The Chinese embassy in South Korea has suspended issuing short-term visas for South Korean visitors, it said on Tuesday, the first retaliatory move against nations imposing COVID-19 curbs on travellers from China.

China stops issuing short-term visas for South Koreans

US President Joe Biden has now tested negative for COVID-19 after suffering a 'rebound' last Saturday. He has remained inactive during key events.

Joe Biden tests negative for COVID; Biden suffered a 'rebound' last Saturday

A COVID-19 testing laboratory in central England has been suspended over concern that it has been incorrectly giving negative PCR test results to people who are infected, the UK Health Security Agency (UKSHA) said on Friday.

NHS Test and Trace launched an investigation into a lab in Wolverhampton after reports of people getting negative PCR test results after testing positive on rapid lateral flow devices (LFDs).

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Government advice says PCR tests are more accurate than LFDs, and people can stop self-isolating if a positive LFD result is followed by a negative PCR test result.

UKSHA said that an estimated 43,000 people may have been given incorrect negative PCR test results, mainly in South West England, possibly underestimating the number of people with coronavirus between September 8&nbsp;and October&nbsp;12.

"We have immediately suspended testing at this laboratory while we continue the investigation," Dr Will Welfare, Public Health Incident Director

"There is no evidence of any faults with LFD or PCR test kits themselves and the public should remain confident in using them and in other laboratory services currently provided."

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Immensa Health Clinic, who run the lab, said they were "fully collaborating" with UKSHA in the investigation. UKSHA said it was an isolated incident in one laboratory, with samples now being redirected to other labs.

It added the Immensa lab was only a small part of the national network, so overall testing availability was unaffected, and people with a positive LFD test result should continue to get it confirmed with a PCR.

A COVID-19 testing laboratory in central England has been suspended over concern that it has been incorrectly giving negative PCR test results to people who are infected, the UK Health Security Agency (UKSHA) said on Friday.

A COVID-19 testing laboratory in central England has been suspended over concern that it has been incorrectly giving negative PCR test results to people who are infected, the UK Health Security Agency (UKSHA) said on Friday. NHS Test and Trace launched an investigation into a lab in Wolverhampton after reports of people getting negative PCR test results after testing positive on rapid lateral flow devices (LFDs). Also Read | WHO says it is 'last chance' to find origin of COVID-19 Government advice says PCR tests are more accurate than LFDs, and people can stop self-isolating if a positive LFD result is followed by a negative PCR test result. UKSHA said that an estimated 43,000 people may have been given incorrect negative PCR test results, mainly in South West England, possibly underestimating the number of people with coronavirus between September 8 and October 12. "We have immediately suspended testing at this laboratory while we continue the investigation," Dr Will Welfare, Public Health Incident Director "There is no evidence of any faults with LFD or PCR test kits themselves and the public should remain confident in using them and in other laboratory services currently provided." Also Read | Over 960 million COVID-19 vaccines administered in India, says health ministry Immensa Health Clinic, who run the lab, said they were "fully collaborating" with UKSHA in the investigation. UKSHA said it was an isolated incident in one laboratory, with samples now being redirected to other labs. It added the Immensa lab was only a small part of the national network, so overall testing availability was unaffected, and people with a positive LFD test result should continue to get it confirmed with a PCR.

UK lab suspended after false negative Covid tests

Is the pandemic making you sad, angry or stressed? You are not alone. 2020 was the most negative year in recent history. Palki Sharma tells you why.

Gravitas | 2020: The most negative year in recent history

France said Saturday it would require people not fully vaccinated and arriving from some European countries to show a negative COVID-19&nbsp;test taken within the previous 24 hours.&nbsp;

Arrivals from the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece and the Netherlands will be subject to the new rule, which comes into effect at midnight Saturday into Sunday, Prime Minister Jean Castex said in a statement.&nbsp;

To date, people arriving from the United Kingdom are required to show a negative test taken within the past 48 hours.&nbsp;

Arrivals from Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, the Netherlands and Greece have had to show tests taken within 72 hours.&nbsp;

But Castex said that people who are fully vaccinated with a jab recognised by the European Medicines Agency -- Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Johnson &amp; Johnson -- will not be required to show a test.&nbsp;

The statement said the exemption was in place because "vaccines are effective against the virus, and in particular its variant Delta".

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France will consider people fully vaccinated one week after they received the second dose of Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca, instead of 14 days previously, and 28 days after their Johnson &amp; Johnson jab, Castex said.

France will now also accept vaccination by Covishield, a copy of the AstraZeneca vaccine made by the Serum Institute of India, for its health pass.&nbsp;

The government also said that Tunisia, Mozambique, Cuba and Indonesia will be added to France's so-called red list.

Travel from red-list countries is only allowed on pressing grounds and even then vaccinated travellers must self-isolate for seven days.&nbsp;

'Exponential' rise in cases

The new measures come as several European nations battle rising caseloads, blamed in part on the highly transmissible Delta variant which has taken hold on the continent.&nbsp;

New infections have ticked up in France in recent weeks, hitting nearly 11,000 on Friday, even as the government races to vaccinate the population.

President Emmanuel Macron said this week that vaccine health passes would be required for entry to most public places and that all healthcare workers must be fully inoculated, sparking a rush to book appointments for the jab. &nbsp;

Around 35.5 million people -- just over half of France's population -- have received at least one vaccine dose so far.&nbsp;

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said this week it expects a sharp increase in coronavirus cases on the continent, with nearly five times as many new infections by August 1.

