Global round-up: Virus restrictions lifted across much of New Zealand

All remaining virus restrictions were being lifted across much of New Zealand today, with the exception of Auckland, which will continue to have some measures in place for at least another 16 days. Health authorities have reported no new cases.

The Taj Mahal reopened today after six months of closure due to lockdown measures — the longest it has ever been shut. India’s biggest tourist attraction, which can see up to 70,000 visitors a day, will now allow only 5,000 visitors daily and enforce Covid-19 safety measures, including temperature checks, as cases continue to spike.

Rising new infection numbers in countries like France, Austria and the Netherlands are worrying, German health minister Jens Spahn said today, adding that Germany will sooner or later import cases. Countries like Spain have infection dynamics that are likely to be out of control, Spahn said.

Thousands of Israelis protested outside prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s official residence in Jerusalem today after a new nationwide lockdown was introduced on Friday. Israel has seen one of the world’s highest per capita rates of coronavirus infections in the past two weeks. While the government won praise for its initial handling of the pandemic, many Israelis have accused it of bungling the response since.