New Delhi: The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate countries across the world — the latest count being over 8.7 crore cases and more than 18 lakh deaths.
At least a million at-risk Chinese received their first shot of the indigenously-developed Covid-19 vaccine on 15 December. However, feedback from people chosen for the pilot scheme appeared ‘less than ideal’.
Men have died of the novel coronavirus in larger numbers than women, which has left thousands of spouses alone and lonely. Some of these spouses in the US have formed ‘bereavement groups’ on Facebook.
In the beginning of 2020, Palestine’s GDP was projected to grow by 2.4 per cent. However, this expectation wasn’t met owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and Palestine’s decision to not accept tax revenues from Israel.
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China keeps people ‘in dark’ about vaccine shot
On 15 December, at least a million at-risk Chinese received their first shot of the indigenously-developed Covid-19 vaccine. However, feedback from people chosen for the pilot scheme appeared ‘less than ideal’, reports Asia Times.
“As seen on forums and WeChat groups popular among medical workers and immigration officers and through Asia Times’ interviews of airport workers in Shanghai, major complaints centre around the elusive manner in which these drugs are produced and administered,” said the report.
People selected for the pilot scheme revealed that they weren’t informed of the type of vaccine they were inoculated with. Neither was the producer of the vaccine’s name shared.
China has recorded 87,071 cases of Covid-19 and 4,634 deaths.
Also read: Tibet back as fulcrum of new Cold War as US-China tension grows
Covid-19 widows bond over sudden loss
Men have died of the coronavirus in larger numbers than women, which has left thousands of spouses alone and lonely. Some of these spouses in the United States have sought to ‘bereavement groups’ on Facebook, reports The New York Times.
“Women have witnessed the pandemic from a miserably close angle. They have been left behind with family responsibilities, financial burdens, worries about their children’s trauma and their own crushing loss and guilt,” said the report.
Widowed women revealed that they felt ‘stunned’ by the suddenness of the loss, even after months of their husbands dying.
US has recorded 2,04,45,654 cases of Covid-19 and 3,54,215 deaths.
Pandemic-induced financial losses worsen Palestine’s woes
In the beginning of 2020, Palestine’s GDP was projected to grow by 2.4 per cent. However, this expectation wasn’t met owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and Palestine’s decision to not accept tax revenues from Israel, reports Arab News.
The Minister of National Economy, Khaled Al-Osaily, said the financial losses were estimated to be about $3 billion.
“According to the World Bank report, more than 1,21,000 workers had lost their jobs. Palestinian estimates indicate that 3,00,000 workers have now lost their jobs, either totally or partially, and that the reality in Gaza is even bleaker,” said the report.
Palestine has recorded 1,38,004 cases of Covid-19 and 1,400 deaths.
Hospitals in Canada’s hotspots warn of a dire situation
Hospitalisations due to Covid-19 are increasing in several provinces of Canada. According to a report by The Globe and Mail, there were more patients in intensive care units this week than at any other time of the pandemic.
Anthony Dale, president and chief executive officer of the Ontario Hospital Association, said, “It seems like every day we reach a new kind of threshold that maybe a few months ago we thought was impossible.”
Canada has recorded 5,81,395 cases of Covid-19 and 15,606 deaths.
London hospitals prepare for Covid-only care as cases surge
One of the biggest hospitals in London has warned that it was ‘on track’ to become a Covid-only hospital as cases are increasing in the city, reports The Guardian.
“Every hospital in London was facing the same demands on beds and staff, and University College hospital was taking admissions from other hospitals that were less well able to cope,” the report said.
UK has recorded 24,88,780 cases of Covid-19 and 73,512 deaths.
What else we are reading:
Indonesia to get raw materials to produce 15m doses of vaccine from Chinese firm Sinovac: The Straits Times
Travellers endure long queues to return to Victoria before border with NSW shuts: The Guardian
Also read: Politicians need to think like philosophers if they want to beat Covid