New Delhi: Covid-19 cases around the world continue to remain high amid ongoing vaccination drives. The current count stands at 18,86,20,082 cases and 40,65,876 deaths.
While respondents from around the world expressed limited enthusiasm for the Tokyo Olympics occurring during the pandemic, protests broke out in Iraq over the deaths of 92 people after a fire in a Covid isolation ward, and the Netherlands struggles with surging cases and lockdown policies.
Ipsos poll shows limited appetite for Tokyo Olympics in 28 countries
Just 22% of people in Japan think that the upcoming Tokyo Olympics should go ahead amid the Covid pandemic, according to findings from a new poll conducted by Ipsos Global Advisor.
The poll was conducted in 28 countries, including the United States, France, Germany, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and India. On average, just 43 per cent of respondents from all 28 countries polled believe that the Olympics should go ahead, including 54 per cent of Indians.
Similarly, only 32% of Japanese respondents are either somewhat interested or very interested in the Olympics. The global average of interest in the Olympics stands at just 46 per cent while 70 per cent of Indian respondents expressed interest.
Japan has recorded 8,22,280 Covid cases and 14,959 deaths so far.
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Protests in Iraq as 92 die in fire in Covid isolation ward
A fire broke out in a Covid isolation ward in a hospital in Nasiriya, Iraq, killing 92 people and injuring over a hundred others, leading to protests by the victims’ families, the BBC reported.
According to media reports, the authorities have issued arrest warrants against 13 people in connection with the fire.
Iraq Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi convened an emergency meeting and ordered for the arrest of the hospital’s head, as well as the city’s health director and civil defense chief.
The country’s president Barham Salih said in a tweet that the fire occurred due to “persistent corruption and mismanagement that undervalues the lives of Iraqis”.
Iraq has reported 14,47,557 Covid cases and 17,630 deaths.
Bangladesh to lift lockdown for Eid despite surge in cases
Amid a rise in Covid cases to record levels in Bangladesh, the government announced Tuesday that all restrictions would be lifted on Thursday ahead of the Eid holiday, Al Jazeera reported.
Bangladesh had put in place a stringent nationwide lockdown at the start of July as Covid cases surged. Despite the lockdown, however, infections have continued to rise with the country reporting a record high of 14,000 daily new cases Monday.
As part of the easing of lockdown restrictions, public transport will operate at limited capacity while retail stores and malls will be allowed to open while following Covid guidelines.
Bangladesh has recorded 10,47,155 Covid cases and 16,842 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.
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Covid cases skyrocket in Netherlands after lifting of restrictions
Covid cases have risen by 500 per cent in the Netherlands in the past seven days following the complete lifting of lockdown restrictions and reopening of nightclubs, the Associated Press reported.
52,000 people tested positive according to the country’s weekly update, in an outbreak fuelled by the highly contagious Delta variant.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte publicly apologised for his government’s relaxation of the restrictions, stating that the policy was an “error of judgment”. Rutte has since attempted to reintroduce curbs, including the imposition of a night curfew on bars, and closing nightclubs until 13 August.
The Netherlands has reported 17,44,700 Covid cases and 17,769 deaths.
What else we are reading
Countries signal doubts about Delta protection from Chinese vaccine: The Wall Street Journal
Battle for oxygen as coup-hit Myanmar faces its most severe Covid outbreak: The Guardian
Also read: Many countries have failed the solidarity test in Covid fight, study finds