প্রকাশ: 08/01/2022
The total number of Covid-19 cases registered worldwide
passed 300 million on Friday, with the Omicron variant's rapid spread setting
new infection records in dozens of countries over the last week.
In the past seven days, 34 countries have recorded their
highest number of weekly cases since the start of the pandemic, including 18
nations in Europe and seven in Africa, according to an AFP count based on
official figures.
While far more contagious than previous coronavirus
variants, Omicron appears to cause less severe illness than its predecessors.
Even as it spurred the world to record 13.5 million cases in
the last week alone – 64% higher than the previous seven days -- the global
average of deaths dropped three percent.
France's public health authority said on Friday that the
risk of hospitalization was about 70% lower for Omicron, citing data from the
US, the UK, Canada and Israel.
However, with a global average of two million new cases
being detected daily, experts warn the sheer numbers threaten to overwhelm
health systems.
World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
said that Omicron should not be categorized as mild, as it "is
hospitalizing people and it is killing people."
"In fact, the tsunami of cases is so huge and quick,
that it is overwhelming health systems around the world."
'Here to stay'
Omicron's dizzying spread since being detected six weeks ago
has prompted many nations to push harder for more vaccinations and some to
clamp down with restrictions.
Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Friday that access
to the country's bars and restaurants will be limited to those who are fully
vaccinated or have recovered from the virus and can also provide a negative
test result.
However, people who have received a booster shot will be
exempted from the test requirement.
In neighbouring Austria, Chancellor Karl Nehammer meanwhile
tested positive for Covid.
"No cause for worry, I'm fine," he said. "I
continue to plead: get vaccinated."
In the United States, challenges against vaccine mandates
imposed by the administration of President Joseph Biden were heard by the
Supreme Court on Friday.
The mandates, requiring Covid jabs at businesses that employ
100 people, have come under attack from some Republican lawmakers and business
owners as an infringement on individual rights and an abuse of government
power.
But Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan asked: "Why isn't
this necessary to abate the grave risk?"
"It is by far the greatest public health danger that
this country has faced in the last century," she added.
As cases skyrocket in the US -- which also broke its daily
caseload record this week -- Biden said that Covid "as we are dealing with
it now is not here to stay."
"But having Covid in the environment -- here and in the
world -- is probably here to stay."
In France, President Emmanuel Macron stood by controversial
comments in which vowed to "piss off" unvaccinated people until they
get jabbed.
"People can get upset about a way of speaking that
seems colloquial, but I fully stand by it," he said, adding: "I'm
upset about the situation we're in."
Men's tennis world number one Novak Djokovic has been at the
centre of his own controversy after being dramatically refused entry to play in
Australia due to his vaccine status.
From inside a Melbourne immigration detention facility
pending an appeal, Djokovic posted on Instagram his thanks to "people
around the world for your continuous support."
'Superspreader'
In India, Omicron-led rising case numbers have brought fears
of a return to the country's darkest pandemic days last year, when thousands
were dying of Covid every day.
Gautam Menon, a professor at India's Ashoka University who
has worked on Covid infection modelling, told AFP that "this could
potentially stress out health care systems to levels comparable to or worse
than the second wave."
However, Calcutta's High Court rejected a bid to cancel a
major Hindu festival, despite fears the virus could spread rapidly among the
500,000 expected attendees.
"People from all states in the country will attend the
religious festival and take a holy dip," environmentalist Subhash Dutta
told AFP.
"They may carry variant viruses and this religious festival may end up being the biggest superspreader in the coming days."
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