Covid-19 has infected more than 400M people and killed over 5.7M worldwide. Here are some of the latest coronavirus-related developments:
Wednesday, February 9, 2022
WHO mourns 500,000 Omicron deaths
The World Health Organization has lamented that half a million Covid-19 deaths had been recorded since the Omicron variant was discovered, calling the toll “beyond tragic”.
The WHO’s incident manager Abdi Mahamud said that 130 million cases and 500,000 deaths had been recorded globally since Omicron was declared a variant of concern in late November.
It has since rapidly overtaken Delta as the world’s dominant Covid variant because it is more transmissible, though it appears to cause less severe illness.
South Korea reports nearly 50,000 cases
South Korea has reported a record high 49,567 new daily Covid-19 cases as the Omicron variant drives a wave of infections, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said, but new deaths remain low at 21.
Mexico reports more deaths
Mexico’s Health Ministry has reported 132 more deaths from Covid-19, bringing the total number of fatalities in the country since the pandemic began to 309,884.
Brazil registers nearly 1,200 deaths
Brazil has recorded 177,027 new coronavirus cases and 1,189 Covid-19 deaths in the last 24 hours, the Health Ministry said.
Brazil has registered 26,776,620 cases since the pandemic began, while the official death toll has risen to 633,810, according to the ministry data.
Hong Kong reports first Covid death in five months
An elderly man who returned a positive test for Covid-19 in Hong Kong died, the city’s Hospital Authority said, the city’s first death potentially linked with the virus in five months as it struggles with a worsening outbreak.
The 73-year-old patient was chronically ill and had tested preliminarily positive for Covid during hospital admission screening, according to a statement from the Authority late on Tuesday.
It was unclear whether his death would be classified as Hong Kong’s 214th Covid death as preliminary positive cases have to undergo further tests to be classified as positive.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong is due to report at least 1,160 daily Covid-19 cases, a new record for the global financial hub that has been struggling to contain an outbreak of the Omicron variant, broadcaster TVB reported, citing an unidentified source.
Canada provinces to ease rules as trucker protests harden
Truckers paralysing the Canadian capital in anger at Covid rules showed no sign of backing down, as several of the nation’s provinces announced it was time to roll back restrictions that count among the world’s toughest.
With authorities struggling to bring the protest movement to heel, Saskatchewan in the country’s west said it was ready to lift all pandemic restrictions, with Quebec and Alberta also signaling plans to ease measures.
And in the capital, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau –– who a day earlier issued a stern warning the protests “had to stop” –– appeared to shift tone, saying he understood “how frustrated everyone is” and that “the time is coming when we will be able to relax.”
The truckers have received US support ranging from former president Donald Trump to the billionaire Elon Musk, while at home, according to a Leger poll, 44 percent of vaccinated Canadians sympathise with their “concerns and frustrations.”
Source: TRTWorld and agencies
WHO laments ‘tragic’ 500,000 Covid deaths since Omicron – latest updates
Source: Pinay Pop Showbiz
