New Delhi: The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate countries across the world — the latest count being over 60 crore cases and more than 14 lakh deaths.
France has announced easing of its lockdown restrictions, while Hong Kong has closed bars and dance rooms after cases were traced to dance clubs. In Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, recoveries have outpaced the number of coronavirus cases.
ThePrint brings you the most important global stories on the coronavirus pandemic and why they matter.
South Korean delivery workers in ‘legal blind spot’ amid Covid boom
Delivery workers in South Korea said that they have fallen into what they call a “legal blind spot” — increase in work load due to an unprecedented boom in online business that is driven by the pandemic, reports Reuters.
Jeong Sang-rok, a 51-year-old contract worker in South Korea, has been quoted as saying, “Work-life balance? That’s another world.”
The country has 54,000 delivery workers who were hired through subcontracts that deny them the benefits otherwise enjoyed by regular employees.
“Workers and union officials say legal loopholes leave them exposed to pressure to put in unsustainable hours — conditions, they say, that have contributed to deaths,” the report said.
South Korea has recorded 31,735 cases of Covid-19 and 513 deaths, so far.
Also read: India ranks 34th in global Covid resilience survey, placed below Pakistan and Bangladesh
French President announces a ‘three-step end’ of lockdown
President Emmanuel Macron has announced a ‘three-step end’ to lockdown and said restrictions would be lifted completely if health targets are met by 15 December, reports The Connexion.
Macron said, “The peak of the second wave of the epidemic has passed…Our efforts, your efforts have paid off.”
“In the 24 hours between Sunday and Monday, there were 4,452 recorded cases. At the beginning, the target was set at 5,000 cases per day for new measures to be brought in,” the report said.
France has recorded 21,53,815 cases of Covid-19 and 50,237 deaths, so far.
Study of Coronavac vaccine reaches late-stage trial in Brazil
The Phase III study of Coronavac, a Covid-19 vaccine produced by Chinese company Sinovac, has gathered minimum required infection data needed to get its effectiveness analysed in Brazil, reports Folha De S. Paulo. China-made Sinovac has been brought to Brazil after a partnership between the two governments.
“If approved within the express deadline expected by the health emergency, in January there will be 46 million doses purchased from China and ready to be applied,” the report said.
Brazil has recorded 61,21,449 cases of Covid-19 and 1,70,179 deaths till date.
Hong Kong shuts bars, clubhouses as cases spike
Bars, party rooms and clubhouses will remain shut in Hong Kong starting Thursday. The decision was taken after 187 new coronavirus cases were recorded in the region, of which 21 were traced to dance clubs, reports Asia Times.
“Government departments could allow some civil servants to work from home or have flexible work schedules. Private companies were urged to follow suit,” the report said.
Hong Kong has recorded 5,782 cases and 108 deaths, so far
Number of Covid recoveries increase in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has been recording a consistent decline in coronavirus infections. The recoveries are also ‘outpacing’ infections, reports Arab News.
Saudi Arabia’s health ministry has said that 495 more people had recovered from Covid-19, taking the total recoveries to 3,44,311.
“All cities in the kingdom reported less than 50 new cases, with Riyadh registering 33, Madinah 19, and Makkah 18,” the report said.
Saudi Arabia has recorded 3,55,741 cases of Covid-19 and 5,811 deaths, so far.
Alberta bans indoor gatherings amid surge in cases
Alberta has shut in-person classes for students in high schools and junior high institutions. The administration has also stopped all indoor gatherings, reports The Globe and Mail.
“Until now, the province has been largely relying on voluntary measures and appealing to Albertans’ sense of ‘personal responsibility’ to follow public-health advice,” the report said.
Canada has recorded 3,42,444 cases of Covid-19 and 11,618 deaths.
What else we are reading:
Doctors without borders to withdraw from Venezuela hospital due to restrictions: Reuters
Five days of Christmas UK Covid plan lets three households mix: The Guardian
Also read: Airlines set to lose record $157 billion in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19 pandemic