New Delhi: The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate countries across the world — the latest count being over 8.6 crore cases and more than 18 lakh deaths.
The Singapore government has admitted that data from its Covid-19 contact tracing program is being used by the police. Eight Canadian politicians resigned or were demoted Monday after they travelled outside the country during the holidays. And leaders of Western Sydney community have blamed low Covid-19 testing rates on the government’s failure to spread key health messages to migrant communities.
ThePrint brings you the most important global stories on the coronavirus pandemic and why they matter.
Singapore Police using Covid-19 tracing data
The Singapore government has admitted that data from its Covid-19 contact tracing program is being used by the police. This has raised concerns on people’s privacy, reports BBC.
Over 80 per cent people signed up for the country’s Covid-19 tracing initiative called the ‘TraceTogether’ programme. In order to encourage people to enroll, the authorities had also said that “the data will never be accessed, unless the user tests positive for Covid-19 and is contacted by the contact tracing team”.
Singapore has recorded 58,721 cases of Covid-19 and 29 deaths so far.
Also read: Europe rushes to boost Covid vaccine output as it looks to exit pandemic quickly
Relief for Saudi Arabia after airspace reopens
For Saudis and expats stranded abroad, news about Saudi Arabia reopening sea, land and air routes Sunday came as a relief, reports Arab News.
Travel agents too welcomed this decision since their businesses were impacted by the pandemic. The report, however, noted that there were “some restrictions on people coming from countries where the new variant has been reported”.
Saudi Arabia has recorded 3,63,155 cases of Covid-19 and 6,256 deaths.
South Korea struggling to contain third wave of pandemic
South Korea is reporting new cases of Covid-19 and a third wave of the pandemic has been “proving far more difficult to deal with”. It has also raised questions on the strategy used by the government to contain new infections, reports Asia Times.
“Due to fewer than usual tests over the holidays, Korea recorded 657 cases Sunday and 824 Saturday, but there are fears that the number will jump further from Tuesday as testing resumes in full,” says the report.
Korea has recorded 64,979 cases of Covid-19 and 1,007 deaths.
Low Covid testing rates in Sydney seen as govt failure
Leaders of Western Sydney community have blamed low Covid-19 testing rates on the government’s failure to spread key health messages out to migrant communities, reports The Guardian.
Health authorities have expressed concern over low testing rates in the past few days. The report states that NSW (New South Wales) Health Minister Brad Hazard Tuesday put the onus on multicultural community leaders to ensure the message on testing was getting through.
However, local councillor Kun Huang criticised authorities for not translating information into different languages soon enough.
Australia has recorded 28,518 cases of Covid-19 and 909 deaths.
Vacations abroad cost Canadian politicians their jobs
Eight Canadian politicians resigned and were demoted Monday after they travelled outside the country over the Christmas holidays, despite government officials urging people to avoid non-essential trips amid the pandemic, reports Reuters.
“Five legislative assembly members of Alberta’s ruling United Conservative Party have been demoted for travelling abroad over the holidays, violating coronavirus travel warnings issued by federal and provincial governments,” said the report.
Canada has recorded 6,11,424 cases of Covid-19 and 16,074 deaths.
What else we are reading:
Outcry in Sri Lanka over cremation of Muslim coronavirus victims: Arab News
Germany and Denmark consider delaying second Covid vaccine dose: The Guardian
Also read: ‘State of emergency’ in Beijing as it records 13 Covid cases since 14 Dec after 134-day lull