living With Covid’ Plan (8:31 a.m. HK)

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government reiterated his intention to end the U.K.’s remaining Covid-19 restrictions, saying he would lay out a plan this week for “living with Covid.”

The prime minister is expected to confirm “all regulations that restrict public freedoms will be repealed,” according to a statement on Saturday. Johnson earlier this month said he plans to end the legal requirement for people in England to self-isolate if they test positive.

Canada Clears Protesters From Front of Parliament (8:03 a.m. HK)

Police dislodged anti-vaccine protesters from the street in front of Canada’s parliament building, clearing the center of a weeks-long blockade that paralyzed the capital city’s downtown and plunged the nation into crisis. 

By evening, a total of 170 people had been arrested as police intensified their actions, deploying pepper spray, batons and mounted units to remove demonstrators. But the police said their operation to break up the protests was not complete. 

“This operation is still moving forward, it is not over, and it will take more time until we have achieved our goals,” Ottawa’s interim police chief, Steve Bell, said in a press conference Saturday afternoon. “We are in this until it is over.”

Mexico Court Backs Vaccine for Children (12:31 p.m. NY)

A Mexican court ruled that children ages 5 to 11 are to be allowed access to Covid-19 vaccinations, the Mexican newspaper Excelsior reports. 

The decision by magistrates of an administrative court based in Mexico City calls for federal judges to admit orders allowing for the use of the vaccine for children, concluding that they are at risk because health authorities have refused to grant the benefit, the newspaper reports.

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