Worldwide COVID news at a glance

1 Delta doubles risk of hospitalization

The Delta variant doubles the risk of Covid hospitalisation compared with the previously dominant Alpha variant. A new UK study analysed England’s health care data between March and May 2021 and focused mainly on unvaccinated and partially vaccinated people. 

This study confirms that unvaccinated people infected with Delta are significantly more likely to require hospitalisation than those with Alpha said epidemiologist Dr Gavin Dabrera, a lead author from the study. Researchers are concerned that the government plans to reopen are based on the Alpha strain and so do not accurately reflect this higher risk.

2 A anti-mask leader dies of Covid-19

A man who led efforts in his central Texas community against mask-wearing and other preventative measures during the coronavirus pandemic has died from Covid-19, a month after being admitted to the emergency room.

On 4 July 2020, Caleb Wallace helped organize The Freedom Rally in San Angelo. People at the event carried signs that criticized the wearing of masks, business closures, the science behind Covid-19 and liberal media. 

Jessica Wallace told the newspaper her husband began experiencing Covid symptoms on 26 July but refused to get tested or go to the hospital. He instead took high doses of Vitamin C, zinc aspirin and ivermectin, an anti-parasitic medicine used for livestock that officials have urged people not to take for Covid-19.

3 Unvaccinated teacher infected half her students

An unvaccinated teacher in a California elementary school infected half her students and 26 people in total when she contracted the Covid-19 Delta variant, researchers for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found.

The researchers said the teacher attended school for two days despite displaying symptoms of Covid-19, and read aloud to her class without a mask during that time. Infections corresponded to the classroom’s seating chart, with the students sitting closest to the teacher the most likely to be infected. Authorities said the report showed why vaccinations, masks and other prevention measures remain critical to prevent Covid-19 infections as US schools reopen. 

4 East Asia outbreak hit global trade recovery

A recovery in global trade during the summer is beginning to wane, according to some early warning signs pointing to the negative effects of widespread Covid-19 outbreaks in the manufacturing centres of east Asia.

A dramatic decline in exports from Taiwan, which makes many of the computer chips used in cars and mobile phones, has combined with temporary port closures and lockdowns in Australia, China and Japan to cut the level of global trade. 

The signs of a slowdown sparked a reaction at the weekend from a key member of the oil cartel Opec, who said plans for an expansion of oil output may need to be scrapped.

5 Singapore hits 80% vaccine threshold

Singapore has outpaced most advanced economies to fully vaccinate 80% of its population against Covid-19, paving the way for the small but wealthy city-state to forge ahead with reopening in an approach that’s closely watched by the rest of the world still figuring out how to live with the virus.

Senior officials have pegged the vaccination milestone to the government’s cautious strategy, pledging to use the high rate to gradually open up more economic and social activities, as well as quarantine-free travel. 

As it does, Singapore is hoping to do something few places with open borders have been able to manage: keep serious infection and death rates under control, and in so doing prevent the sort of outbreak that would put the health-care system at risk and lead to new restrictions.

6 India administers over 1 crore doses in a single day

India has administered more than one crore COVID-19 vaccination doses under its nationwide vaccination drive on Friday.

The Ministry has also written to Kerala and Maharashtra governments asking them to ensure that adequate preventive measures, to check the prevention of COVID, are followed during the upcoming festival season.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has written to Chief Secretaries of Kerala and Maharashtra on adopting 5-fold strategy for controlling COVID-19 cases in the two States.