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Read this article to get informed on what occurred during the beginning of 2022!
New covid variant: Deltacron
A new Coronavirus-19 variant has been discovered by scientists in Cyprus, named ‘Deltacron’. This name comes from the combination of Delta and Omicron, the two previous variants; the reason being that the new strand exhibits traits of both these variants, highly contagious but with no serious symptoms. Some scientists, however, have reported that it came from a ‘lab processing error’ and therefore claimed it a false scare. Regardless, it remains important to stay cautious and do your part!
Djokovic’s Australia visa battle
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic has been in constant battle with prolonging his Australian visa in order to participate in the Australian Open. His efforts to participate in the 21st Grand Slam of his career continue. The reason for his visa prolongation to be cancelled is due to the government’s desire to protect its citizens during the pandemic. Allowing his entry with his failure to meet the entry requirements would not only put many at risk, but also produce a lot of backlash against the government’s decision to permit his entry. Recently, there have been allegations of falsifying travel documents against the tennis star as well as Djokovic admitting to being “opposed to the vaccination” – to which the Australian government exempted him from. He is currently at risk of being “deported and getting a three year Australian visa ban.”
Philippines public transport ban for the unvaccinated
The government of the Philippines has banned public transport for the unvaccinated citizens in an effort to not only reduce the spread but also encourage vaccinations among its people. The “no vaccination, no ride” policy, however, has sparked a lot of backlash due to the lack of it’s poor population not having access to vaccines. This has caused many adverse effects, the main one being a public transport ban resulting in these people being unable to go to work to earn an income as well as access to vital food and health services. Despite the availability of exemptions for those unvaccinated due to health reasons, this doesn’t solve the problem for those who simply cannot afford the vaccine.
Record high temperatures in Australia
More than ever, worries about the climate crisis rise due to Australia’s highest recorded temperature of 50.7ºC in the country’s western regions. This has only occurred a few times in its history, for example, when 50ºC was surpassed in the 1960s. The continent has experienced high temperatures throughout the past decades, but never to this extreme. It led to many being hospitalized, as the heat causes dehydration, stroke, heart attacks, and even deaths. Officials are currently working to find ways to ‘sustainably’ deal with the heat, while locals try to cool off any way they can: sprinklers, pool days, or blasting air conditioners.
