A student reacts as she receives a COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine dose at a vaccination center set up inside a school in Iran's capital Tehran on October 7, 2021. (PHOTO / AFP)
TEHRAN / WELLINGTON/ CANBERRA – Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said on Saturday that passengers can only gain entry to Iran upon submission of negative COVID-19 test results and full compliance with Iranian health protocols, citing the recent increase in infections.
Iran's daily cases on Monday surpassed 1,000 for the first time since April 27
In his address to a meeting of the national anti-coronavirus task force, Raisi called for stricter compliance with the health regulations and instructions at all land, air and sea entries to Iran, according to the Iranian presidency's website.
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He highlighted the necessity of receiving a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccines, noting those with underlying medical conditions should particularly take precautions.
Iran's daily cases on Monday surpassed 1,000 for the first time since April 27, according to the Iranian Health Ministry's website.
Iranian experts warn that two fast-spreading sub-variants of Omicron will become the prevailing strains in the country in the coming weeks.
This general view shows seating for restaurants mostly empty along Sydney Harbour in Sydney on Dec 24, 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (SAEED KHAN / AFP)
Australia
The Australian government said on Sunday that eligibility for "potentially lifesaving" COVID-19 antiviral treatments will be widened from Monday.
Health Minister Mark Butler confirmed that all Australians aged over 70 who test positive for COVID-19 will be able to access antivirals on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which means the government will subsidize the treatments.
Access will also be expanded to people aged over 50 with two or more risk factors for severe disease, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people aged over 30 with two or more risk factors for severe disease. Immunocompromised people over 18 may also be eligible.
People visit a COVID-19 testing station during a nationwide lockdown in Wellington on Au 18, 2021.
(MARTY MELVILLE / AFP)
New Zealand
New Zealand reported 7,461 community cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, the Ministry of Health said in a statement.
The seven-day rolling average of community case numbers of COVID-19 in New Zealand now sits at 9,000. The ministry also reported 662 current hospitalizations, including 13 cases in intensive care units or high dependency units, and eight deaths of COVID-19 on Sunday.
In addition, 286 new cases that have recently traveled overseas were confirmed when returning home, according to the ministry.
The ministry again encouraged New Zealanders to pay extra attention to their children's health and their own, over the coldest months of the year.
New Zealand has reported 1,421,077 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic in early 2020.