New Delhi: The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate countries across the world — the latest count being over 27.4 lakh cases and more than 8.9 lakh deaths.
There is a mental and physical toll of Covid-19 on ‘long-haulers’, the ‘ripple effects’ of closed office spaces are being felt on small businesses, and rapid antigen tests in Indonesia are reportedly giving tourists a “false sense of security”.
ThePrint brings you the most important global stories on the coronavirus pandemic and why they matter.
UK witnesses rise in cases as people ‘relaxed too much’
UK’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Jonathan Van Tam attributed the rise in the number of Covid cases in the country to people “relaxing too much” over the summer, reports The Guardian.
“Now is the time for us to re-engage and realise that this is a continuing threat to us,” said Tam.
“In the seven days to 7 September, there were 21.3 cases per 100,000 people, and a total of 14,227. This means the UK’s weekly rate of new coronavirus cases has now risen above 20 per 100,000, the threshold at which the government considers imposing quarantine restrictions on travellers arriving from countries abroad,” notes the report.
Also read: ‘Very big surprise coming up’ – US could have Covid vaccine in October itself, Trump says
Toll on Covid ‘long-haulers’
Earlier, patients and health authorities were of the opinion that Covid-19 was a short-term illness. However, recently some attention has been granted to ‘long-haulers’ of the virus who have been ill with the infection for months, reports The New York Times.
Certain support groups in the US like Body Politic and Survivor Corps have shared surveys and reports to shed light on the impact of coronavirus on these ‘long-haulers’, especially their mental health.
“Natalie Lambert, a health researcher at Indiana University School of Medicine, recently surveyed more than 1,500 long-haul patients through the Survivor Corps Facebook page and found a number of common psychological symptoms. She found that anxiety was the eighth most common long-haul symptom, cited by more than 700 respondents. Difficultly concentrating was also high on the list, and more than 400 reported feeling ‘sadness’,” the report states.
‘Ripple effects’ of closed office spaces
The Covid-19 pandemic has shut office spaces and forced employees to work from home, which has led “business ecosystems” around officer towers taking a hit, reports BBC.
Although some companies have allowed workers to come back to offices, small businesses that rely on these offices are increasingly witnessing diminished sales and income due to the continued fear surrounding the infection.
“Even then, will those who do come in be eager to run their errands in low-ceilinged passageways or go out for after-work drinks if the virus is still a threat? Will they pick up a coffee or a snack on the way to and from the subway, or opt to drive instead? When will they need to buy (or indeed, wear) a suit again?,” notes the report.
Also read: UNICEF says it will lead global procurement and supply of Covid-19 vaccines
Spike in infections in Bali linked to ‘inaccurate’ rapid tests
According to Indonesian health experts, the spike in cases in popular tourist destination Bali is due to the inaccuracy of the low-cost rapid antibody tests used to test visitors, reports Al Jazeera.
In July and August, the number of new cases of Covid-19 was an average of 40 cases per day “but two weeks after the resumption of domestic travel, confirmed cases on the island began spiking, with five record-breaking days peaking at 198 new cases on September 4. As of Tuesday, Bali had 6,385 confirmed cases and 116 deaths”, highlights the report.
The WHO in Indonesia has asserted that use of antibody tests gives travellers a “false sense of security”.
Fewer Covid cases reported in Rawalpindi
Only nine cases of Covid-19 were recorded in Pakistan’s Rawalpindi district Sunday, reports Dawn.
The number of confirmed patients in the district now stands as 6,740 and 281 people have died.
“Around 90 patients are isolating in their residences, as officials from the health authority said the test results of these patients were positive, however, they were asymptomatic,” says the report.
Also read: Australia is set for economic pain as lockdown is extended despite falling infections
Salon businesses in Victoria to stay shut for longer
Businesses related to personal care in the Australian city Victoria will only open from 23 November, and that too if the cases are controlled, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.
“The Melbourne small business owner estimates tens of thousands in revenue had been lost since lockdowns began in March, and wants beauty salons to be permitted to open with a COVIDSafe plan once stage three restrictions are re-introduced,” according to the report.
Currently, Australia has recorded 26,372 cases of Covid-19 and 770 deaths.
What else we are reading:
Refugees in Italy bear brunt of coronavirus angst: Al Jazeera
The pandemic of Work-From-Home injuries: The New York Times
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