New Delhi: The coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc across the globe, with the latest count being more than 11 crore cases and 26 lakh deaths. We highlight the most important stories from across the globe for you.
While Brazil is experiencing a devastating second wave which has crippled its healthcare system, Japan is experiencing a high rate of allergic reactions to Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine.
Greece to open borders to foreign travellers in mid-May
Greece and Cyprus are gearing up to open their borders to foreign tourists in mid May, reports Euro News. Foreigners who are vaccinated, survivors of Covid-19 or those who test negative prior to their arrival will be welcome in Greece.
The government hopes restrictions will ease before then. Tourists maybe subjected to Covid-19 tests at random. All tourists’ Covid-19 costs will be borne by Greece.
Greece has reported 2,12,091 coronavirus cases and 6,886, deaths so far.
Also read: World will know about Covid origin ‘fairly soon’, WHO mission expert says
Brazil plunges into crisis as new variant overwhelms hospitals
A second wave in Brazil is wreaking havoc in the country, filling up ICUs and bringing hospitals to the brink of collapse. Daily deaths have reached a record high in the country, reports CNN.
While a new variant is making the rounds of the country, many continue to defy the mask mandate and flout Covid-19 social distancing norms following the example of their president Jair Bolsonaro who recently said people need to “stop being sissies” and “whining” about the virus.
In 22 of Brazil’s 26 states, the number of patients in ICU is over 80 per cent. Some states in dire straits include the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, where patients have to line up and wait for beds as occupancy rates in intensive care units has soared past 103 per cent. The state of Santa Catarina has surpassed 99 per cent occupancy and is on the verge of collapse, with cases surging throughout the state.
Brazil has reported 1,12,05,972 coronavirus cases and 2,70,917 deaths so far.
Japan sees high rate of allergic reaction after taking Pfizer vaccine
Japanese who received Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine seem to have suffered anaphylaxis, a severe and potentially fatal allergic reaction, at a higher rate than in the United States and Europe, reports Kyodo News.
Majorly, women seem to be getting this reaction. Of the 25 cases reported till Wednesday, 24 were women.
People who are administered the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech SE are being asked to remain on site for at least 15 minutes to check for anaphylaxis and other side effects.
Japan has reported 4,41,729 coronavirus cases and 8,353 deaths so far.
Also read: Scientists oppose placebo trials for Covid vaccines, call them ‘unethical, inappropriate’
UK rejects EU claims that it banned vaccine exports
In their first spat since Brexit, the United Kingdom has emphatically reject the European Union claims that it banned vaccine exports, reports Straits Times.
European Council chief Charles Michel had claimed that London had imposed an “outright ban on the export of vaccines or vaccine components produced on their territory”.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson then hit back and summoned a senior EU official for a meeting to “set the record straight”.
“Let me be clear, we have not blocked the export of a single Covid-19 vaccine or vaccine components,” Mr Johnson told lawmakers in Parliament on Wednesday.
The UK has reported 42,34,924 coronavirus cases and 1,24,987 deaths so far.
What else we’re reading:
‘More severe than war’: Health workers reflect on a year of COVID: Al Jazeera
Coronavirus: Europe raised issues about efficacy and safety of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in November: South China Morning Post
Also read: Women more likely to become Covid-19 ‘long-haulers’, US study shows