New Delhi: The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate countries across the world — the latest count being over 6.7 crore cases and more than 15 lakh deaths.
Ethiopia’s one-month long war in northern Tigray region has severely affected efforts to battle the coronavirus pandemic in the region. Batches of the Covid vaccine have started to arrive in UK hospitals, and newly-appointed Japanese prime minister’s approval rating falls significantly amid a Covid surge.
ThePrint brings you the most important global stories on the coronavirus pandemic and why they matter.
Conflict in Ethiopia ‘stokes’ humanitarian crisis and viral outbreak
Ethiopia’s one-month long war in the northern Tigray region between regional and federal forces has severely affected efforts to battle the coronavirus pandemic in the region. The conflict has displaced 1 million people and has strained humanitarian services to a “breaking point”, reports Associated Press.
More than 45,000 refugees from the Tigray region are now seeking shelter in Sudan where they have no access to treatment or testing for coronavirus.
“Many staying in the camps are forced to share shelters and crowd together in lines for food, cash and registration with different aid agencies. There are few face masks to be seen —or available for distribution,” notes the report.
Ethiopia has recorded 1,13,295 cases of Covid-19 and 1,747 deaths so far.
Also read: South Korea imposes stricter social distancing measures as cases hit 9-month high
Chinese exports increased by 21% in November
In November, China’s exports increased at the fastest pace ever in almost three years. Exports increased by 21.1 per cent in November in comparison to 2019, reports South China Morning Post.
“This was the sixth consecutive month of export growth, with China’s factories continuing to capitalise on coronavirus lockdowns in the West,” notes the report.
This increase in exports has been attributed to China sending electronic goods and medical equipment around the world over the course of this pandemic.
China has recorded 86,634 cases of Covid-19 and 4,634 deaths, so far.
Iran may not have access to Covid vaccine for 2 years, says Health Commission member
Sameh Bakhtabadi, member of the Iranian Health Commission, said that the coronavirus vaccine will not be distributed in the country for at least two years, reports The Jerusalem Post.
Bakhtabadi told the state-run Iran Students News Agency that the “people of Iran should know there is no coronavirus vaccine available for them at the moment”.
However, his comments are in stark contrast to Health Minister Saeed Namakis’ remarks, who said that Iran will be securing 18 million vaccine doses from European nations.
Iran has recorded 10,40,547 cases of Covid-19 and 50,310 deaths.
Also read: Covid pandemic could lead to 1 billion living in extreme poverty by 2030, says UN study
Approval rating of Japan PM’s Cabinet falls over rising Covid infections
The approval rate for Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s Cabinet fell significantly to 50.3 per cent from 63 per cent last month, reports The Japan Times.
“It was the first time since June 2017 that the support rate for a Cabinet had dropped more than 10 points. The administration then was headed by Suga’s predecessor, Shinzo Abe,” the report notes.
“The disapproval rate rose to 32.8% from 19.2%, according to the two-day telephone survey conducted over the weekend,” it adds.
The rise in disapproval is due to the fresh surge in coronavirus infections as well as government’s struggles to rejuvenate the economy.
Japan has recorded 1,60,098 cases of Covid-19 and 2,315 deaths.
First batch of Covid vaccine arrives in UK hospitals
Batches of the Covid vaccine have started to arrive in UK hospitals and are being readied for the ‘first jabs’ starting Tuesday, reports The Guardian.
The UK approved US firm Pfizer’s vaccine, which showed 95 per cent efficacy in trials, on 2 December, becoming the first Western country to do so.
However, experts have warned that the Covid vaccine doesn’t mark the end of the pandemic. Professor Stephen Powis, National Medical Director in UK’s National Heath Service, was quoted as saying, “It will take many months for us to vaccine everybody who needs vaccination.”
UK has recorded 17,23,242 cases of Covid-19 and 61,245 deaths till date.
Also read: Willing to get inoculated but won’t make Covid vaccine mandatory, says President-elect Biden
Victoria’s expensive schools propose chartered planes to retrieve foreign students
Australian state Victoria’s most expensive schools are proposing to bring students from other countries on chartered flights to begin school and revive the education market, reports The Age.
Due to the coronavirus-induced lockdowns, several students had been forced to choose between staying in Australia indefinitely or returning to their home country for remote classes.
“Victoria has more international school students than any other state or territory, with more than 9500 enrolled in 2018, primarily from China, Vietnam and Cambodia,” says the report.
Australia has recorded 27,972 cases of Covid-19 and 908 deaths.
What else we are reading:
One in three ‘unlikely to take Covid vaccine’: The Guardian
Five imported cases of Covid-19, including woman who came to Singapore for her wedding: The Straits Times
Also read: Are Covid vaccines halal? Malaysia tries to find middle ground