New Delhi: The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate countries across the world — the latest count being over 12 crore cases and more than 26 lakh deaths.
Brazil is set to lose its third health minister as the death toll rises, Hong Kong’s strict Covid-19 rules are separating families and vaccine apathy could impede the war on Covid-19 in Kenya.
ThePrint brings you the most important global stories on the coronavirus pandemic and why they matter.
Brazil set to lose its third health minister amid the pandemic as Covid death toll rises
Brazil is set to sack its health minister, for the third time in the pandemic, reports The Guardian.
Eduardo Pazuello will be removed from his position “after an inglourious 10-months tenure during which more than 2,60,000 Brazilians have been killed by a coronavirus outbreak”, says the report.
“Pazuello, whose dismal performance earned him the nickname Pesadello (Nightmare), was Bolsonaro’s third health minister of the crisis, after two predecessors walked out over disagreements about the president’s stance towards Covid-19,” it notes.
It also quotes the words of Ricardo Melo, a columnist in the Folha de São Paulo newspaper, who wrote, “Clearly, Doctor Nightmare … is good for nothing but filling up cemeteries … [But] the only way to avoid more Covid deaths … is to remove Bolsonaro from power.”
Brazil has reported 1,15,25,477 cases and 2,79,602 deaths so far.
Hong Kong’s tough Covid-19 rules see babies isolated, families cramped in tiny spaces
Families in Hong Kong are suffering isolation and trauma as strict coronavirus rules have separated parents from their babies, reports The Straits Times.
“Hong Kong authorities have ordered that anyone testing positive for the virus must go to hospital, including babies, while all their close contacts, even those who test negative, are sent to makeshift quarantine camps,” the report says.
Meanwhile, those with newborns are also herded into small quarantine quarters for upto 14 days.
The report quotes one mother who described the protocols as “crazy” as she was separated from her seven-month old son after testing positive.
“I got fever last night because I have gone from breastfeeding to 100 per cent pumping,” she is quoted as saying.
Hong Kong has reported 11,312 cases and 203 deaths.
Also read: Brazil surpasses India in Covid caseload, is number two among virus-hit nations
Now vaccine apathy dents war on Covid in Kenya
In Kenya, vaccine apathy is hindering the fights against Covid-19, reports Nation.
According to the report, the country aims to vaccinate 1.25 million people by June beginning with healthcare workers, and 9.6 million Kenyans by September.
Experts have, however, said that lack of interest, fear of side effects along with the government’s move to not make the vaccine mandatory might hamper the efforts.
The report quotes Dr Githinji Gitahi, the group CEO of Amref Health Africa as saying, “The level of scepticism and lack of trust in the government is too much. However, this is not about the government, but our lives. It is an individual’s decision of whether or not to protect loved ones.”
Kenya has reported 1,13,967 cases and 1,918 deaths so far.
China approves a fourth Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use
China has approved its fourth Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use, reports The Associated Press.
The vaccine, the report highlights, was developed by the head of China’s Center for Disease Control — Gao Fu — along with Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
“The team finished phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials in October of last year and is currently conducting the last phase of trials in Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Indonesia, according to the statement,” it states.
Like many other Covid-19 vaccines, this one works by training the body to recognise the spike protein that covers the surface of the coronavirus.
According to the report, however, “there is no publicly available information in peer-reviewed scientific journals about the clinical trial data showing efficacy or safety”.
China has reported 90,062 cases and 4,639 deaths.
Variants of concern on the rise in New South Wales hotel quarantine
Covid-19 variants are on the rise in Sydney’s hotel quarantine system, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.
It quotes data from New South Wales Health’s weekly Covid-19 surveillance report which stated that 42 per cent of the 33 infections detected in returned overseas travellers till 6 March were “variants of concern”.
“Of these 14 cases, 12 were the B.1.1.7 variant, also known as the UK strain, one was the B.1.351 variant, known as the South African strain, and the state also recorded its first case of the P1 variant, called the Brazilian strain,” the report notes.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said that the state’s 55-day run without a single local case had come to an end.
Australia has reported 29,134 cases and 909 deaths.
What else we are reading:
AstraZeneca concerns throw Europe’s vaccine rollout into deeper disarray: The New York Times
Covid passport: The new worlds opening up for the vaccinated: El País
Also read: What is J&J Covid vaccine that India’s Bio E will make with US help, the challenges it faces