New Delhi: The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate countries across the world — the latest count being over 11.1 crore cases and more than 2.4 lakh deaths.
Coronavirus vaccines have become the currency of choice in the Middle East. Covid deaths in the US crosses the 5-lakh mark, the highest in the world. And the vaccine programme begins in Australia.
ThePrint brings you the most important global stories on the coronavirus pandemic and why they matter.
In Israel and beyond, virus vaccines bring political power
Coronavirus vaccines are emerging as the currency of choice in the Middle East, reports Associated Press.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu struck a $1.2 million deal with Russia to buy vaccines from archenemy Syria in return for the release of Israeli prisoners who are being held captive in Damascus.
The report quotes Yoav Limor, an Israel military affairs correspondent, who said, “It is legitimate for the Israeli government to decide to deviate from past norms and to pay with another form of currency.”
Additionally, the government is also considering sharing surplus vaccines with its allies.
The country has catapulted ahead of all other countries to have the world’s fastest vaccination campaign. In less than two months, Israel has administered at least one dose to more than half of its 9.3 million people and the required two doses to about a third of its population.
Israel has reported 7,50,043 cases and 5,577 deaths.
Ripple effect of loss: US Covid deaths approach 5,00,000
The number of deaths in the US has crossed the 5-lakh mark almost a year after the first was reported in the country, reports The New York Times.
According to the report, more Americans have perished from Covid-19 than on the battlefields of World War I, World War II and the Vietnam War.
The Covid-19 death count in the US is also the highest among all countries.
“Each death has left untold numbers of mourners, a ripple effect of loss that has swept over towns and cities,” the report states and describes the travails of one Keith Bartram who lost his mother to the virus.
“Seeing the chair she would sit in, the random things around the house, it’s definitely very surreal… It’s hard to be in there, when it looks like she should be there, but she’s not,” he is quoted as saying.
The US has reported 2,87,65,423 cases and 5,11,133 deaths.
Also read: ‘Worrying’, says govt as 5 cases of South Africa, Brazil Covid variants detected in India
‘Real milestone’: Vaccine rollout begins across Australia
Australia has begun its Covid-19 vaccination drive by inoculating tens of thousands of aged citizens, healthcare workers and quarantine staff, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.
The drive is taking place in 190 towns across the country where 16 hospitals have been turned into vaccination hubs.
The report included the remarks of Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd who said things were going according to plan. Meanwhile, the director of emergency medicine at Monash Health, Dr Rachel Rosler, said, “We’re now on the offensive. We’re no longer acting defensively against this, we’re now on the offensive and it’s an amazing day.”
Australia has reported 28,929 cases and 909 deaths.
Africa Covid deaths surpass 100,000 after second wave
In Africa, the Covid-19 death toll has crossed the one lakh-mark, reports Reuters. According to the report, this is just a fraction of those reported in other continents.
“But deaths are rising sharply across Africa, driven by its southern region, especially economic powerhouse South Africa, which accounts for nearly half,” the report states.
It also quotes Richard Mihigo, coordinator of the immunisation programme at the World Health Organization’s Africa office, as saying, “The increased number (of infections) has led to many severe cases and some of the countries really found it quite difficult to cope.”
The rise in death has especially been pronounced in countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi.
Africa has reported 3.8 million cases and 1,00,369 deaths.
What else we are reading:
Vaccine vials and a virtual hug: a history of coronavirus in 15 objects: The Guardian
Covid and suicide: Japan’s rise a warning to the world?: BBC
Also read: Israel bars Sputnik V entry into Gaza, Japan’s syringe challenge & other global Covid news