In an effort to control the rising numbers, France's region of Pyrenees-Orientales will require bars, restaurants, beach venues and food shops to close at 11:00 pm from Saturday until August 2, the prefecture announced on Saturday.&nbsp;

The move came after cases in the region shot up within a single week from 41.5 per 100,000 people to 258.8 per 100,000 people.

"This exponential progression is starting to translate into an equally rising number of hospitalisations," the prefecture warned in its statement announcing the measures.

The region had on Friday made masks mandatory in all public spaces except for beaches and large nature spaces and prohibited consumption of alcohol in public spaces outside of bars and restaurants.

France said Saturday it would require people not fully vaccinated and arriving from some European countries to show a negative COVID-19 test taken within the previous 24 hours.

France said Saturday it would require people not fully vaccinated and arriving from some European countries to show a negative COVID-19 test taken within the previous 24 hours. Arrivals from the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece and the Netherlands will be subject to the new rule, which comes into effect at midnight Saturday into Sunday, Prime Minister Jean Castex said in a statement. To date, people arriving from the United Kingdom are required to show a negative test taken within the past 48 hours. Arrivals from Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, the Netherlands and Greece have had to show tests taken within 72 hours. But Castex said that people who are fully vaccinated with a jab recognised by the European Medicines Agency -- Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson -- will not be required to show a test. The statement said the exemption was in place because "vaccines are effective against the virus, and in particular its variant Delta". Also read | Patients taking statin are at 41% lower risk of an in-hospital death due to COVID-19 France will consider people fully vaccinated one week after they received the second dose of Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca, instead of 14 days previously, and 28 days after their Johnson & Johnson jab, Castex said. France will now also accept vaccination by Covishield, a copy of the AstraZeneca vaccine made by the Serum Institute of India, for its health pass. The government also said that Tunisia, Mozambique, Cuba and Indonesia will be added to France's so-called red list. Travel from red-list countries is only allowed on pressing grounds and even then vaccinated travellers must self-isolate for seven days. 'Exponential' rise in cases The new measures come as several European nations battle rising caseloads, blamed in part on the highly transmissible Delta variant which has taken hold on the continent. New infections have ticked up in France in recent weeks, hitting nearly 11,000 on Friday, even as the government races to vaccinate the population. President Emmanuel Macron said this week that vaccine health passes would be required for entry to most public places and that all healthcare workers must be fully inoculated, sparking a rush to book appointments for the jab. Around 35.5 million people -- just over half of France's population -- have received at least one vaccine dose so far. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said this week it expects a sharp increase in coronavirus cases on the continent, with nearly five times as many new infections by August 1. In an effort to control the rising numbers, France's region of Pyrenees-Orientales will require bars, restaurants, beach venues and food shops to close at 11:00 pm from Saturday until August 2, the prefecture announced on Saturday. The move came after cases in the region shot up within a single week from 41.5 per 100,000 people to 258.8 per 100,000 people. "This exponential progression is starting to translate into an equally rising number of hospitalisations," the prefecture warned in its statement announcing the measures. The region had on Friday made masks mandatory in all public spaces except for beaches and large nature spaces and prohibited consumption of alcohol in public spaces outside of bars and restaurants.

France to require 24-hour negative COVID-19 test for some European arrivals

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has tested negative for COVID-19. The Home Minister took to Twitter to share the news on Friday.&nbsp;

He wrote: "Today my corona test report has come negative. I thank god and at the moment I express my heartfelt gratitude to all those have blessed me and my family by wishing me well. Will stay in home isolation for a few more days on the advice of doctors."

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
आज मेरी कोरोना टेस्ट रिपोर्ट नेगेटिव आई है। 
 
मैं ईश्वर का धन्यवाद करता हूँ और इस समय जिन लोगों ने मेरे स्वास्थ्यलाभ के लिए शुभकामनाएं देकर मेरा और मेरे परिजनों को ढाढस बंधाया उन सभी का ह्रदय से आभार व्यक्त करता हूँ। 
डॉक्टर्स की सलाह पर अभी कुछ और दिनों तक होम आइसोलेशन में रहूँगा।
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmitShah/status/1294234328151416833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Earlier this month, Amit Shah had tested positive for coronavirus. He was admitted to a hospital in Delhi on the advice of doctors.

He had urged those who came into close contact with him to get themselves tested for the virus.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has tested negative for COVID-19. The Home Minister took to Twitter to share the news on Friday. He wrote: "Today my corona test report has come negative.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has tested negative for COVID-19. The Home Minister took to Twitter to share the news on Friday. He wrote: "Today my corona test report has come negative. I thank god and at the moment I express my heartfelt gratitude to all those have blessed me and my family by wishing me well. Will stay in home isolation for a few more days on the advice of doctors." आज मेरी कोरोना टेस्ट रिपोर्ट नेगेटिव आई है। मैं ईश्वर का धन्यवाद करता हूँ और इस समय जिन लोगों ने मेरे स्वास्थ्यलाभ के लिए शुभकामनाएं देकर मेरा और मेरे परिजनों को ढाढस बंधाया उन सभी का ह्रदय से आभार व्यक्त करता हूँ। डॉक्टर्स की सलाह पर अभी कुछ और दिनों तक होम आइसोलेशन में रहूँगा। — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 14, 2020 × Earlier this month, Amit Shah had tested positive for coronavirus. He was admitted to a hospital in Delhi on the advice of doctors. He had urged those who came into close contact with him to get themselves tested for the virus.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah tests negative for coronavirus

Union Minister of state for External Affairs V Muraleedharan reports negative for novel coronavirus infection. Muraleedharan had put himself under self-quarantine. The doctor said, no need to worry, he has to take precaution

Breaking: Union Minister tests negative for Covid -19

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