New Delhi: The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate countries across the world — the latest count being over 3.4 crore cases and more than 10 lakh deaths.
Traces of the novel coronavirus have been found in the sewage of Anglesea, a coastal town in Australia. Authorities in Madrid and Catalonia reject the Spanish government’s deal to impose coronavirus restrictions, and millions of Chinese are expected to go to their hometowns during the Golden Week holiday.
ThePrint brings you the most important global stories on the coronavirus pandemic and why they matter.
Warning issued for Anglesea residents in Australia
Traces of the Covid-19 virus were detected in the sewage in Anglesea, a coastal town in Australia, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.
Significantly, the town does not have any active cases.
“While the preliminary result may not mean there are active cases of COVID-19 in the Anglesea community, Premier Daniel Andrews announced increased testing as a precaution,” the report notes.
It adds that a similar discovery had been made earlier this month in Apollo Bay, a nearby town.
Australia has recorded 27,095 cases and 888 deaths.
Madrid, Catalonia reject deal to confine areas
The Spanish government’s plan to impose new Covid-19 restrictions was rejected by Madrid and Catalonia among other regions, reports El País.
While the Catalan government said it had its own restrictions in place, Madrid’s authorities were against the imposition of the restrictions on the whole city.
“The new developments cast doubt on the success of a deal meant to address the situation in Madrid, which accounts for one-third of all new cases,” the report highlights.
Spain has so far reported 7,69,188 cases and 31,791 deaths.
Chuseok goes virtual as South Koreans give up reunions
South Koreans are being forced to reconsider their plans for the country’s biggest holiday, Chuseok, reports Al Jazeera.
Chuseok is the time when millions of South Koreans return to their ancestral homes, visit their families and pay respect to their forebears.
However this year, due to the pandemic, authorities have asked people and celebrate in a “non-contact manner”.
The report quotes Lee Chi-eok, a descendant of Lee Hwang, one of greatest Korean Confucian scholar, who said “his family once performed dozens of rites every year…This year, in line with the COVID-19 guidelines, there will be none”.
Meanwhile, airport authorities are expecting a drop of 25 per cent in the number of domestic passengers as compared to last year.
South Korea has recorded 23,889 and 415 deaths.
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China contained Covid-19. Millions about to go on vacation
In China, millions of people are expected to travel to their hometown during the National Day holiday, reports CNN.
The Ministry of Culture has predicted that 550 million domestic trips will be made during the Golden Week holiday this year.
A resident of Guangzhou was quoted in the report as saying, “I think China has (the virus) under pretty good control”. CNN, however, notes that this holiday will serve as “an ambitious test of China’s success in taming the virus”.
China has recorded 85,414 cases and 4,634 deaths.
Germans embrace fresh air to ward off coronavirus
The German government has added ventilating rooms in its policy to tackle coronavirus, reports The Guardian.
The report points to a surprising detail: “the custom is something of a national obsession, with many Germans habitually opening windows twice a day, even in winter.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel was of the opinion that “it may be one of the cheapest and most effective ways” of curbing the spread of the virus, the report further notes.
German 2,92,911 cases and 9,571 deaths.
What else we are reading:
Why has Spain failed to contain the coronavirus pandemic?: El País
Kenyans abroad grapple with Covid-19 woes: Nation
Also read: It’ll take more than vaccines to fight Covid, Novartis CEO Narasimhan says