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Healthcare workers have depression in Spain, face lift for cosmetic surgery & other Covid news

As the Covid-19 pandemic shows no signs of letting up, ThePrint highlights the most important stories on the crisis from across the globe.

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New Delhi: The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate countries across the world — the latest count being over 9.9 crore cases and more than 21 lakh deaths.

As the number of infections rise in Spain, the mental health of front-line workers takes a hit. The number of Covid-19 patients on ventilation has crossed the 4,000-mark for the first time in the UK. And the coronavirus pandemic has given a major facelift to the cosmetic surgery industry.

ThePrint brings you the most important global stories on the coronavirus pandemic and why they matter.

Spain’s virus surge hits mental health of front-line workers

The surge in the number of Covid-19 cases in Spain has led to an increase in hospitalisation which is threatening the mental health of doctors, reports the Associated Press. It quotes the results of a study released last month by Hospital del Mar in Barcelona that found that of 9,000 health workers, 28 per cent suffered from major depression.

“In addition, the study found that nearly half of the participants had a high risk of anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic attacks or substance and alcohol-abuse problems,” the report states.

It also quotes the remarks of Dr Aleix Carmona, from Spain’s northeastern region of Catalonia, who said, “I started having difficulty sleeping and a feeling of anxiety before each shift.”

Spain has reported 26,03,472 cases and 55,441 deaths.

Number of patients on ventilators passes 4,000 for first time in the UK

The number of patients on ventilators in the UK has crossed 4,000 for the first time, reports the BBC. As of Friday 4,067 Covid patients were on ventilator beds, higher than during the first wave in April.

The report quotes the remarks of UK’s chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, who said, “The death rate’s awful and it’s going to stay, I’m afraid, high for a little while before it starts coming down.”

“Meanwhile, new figures show that a record number of seriously-ill Covid patients are being transferred from over-stretched hospitals because of a lack of bed space,” it also states.

About 1 in 10 patients are being sent to different sites.

The UK has reported 36,47,463 cases and 97,939 deaths.


Also read: How to ensure smooth Covid vaccine rollout — India’s polio programme has some lessons


Mask acne, Zoom face: Covid gives a (face) lift to Singapore cosmetic surgeons

The Covid-19 pandemic has given a nip and tuck to the cosmetic surgery industry in Singapore and several other countries, reports the South China Morning Post.

“In South Korea, the industry is reported to have grown 9.2 per cent in a year to reach US$10.7 billion in 2020, while in Britain cosmetic surgery procedures ranging from breast reductions to liposuction soared 500 per cent during lockdown,” the report states.

The reason: issues brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic including mask-induced acne or “maskne” and uneven skin pigmentation that is being picked up by the harsh lights of laptop cameras or “Zoom face”.

The report also quotes a plastic surgeon and professor at the Nanyang Technological University, Dr Matthew Yeo, who said, “Surgery seems to be increasingly popular as mask-wearing and remote working are now required in many parts of the world, which allows people to conveniently conceal post-operative swelling during their recovery.’’

Singapore has reported 59,308 cases and 29 deaths.

China’s daily Covid cases rise, driven by previously asymptomatic patients

The number of daily Covid-19 cases is on the rise in China, reports Reuters.

Data from the country’s National Health Commission showed that the daily cases had increased to 124 from 80 between January 23 and January 24 in the northeastern province of Jilin.

The report attributes the surge to a spike in infections among asymptomatic patients.

“Of the 117 new local infections, Jilin accounted for 67 cases – all but three of whom were previously asymptomatic patients who were reclassified as confirmed cases after developing symptoms,” the report adds.

This might prove to be a matter of concern especially given that the Lunar New Year holiday, when millions travel to their home provinces, is right around the corner.

China has reported 89,115 cases and 4,635 deaths.

New Zealand’s first community COVID case in months ‘spread in quarantine’

New Zealand saw its first case of community transmission in more than two months, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.

According to the report, the 56-year-old woman is likely to have been infected with the highly transmissible South African variant.

“The source of the virus is believed to be another arrival who was isolating in a nearby room before they tested positive on day three of their quarantine and were transferred to a separate facility,” the report states.

It also quotes New Zealand’s Director-General of Health, Ashley Bloomfield, who said, “No other community cases have yet been detected.”

New Zealand has reported 2,288 cases and 25 deaths.

What else we are reading:

How West Virginia became a US leader in vaccine rollout: The New York Times

‘A complete massacre, a horror film’: inside Brazil’s Covid disaster: The Guardian


Also read: India is missing about 90 infections for every Covid case, latest govt analysis shows


 

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