New Delhi: The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate countries across the world — the latest count being over 5.5 crore cases and more than 1.3 lakh deaths.
Mexico City is set to install 26 new testing stations and California rolled back easing of restrictions after average daily cases doubled in the last two weeks. Meanwhile, a remote territory in Canada will enter into a lockdown just days after recording its first Covid case.
ThePrint brings you the most important global stories on the coronavirus pandemic and why they matter.
Mexico City to install 26 new Covid testing stations
The Mexico City government will set up 26 new testing centres in light of the recent spurt in cases and hospitalisations in the city, reports Mexico News Daily.
According to the report, testing will be conducted free-of-cost at these “macro-kiosks” that are being set up “on the concourse of the municipal offices in 14 of the capital’s 16 boroughs”.
On Sunday, the city had reported 1,80,000 cases with 16,383 deaths. The report quotes Mexico Deputy Health Minister Hugo López-Gatell as saying, “Now [cases] are increasing concurrently with the flu season just as we’ve been predicting since March.”
Mexico has reported 10,09,396 cases and 98,861 deaths, so far.
Also read: More good news on Covid vaccine – Moderna shot found to be 94.5% effective in large study
Canadian territory of Nunavut to lock down after first Covid case leads to spike
Nunavut, a part of the remote Canadian Arctic Archipelago territory, will enter a lockdown after a surge in Covid-19 cases was reported, which threatens the vulnerable population in the area, reports The Guardian.
On Monday, officials announced 26 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the region. Nunavut had recorded its first coronavirus case in early November.
Highlighting the devastating consequences that the virus can have on this vulnerable community, the report quotes Anna Banerji, director of global and indigenous health at the University of Toronto, as saying, “You’ve got populations that are malnourished, living in overcrowded conditions with higher levels of co-morbidities – chronic obstructive lung disease, cardiovascular disease and obesity – that are now going to get a virus.”
According to the new restrictions, schools, daycares and bars will be shut across Nunavut for two weeks and restaurants will only be permitted to deliver.
Canada has reported 3,02,192 cases and 11,027 deaths till date.
California rolls back reopening amid unprecedented Covid surge
The Californian administration Monday announced a “dramatic rollback” in the lifting of restrictions following an unprecedented surge in cases, reports Los Angeles Times.
According to the report, California Governor Gavin Newsom said, “We are seeing community spread broadly now throughout the state of California.”
Last week, only 13 of the state’s 58 counties were in the strictest “purple tier” that indicated “widespread transmission of the disease”. However, the new restrictions that were imposed this week cover a total of 41 counties.
The decision was taken after daily cases in the state doubled in the past two weeks, rising to 7,985 cases Sunday. The Governor noted that this was “the fastest increase” in cases since the beginning of the pandemic.
The US has reported 11,538,057 Covid-19 cases and 2,52,651 deaths so far. It is the worst-affected country in the world.
Also read: German Chancellor Angela Merkel plans stricter rules to curb Covid-19 spread
Spain’s hard-pressed millennials move out of cities
In Spain, millennials are facing the brunt of the economic crisis brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdowns, reports Reuters.
“Squeezed by years of rising rent and high youth unemployment that got worse with the pandemic, young Spaniards are especially vulnerable to the current economic crisis,” the report notes.
The report adds that many have had to move back to their homes since the pandemic struck.
Reuters quotes 25-year-old Jennifer Delgado, a dental hygienist who went back to her home in the Canary Islands, as saying, “I was tired of working 24/7, tired of Madrid, where the quality of life is so low because you essentially live to pay (bills).”
Spain has recorded 15,21,899 Covid cases and 41,253 deaths, so far.
What else we are reading
US states vow extra scrutiny of coronavirus vaccine: The New York Times
Pandemic holds few lessons for European chefs, mostly misery: Associated Press
Also read: International student enrollment at US colleges drops by most since 2003
Toronto placed in lockdown a little after mid-November 2020 due to rise in Covid-19 cases.
According to news reports on 20 November , 2020 , Toronto and Peel region in Canada have been placed in lockdown effective from midnight Monday as Ontario tries to curb a steep rise in Covid-19 cases. The shutdown will last a minimum of 28 days from the effective date mentioned here. Some other regions in Canada also look to be causing worrisome concern due to the coronavirus pandemic cases at the same time.
In this context , it may be apt to share with readers this Vedic astrology writer’s one of predictive alerts in article – “ Planetary indications for Canada in year 2021” – published at nirpakhawaaz.in on 21 September , 2020 , which reads as follows :-
“ ( 3 ). A further period of one and a half month from mid-November to December end in 2020……………………………………Sex-related health issues , some trends of worrisome behavioral issues in society may be talked about , deliberated upon with an end to contain such trends in society”.
It can be imagined that during lockdown , sex-impulses impacting behavior in some persons cannot be ruled out. So the society where vulnerable , may need to take recourse to some patience. And the period of time in the predictive alert is the same as in the news report of 20 November. It seems the predictive alert of this writer brought out here is meaningful.
Link to reach the article :-
http://www.nirpakhawaaz.in/planetary-indications-for-canada-in-year-2021/