New Delhi: The Covid-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc in the world, with the latest count being more than 14,35,64,910 cases and 30,57,788 deaths.
We highlight some of the important stories from around the world.
Greece has linked its vaccination drive to the ownership of a social security number resulting in immigrants getting left out of the inoculation process. Mass rollout of Covid-19 breathalysers, which would produce a result on the spot, is expected to happen in Singapore soon.
Immigrants in Greece can’t book vaccines
Greece has linked its vaccination drive to the ownership of a social security (AMKA) number. This has resulted in many immigrants, who are ‘desperate’ to get the vaccine, being unable to get it since they don’t have the number, reports The Guardian.
“An attempt by the Greek government to resolve the oversight-passing legislation this month that allows foreigners to obtain temporary AMKA registration — has failed to address the problem,” the report said.
Greece has recorded 3,20,629 cases of Covid-19 and 9,627 deaths.
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Singapore could use breathalyzer tests on a large scale soon
Mass rollout of Covid-19 breathalysers, which would produce a result on the spot, is expected to happen in Singapore soon, reports The Straits Times. This move aims to work towards safe travel arrangements and large scale screening events.
Local medtech firm Silver Factor Technology is working with the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore’s Changi Airport and security firm Certis to create the breathalysers.
“Silver Factory’s breathalyser, TracieX, has been shown to be almost as accurate as PCR tests, while taking a fraction of the time — at two minutes — to turn in results,” said the report.
Singapore has recorded 60,865 cases of Covid-19 and 30 deaths.
UAE plans movement restrictions on those not vaccinated yet
The UAE is considering imposing movement restriction on those residents who have been hesitant to vaccinate themselves against Covid-19, reports Arab News.
Abu Dhabi had earlier approved the use of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and then Pfizer obtained emergency approval in December. So far, 97,88,826 individuals have been vaccinated in UAE.
Dr Saif Al-Dhaheri, spokesman for the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, said, “The vaccine is our best means to recover and return to a normal life… Delaying or refraining from taking the vaccine poses a threat to the safety of society and puts all groups, especially those vulnerable to infection, at risk.”
UAE has recorded 5,00,860 cases of Covid-19 and 1,559 deaths.
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Part of Japan sliding back into state of emergency ahead of Olympics
A recent increase in Covid-19 cases could result in major cities in Japan sliding back into a state of emergency. Authorities in Tokyo and Osaka are looking at certain curbs to contain the spread, reports Reuters.
“The new wave of infections complicates preparations for the Tokyo Olympic Games, which are due to start in July having already been postponed due to the global coronavirus outbreak last year,” said the report.
This month, Japan put Osaka and Tokyo under ‘quasi-states of emergency’ wherein shorter business hours were introduced for restaurants and bars.
Japan has recorded 5,37,317 cases of Covid-19 and 9,671 deaths.
What else we are reading:
Yemen launches first round of Covid-19 vaccination campaign: Arab News
France is first EU member state to start testing digital Covid travel certificate: The Guardian
Also read: PM Modi’s speech was short – on answers that Indians demand of him during second Covid wave