New Delhi: The coronavirus pandemic is far from over. The deadly virus has claimed over 31 lakh lives globally, so far and more than 14 crore cases have been reported.
Fiji is alarmed after it detected an Indian coronavirus variant in the Pacific nation, while a test rock concert conducted in Spain in late March showed “no sign” of causing contagion.
ThePrint brings you some stories from around the world on the pandemic to keep you updated.
Fears of Covid-19 ‘tsunami’ in Fiji after Indian variant found
Fiji is bracing for a Covid ‘tsunami’ after the purportedly more virulent Indian strain was found in the Pacific nation. Lockdowns have been announced in the country in an attempt to stem the outbreak, reports The Guardian.
This, after the country successfully avoided community transmissions for over a year, and has kept the outbreak of the pandemic largely in check till now.
“We cannot let that nightmare happen in Fiji,” said permanent secretary for health and medical services, James Fong in a televised address. The nightmare he was referring to was the devastating second wave that has engulfed India.
Fiji has reported 109 coronavirus cases and 2 deaths so far.
Also read: ‘Double mutant, triple mutant, Bengal lineage’ — Covid variants driving India surge decoded
Mexico thanks Cuba for Covid-19 support
Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador thanked his Cuban counterpart Miguel Diaz-Canel for sending 1,000 health workers to help the country battle Covid-19, reports Al Jazeera.
Diaz-Canel had assumed charge as first secretary of Cuba’s communist party only last week replacing Raul Castro who had stepped down.
Cuba is the only Latin American country which is on the path to introduce its own homegrown Covid-19 vaccine. For decades, Cuba has had the tradition of sending doctors and healthcare staff to neighbouring Latin America as well as countries around the world to help bolster health systems and respond to natural disasters. In 2020, it had sent a team of healthcare workers to assist Italy too.
Despite sharing a good relationship, Mexico had never accepted Cuban help partly to avoid diplomatic friction with big brother neighbour, the United States.
However, Mexico is one of the hardest hit countries due to the pandemic and has reported the third highest number of deaths in the world.
Mexico has reported 23,33,126 coronavirus cases and 2,15,547 deaths so far.
US announces some travel relaxations
The United States has eased travel bans on certain groups such as students, academics and journalists from various countries including China, reports South China Morning Post.
Students, academics and journalists covered by exchange visitor programmes and travellers from countries such as Brazil, China and South Africa who “provide vital support for critical infrastructure” will now qualify for a “national interest exception”.
This move comes one year after the US ban on the entry of travellers who had been to mainland China 14 days before their arrival into the USA.
The United States has reported 32,927,091 coronavirus cases and 587,384 deaths so far.
Huge rock concert in Spain shows no signs of contagion
According to Spanish officials, a huge rock concert in Barcelona attended by 5,000 people didn’t cause an outbreak of coronavirus in the city, reports Euro News.
People were allowed to enter the concert by rock band ‘Love of Lesbian’ on 27 March only after taking a rapid antigen test.
Two weeks after the concert only six positive cases were confirmed among the attendees. Organisers were confident that four of the six cases were not transmitted during the concert.
Spain has reported 3,496,134 coronavirus cases and 77,855 deaths so far.
What else we’re reading:
How Europe Sealed a Pfizer Vaccine Deal With Texts and Calls: The New York Times
Children may be at risk from long Covid symptoms, study finds: The Guardian
Also read: This is how nations are gearing up to revive global travel, powered by vaccines