New Delhi: The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate countries across the world — the latest count being over 8.5 crore cases and more than 18 lakh deaths.
The coronavirus crisis is bringing thousands of Israelis back from abroad, especially the US. Amid the anxiety of the new strain of coronavirus increasing infections, New Zealand has restricted border access. And Indonesia has started nationwide distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech.
ThePrint brings you the most important global stories on the coronavirus pandemic and why they matter.
Vaccine rollout inspires Jews to move to Israel
The coronavirus crisis is bringing thousands of Israelis back from abroad. It has made the country more ‘enticing’ for American Jews, reports The Jerusalem Post.
“With the vaccination campaign in Israel bringing the Pfizer vaccine to more than one million Israelis in less than two weeks, Israel is looking more attractive than ever as a place to live, both to Israelis who have been living abroad and American Jews who are thinking of moving to Israel,” says the report.
Israel has recorded 4,41,542 Covid-19 cases and 3,416 deaths.
Also read: UK set to give first Oxford Covid vaccine shots as cases surge
Indonesia starts nationwide vaccine distribution
Nationwide distribution of Covid-19 vaccine which was developed by Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech started on 3 January, reports The Straits Times.
Mass inoculations are expected to begin in late January.
Indonesia “plans to inoculate 181.5 million people aged 18 and above, or around 67 per cent of its nearly 270 million people, within 15 months,” says the report.
Indonesia has recorded 7,65,350 cases of Covid-19 and 22,734 deaths.
New Zealand tightens border restrictions amid fears of new strain
Amid the anxiety of the new strain of coronavirus increasing infections, New Zealand has restricted border access, reports The Guardian.
Six cases of the new variant were recorded in the country, of which five were from UK arrivals and one from Africa.
There have been no community transmission of coronavirus in the country since 18 November.
New Zealand has recorded 2,181 cases of Covid-19 and 25 deaths.
Also read: How Singapore’s Changi Airport is reinventing itself for return of business travel amid Covid
Ottawa considers cutting Covid benefits for those who travelled
The Canadian government is considering the possibility of barring Canadians who travelled from abroad from receiving sick leave benefits, reports The Globe and Mail.
This comes amid a surge of infections in the state. “The Canada Recovery sickness benefit was launched was in the fall to help Canadians who are unable to work because they must quarantine during the pandemic,” says the report.
Canada has recorded 6,01,663 cases of Covid-19 and 15,865 deaths.
Japan’s economy expects ‘sharpest rebound in decades’
Japan’s economy is expected to make ‘its sharpest rebound in decades’ this year. Consumption is expected to pick up towards the end of 2021 considering Covid’s impact will reduce, reports The Japan Times.
According to an average of forecast by Japan Center for Economic Research, Japan is projected to grow 3.42 per cent in the next fiscal after shrinking 5.37 per cent this financial year.
Japan has recorded 2,40,954 cases of Covid-19 and 3,548 deaths.
What else we are reading:
Parents face week of uncertainty over school reopenings in England: The Guardian
Australia’s Covid-19 cluster expand further as masks made compulsory: The Straits Times