Page 13 - HOH

A2 UP FRONT
Wednesday 6 January 2021
sands in the past few
weeks, blamed on com-
placency and poor plan-
ning. The government is
locking down large parts of
the country, including the
capital, Bangkok, and con-
sidering tougher measures.
Japan is getting ready to
declare a state of emer-
gency this week, beefing
up border controls and
speeding up vaccine ap-
proval after a surge of cas-
es around New Year's Eve.
And holiday worries aren't
over now that 2021 has ar-
rived.
Pope Francis abandoned
an annual ritual of bap-
tizing babies in the Sistine
Chapel tied to Wednes-
day's Epiphany holiday.
Orthodox Christian coun-
tries like Russia and Greece
could face more infections
after they celebrate Christ-
mas on Thursday. And Chi-
na is closing schools early
ahead of next month's Lu-
nar New Year holiday, tell-
ing migrant workers not to
A man wearing a British union flag face mask walks past a coronavirus advice sign outside a bank in Glasgow the morning after go home and tourists to
stricter lockdown measures came into force for Scotland, Tuesday Jan. 5, 2021. avoid Beijing.
Associated Press Vaccinations are getting
off to a slow start in many
Continued from Front announced the tough new come. sity. He blamed the rise on places. In the U.S., where
We want to look at some- stay-at-home order for Eng- "The boost we are experi- fatigue with social distanc- over 350,000 people have
thing else. Oh, this doesn't land, effective at midnight encing here in Brazil is much ing, mixed messages from died, some states are strug-
apply to me' ... that's got Tuesday. It will shut schools, more serious than what public figures and Mexi- gling to secure enough
to go away. It really is all restaurants and all nones- was happening months cans lowering their guard shots and organize vac-
hands on deck." sential stores and won't be ago," said Domingos Alves, during the holidays. cinations. The Netherlands
While Britain rolled out a reviewed until at least mid- an adjunct professor at the Zimbabwe reintroduced has come under heavy
second vaccine this week February. Scottish leader University of Sao Paulo. a curfew, banned public criticism for being the last
and some U.S. states are Nicola Sturgeon imposed a Brazil's number of patients gatherings and indefinitely European Union nation to
starting to give the second lockdown that began Tues- in intensive care reached suspended the opening start inoculations, which it
round of shots, access to in- day. its highest level since Au- of schools. In South Africa, will do Wednesday. Aus-
oculations globally is sharp- The two leaders said the gust, just as the nation re- which is seeing yet another tralia isn't planning to do
ly unequal. The supply isn't restrictions are needed to opened shops and offices fast-spreading variant of so until March. And most
remotely close to meeting protect the National Health after the end-of-year holi- the virus and is the conti- poorer countries are even
the epic demand needed Service amid the emer- days — and the vast coun- nent's hardest-hit nation, further behind.
to vanquish a foe that has gence of the new variant try still hasn't approved or authorities re-imposed a Opposition politician Geert
already killed over 1.85 mil- that has sent daily infec- received any vaccines. curfew, banned liquor sales Wilders called the Dutch
lion people. tions, hospitalizations and Some Brazilian hospitals re- and closed most beaches. government "the village
"We are in a race to pre- deaths soaring. installed refrigerated con- South Africa's undertakers idiot of Europe."
vent infections, bring cases The NHS "is going through tainers outside to hold the are struggling to cope with Yet India offers a glimmer
down, protect health sys- probably the toughest time corpses of COVID-19 vic- the rise in deaths, National of hope. Its infection rate
tems and save lives while in living memory," said Siva tims. Funeral Practitioners Asso- is down significantly from a
rolling out two highly ef- Anandaciva, chief ana- Mexico's capital has more ciation of SA President Muzi September peak, and the
fective and safe vaccines lyst of the King's Fund think virus patients than at any Hlengwa told state broad- country is kicking off one of
to high-risk populations," tank. point in the pandemic and caster SABC. the largest inoculation pro-
said WHO Director-General Elsewhere in Europe, Italy is flying in doctors from less "It is something that you grams in the world, aiming
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghe- and Germany extended hard-hit states. Its beach re- have never seen before. ... at vaccinating 300 million
breyesus. "This is not easy. their Christmastime lock- sorts are readying for more We have run out of coffins, people by August.q
These are the hard miles." downs, Spain is restricting cases after thousands of we have run out of space
England is facing a third travel, and Denmark low- U.S. and European tourists at the mortuary," he said.
national lockdown that will ered the number of people visited over the holidays. "We normally have crema-
last at least six weeks, as who can gather in public "Probably in the third week tions during the day, but
authorities struggle to stem from 10 to five. France is of January, we are going now we have cremations
a surge in COVID-19 infec- likely to announce tougher to see the system stressed even at night."
tions and relieve hospitals, measures Thursday, and more, that there will be The pandemic is even
where some patients are Ukraine is closing schools more ambulatory cases reaching countries that
left waiting in ambulances and restaurants starting Fri- and cases requiring hospi- seemed to have the virus
in a parking lot for access day. talization," said Dr. Mauricio under control.
to overcrowded wards. In Latin America, some Rodriguez of Mexico's Na- Thailand is facing a surge
Prime Minister Boris Johnson warn the worst is yet to tional Autonomous Univer- that has infected thou-