New Delhi: The Covid-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc in the world. The latest count being more than 13,88,77,834 cases and over 29,86,521 deaths.
We highlight some of the important stories from around the world — from Cambodia struggling to contain Covid-19 after a year of low numbers to a US company peddling bleach as a ‘miracle cure’ for new Covid-19 variants.
Cambodia struggles to contain UK Covid-19 variant
Cambodia is struggling to contain the rapid spread of coronavirus, especially the UK Covid-19 variant, within its borders, reports Al Jazeera. In less than a week, the country has recorded over 1,000 cases of the virus and 35 people have died as of Wednesday.
In stark contrast, the country registered less than 500 cases in the first year of the pandemic with zero Covid-19 deaths reported.
Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the southeast Asian nation is on the verge of a “national tragedy”.
The government enforced a lockdown in Phnom Penh, the capital, and a neighbouring district of Ta Khmau, Thursday. It urged people not to step out of their home unless for food or seeking medical treatment.
Dr Li Ailan, the WHO Representative to Cambodia, has noted that the UK Covid-19 variant, B.1.1.7, had worsened the situation. “The B.1.1.7 variant spreads more easily between people and can cause serious illness,” she said. “Many countries with strong health systems have been overwhelmed by this variant. We need to ensure the same doesn’t happen to Cambodia”.
Cambodia has registered 4,874 cases and 35 deaths.
Also read: Temples, mosques, gurdwaras help Ambala get high vaccination rate, best Haryana district tag
Israel marks 73rd Independence Day by honouring healthcare workers
Israel marked its 73rd Independence Day Wednesday with a ceremony to honour health care professionals who have been on the front lines of the pandemic, reports Haaretz.
The ceremony was held at Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl, the site of Israel’s national cemetery and other memorial and educational facilities. It featured a torch-lighting ceremony honoring health workers in the fight against Covid-19.
The torch lighters included Dr Dror Dicker, director of the department of internal medicine at Hasharon Hospital in Petah Tikva, a head nurse of an Afula hospital’s Covid-19 unit and a nurse from the Acre area.
Israel has registered 836,504 cases and 6,312 deaths.
US company in Florida illegally peddles bleach as ‘miracle cure’
Miami-based Oclo Nanotechnology Science, which manufactures industrial bleach, is illegally urging Americans to drink the fluid as a “miracle cure” for the latest variants of Covid-19, reports The Guardian.
Chlorine dioxide, a powerful bleaching agent, is being prepared at the company’s makeshift laboratory in Miami, Florida. The company has in the past been known to peddle the toxic product as a cure for cancer, HIV/Aids and other diseases.
Last August, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clamped down on a self-styled leader of a fake church in Florida and his four sons, who were among the most prominent “miracle” bleach peddlers in the US.
The US has registered 32,149,223 cases and 578,092 deaths.
UK sets up vaccination centres at mosques during Ramadan
The National Health Service (NHS) in the UK has set up a series of pop-up vaccination centres in mosques across the country, reports BBC.
The centres are meant to support Muslims to get a Covid-19 vaccination during Ramadan, after Islamic scholars and NHS leaders had concerns that the fasting period may discourage people from getting the shot.
Muslim NHS workers and the British Islamic Medical Association have assured the community that taking the shot will not break the fast.
Pop-up centres have also been set up in work places and community centres, and out-of-hours and women-only clinics are being considered.
The UK has registered 4,378,305 cases and 127,161 deaths.
What else we are reading:
In world first, Denmark ditches AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 shot: Reuters
Thailand’s durian dealers fear for China exports after coronavirus surge: South China Morning Post
Also read: Haryana is prepared for Covid surge with vaccines & beds, no need for lockdown: Minister Vij