New Delhi: The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate countries across the world — the latest count being over 5.4 crore cases and more than 13 lakh deaths.
The virus was detected on frozen food in China, Austria is planning to mass test its population, and new labs will more than double UK’s testing capacity in 2021.
ThePrint brings you the most important global stories on the coronavirus pandemic and why they matter.
Covid detected on imported frozen food in China
The novel coronavirus has been detected on imported frozen food and packaging across cities in China, reports South China Morning Post.
The last few cases were reported in Jinan and in Sishui county in Shandong province in east China.
According to Jinan’s health commission, more than 7,500 people who might have had contact with contaminated products and other related personnel had tested negative for Covid-19 Sunday.
“With the world engulfed in a second wave of infections, China, the world’s top buyer of frozen beef and shrimp, has ramped up testing of frozen food,” says the report.
China has recorded 86,346 cases of Covid-19 and 4,634 deaths so far.
Gaza’s designated Covid hospital at full capacity
The Palestinian enclave in the Gaza Strip is witnessing a massive surge in Covid-19 cases, which has caused concerns regarding the inadequate health infrastructure in the region, reports Jerusalem Post.
Yousuf Alaqqad, head of the European Gaza Hospital, which is the designated hospital for moderate and severe cases of coronavirus, was quoted as saying that at any moment, the hospital could announce its inability to admit more coronavirus cases, because both the hospital and a school being used as a quarantine centre are at full capacity.
“The situation is very complicated and the hospital is completely full, while the school adjacent to the hospital has 150 infected people and has room for about 25 new cases only,” he said.
On Sunday, Gaza’s health ministry reported a record high of 406 new cases.
Also read: Boris Johnson self-isolates after contact tests Covid positive, dealing blow to reset hopes
Austria plans ‘mass tests’ for Covid
Austria’s Chancellor Sebastian Kurz Sunday said that the country is planning “mass testing” for Covid-19, reports Agence France-Presse.
The announcement comes a day after Kurz announced Austria was toughening its anti-coronavirus restrictions, shutting schools and shops from 17 November to 6 December to contain the rising number of infections
“We want to deploy mass tests at the end of the lockdown in order to enable a safe re-opening in schools and other areas,” Kurz was quoted as saying by AFP.
Austria has recorded 2,03,956 cases of Covid-19 and 1,829 deaths so far.
Also read: Johnson & Johnson unit to start phase 3 clinical trials of Covid vaccine in UK
Singapore forms committee for Covid vaccination strategy
Singapore’s Ministry of Health has appointed a 14-member committee to make recommendations to the government on its Covid-19 vaccination strategy, reports The Straits Times.
“The committee is chaired by Associate Professor Benjamin Ong, senior adviser to the director of medical services. He is also senior vice-president (health education and resources) at the National University of Singapore (NUS),” notes the report.
Other members of the committee include experts in infectious diseases, immunology and other relevant fields.
Singapore has recorded 58,119 cases of Covid-19 and 28 deaths.
New labs to more than double UK’s testing capacity in 2021
Covid testing capacity in the UK is to be more than doubled, with major new laboratories to open in 2021, reports The Guardian.
The ‘mega laboratories’ are expected to employ up to 4,000 people. The number of PCR tests would also be ramped up to at least 6,00,000 per day, according to the report.
“The labs are due to be up and running in the first months of next year, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said last night. There was no detail on costs or who will manage them,” notes Guardian.
UK has recorded 13,69,318 cases of Covid-19 and 51,934 deaths till date.
Also read: Joe Biden’s Covid advisers say national lockdown not on agenda, will be US’ last resort
Saudi Arabia administered 5 million flu vaccines in 2020
Saudi Arabia’s Health Minister Dr Tawfiq Al-Rabiah revealed that 1 million flu vaccines were administered in 2016 but the number increased to more than 5 million vaccines in 2020, reports Arab News.
Health Ministry spokesperson Dr Mohammed Al-Abd Al-Aly also revealed that the recent spike in Covid cases in Madinah was due to large gatherings not adhering to coronavirus guidelines.
On Sunday, the Kingdom recorded 305 cases, the lowest number of new Covid infections since April.
Saudi Arabia has recorded 3,53,255 cases of Covid-19 and 5,657 deaths so far.
What else we are reading:
Gold dazzles during the pandemic: Mail and Guardian
Gilgit-Balitstan region goes to the polls amid tight security, coronavirus fears: Arab News
Also read: Coronavirus changed the UK’s TV viewing habit for good — new study