Covid news live: UK awaits ‘partygate’ report; Paris hospitals chief sparks debate over care for unvaccinated

Hello, it is Martin Belam here in London. I’m taking over from Samantha Lock for the next few hours, with all the Covid news from around the world and the UK. I’ll bring you the latest quotes from whoever has been sent out by the government to say “I can’t comment on that until the Sue Gray report is published” in due course.

The head of the Paris hospitals system has questioned whether people who refuse to be vaccinated against Covid should continue to have their treatment covered by public health insurance.

The remarks have set off a fierce debate in the country.

Under France’s universal healthcare system, all Covid patients who end up in intensive care are fully covered for their treatment, which costs about 3,000 euros per day and typically lasts a week to 10 days.

Paris AP-HP hospitals system chief Martin Hirsch said:

When free and efficient drugs are available, should people be able to renounce it without consequences … while we struggle to take care of other patients?”

Hirsch said he raised the issue because health costs are exploding and that the irresponsible behaviour of some should not jeopardise the availability of the system for everyone else.

Hello it’s Samantha Lock back with you on the blog as we unpack all the latest international Covid developments.

Let’s begin with some news hitting the headlines in France where the head of the Paris hospitals system questioned whether people who refuse to be vaccinated against Covid should continue to have their treatment covered by public health insurance.

“When free and efficient drugs are available, should people be able to renounce it without consequences … while we struggle to take care of other patients?” Paris AP-HP hospitals system chief Martin Hirsch said on French television on Wednesday.

The remarks have set off a fierce debate in the country. Hirsch said he raised the issue because health costs are exploding and that the irresponsible behaviour of some should not jeopardise the availability of the system for everyone else.

A group of scientists have warned the UK government that by allowing poorer countries to remain unvaccinated is a “reckless approach to public health”, meaning Covid variants are more likely to develop.

A letter signed by more than 300 experts, including 13 members of the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) in a personal capacity, says vaccinating most of the world’s population is “the best way” to prevent coronavirus mutations. It says vaccines will “not be effective” at stopping new variants unless the UK ensures more people in poorer countries are jabbed.

Here’s a quick recap of all the international Covid developments:

Europe:

• England is going back to its “Plan A” Covid strategy by lifting virus restrictions, with commuters back to the office, masks no longer required in enclosed places and vaccine passports shelved.
• The EU’s drug regulator gave the green light to Pfizer Inc’s antiviral Covid-19 pill for treating adults at risk of severe illness.
• Booster shots could reduce future hospitalisations in Europe by at least half a million, the EU’s public health agency said.
• Finland will begin gradually easing restrictions from 1 February instead of mid-February as initially planned.
• The head of the Paris hospitals system has set off a fierce debate by questioning whether people who refuse to be vaccinated should continue to have their treatment covered by public health insurance.
• Spain’s north-eastern Catalonia region drops the need for a Covid passport to enter restaurants, bars and gyms.
• Sweden’s health authority says it will not recommend Covid-19 jabs for all five to 11 year olds, the country again choosing a different Covid policy to much of Europe.
• Many more Covid restrictions are being lifted on Friday in Wales, allowing nightclubs to reopen and some rules on social distancing to be scrapped.

Asia:

• Hong Kong will shorten its 21-day quarantine requirement to 14 days for incoming travellers starting from 5 February.
• New Delhi ends a weekend curfew, reopens restaurants and allows markets to operate at full capacity, as the Omicron variant outbreak slows.

Americas:

• Canadian truck drivers are meeting in Ottawa to protest a federal government vaccine mandate.
• Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau says he has been exposed to Covid-19 and will isolate for five days, in accordance with health rules for vaccinated people.
• The US government’s main health agency is failing to meet its responsibilities for leading the national response to public health emergencies, including the coronavirus pandemic, a federal watchdog said Thursday.

Middle East:

• A United Arab Emirates medical convoy of one million Covid-19 vaccines reached the Gaza Strip via the Rafah border crossing, state news agency WAM said.
• Morocco will reopen its airspace for international flights starting Feb. 7, the state news agency (MAP) reported on Thursday.

• Covid-19 boosters increase protection against death from the Omicron variant to 95% in people aged 50 or over, the UK Health Security Agency said.
• China’s Walvax Biotechnology has recruited most of the 28,000 participants needed for a large clinical trial of its mRNA Covid-19 vaccine candidate, a senior company official said.