Wealthy nations ease restrictions as COVID surges in unvaccinated countries

Geneva, June 8 (RHC)-- India has begun easing coronavirus restrictions after daily infections hit a two-month low.  India is still reporting about 100,000 cases and 2,000 deaths from COVID-19 each day.

Uganda has ordered schools, churches and markets to close and will restrict travel amid a second wave of infections that’s disproportionately affecting young people.  The World Health Organization says eight African nations have reported a 30% rise in cases in just one week.  Only about 2% of people in Africa have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Norway’s top coronavirus official has declared an end to the country’s COVID-19 crisis.  More than 22% of people are fully vaccinated in Norway, where hospitals are experiencing their lowest level of admissions in a year.

In the United States, daily cases continue to fall — even as the pace of vaccinations has slowed to a trickle.  The Biden administration now appears unlikely to hit its goal of getting at least one vaccine dose to 70% of U.S. adults by the Fourth of July.

In Geneva, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has urged G-7 leaders to commit immediately to sharing vaccine doses with the rest of the world.  Dr. Tedros said:  “Increasingly, we see a two-track pandemic: Many countries still face an extremely dangerous situation while some of those with the highest vaccination rates are starting to talk about ending restrictions.”