Covid-19 global updates: Scientists who dismissed coronavirus lab leak theory say evidence points to natural origin

Here are some significant developments:

• Japan will extend its “quasi-state of emergency” covering Tokyo through the Olympics, the Nikkei newspaper reported. The measures had been set to expire July 11, but the coronavirus caseload remains relatively high and the vast majority of the population is unvaccinated.
• Israel said Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine offered less protection against infection from the coronavirus than previously seen, although it remains highly effective at preventing severe disease. The new data come as the country grapples with a wave of delta variant cases.
• Germany is loosening restrictions on people entering from Britain, India, Portugal and Russia. Fully inoculated travelers from those countries will not have to quarantine; people who are not vaccinated will have to quarantine for five days if they test negative for the virus.
• Australia’s New South Wales reported 18 new locally transmitted cases on Tuesday. Sydney, the state’s most populous city, remains in a lockdown that could end Friday.
• Boris Johnson on Monday announced that England was set to end virtually all government mandates to control the spread of the coronavirus, telling people that in two weeks it would probably be completely up to them whether to wear a mask or socially distance.