New Delhi (AFP)
The health situation in India remains worrying on Tuesday, with nearly 20 million cases of Covid and a suffocating health system, leading Australia to ban the return of thousands of its nationals stranded in India.
The Asian giant has recorded nearly 220,000 dead, an outbreak attributed to religious and political gatherings authorized in recent months, as well as to the inaction of the government of Narendra Modi.
Hospitals are overwhelmed and short of oxygen, medicine, beds, despite the influx of international aid in recent days.
But it is from Australia that the anger is mounting: thousands of Australians are indeed stuck in India, since Canberra has banned entry into its territory from India in the face of the Covid outbreak, including for its nationals .
"If our government cared about the safety of Australians, they would allow us to go home. It's a shame !!! Mr. Prime Minister, you have blood on your hands," the former player notably tweeted. Australian cricketer Michael Slater, stranded in the Maldives.
Many cricketers are among the Australians stuck in India, where they were competing in the national championship.
Australia warned its fellow citizens returning from India via stop-over flights on Saturday that they risked five years in prison.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison backpedaled on the threat of imprisonment on Tuesday but upheld his decision to prevent returns from India.
"I will protect our borders during this period", he insisted, refuting to have "blood on the hands".
- Second dose not available in Brazil-
Meanwhile, in Brazil, the second most affected country in the world after India, vaccine delivery has been delayed.
And in seven major Brazilian cities, including Porto Alegre, injections of the second dose of the Chinese CoronaVac vaccine have been suspended for lack of doses.
Ecuador on Monday banned the export of medical oxygen, used to treat patients with Covid-19, and capped its price.
"It makes sense that we give priority to the needs of our Ecuadorian compatriots, because it is a fundamental element in saving lives," said the president of the National Committee for Emergency Operations, Juan Zapata.
And in Argentina, the exceptional "solidarity" tax on large fortunes introduced to combat the economic consequences of the pandemic, settled by nearly 80% of wealthy taxable households, reported more than $ 2 billion, said Monday the government.
"The resources generated will be essential to face the health and economic emergencies caused by the pandemic", estimated the Argentinian tax agency.
- Restrictions lifted in Florida -
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday announced the lifting of all restrictions related to the pandemic in his state, highlighting the effectiveness of the vaccine campaign.
"It's the obvious thing to do," the Republican governor said at a press conference, citing the fact that nearly 9 of the 23 million people in his state had now received at least a first dose of the vaccine. .
Those who think we still need restrictions "don't believe in vaccines," he accused.
"At this point, people who have not been vaccinated, it is certainly not because of a lack of availability" of vaccines, insisted DeSantis, popular with the traditional electorate of Donald Trump.
The time is also for relaxation in New York, which was the epicenter of the epidemic in its infancy: its governor, Andrew Cuomo, notably announced on Monday the imminent resumption of the opening of the New York subway 24 hours on 24.
And from May 19, the gauges in restaurants, cinemas, shops and museums will also be revised upwards, said the governor.
This easing echoes the movement started this week in Europe, especially in France, where travel restrictions have been lifted, against the backdrop of a slow decline in hospitalizations.
France has also chosen the date of May 19 for its next stage of deconfinement, with the limited reopening of shops, cinemas, museums, theaters and terraces of bars and restaurants.
The ambassadors of the 27 member states of the European Union are due to examine on Wednesday a proposal from the European Commission in favor of entry into the Union to travelers from third countries who have received the necessary doses of vaccines.
Football players from Italian clubs have received their first dose of vaccine in the run-up to Euro 2020, which should be held in June.
burs-dth / roc
© 2021 AFP