New Delhi: The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate countries across the world — the latest count being over 5.2 crore cases and more than 1.2 lakh deaths.
A row has erupted between Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his political opponent João Doria, who is the governor of São Paulo, over administering an experimental Covid-19 vaccine made by China. Concerns are also being raised in China as three firms are administering doses of experimental vaccines to thousands of people. And Spain has been considering who to prioritise, as the European Union (EU) authorises a vaccine deal with two firms.
ThePrint brings you the most important global stories on the coronavirus pandemic and why they matter.
Brazil’s row over vaccine more about politics than health policy
A political row has erupted in Brazil over the experimental CoronaVac vaccine that is being produced by China, reports The South China Morning Post.
Earlier this week, Brazil halted the late-stage trial of the vaccine following the death of one of the participants. This prompted Brazilian President Bolsonaro to slam his political opponent Doria, “who had backed the Chinese company”.
“Death, disablement, anomaly. This is the vaccine that Doria wants to force the people of São Paulo to take,” Bolsonaro is quoted as saying by the report.
The report also quoted experts who said that the issue was just being politicised by Doria, who is furthering his political interests through the vaccine, and also by Bolsonaro, who is using it to create a narrative that his opponent “is controlled by China”.
Brazil has recorded 57,49,007 cases of Covid-19 and 1,63,406 deaths so far.
Also read: China temporarily suspends entry of Indian nationals due to Covid
China firms race to find Covid vaccine amid concerns by people
As the race among several Chinese firms to find a vaccine against Covid-19 heats up, many have voiced concerns over administering of experimental doses to thousands of people, reports The Straits Times.
The report stated that shots of four experimental vaccines by three pharmaceutical companies, namely Sinovac Biotech, Sinopharm and CanSino Biologics, are being given to people, most of whom are workers in state-owned companies and students planning to go abroad.
One such worker who was administered a vaccine has been quoted as saying, “Many of us are worried about the side effects because this is something we don’t know anything about, but it felt incorrect to question it at the company.”
Companies have also been carrying out tests in Indonesia, Brazil and Bahrain.
China has recorded 86,299 Covid cases and 4,634 deaths so far.
Spain prepares to deal with challenges of vaccination campaign
After EU authorised a contract to purchase up to 300 million doses of the vaccine being developed by BioNTech and Pfizer, Spain has been considering who to prioritise, reports El País.
The report listed some of the significant challenges the Spanish government is likely to face in its immunisation programme. It noted, “Currently, only 54 per cent of people over the age of 65 and a third of healthcare workers are getting seasonal flu immunisations.”
There are also “logistical hurdles” like “a second dose must be administered 28 days after the first, involving additional work to get a single person immunised”.
The report quoted a Pfizer spokesperson as saying, “We have developed plans and logistical tools to ensure effective vaccine transportation, storage and continuous temperature control.”
Spain has recorded 14,63,093 cases and 40,105 deaths so far.
New Zealand investigates mystery Covid case in Auckland
A mystery Covid-19 case, with no found source of infection, has sparked concerns in New Zealand’s Auckland, reports The Guardian.
According to the report, the government has urged people in the city to not panic but “remain vigilant”. The case is of a student who became sick despite having “very little contact with other people or large public spaces”.
The report quoted Dr Ashley Bloomfield, the director general of health, as saying, “We are urgently working to trace this person’s movements over the past week to determine how they became infected.”
For now, genome testing is underway in the city to find links related to this case.
New Zealand has recorded 1,991 cases and 25 deaths so far.
In Kenya’s Mandera, Covid-19 testing in schools suspended
In Kenya’s Mandera county, schools will remain suspended as the local administration “engages parents on the importance” of Covid-19 testing, reports The Nation.
According to the report, the health authorities hope to test students and teachers as a condition for opening schools but are afraid that it will raise eyebrows.
The report quoted health executive Mohamud Adan Mohamed as saying, “We don’t want to make it look like the county is forcing anyone to take the test. We are developing a protocol that will see all learners undergo testing.”
So far only 48 people in the county have tested positive while the virus has claimed three lives.
Kenya has recorded 65,804 cases of Covid-19 and 1,180 deaths so far.
What else we are reading:
How the UK reached 50,000 virus deaths: BBC
White House outbreaks persist, as cases now span three months: The New York Times
Also read: AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine is still the global front-runner despite delays