China drops billionth COVID vaccination as Brazilian toll hits milestone

China announced on Sunday that it had launched its first billion-dollar attacks on the world’s largest coronavirus vaccination drive as Brazil’s pandemic killed more than 500,000 people.

global Number of deaths Infections from COVID-19 currently exceed 3.8 million and many countries are still battling the outbreak, but vaccination in some countries enables activities that were unthinkable months ago. I have.

According to official sources, China’s vaccine milestone comes after the number of injections given worldwide exceeded 2.5 billion on Friday.

However, the Asian giant’s vaccination efforts began sluggishly after a successful battle against the virus.

A lack of transparency and previous vaccination scandals have also led to resistance from many residents.

The authorities have set an ambitious goal to fully vaccinate 40% of the approximately 1.4 billion people in China by the end of this month.

Some states offer free vaccines to encourage people to roll up their sleeves. Central Anhui residents receive free eggs and some Beijing residents receive shopping vouchers.

China’s success against the virus is in stark contrast to Brazil, which became the second country after the US, which surpassed 500,000 COVID-19 deaths on Saturday.

Vaccination efforts are slow, with only 11% of the Brazilian population being vaccinated as the third wave of infections spreads across the country.

The previously vaccinated right-wing extremist President Jair Bolsonaro promised to vaccinate the entire population by the end of the year. Experts don’t believe.

From the start, he has been criticized for downplaying the disease, rejecting blockades, and disrupting unproven treatments.

Thousands of Brazilians took to the streets again on Saturday to protest his treatment of the pandemic.

“His position on COVID and his opposition are ridiculous. He’s given up on reality and common sense, ”said 50-year-old photographer Robert Almeida, who is marching in Rio.

“I can’t explain it, it’s surreal.”

“Learn to live with it”

In India, there were also concerns that people were not taking the COVID threat seriously enough just weeks after the crematorium was operating 24 hours a day to fight the virus victims.

Doctors fear that India could hold back too soon, as shopping centers and markets are again overcrowded with customers.

A shopper in a shopping mall in New Delhi told AFP, “I’m sick of walking in.”

“I needed this break, how long can you stay in the trap?” Said sales manager Surili Gupta, 26.

“The coronavirus isn’t coming out right away, so we have to learn to live with it.”

The pandemic is also casting a shadow over the Tokyo Olympics, which begin in just over a month.

Members of the Ugandan Olympic team tested positive for the coronavirus when they arrived in Japan on Saturday, officials said.

The nine powerful group, including boxers, coaches and leaders, is the second team to arrive in Japan on June 1st after the Australian women’s softball team.

According to Japanese media, this was the first positive COVID test among foreign Olympic comers.

Hidemasa Nakamura, who is in charge of sales at the Tokyo 2020 Games, told reporters, “I heard he was quarantined,” and promised to take tough measures against infectious diseases.

Authorities in many countries continue to struggle with crowds who ignore coronavirus rules regarding social distancing and the wearing of masks.

5 people in France police officer A party member lost his hand after being injured while breaking up 1,500 powerful illegal raves, officials said.

The police used tear gas to disperse the crowd. The crowd ignored the coronavirus curfew around the racetrack in Brittany at 11:00 p.m. on Friday.

When 400 police officers intervened, there was a “very violent clash” overnight that lasted more than seven hours.

“It was a war,” said 22-year-old Flo, who attended.

© 2021 AFP