New Delhi: The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate countries across the world — the latest count being over 7.5 crore cases and more than 16 lakh deaths.
The number of Covid-19 cases in the US crossed 17 million Thursday, a day after it set a record high single-day death toll of 3,600. States and territories in Australia impose border restriction after 28 cases were detected in a Sydney cluster. And the number of hospitalisations among younger children are increasing in Brazil’s São Paulo.
ThePrint brings you the most important global stories on the coronavirus pandemic and why they matter.
US surpasses 17m Covid cases as vaccines are distributed
A day after setting a record death toll of 3,600, the US Thursday surpassed 17 million coronavirus cases, reports The Guardian.
The number of infections, the report notes, has been rising by more than a million every week since winter hit America. Meanwhile, hospital pharmacists have also started receiving the Covid-19 vaccine.
The report quotes Adm Brett P. Giroir, assistant secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services, as saying, “It is absolutely imperative that we continue our work to wear masks, to avoid crowded spaces, to physically distance, to avoid travel if you can, because until the vaccine gets widespread, this is still our best measures to flatten the curve and save lives.”
Some US states have also starting putting in place stringent measure to curb the transmission.
US has reported 1,76,27,070 cases and 3,17,929 deaths so far.
Also read: Covid caused 77% parents of disabled children to lose jobs, 90% to depend on govt support
Australia imposes border curbs as Sydney virus cluster grows
States and territories in Australia began imposing border restrictions after 28 cases were detected from a cluster in Sydney, reports Reuters.
The report noted that health authorities are now concerned that the virus may have also spread to areas beyond Sydney’s northern beaches, where the cluster is located.
It quotes New South Wales’ Chief Health Officer, Kerry Chant, as saying, “My anxiety is we have not found the direct transmission route and we cannot be sure we have blocked the transmission line.”
Meanwhile, “people flocked to Sydney airport to try and fly out of the state, fearing hard border closures”, noted the report.
Australia has reported 28,092 cases and 908 deaths.
Cases, hospitalisations growing among children in São Paulo
In Brazil’s São Paulo, there has been an increase in the number of cases among young children in November, reports Folha De S.Paulo.
Small children contribute to just 1.43 per cent of total hospitalisations, but the report noted that experts have raised concerns over the fact that “they are not as immune many people imagine”.
It also quotes infectologist Francisco Ivanildo Oliveira as saying, “The numbers reveal what is happening to adults. When epidemiological research is carried out, we see that children are becoming infected inside their homes because their parents or other contacts are becoming ill.”
Brazil has reported 71,11,527 cases and 1,84,876 deaths.
Chinese parents fear sending their children overseas to study
Parents in China are wary of sending their children overseas for education due to fears over the coronavirus pandemic, reports The South China Morning Post.
The report quotes founder of Londonke.com, Fu Shipeng, who said that “as a result, international schools” have become “more appealing” as they allow pupils to continue with a similar style of education they received overseas, before they returned.
Moreover, 53 international schools were opened in the first nine months of this year, that specifically target holders of overseas passports.
China has reported 86,789 cases and 4,634 deaths.
South Korea reports record-high daily cases of Covid-19
For the third day in a row, South Korea reported more than 1,000 Covid-19 cases Friday, reports Channel News Asia.
The report details that “an explosive growth in patients has resulted in an overload in administrative medical systems”. It quotes local authorities who said that a patient in his 60s passed away at home as officials were unable to find him a hospital bed for days.
“Health workers are also struggling to stem transmissions tied to various places, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, restaurants, churches, schools, and army units,” the report further stated.
South Korea has reported 47,515 cases and 645 deaths.
What else we are reading:
Even when the music returns, pandemic pay cuts will linger: The New York Times
Is ‘me first’ COVID vaccine policy hurting other nations?: Al Jazeera
Also read: Quick result, low cost, convenient — the 3 Covid home testing kits approved by US