The United States and Britain endured their worst day of the pandemic as countries around the world tightened virus restrictions on Wednesday and mass vaccination …
The United States and Britain endured their worst day of the pandemic as countries around the world tightened virus restrictions on Wednesday and mass vaccination campaigns got under way. The World Health Organization said 28 million jabs had been administered across the globe so far, mostly in wealthy countries, with US health authorities saying more than 10 million Americans had aleady received their first doses. Global infections soared past 91 million and deaths neared the 2.0-million mark, compelling governments around the world to reimpose restrictions such as unpopular and economically painful lockdowns. The United States is still the worst-hit nation, logging a record 4,470 deaths in 24 hours on Tuesday as it reeled from a winter surge in infections that has overwhelmed hospitals and clinics. «It’s most definitely the darkest period of my entire career,» said Kari McGuire, a palliative care supervisor at the St Mary hospital in Apple Valley, a small rural town in California. Data collected by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that of 29 million doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines sent to federal states so far,10.2 million have been administered, or around 3.1 percent of the total US population. Authorities also announced that from January 26, all travelers entering the United States by air will need a negative Covid-19 test before departure. Neighboring Canada also scrambled to contain a worrying outbreak, ordering residents in Ontario — its most populous province — to stay home. Ontario Premier Doug Ford warned that the healthcare system was «on the brink of collapse.» — Europe locks down again — In Europe, Britain also registered a new record number of deaths — 1,564 over 24 hours, taking the overall toll to 84,767, the continent’s highest alongside Italy. England is in the midst of its third national lockdown, with schools shut and people ordered to stay at home.
