New Delhi: The coronavirus pandemic is far from over. The deadly virus has infected 15.6 crore people worldwide and claimed over 32 lakh lives.
Japan plans to extend a Covid-19 state emergency in Tokyo to contain cases ahead of the Olympics, American TV show Sesame Street has launched a vaccine ad campaign, and more.
ThePrint brings you some stories from around the world on the pandemic to keep you updated.
Olympics nears, Japan to extend emergency in Tokyo
Japan is set to extend a Covid-19 state of emergency in Tokyo and three other areas until the end of May to contain a surge in cases less than 80 days before the start of the Olympics, reports The Guardian.
The government admitted Friday that initial measures scheduled to end on 11 May had failed to check a concerning rise in infections.
Economy minister Yasutoshi Nishimura has said Osaka, the centre of Japan’s current Covid-19 wave that has run out of hospital beds for patients with serious symptoms, is in “quite a dangerous situation”.
Though cases have fallen in Tokyo in recent days, it has been reported that the decline is due to fewer tests being conducted during the Golden Week holidays, which concluded Wednesday.
Japan has reported 6,16,123 cases and 10,517 deaths.
Also read: Why lakhs of merchant navy sailors are stuck at sea because of India’s virus surge
American TV show Sesame Street looks to sunny days with vaccine ad campaign
Cast members of Sesame Street, the popular and highly acclaimed American preschool educational television programme, explain why adults are getting vaccinated, in a new public service campaign, reports The New York Times.
“Our children and families want us to be healthy,” says Louie, the father of popular muppet character, Elmo, in one video. “That’s why I and lots of other grown-ups got the Covid-19 vaccine, so we can stay healthy and get back to the moments we miss, like seeing our friends and family.”
The ads are part of a promotional effort to combat vaccine skepticism. It is backed by the Ad Council, a nonprofit advertising group, and a coalition of experts known as the Covid Collaborative.
The US has reported 3,33,69,192 cases and 594,006 deaths.
Germany now offers AstraZeneca shot to all
Germany will permit AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine to be administered to adults of all ages, reversing an earlier decision to restrict people aged more than 60 years from getting the shot, reports Al Jazeera.
The country also aims to offer the vaccines to 12-18-year-olds by the end of August. “Both these measures serve further to accelerate our vaccination campaign overall,” Health Minister Jens Spahn said Thursday.
Millions of doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been safely administered in Europe, but there were concerns over a rare type of blood clot found a few cases. In March, several countries stopped administering AstraZeneca or restricted them to older adults but many have resumed using it after health regulators said the benefits outweigh the risks of the shot.
Germany has reported 34,86,462 cases and 84,811 deaths.
Also read: How Wall Street giants are being hit by India’s brutal Covid wave
Australian to lift travel ban on citizens returning from India
Australia will lift a travel ban on its citizens returning from India next week, reports Reuters. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison made the announcement Friday as state officials reported that an outbreak in Sydney appeared to be contained.
Last week, the Morrison-led administration imposed a biosecurity order barring all travel to and from India. It included a five-year jail term and hefty fines for violations of the ban. The ban drew criticism from lawmakers, expatriates and the Indian diaspora.
“The order that we have put in place has been highly effective, it’s doing the job that we needed it to do, and that was to ensure that we could do everything we can to prevent a third wave of Covid-19 here in Australia,” Morrison said Friday.
Australia has reported 29,893 cases and 910 deaths.
What else are we reading:
Covid-19 vaccines: Why some African states have leftover doses: BBC News
‘We’re Vaccinated’: As COVID Recedes, Tel Aviv Makes Push to Bring Back Tourists: Haaretz
Also read: 59% Americans support waiving patents for Covid vaccines and life-saving drugs, survey shows