New Delhi: The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate countries across the world — the latest count being over 10 crore cases and more than 2.1 lakh deaths.
Indonesia’s hospitals are on the brink of collapse due to a surge in cases and the US sees the first case of a person infected with highly transmissible Brazil coronavirus variant. Meanwhile, Hong Kong looks to extend compulsory testing in several areas.
ThePrint brings you the most important global stories on the coronavirus pandemic and why they matter.
Covid patients turned away as hospitals in Indonesia face collapse
Hospitals in some areas of Indonesia are on the brink of collapse as the number of cases approaches the one million-mark, reports The Guardian.
“In one case, a man died after he was turned away from 10 hospitals, including three in Jakarta, with doctors under greater strain than at any time in the pandemic,” the report states, highlighting the horrifying situation unfolding in the country.
It quotes Halik Malik of the Indonesian Doctors Association who said, “It seems that the current overload or overcapacity situation is the worst during the Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia.”
The recent regional elections and the holiday period is said to have contributed to the rise in transmission.
Indonesia has reported 9,99,256 cases and 28,132 deaths.
Also read: US, Europe still oppose India-SA plan to waive Covid vaccines’ IPR, WTO to discuss on 4 Feb
First US case of highly transmissible Brazil coronavirus variant identified in Minnesota
Authorities in the US have identified a person who has been infected with the Brazil strain of the coronavirus, reports The Washington Post.
The case in Minnesota has triggered concern among scientists since the P.1 variant is said to be more highly transmissible and has led to a “disastrous surge in infections in the Brazilian city of Manaus”.
“The Minnesota Department of Health said the case there involved “a Minnesota resident with recent travel history to Brazil,” and the variant was detected through genomic sequencing of random blood samples as part of a surveillance program,” the report notes.
It quotes Michael T. Osterholm of the University of Minnesota as saying, “This isn’t surprising. It’s a very difficult development, but at the same time not unexpected.”
US has reported 2,58,61,597cases and 4,31,392 deaths.
HK to extend compulsory Covid-19 tests to more areas
The Hong Kong government is set to announce measures that make testing compulsory in several areas of the country, reports The Straits Times.
For now, testing is mandatory in Jordan and Sham Shui Po.
“Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Tuesday (Jan 26) said the government has earmarked ‘a number of other specified areas’ and that announcements will be made shortly,” the report states.
It quotes her further as saying, “Taking stock of our experience, we should be more focused in future testing operations to narrow the scope of the area to, say, just a couple of streets or blocks. More of these smaller-scale operations can be done at different locations. This is something we will consider.”
Hong Kong has reported 10,159 cases and 170 deaths.
Also read: Delay in administering second dose a threat to Covid vaccine efficacy, says Fauci
France’s new hospitalisations and ICU treatments rise sharply
The number of hospitalisations in France crossed 1,000 in the last two days for the first time since 16 November, reports Reuters.
The number of patients in intensive care units has also risen to more than 3,000 for the first time since 9 December.
“A growing number of medical experts have called for a third lockdown in France while the government rolls out the vaccine, but French media reported that President Emmanuel Macron was trying to avoid such a measure,” the report adds.
It also refers to the remarks of French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire who said that a new lockdown would hinder the country from reaching its economic growth target in 2021.
France has reported 30,57,857 cases and 73,494 deaths.
Citizens in Mexico’s Jalisco called on to help halt pandemic’s spread
Several high-profile figures in the Mexican state of Jalisco have called on citizens to stop the spread of Covid-19, reports Mexico News Daily.
The state is among the 10 that fall under the “maximum risk red” according to the government’s coronavirus toplight map.
“In light of the situation, University of Guadalajara rector Ricardo Villanueva Lomelí called on all Jalisco citizens to do their part to help stop the virus,” the report notes.
It also quotes Villanueva as saying: “The measures that each of us takes are more important than the decisions of the authorities.”
Other influential figures have also followed suit, urging people to “face up to this moment with a lot of responsibility”. Jalisco currently has 4,600 active cases.
Mexico has reported 17,71,740 cases and 1,50,273 deaths.
What else we are reading:
2 in 5 Americans live where COVID-19 strains hospital ICUs: The Associated Press
An organ recital, with a coronavirus shot: The New York Times
Also read: Moderna says vaccine works on 2 Covid variants, working on booster for South African strain