New Delhi: The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate countries across the world — the latest count being over 3.9 crore cases and more than 11 lakh deaths.
Japan plans on testing its measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 at large events in a baseball stadium in Yokohama. A shortage of testing kits has been reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan. And Boris Johnson’s flagship Covid containment policy is in a mess.
ThePrint brings you the most important global stories on the coronavirus pandemic and why they matter.
Japan stadium to be packed with visitors to test Covid measures
The Japanese government plans to test its measures to contain Covid-19 by holding events with large audiences in a baseball stadium in Yokohama, reports The Japan Times. A three-day trial is expected to be conducted from 30 October, while the government mulls easing restrictions on venue capacity.
“Last month, authorities raised the limit to 10,000 from 5,000, but retained a ceiling of 50 per cent of a venue’s capacity for events with over 10,000 spectators, such as professional baseball games, effective through the end of November,” says the report.
“Using high-precision cameras and beacons, they will look into the flow and density of people entering the roofless stadium in various areas, as well as the percentage of spectators wearing masks,” explains the report.
Japan has recorded 90,170 cases of Covid-19 and 1,646 deaths.
Shortage of testing kits reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan
A shortage of testing kits and virtual non-existence of healthcare staff has been impacting the functioning of Covid laboratories in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reports Dawn.
Senior health officials from the province told the newspaper, “If the supply chain of kits is maintained regularly, then the province can conduct upto 7,000 Covid-19 tests per day. Presently, the number of swabs processed in the province is 4,000 only.”
Pakistan has recorded 3,21,877 cases of Covid-19 and 6,621 deaths.
Also read: At least 2 years to go before mass air travel can resume, Singapore says
Israel buying quick testing kits leaves experts doubtful
Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu has been promoting the Sofia device for conducting rapid tests for Covid-19. However, the government’s decision to promote these super-fast tests has led experts to become sceptical of this move, reports The Haaretz.
“Experts in both Israel and other countries are divided on the issue of the true efficacy of these kits in mass screenings, such as in schools or workplaces, since the tests are not considered accurate enough, as well as having a low throughput. Furthermore, a medical team is usually required for operating these kits,” says the report.
Israel has recorded 3,00,201 cases of Covid-19 and 2,127 deaths.
Hong Kong to make travel bubble with Singapore
Hong Kong and Singapore have agreed to make an air travel bubble, which will essentially allow people who have tested negative to travel between the two cities without quarantining, reports Asia Times.
While there wouldn’t be any travel restrictions per se, there will be some conditions, such as bubble passengers taking specific flights, and no transit passengers being allowed. The report notes the remarks of Edward Yau, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, who said passengers would have to take a Covid test recognised in each place in order to be exempted from quarantine.
“The breakthrough came after Singapore announced on Tuesday that no new Covid-19 case was recorded in dormitories for the first time in more than six months,” says the report.
Hong Kong has recorded 5,214 cases of Covid-19 and 105 deaths. While Singapore has recorded 57,892 cases and 28 deaths.
Orthodox Jewish leaders in the US witness young men growing intolerant of pandemic
Orthodox Jewish leaders have been witnessing an increase in the number of young men who are becoming intolerant of the Covid-19 guidelines, reports The New York Times.
Leaders also explain that these young men have been “taking cues” from the larger right-wing movement sweeping the United States, including the President.
“For months, misinformation and rumours about the virus, some inspired by Mr Trump, have spread widely in forums like WhatsApp that are popular with ultra-Orthodox New Yorkers, according to numbers interviews with Haisidic leaders and community members,” says the report.
The USA has recorded 82,16,315 cases of Covid-19 and 2,22,717 deaths.
Boris Johnson’s Covid plan for tackling virus in chaos
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s policy for containing the virus has been hit hard as mayors and MPs from the country’s northwest have rejected moving to the highest lockdown level, reports The Guardian.
Even though ministers can impose a lockdown anyway, they believe cooperation from local leaders is vital to enforcing these rules.
“Talks designed to broker an agreement ended with bitter and angry exchanges, deepening a north-south rift that has left the government’s strategy of tiered restrictions in turmoil,” says the report.
UK has recorded 6,73,622 cases of Covid-19 and 43,293 deaths.
What else we are reading:
The challenges of delivering a Covid-19 vaccine in Africa requires a new approach: Mail and Guardian
Next pandemic? Amazon deforestation may spark new diseases: Al Jazeera
Also read: How Covid gives Thailand national parks a chance to recover from damage caused by tourism