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UK churches ‘rethink’ Christmas services, Brazil hotels register low occupancy & other Covid news

As the Covid-19 pandemic shows no signs of letting up, ThePrint highlights the most important stories on the crisis from across the globe.

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New Delhi: The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate countries across the world — the latest count being over 7.9 crore cases and more than 17 lakh deaths.

Churches in the UK held Christmas services with restricted numbers and congregations were barred from joining in to sing carols. With the closure of beaches in Brazil’s Baixada Santista, many New Year’s Eve parties have been cancelled. New South Wales state in Australia has increased the number of Covid-19 tests to contain the resurgence of coronavirus infections.

ThePrint brings you the most important global stories on the coronavirus pandemic and why they matter.

Australia ramps up testing to contain Covid spread in Sydney

The New South Wales state has increased the number of Covid-19 tests to contain the resurgence of coronavirus infections, reports Reuters. A record number of 70,000 tests were conducted Thursday in the state.

“Sydney has been virtually isolated from the rest of the country with state border closures or mandatory 14-day quarantine for arrivals,” said the report.

Australia has recorded 28,273 cases of Covid-19 and 908 deaths.


Also read: India noticed ‘super-spreading’ Covid strain in March-May but it died on its own, expert says


Hotels in Brazil expect low occupation on New Year’s Eve 

With the closure of beaches in Baixada Santista area in Brazil, many New Year’s Eve parties have been cancelled, lowering the expectations of hotel owners, reports Folha De S Paulo.

“The regression to the red phase, the most restrictive of the Sao Paulo Plan, between 25 and 27 December and 1 and 3 January, encouraged a new wave of reservation cancellations,” said the report.

Brazil has recorded 74,25,593 cases of Covid-19 and 1,90,032 deaths.

Churches rethink carol singing in light of Covid

Churches in the UK held Christmas services with restricted numbers and congregations were asked to not join in carol singing, reports The Guardian.

Some churches chose online-only services in order to avoid turning people away due to the limited number of tickets. “The church is streaming all its services online, with only a handful of worshippers physically present, who will have to ‘bit their tongues’ not to join in with a trio of carol singers,” said the report.

UK has recorded 21,88,587 cases of Covid-19 and 69,625 deaths.

Hong Kong imposes 3-week long hotel quarantine for visitors

Hong Kong has extended its compulsory quarantine to three weeks for almost all international travellers starting Friday, reports Asia Times.

This measure has been taken to prevent new infections and the variant coronavirus from spreading. “The government also announced a ban on people who have stayed in South Africa in the past 21 days from entering Hong Kong,” said the report.

Hong Kong has recorded 8,425 cases of Covid-19 and 135 deaths.

First shipment of Covid vaccine to arrive in Turkey Monday

The first shipment of coronavirus vaccine developed by Chinese company Sinovac will arrive in Turkey Monday, reports The Daily Sabah.

The country will initially receive three million doses of CoronaVac.

“Turkey has signed a deal for 50 million doses of the vaccine which are expected to arrive by the end of February,” said the report.

Turkey has recorded 21,00,712 cases of Covid-19 and 19,115 deaths.

What else we are reading:

Athens’ first official mosque permitted to reopen for Christmas: The Guardian

New data favour administering Covid-19 vaccines as fast as possible, not reserving doses: The Globe and Mail


Also read: US mandates Covid test for UK travellers to check for new virus strain


 

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