New Delhi: The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate countries across the world — the latest count being over 6.9 crore cases and more than 15 lakh deaths.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the country will start administering coronavirus vaccine to its population on 27 December. In West Texas in the US, there is just one hospital for 12,000 square miles to treat for Covid-19 patients, and 2.8 million Brazilians are jobless.
ThePrint brings you the most important global stories on the coronavirus pandemic and why they matter.
Covid-19 ‘overwhelming’ rural west Texas
In the vast rural expanse of West Texas in the US, there is just one hospital for 12,000 square miles with no heart or lung specialists to treat for Covid-19, reports The New York Times.
There are no county health departments conducting daily testing and only a ‘handful’ of clinics offer testing to those who make an appointment.
“Even as hospitalisations and deaths in Texas near their summer peak, local officials fear that they have little power to intervene beyond the measures that Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, has put in place,” the report said.
The US has recorded 1,58,20,042 cases of Covid-19 and 2,96,698 deaths.
Also read: Over 80 mn people displaced globally till mid-2020, Covid worsened challenges, says UN
2.8 million Brazilians looking for jobs after reduction in aid
In August, Brazil’s work force increased by 2.8 million and now all of these new workers are looking for jobs. This has “coincided with cut in half of the emergency aid and the increasing relaxation of restrictive measures to combat Covid-19”, reports Folha De S. Paulo.
Experts had warned that this cut in benefit would put pressure on the labour market and eventually increase the unemployment rate.
Brazil has recorded 67,30,118 cases of Covid-19 and 1,79,032 deaths.
Also read: China tells cabin crew to wear diapers on flights to high-risk Covid destinations
Israel to start administering Covid vaccines on 27 December
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel will start administering coronavirus vaccine developed by US firm Pfizer to its population from 27 December, reports The Jerusalem Post.
In the report, Netanyahu was quoted as saying that the government aimed to inoculate 60,000 people in a day.
“Every person who is vaccinated will receive a green passport and will be able to move freely, he (Netanyahu) added, though he and Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said the details of the program would be coming soon,” the report notes.
Israel has recorded 3,50,271 cases of Covid-19 and 2,934 deaths.
Healthcare in Kenya’s rural areas under strain
Coronavirus is now spreading to rural areas in Kenya, where healthcare infrastructure is scare. Most ICUs are full and patients seeking treatment are being turned away in the region, reports Reuters.
John Nkengasong, head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, a branch of the African Union bloc, was quoted as saying, “During the holiday season, there will be a tendency for large movement from capital cities to villages, remote areas, for people to connect with families. That might drive the pandemic.”
Kenya has recorded 89,661 cases of Covid-19 and 1,552 deaths. Cases in the country have been on the rise for the past few weeks.
What else we are reading:
Indonesia says not yet able to determine Sinovac vaccine efficacy: South China Morning Post
Canada approves Pfizer vaccine and plans to begin rollout next week as US awaits decision: The Guardian
Also read: Covid scare on cruise ship during trip to nowhere shows perils of resuming tourism