Covid-19 pandemic — South Africa’s banks ‘resilient’, Malaysia worried over cases in schools

As the Covid-19 pandemic shows no signs of letting up, ThePrint highlights the most important stories on the crisis from across the globe.

Health workers register patients at a Covid-19 testing station in the Richmond suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa, on 10 February 2021 | Photo: Waldo Swiegers | Bloomberg

New Delhi: The Covid-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc in the world. The latest count being more than 12 crore cases and over 27 lakh deaths.

In the last week, at least 15,788 people in Brazil have succumbed to Covid-19 — the ‘worst week’ since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Despite having recorded a drop in earnings in 2020, South Africa’s largest banks have successfully been able to avoid a ‘total meltdown’, and after less than a month of schools reopening in Malaysia, Covid-19 cases among students and teachers have led to concerns among parents. ThePrint highlights some of the important stories from around the world.

Brazil records more than 15,000 deaths in ‘worst week’ of pandemic 

In the last week, at least 15,788 people in Brazil have succumbed to Covid-19. This is the ‘worst week’ since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, reports Folha De S. Paulo. 

In the last 24 hours, 1,259 deaths have been recorded. 

So far, 1,59,66,084 people have been vaccinated against the virus in the country. “This means only 7.34 per cent of Brazilians over the age of 18 took the first dose and only 2.5 per cent, the second,” the report added. 

Brazil has recorded 1,20,51,619 cases of Covid-19 and 2,95,685 deaths so far.

South Africa’s biggest banks ‘resilient’ amid pandemic 

A drop in earnings during 2020 have not wiped out South Africa’s largest banks – they have successfully avoided a ‘total meltdown’, reports Mail and Guardian. 

In a Financial Stability review, the South African Reserve Bank noted that the country’s biggest banks “hold sufficient capital buffers to withstand a macroeconomic shock of unprecedented severity.” 

The report said that the country’s banking sector was ‘resilient’ and this has composed fears that the economy couldn’t withstand shocks caused by Covid-19. 

South Africa has reported 15,38,451 cases of Covid-19 and 52,196 deaths. 

Parents in Malaysia ‘anxious’ over Covid cases in reopened schools

After less than a month of schools reopening in Malaysia, Covid-19 cases among students and teachers have led to fear and concern among parents. This has also led opposition parties to question the government’s coronavirus response, reports The Straits Times.

“Some parents have voiced concerns online over whether they should continue to send their children to school amid a lack of clarity over safety measures if cases occur,” the report said.

While the number of daily cases have decreased since January, they have been alternating between 1,000 to 2,000 since 6 March. The report noted that there had been pressure to reopen schools among low-income families because parents had started working again after the opening up of the economy.

Malaysia has recorded 3,34,156 cases of Covid-19 and 1,238 deaths. 

Turkey reports 22,000 new cases of Covid 

According to Turkey’s Health Ministry data on Monday, the country recorded more than 22,000 new coronavirus cases, reports The Daily Sabah.

“Since Turkey began a mass Covid-19 vaccination campaign on 14 January, it has administered over 13.48 million coronavirus vaccine jabs, according to official figures,” said the report.

So far, 2.8 million people in the country have recovered from the virus. More than 36.55 million Covid tests have been done in the country till date. 

Turkey has recorded 30,35,338 cases of Covid-19 and 30,178 deaths.

What else we are reading: 

Dexamethasone hailed as lifesaver for up to a million Covid patients worldwide: The Guardian 

‘Grotesque’: Producers urged to overcome vaccine inequity: Al Jazeera