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It’s been a year since the coronavirus threat was declared a pandemic, with vaccines offering hope, but much of the world’s population still endures severely restricted lives without a clear path back to normalcy.
It has also been a year since the first death of a person from Covid-19 was reported in Ireland.
Over the past 12 months, the virus has claimed the lives of 4,499 people in Ireland.
The enormity of the challenge as we enter the second year of the pandemic was highlighted yesterday in Brazil, where a surge driven by new, more contagious variants saw a record 2,286 deaths reported for the day.
Since it first emerged in China in late 2019, the coronavirus has killed more than 2.6 million people and imposed unprecedented restrictions on the movement that devastated economies.
“It took a long time for politicians to act … We are paying for it, poor people,” said Adilson Menezes, 40, outside a hospital in Brazil’s largest city, Sao Paulo, where all non-essential business they are closed. help fight the virus.
The World Health Organization officially declared Covid-19 a pandemic on March 11 of last year, as the number of infections began to skyrocket in Asia and Europe.
But as the United States is just beginning to feel the direct impacts of the pandemic, President Donald Trump downplayed the threat.
“The virus will have no chance against us,” Trump told the nation.
The United States would become the worst affected nation: the American death toll today stands at more than 528,000.
A year ago, the only defenses against the contagious virus seemed to be face masks and preventing people from interacting.
Global aviation came to a standstill and governments imposed deeply unpopular restrictions, forcing billions of fearful people into some kind of lockdown.
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Yet at the same time, governments and scientists were starting the race to create vaccines, and research and development would take place at an unprecedented rate.
Several intakes are now being rolled out, including those developed in China, Russia, and India. More than 300 million doses of vaccines have been administered in 140 countries, according to an AFP tally.
The richest nations have advanced with their mass vaccination programs, while billions in the poorest nations are still waiting to receive injections.
Light at the end of the tunnel
Hope for a global boost has been fueled by the launch of deliveries under the WHO-backed Covax scheme, which aims to ensure equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines.
The success of the AstraZeneca / Oxford and Johnson & Johnson intakes is further cause for optimism, as they are easier to transport and store than those of Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna, which require ultra-cold refrigerators.
The European Union’s medical regulator was scheduled to hold a meeting today to discuss the authorization of the J&J vaccine, which has already been approved by Canada and the United States.
The US vaccination effort has gained momentum in recent weeks, with President Joe Biden vowing to have enough doses in a few months for the entire American population.
Four former US Presidents – Barack Obama, George W Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter – will appear in two new public service announcements (PSAs) for the coronavirus vaccine alongside former first ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton. and Rosalynn Carter.
“The science is clear. These vaccines will protect you and your loved ones from this dangerous and deadly disease,” President Bush said in one of the ads, with Obama and Clinton urging Americans to get vaccinated.
“That is the first step in ending the pandemic and moving our country forward,” Obama said.
When asked about Trump’s absence, an Ad Council spokesperson said one of the public service announcements was filmed at President Biden’s January inauguration, which the Trumps did not attend.
The new ads are part of the Ad Council’s national vaccine education campaign “It’s Up to You.” More than 300 partners support the nonprofit in an effort to combat concerns about vaccine safety and help convince more people to get the vaccine.
The Biden administration has spearheaded a huge economic stimulus bill, which Biden is expected to sign tomorrow.
He is scheduled to deliver a televised prime-time address today in which he will offer an optimistic view of his nation and, by extension, the world.
“There is real reason for hope folks, I promise you,” Biden said in a preview of his remarks, which will include his administration’s next steps against Covid-19.
“There is light at the end of the tunnel.”
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