As part of a nationwide response to the threat posed by the more contagious Delta coronavirus variant, New York City will require COVID-19 vaccinations or weekly tests for workers at city-run hospitals and clinics, Reuters reported. The new policy will go into effect on 2 August, Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news conference on Wednesday. The city will suspend without pay any employee who refuses to either get vaccinated or tested.

Slovakia is asking other European Union countries to deploy their medical personnel in the hard-hit country to help treat COVID-19 patients as its hospitals struggle under the load.

Japan will begin its COVID-19 immunisation drive on Wednesday, starting with 40,000 medical workers, Japan’s vaccination programme chief Taro Kono said at a news conference on Tuesday.