New Delhi: The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate countries across the world — the latest count being over 3.5 crore cases and more than 10 lakh deaths.
Nearly six out of every 10 Covid-19 tests are positive in Argentina — the country with the world’s highest positivity rate. Guatemala has sent back 3,500 Honduran migrants over Covid concerns. And Kenya seems to be on the verge of a second wave of infections.
ThePrint brings you the most important global stories on the coronavirus pandemic and why they matter.
‘No isolation, few tests’: Argentina has world’s highest Covid-19 positive rate
With six positive cases out of every 10 tests, Argentina has the world’s highest rate of positive Covid-19 tests, reports Reuters.
The report, which based the figures on data from the Oxford-linked Our World In Data tracker, further elucidates that the positive rate “climbed from around 40% in August to just shy of 60% in the last week”.
“Medical professionals said low-levels of testing and lax restrictions had propelled the high positive rate,” the report notes, quoting a pediatrician from Buenos Aires, Carlos Kambourian, who said, “Is there isolation? There is none. Are there (enough) tests? No there aren’t.”
Argentina has recorded 8,09,728 cases and 21,468 deaths.
Guatemala sends back some 3,500 migrants amid Covid-19 concerns
Guatemala sent back nearly 3,500 Honduran migrants from a caravan headed to the US over concerns they might spread the coronavirus, reports Al Jazeera.
The report mentions Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei’s televised message in which he said that it is the government’s “obligation to reduce the risk of further contagion”.
“By Friday and Saturday, hundreds of Guatemalan police and military personnel had set up roadblocks forcing migrants, including young children and people in wheelchairs, to turn back,” says the report, which also mentions that US President Donald Trump has threatened Mexico with high tariffs if it doesn’t step up efforts to prevent the influx of undocumented migrants.
Guatemala has recorded 94,182 cases and 3,302 deaths.
Risk high of second wave as infections surge in Kenya’s counties
Six days after the partial reopening of the economy, Kenya seems to be on the brink of a second wave of infections following a surge in Covid-19 cases, reports Nation.
Noting the positivity rate, the report says that from the tests conducted in late September there were only 1,036 cases which then increased to 1,259 cases, “a difference of a whopping 223”.
It quotes Amref Health Africa Group CEO, Dr Githinji Gitahi, who said, “The cases were declining in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kiambu, Kajiado and Machakos. Unfortunately, the cases have started to peak in rural counties and thus affecting the positivity rate.”
Kenya has recorded 39,449 cases and 735 deaths.
Also read: Russia’s Covid death toll more than double initial reports, statistic agency says
NSW goes 11 days with no new local Covid-19 cases, but sewage testing finds traces
The Australian state of New South Wales has not recorded any recent cases of Covid-19, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.
This is despite health authorities raising concerns over low testing numbers and the appearance of the virus in sewage, the report notes, which has prompted local authorities like NSW Health spokeswoman Christine Selvey to urge the public to turn up for testing. “We are appealing to the community to come forward for testing right away if you have even the mildest of symptoms like a runny nose, scratchy throat, cough, fever or any other symptoms…” she said.
The report also highlights that the concerns could have an effect on neighbouring Queensland’s decision about its border.
Australia has recorded 27,149 cases and 894 deaths.
Spain’s coronavirus incidence on ‘red alert’ since August, documents show
Although the Spanish government has, from the beginning of the pandemic, been avoiding publishing “epidemiological thresholds” and milestones on which to base policy decision, central and regional authorities have privately been working with figures, reports El País, which highlights that according to an internal scale, “the whole of Spain long ago passed the number deemed a cause for maximum alert: 60 cases per 100,000 people over a 14-day period”.
According to the report, “experts have criticized the lack of clear indicators to make policy decisions.”
“The recent battle between central and Madrid authorities over how to curb transmission in the region, and who should be in charge of it, illustrates the decision-making difficulties seen in Spain since the beginning of the crisis,” it notes.
Spain has recorded 8,52,838 cases and 32,225 deaths.
Paris on ‘maximum alert’, bars and cafés to close
In France, the government announced “constraint measures” in Paris to contain the situation, reports The Connexion.
The report notes Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s discussions with Prime Minister Jean Castex in which the situation in the capital city was described as “very serious”. For now, the city will remain on maximum alert, the “highest alert level before the situation reaches a state of health emergency”.
“Measures include closing bars and cafés for two weeks, but restaurants can stay open ‘under certain conditions’,” the report notes.
France has recorded 6,24,274 cases and 32,299 deaths.
What else we are reading:
Nostalgic tourists flock to Singapore’s last surviving village as Covid-19 keeps borders shut: South China Morning Post
‘The drug became his friend’: Pandemic drives hike in Opioid deaths: The New York Times
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