New Delhi: The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate countries across the world — the latest count being over 13 crore cases and more than 28 lakh deaths.
Toronto has shut schools again, which opened after the Easter break, in the wake of a surge in cases, while hospitals in the Philippines are struggling to accommodate patients due to the increased numbers.
ThePrint brings you the most important global stories on the coronavirus pandemic to keep you updated.
High cases in Turkey but low severity
Despite skyrocketing numbers of Covid-19 cases in Turkey, there are relatively low numbers of intensive care cases compared to earlier waves of the virus in the country, reported Daily Sabah. The impact of the UK variant is visible, contributing to a roughly 5 per cent daily increase in cases. However, only 70 in every 1,000 people battling the disease are admitted to intensive care, which is a lower figure than during the second wave of the outbreak in 2020.
The report cites experts who also suggest that the two weeks will be critical in discerning whether the pandemic has lost its momentum and whether the situation can be brought under control as Turkey did last year by implementing tight restrictions.
Turkey has so far seen 3,579,185 cases and 32,667 deaths due to the virus.
Also read: Canada suspends use of AstraZeneca Covid vaccine for those under 55 amid blood clot concerns
Toronto is shutting schools again
A day after thousands of children returned to classes after the Easter holiday, schools in Toronto are being shut again as public-health officials said they are being forced to overrule the Ontario government to implement measures needed to slow a rise in Covid-19 infections, The Globe and Mail reported.
Despite growing concerns about the mental health and well-being of children whose schooling has been disrupted, educators and families have called for classrooms to be closed to in-person learning. Schools in Toronto will be closed for at least two weeks, starting today. Toronto Public Health said that “difficult decisions” had to be made to protect the public, said the report.
“On Tuesday, the province reported 3,065 cases of COVID-19, with 69 deaths since Thursday. Hospitalizations continue to grow, with 510 people — the highest number since the beginning of the pandemic …” it wrote.
Canada has seen 1,020,893 cases and 23,141 deaths due to the virus.
Mass vaccination centre to be opened in Sydney
A Covid-19 mass vaccination clinic capable of inoculating tens of thousands of people every week will soon open in Sydney, The Age reported.
Premier of New South Wales Gladys Berejiklian announced that the mass vaccination hub would be located at a new commercial building in Homebush in Sydney and be capable of administering 30,000 doses a week to the general public. A total of 844,196 vaccine doses had been administered in Australia as of 6 April. The Premier said NSW would only move to vaccinate the general public once it had completed its 300,000 vaccinations required under the original plan.
Australia has so far seen 29,377 cases of Covid-19 and 909 deaths.
Covid surge in South-East Asia hammers Philippine hospitals
Filipinos are stocking up on oxygen tanks amid fears the health care system may collapse, as hospitals in the Philippine capital reach capacity from a new surge of coronavirus cases, The Straits Times reported.
The strain on hospitals has even hit one of the country’s ex-presidents.
Former President Joseph Estrada spent the night in an emergency room after being rushed to a Manila hospital with Covid-19 complications since the regular beds were occupied. Unable to accept new patients, some private hospitals are offering home care.
The Philippines has registered 812,760 cases and 13,817 deaths, out of which 646,381 people have recovered from the virus.
Also read: Brazil surpasses India in Covid caseload, is number two among virus-hit nations
Brazil’s daily death toll passes 4,000 in 24 hours
Brazil has recorded more than 4,000 Covid-related deaths in 24 hours for the first time and the total death toll is now almost 337,000, second only to the US, BBC reported.
However, President Jair Bolsonaro continues to oppose any lockdown measures to curb the outbreak. He has argued that the damage to the economy would be worse than the effects of the virus itself, and has tried to reverse some of the restrictions imposed by local authorities in the courts.
Till date, Brazil has recorded more than 13 million cases of coronavirus, according to the health ministry, and 66,570 Covid-19 related deaths in March, which is more than double the previous monthly record.
What else are we reading:
Hong Kong should look at halting AstraZeneca jabs order, vaccine expert says, South China Morning Post
Covid: What’s the problem with the EU vaccine rollout?, BBC