Global infections: 140,735,224 Global deaths: 3,011,014 Nations with most cases: US (31,628,017), India (14,788,003), Brazil (13,900,091), France (5,321,176), Russia (4,640,537). Source:
In a bid to curb the virus, Zimbabwe releases hundreds of prisoners Zimbabwe released at least 320 prisoners from its jails to ease congestion in the country’s notoriously overcrowded jails as a second wave of the coronavirus devastates the country. The move comes amid growing allegations that a government crackdown has sent dozens of activists, journalists and opposition leaders to prisons. Most of those released had been convicted of non-violent crimes, but were being held in one of the country’s largest prison facility, and it is known for overcrowding and unsanitary conditions.
A year after lockdowns, China sees record growth A year after a coronavirus-led collapse, China has posted its strongest growth ever as the economy expanded by a record 18 per cent in the first quarter of 2021. The output shrank 6.8 per cent in the year-ago period. In a remarkable post-pandemic recovery, the growth rate in the first quarter is the highest since China began reporting quarterly GDP in 1992, surpassing the previous best of 15.3 per cent in the first quarter of 1993. However, when we compare with the previosu quarter, the economy has just grown by 0.6 per cent. And if we take out the low base of last year, analysts say the growth rate comes to about 5.4 per cent in the January-March quarter. Beijing set a relatively modest 2021 growth target of 6 per cent or higher, which leaves more room for officials to tackle rising debt levels and other financial risks.
Global infections: 138,278,420 Global deaths: 2,973,058 Nations with most cases: US (31,421,361), India (14,074,564), Brazil (13,673,507), France (5,210,772), Russia (4,613,646). Source:
South Africa s pandemic response has multiple setbacks South Africa is struggling to put together a concerted effort to the coronavirus pandemic, since it began last year. Just when everyone thought the cases were on the decline, a more infectious variant came out of nowhere, driving a devastating and more deadly second wave. South Africa had bet on AstraZeneca vaccine to inoculate its population, but the jab proved ineffective against the variant found the country. Now the alternative Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine, the only one now in use in South Africa has run into trouble as well, over concerns of rare blood clots that emerged in a handful of people in the United States who had received the shot. It is unclear whether the vaccine is responsible.
Read more about World Coronavirus Dispatch: WHO says virus still growing exponentially on Business Standard. Scanty supplies leave African health workers without jabs, Regeneron s antibody drug offered strong protection in trials, and other pandemic-related news across the globe
Global infections: 136,056,956 Global deaths: 2,936,768 Nations with most cases: US (31,197,872), India (13,527,717), Brazil (13,482,023), France (5,119,585), Russia (4,589,209). Source:
Chinese mulls increasing effectiveness of vaccines After intense backlash in the scientific community over the effectiveness of Chinese made vaccine, a top offical has acknowledged that the country’s vaccines may need to be administered in greater doses or in combination with other shots because of their low overall effectiveness. More than 60 countries have approved Chinese vaccines so far and they may need to work out their distribution strategy to increase the effectiveness. Possible steps to increase the effectiveness of vaccines include changing the amount of vaccine given, the number of shots, the time between shots or the type of vaccines given, said the director of China’s disease control center. The long-awaited Brazilian study of the Sinopharm s vaccine showed just over 5