New Delhi: Covid-19 cases around the world continue to remain high amid ongoing vaccination drives. The current count stands at 19,12,30,672 cases and 41,05,847 deaths.
While two of Australia’s provinces faced setbacks in their return to normalcy due to new cases, the United Kingdom has officially lifted all Covid lockdown rules and Thailand faced widespread protests over its handling of the pandemic.
UK lifts all Covid restrictions but PM Boris Johnson self-isolates
The United Kingdom government has officially lifted all Covid-related restrictions as part of a nationwide “unlocking”, branded as the UK’s ‘Freedom Day’, at midnight of 19 July, the Evening Standard reported.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak though will not take part in the public “unlocking” yet as they are self-isolating after being in close contact with an individual who tested positive. Health Secretary Sajid Javid had previously tested Covid positive Saturday night.
However, due to the Delta variant spreading in the UK, 1,200 scientists have expressed their concerns in a letter to The Lancet that ‘Freedom Day’ will lead to a massive surge in cases around the world, and give rise to more vaccine-resistant strains.
The UK has recorded 54,33,939 total Covid cases and 1,28,708 deaths.
Lockdown extended in Australia’s Victoria amid outbreaks
Two of Australia’s provinces faced setbacks in their return to normalcy as Victoria extended its lockdown and South Australia reintroduced level-four Covid restrictions, due to an increase in cases, Nine Network reports.
Sixteen new Covid cases were reported in Victoria Sunday and Monday, while three were recorded in South Australia on Sunday.
As part of South Australia’s level-four restrictions, only outdoor restaurants are allowed to operate while a maximum of 10 people are allowed at private events. The outbreaks in Melbourne, Victoria are linked to the Delta variant.
Australia has reported 32,015 cases and 914 deaths overall.
Also read: Covid pandemic — Netherlands cases rise by over 500%, global interest in Tokyo Olympics muted
Thailand police attempt to disperse protests against govt’s Covid response
Police in Thailand deployed tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets on protesters marching to the office of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha to demand his resignation over his government’s Covid response on Sunday, Reuters reported.
Sunday marked Thailand’s highest ever surge in daily new Covid cases, at 11,397 cases and 101 deaths, while the government has relied primarily on two vaccines — China’s Sinovac and locally produced AstraZeneca since June.
The Thai government has continued to impose lockdown measures on the areas hardest hit by Covid, with the latest being the setting up of checkpoints to curb travel and the imposition of a 9 pm-4 am curfew in 13 provinces.
Thailand has recorded 4,15,170 Covid cases and 3,422 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
South Korea anti-piracy warship suffers massive Covid outbreak, govt plans airlift
South Korea is set to organise a mass-airlift of 247 crewmembers aboard the 301-member Cheonghae warship unit, due to a coronavirus outbreak on Monday, Al Jazeera reported.
The outbreak occurred while the unit was part of anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and Straits of Hormuz. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) termed it as the worst ever outbreak in the South Korean military.
None of the affected crewmembers had been vaccinated prior to departing for the anti-piracy mission, the country’s defence ministry said.
South Korea has reported 1,79,203 Covid cases and 2,058 deaths in total.
What else we are reading
Niger is the land that Covid-19 forgot: The Wall Street Journal
The pandemic has a new epicenter: Indonesia: The New York Times
(Edited by Paramita Ghosh)
Also read: Covid pandemic — Indonesia reels under oxygen crisis, UK braces for surge after 19 July unlock