North Korea claims that the situation has improved, while Shanghai relaxes its rules
Key Takeaways:
- Shanghai announced on Sunday that a two-month Covid ban would be lifted this week, while Beijing unlocked public transit, malls, gyms, and other places as infections stabilized.
- Shanghai will modify its stringent Covid-19 testing standards for persons who want to attend public areas or take public transportation starting June 1.
- As demand for the vaccination falls, Switzerland has declared that it will burn about 6,20,000 outdated doses of Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine.
Shanghai stated on Sunday that it would lift a two-month Covid lockdown this week, while Beijing unlocked areas of its public transportation, malls, gyms, and other venues as infections stabilized. Meanwhile, officials in North Korea noticed that "the situation is improving," implying a relaxation of the country's "stringent" sanctions.
Since proclaiming a state of emergency and instituting a statewide lockdown earlier this month, the isolated nation has been facing an unprecedented Covid wave, fueling concerns about a scarcity of vaccines, medical supplies, and food.
The following are the top eight updates on the Global Covid-19 crisis.
1. According to Reuters, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as well as other top officials, discussed "revising harsh anti-epidemic regulations" during a meeting on Sunday. During the meeting, the official Korean Central News Agency said that Kim and other bureau members "made a favorable evaluation of the pandemic situation being handled and improved across the country" during the meeting. According to KCNA, the meeting indicated that Covid limits might be loosened shortly.
2. According to Reuter, North Korea reported no new deaths among fever sufferers for the second day in a row and said 89,500 additional people displayed fever symptoms on Sunday. That's down from nearly 400,000 just over a week ago.
3. Authorities in Shanghai, China's 25-million-strong financial metropolis, have been gradually loosening restrictions as the number of daily cases in the city continues to fall, according to Reuters. Individuals have been allowed to leave their flats in greater numbers, and companies have been allowed to reopen. For the time being, though, many inhabitants are confined to their housing compounds, and most shops are only open for delivery.
4. Beginning June 1, Shanghai will relax its severe Covid-19 testing requirements for people who wish to visit public areas or use public transportation. Officials told the media that anybody entering public venues or utilizing public transportation would need to present a negative PCR test "performed within 72 hours, rather 48 hours previously," to facilitate job resumption and a return to regular life.
5. According to Bloomberg data, Shanghai recorded 122 new local Covid cases on Saturday, down from 170 on Friday. Outside of government quarantine, only one positive case was discovered.
6. Mobility restrictions in various neighborhoods of Beijing, China's capital, have been lifted as of Sunday after authorities declared the outbreak under control. According to Reuters, the city reported 21 new instances on Sunday, down for the sixth day.
7. As part of a progressive loosening of coronavirus restrictions, Japan will quadruple the maximum number of persons allowed to enter each day at border crossings to 20,000 on June 1, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced on Thursday.
8. In other European news, Switzerland announced that it would destroy almost 6,20,000 outdated doses of Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine as demand for the vaccine plummets. The WHO has repeatedly emphasized vaccine equality in the fight against the pandemic. "Only a small number of Covid-19 vaccinations have been provided in developing countries, resulting in a rising gap among rich and poor," the UN said in a study released earlier this month.