New Delhi: The Covid-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc in the world. The latest count being more than 14,78,03,604 cases and 31,22,720 deaths.
We highlight some of the important stories from around the world. As a new wave of coronavirus infections is gripping the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration is playing it ‘down’ rather than addressing the growing crisis. Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi Sunday announced a three-month extension of the nationwide state emergency which has been in place since April 2017.
Filipinos ‘wait in vain’ for a reliable Covid-19 response
As a new wave of coronavirus infections is gripping the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration is playing it ‘down’ rather than addressing the growing crisis, reports Asia Times.
This sudden rise in infections was recorded post 12 April when the government decided to relax containment measures in major cities. After this move, the daily active cases crossed 2,00,000.
“The Philippines’ healthcare system, meanwhile, is under siege,” said the report. Data has revealed that the number of ICUs being utilised is now at 80 per cent.
The Philippines has recorded 9,97,523 cases of Covid-19 and 16,783 deaths.
Also read: Indian coronavirus variant – what is it and what effect will it have?
Egypt extends state of emergency for 3 months
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Sunday announced a three-month extension of the nationwide state of emergency which has been in place since April 2017.
This came in light of the “serious security and health conditions” the country is witnessing, reports Al Jazeera.
“The reported rise of cases in the governorate (of Sohag), nearly 400 km south of the capital Cairo, has raised concern about a third wave of Covid-19 infections in Egypt, where most restrictions on movement and other precautions were lifted after the first wave last summer,” said the report.
Egypt has recorded 2,22,523 cases of Covid-19 and 13,049 deaths.
Covid-19 wards in Michigan filling up with younger patients
Michigan, which is experiencing the ‘most dangerous outbreak’ in the United States, is seeing a higher number of younger people being admitted to hospitals with coronavirus than at any other time during the pandemic, reports The New York Times.
According to the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, hospitals are admitting over twice as many Covid-19 patients in their 30s and 40s in comparison to the peak in cases during the fall season.
“The shifting demographics come as a majority of Michigan residents age 65 or older have been fully vaccinated, greatly reducing the risk to the most vulnerable and leading to fewer hospitalisations among the oldest age group,” said the report.
The US has recorded 3,28,24,389 cases of Covid-19 and 5,86,152 deaths.
Also read: Study claiming smoking prevents Covid taken down, researchers linked with tobacco industry
82 die in blast & fire at Iraq’s Covid-19 hospital
On Sunday, at least 82 people died and 110 were injured in a fire that was caused owing to an oxygen tank explosion at a Covid-19 hospital in Baghdad.
Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi said that there was ‘evidence of negligence’ and Health Minister Hassan Al-Tamimi has been suspended amid pending investigation, reports Arab News.
“Many of the victims were on respirators and were suffocated or burned in the smoke and flames when the blaze began with an explosion caused by a ‘fault in the storage of oxygen cylinders,” said the report.
Iraq has reported 10,31,322 cases of Covid-19 and 15,257 deaths.
What else we are reading:
In Limbo, Brazilians ask Itamaraty for help in order to study in the USA: Folha De S Paulo
1 billion Covid jabs given globally — but over half in just 3 countries: Al Jazeera
Also read: ‘Double mutant, triple mutant, Bengal lineage’ — Covid variants driving India surge decoded