New Delhi: The novel coronavirus pandemic continues to devastate several countries across the world — the latest count is 48,05,229 cases and more than 3,16,732 deaths.
The Taiwan experiment to test and quarantine tourists may become the template for all future foreign travel. The US military is increasingly asserting itself in South China Sea, during a lethal pandemic and El Salvador’s constitutional crisis over lockdown.
ThePrint brings you the most important global stories on the coronavirus pandemic and why they matter.
Taiwan-Stanford trial offers hope for international travel
The Taiwanese government, in collaboration with the Stanford University in the US, is currently preparing a testing and quarantine regime for foreign travelers that could become the template for foreign travel going ahead, reports the Financial Times.
“Under a trial that Taipei plans to conduct next month in co-operation with Stanford University School of Medicine, a sample of 500 people will fly from San Francisco to the Taiwanese capital, after having tested negative for coronavirus and gone through quarantine before boarding,” notes the report. “They will be tested again every two days after their arrival and will undergo the 14-day quarantine that is mandatory for everyone entering Taiwan.”
“The goal is to find the shortest safe quarantine period so that people who have to make brief trips for business could be allowed to leave quarantine after a few days rather than two weeks,” said professor Jason Wang of Stanford Medical School, who is managing the project with the Taiwanese government.
US reasserting in South China Sea during a pandemic
As the world continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic, US has ramped up its military activities in the South China Sea, according to the South China Morning Post.
“While the number and frequency of traditional US intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance probes is roughly the same… other military activities have increased. In the first quarter of the year, the US air force has flown about three times the number of sorties over the South China Sea as in any quarter of 2019,” writes Mark J. Valencia, a maritime expert.
Meanwhile, US littoral combat ships and support vessels have also operated in the region.
Valencia argues that two reasons could explain US’ increased presence in what China considers as its backyard. “Reasons range from an overall deterioration in US-China relations to the US’ need to show allies that its capabilities have not weakened despite the pandemic,” he contends.
How coronavirus swept through Latin American markets
As the pandemic subsides across Europe, Latin American countries have emerged as the new epicentres. Cases have been surging in Brazil, Mexico, and Peru and now experts increasingly feel that a large chunk of the transmission might have happened via markets in the region, The Guardian is reporting.
“Four out of five merchants at a major fruit market in Peru have tested positive for coronavirus, revealing shocking levels of infection – and prompting fears that Latin America’s traditional trading centres may have helped spread Covid-19 across the region,” notes the report.
“Seventy-nine per cent of stall-holders in Lima’s wholesale fruit market tested positive for Covid-19, while spot tests at five other large fresh food markets in the city revealed at least half were carrying the virus. The results came as local authorities from Mexico City to Rio de Janeiro struggle to enforce social distancing and sanitary measures at wholesale and retail markets, which are mainstays of local economies,” it adds.
Hospitals in Brazil’s largest city near collapse
Brazil continues to be overwhelmed by the coronavirus pandemic and according to Bruno Covas, mayor of São Paulo, the country’s largest city, the city’s health system could collapse as the demand for beds continues to surge, reports BBC.
He said that the city’s hospitals had already reached 90 per cent capacity and could potentially run out of space in the next two weeks.
With over 2.4 lakh cases and 16,000 deaths, Brazil is the fifth most affected country in the world.
“A quarantine in São Paulo state was imposed nearly two months ago – businesses, schools and public spaces were closed and people were asked to stay at home. But there are no costly punishments for those who flout the rules – plenty of Paulistanos (residents of São Paulo city) are still choosing to drive to the beach for the weekend and it’s getting locals very cross,” writes Katy Watson, BBC’s South American correspondent.
Coronavirus brings back European food nationalism
Europe’s “gastro-nationalists” are now using the coronavirus pandemic, to propagate their long held cause of food nationalism, reports Politico.
“Governments are seizing on the pandemic to push a protectionist agenda that equates eating local products with patriotism — and some are warning that this kind of culinary jingoism threatens the EU’s single market,” notes the report.
Over the past few weeks, the French, Polish, Austrian, English, Portuguese, Bulgaria, and Greek ministers have made calls asking their citizens only to consume homegrown food.
Gangs terrorised Africa’s largest city in coronavirus lockdown. Vigilantes responded
In Africa’s largest city Lagos, gangs used the coronavirus lockdown to indulge in crime and terrorise residents. Now, in response, communities have formed their own vigilante groups to protect their neighbourhoods during the lockdown, the South China Morning Post is reporting.
“Since Nigeria’s first lockdown was announced on March 30, crimes soared in places like Lagos – the largest commercial city in Africa with 20 million residents. Low income and densely populated neighbourhoods have been worst-hit,” notes the report.
Police, given its limited strength and the large size of the city struggled to respond and this forced people to form community vigilantes to manage their own security at such testing times.
El Salvador heads into a constitutional crisis over lockdown
El Salavador moved towards a constitutional crisis after the country’s attorney general promised to move the Supreme Court against President Nayib Bukele’s extension of the state of emergency by decree, reports the Financial Times.
“Mr Bukele, who has announced one of the region’s strictest coronavirus lockdowns, announced late on Saturday that he was using his powers to extend a March 14 decree to deal with Covid-19, of which there have been 1,338 cases and 27 deaths in El Salvador. The decree had been due to expire at midnight,” notes the report.
“A suspension of rights can only be carried out by a formal law issued by the Legislative Assembly, therefore the decree [the president] announced may exceed his competence,” said attorney general’s office in response.
“Issuing the State of Emergency for 30 days is a usurpation of faculties,” it added, stating its decision to challenge the move at the Supreme Court.
From Alibaba to Zoom, China-US tech war spreads to video calls
With a large part of the world being forced to spend time at home, the US-China technology war has now spread to the realm of teleconferencing, the Nikkei Asian Review is reporting.
Chinese companies such as DingTalk and US ones such as Zoom are already competing for market space in the global economy. However, in the midst of this, big tech has also increased its investments in the teleconferencing segment. While Facebook launched Messenger Rooms on Thursday – allowing up to 50 people to interact virtually – Google and Microsoft already have similar applications.
“The global market for teleconferencing apps is expected to reach $16 billion in 2030 from $6 billion in 2019, according to Transparency Market Research. The battle for the space is only expected to heat up as more companies consider allowing employees to work from home even after the coronavirus outbreak subsides,” notes the report.
What else we are reading:
China legislature meets to set tone for global role in post-pandemic world: The South China Morning Post
Have the Record Number of Investors in the Stock Market Lost Their Minds?: The New Yorker
Did singing together spread coronavirus to four choirs?: The Guardian
What Afghanistan Can Teach Us About Fighting Coronavirus: Politico