New Delhi: The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate countries across the world — the latest count being over 7.7 crore cases and more than 17 lakh deaths.
Supermarkets and wholesalers in the UK are likely to face a shortage of broccoli, lettuce and citrus fruits. The police in Sharjah, UAE, have deployed K9 dogs to detect coronavirus cases and Singapore’s transport minister Ong Ye Kung Monday said that the country wants to become a vaccine distribution hub in Southeast Asia.
ThePrint brings you the most important global stories on the coronavirus pandemic and why they matter.
Supermarkets in UK predict shortage of lettuce, broccoli and citrus fruits
Supermarkets and wholesalers in the UK are warning grocery shoppers of a shortage of broccoli, lettuce and citrus fruits after France banned hauliers from carrying freight to UK in order to contain the virus, reports The Guardian.
“The environment secretary, George Eustice, held an emergency call with supermarket executives on Monday afternoon to discuss the situation as retailers expressed concerns that the lorry ban could combine with Brexit disruption to cause serious difficulties for shops,” the report notes.
A spokesperson from Sainsbury’s supermarkets, a major grocery company in the UK, was quoted as saying, “If nothing changes, we will start to see gaps over the coming days on lettuce, some salad leaves, cauliflowers, broccoli and citrus fruits — all of which are imported from the continent at this time of year.”
UK has recorded 20,73,511 cases of Covid-19 and 67,616 deaths, so far.
Also read: Rising Covid cases, winter wave test South Korea’s no-lockdown strategy
Police dogs in Sharjah ‘sniff’ Covid cases with 92% accuracy
In United Arab Emirates, the police have deployed K9 dogs, who can reportedly detect coronavirus cases. The Khaleej Times reports that their accuracy of detecting Covid-19 is 92 per cent.
“The dogs are made to sniff samples from the armpits of presumed Covid-19 positive patients. The results were instantaneous and declared on spot,” the report states.
The sniffer dogs can also detect narcotics, explosives and search for corpses during disasters.
UAE has recorded 1,94,652 cases of Covid-19 and 638 deaths.
Authorities in Ontario criticised for not imposing lockdown
The head of the Ontario Hospital Association, Anthony Dale, said he was surprised and disappointed that the government was not imposing lockdown in the Canadian province immediately, reports The Globe and Mail.
Dale has been demanding stricter measures to control the pandemic but the restrictions will come into effect only on 26 December, five days after the announcement.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford maintained that businesses needed more time to prepare and therefore the lockdown was scheduled for 26 December.
“We need to give them an opportunity to get this done…The quicker we get through this, the quicker businesses can open up, the quicker we can get life back to normal,” Ford was quoted as saying.
Canada has recorded 5,15,314 cases of Covid-19 and 14,332 deaths.
Also read: Thailand travel industry faces ‘nail in the coffin’ after virus outbreak in seafood market
Covid delaying death row executions in the US
At least 14 out of over 50 men on death row, held in a federal penitentiary in the US state of Indiana, have tested positive for coronavirus. Furthermore, staff members who are involved in executions are also sick, reports The New York Times.
Two of the death row inmates were scheduled to be executed this month but now their lawyers are demanding postponing their execution dates. This may prove to be the difference between life and death for them since Joe Biden is set to assume office as President on 20 January and he has pledged to end capital punishment.
The US has recorded 1,84,73,716 cases of Covid-19 and 3,26,772 deaths.
Singapore wants to become a Covid vaccine transport hub
Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung Monday said that Singapore wants to become a Covid-19 vaccine distribution hub in the region, reports The Straits Times.
According to the report, the minister said the country has adequate capacity and the capability to distribute vaccines securely.
The first batch of the Pfizer vaccine arrived from Brussels to Singapore Monday.
Singapore has recorded 58,432 cases of Covid-19 and 29 deaths.
What else we are reading:
Vatican says getting Covid vaccine ‘morally acceptable’: The Guardian
Germany’s Covid-19 fight: Its head start in spring takes a fall: The Straits Times
Also read: 6 key questions & answers about new Covid variant in UK