COVID-19 positive

US President Joe Biden tests positive for Covid-19, has mild symptoms

Biden, 79, has a runny nose, fatigue and an occasional dry cough, symptoms which he began to experience late on Wednesday, White House physician Kevin O'Connor said in a note released on Thursday.

Biden has begun taking the antiviral treatment Paxlovid, O'Connor said.

"He is fully vaccinated and twice boosted and experiencing very mild symptoms," press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.

Australian opposition leader tests positive for Covid-19 amid election campaign

Albanese said he would continue campaigning from home in Sydney for the next week while he recovers from the virus.

The Labour leader spent Thursday campaigning on the defensive in the marginal seat of Gilmore, on the NSW south coast, after taking part in a leaders' debate in Brisbane last night.

He has been taking PCR tests regularly and unlike Prime Minister Scott Morrison, has not had Covid-19 before.

Students of Vanuatu school test positive for Covid-19

The cases were detected during the first day of testing of 77 students of Ranwadi Secondary school in Penama province who appeared to have flu-like symptoms.

The Penama health manager Markson Tabi said they will now test all 300 students at the school.

Tabi said a health team from Port Vila is going to assist the Penama team that is already at the school.

They will assist with setting up a quarantine camp and other logistics because there is no hospital on Pentecost.

Vanuatu woman tested Covid-19 positive dies

South Santo Area Two Council Administrator, Terry Daniel, said the SANMA Rural Health authority confirmed on Sunday that the deceased had tested positive for Covid-19.

Daniel said. “By that time, the person had died. I had to put a lockdown on Sarete Village, according to the confirmation from SANMA Health. 

The village is now on lockdown, while waiting for SANMA Health to carry out contact tracing as of today (Tuesday).”

He said the deceased had an underlying condition and had visited the Northern Provincial Hospital (NPH) for a check-up.

The Queen tests positive for Covid

The monarch is experiencing "mild cold-like symptoms" but expects to continue "light duties" at Windsor over the coming week, the palace said.

"She will continue to receive medical attention and will follow all the appropriate guidelines," it added in a statement.

Her eldest son and heir, the Prince of Wales, tested positive on 10 February, after meeting his mother on 8 February.

It is understood a number of people have tested positive at Windsor Castle, where the Queen resides.

Sir Elton John postpones US shows after positive Covid-19 test

The musician, 74, is fully vaccinated and boosted, and is currently experiencing only mild symptoms, according to a post on his Instagram.

The global pandemic has caused many delays in Sir Elton's Farewell Yellow Brick Road world tour.

Another British superstar, Adele, also cancelled US shows last week.

The Dallas shows were originally scheduled to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Messi tests Covid positive

Argentina international Messi joined PSG from boyhood club Barcelona in August and the 34-year-old has scored six goals in 16 games in all competitions for the Parisian side.

Defender Juan Bernat, back-up goalkeeper Sergio Rico and midfielder Nathan Bitumazala were the other players who returned positive tests.

Mauricio Pochettino's team are top of the Ligue 1 standings on 46 points after 19 matches, 13 points above second-placed Nice. They are due to travel to third-tier club Vannes tomorrow for a French Cup round-of-32 match.

Klopp out with suspected Covid

Assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders will take charge at Stamford Bridge on Monday (NZ time) in the absence of Klopp, who is isolating after reporting mild symptoms.

"Testing of the entire first-team set-up has revealed no further positive cases within the playing squad in addition to the three confirmed by Klopp on [Saturday]," Liverpool said in a statement.

"Three backroom staff members have returned suspected positive results, however."

Ed Sheeran tests positive for Covid-19

The chart-topping musician said in a post on his Instagram page that he would continue to give planned interviews and performances from home.

Sheeran, who lives near Framlingham in Suffolk, said: "Apologies to anyone I've let down, be safe everyone x."

Last week he performed in London as part of the inaugural Earthshot Prize awards, hosted by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

In his post, Sheeran said: "Hey guys, quick note to tell you that I've sadly tested positive for Covid, so I'm now self-isolating and following government guidelines.

Eleven crew members on a ship off the coast of Tauranga test positive

Eleven of the 21 crew on board the Rio De La Plata are confirmed to have the virus.

Public Health staff took the test swabs in Tauranga from the crew as part of the requirements for entry for the vessel to its next stop - Napier.

The Ministry of Health said in a statement that it was likely at least some of the 11 crew were active cases of COVID-19 and further test results, expected today, would help determine how many of the crew were likely to be historical cases and no longer infectious.