New Delhi: The Covid-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc around the world, with the current count at 40 crore cases and 57 lakh deaths.
New Zealand prepares for a wave of the Omicron variant but Māori experts say the indigenous population has been left uniquely vulnerable, and England’s bus operators ask for an extension on pandemic support fearing worsening labour shortages and more.
ThePrint brings you some important global stories on the coronavirus pandemic.
England’s bus operators seek emergency funding from govt
England’s bus operators fear that almost a third of bus services could come to a halt if the government does not extend emergency funding, reports The Guardian.
Bus services received government support during the pandemic when customers were advised to avoid unnecessary travel, but funding is due to expire on 5 April.
Further, passenger numbers are only about 70 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.
The Confederation of Passenger Transport, which represents the industry, said it expected to have a £350 million “funding gap” next year, amid higher staffing costs due to driver shortages.
The UK has registered 17,932,803 cases and 158,677 deaths.
Also read: Covid will return ‘like the flu’ after Omicron, but won’t be a pandemic: US researcher in Lancet
As Omicron looms, New Zealand’s Māori community left vulnerable
As New Zealand, one of the most vaccinated countries in the world, prepares for a wave of the Omicron variant, Māori experts say the indigenous population has been left uniquely vulnerable, reports Al Jazeera.
Like many countries, New Zealand rolled out vaccination based on age, health status, co-morbidities etc. According to Māori researcher Rawiri Taonui, however, the focus on age failed to consider that Māori people older than 45 but have the same risk profile as an average 70-year-old white person.
Māori comprise only 15.6 per cent of the population but until 13 December, made up half the country’s Delta infections, according to a report from the Waitangi Tribunal, a commission that deals with public claims brought by Māori people.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Chris Hipkins has argued that vaccination rates among Māori have seen a big jump in the last few months with 89 per cent partially vaccinated and 84 per cent fully vaccinated.
New Zealand has registered 18,503 cases and 53 deaths.
South Korea considering allowing Covid patients to vote in upcoming election
South Korea’s parliament is considering allowing Covid patients to cast their ballot in next month’s presidential election amid growing cases brought on by the Omicron variant, reports Reuters.
The country will elect its next president on 9 March. The current regulations restrict infected people from heading to the poll booth after the 4-5 early voting period in keeping with the isolation policy.
However, the election watchdog plans to push for in-person voting for Covid-19 patients after 6pm on 5 March and 9 March.
While the ruling Democratic Party has suggested mail-in voting for patients, the opposition has called for creating dedicated polling stations for them.
On Tuesday, President Moon Jae-in said that there needs to be a measure to ensure all voters can cast their vote.
South Korea has registered 1,131,248 cases and 6,943 deaths.
Also read: Covid isn’t behind us, but the world’s next big health emergency is already here
Olympic athletes criticise China’s strict Covid measures
Many athletes from Western countries have criticised the harsh Covid-19 restrictions they met upon arrival in Beijing for the Winter Olympics, reports CNN.
Foreign competitors have complained against daily Covid tests, long durations of self-isolation after testing positive and bland food served in quarantine.
Some rules have been viewed as an inconvenience, such as wearing plastic gloves when serving their plates at the cafeteria. Meanwhile, some, including Finnish ice hockey head coach Jukka Jalonen, have accused China of “not respecting human rights”.
More than 160 athletes or team officials have tested positive for Covid in Beijing, with several forced to miss their competitions.
Healthy athletes remain inside the “Olympic bubble” that separates them from the rest of the capital.
China has registered 106,634 cases and 4,636 deaths.
What else are we reading:
Covid-19 patients are more likely to develop heart problems – even a year later, study finds: South China Morning Post
Polls Show How Frustrated Americans Are With Covid Restrictions: The New York Times