International
Ecuador detects three cases of new Covid-19 variant
August 30|
The Ministry of Public Health (MSP) of Ecuador confirmed the existence in the country of the EG-5 variant of SARS-CoV-2, the same that has led to the rebound of the disease in China and other countries such as Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, the United States and the Dominican Republic.
The National Undersecretary of Public Health Surveillance, attached to the MSP, Francisco Perez, reported that the three cases identified were located in the Andean province of Pichincha, whose capital is Quito, which leads to presume that the variant transits through other regions of the nation.
The official remarked that the first case was detected three weeks ago and is currently at home with no symptoms and no possibility of having infected other people. The other two people identified with the variant do not pave the way for knowing the existence of new cases.
“We have not had the effects that the circulation of this variant has had in other countries,” said the health official, who took the opportunity to recommend to the population to increase basic health care, especially those with comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, respiratory problems and others.
He suggested the use of masks and respecting vaccination schedules to avoid contagion and severe complications, such as the “seasonal vaccine” available in the national health system for people at risk, but revealed that a regular dose is being analyzed to be incorporated to the general inoculation system.
EG.5 is a subvariant of the Omicron lineage of Covid-19 and has already generated concern because it circulates freely in several countries. According to the MOH, XBB.1.5 is the dominant Covid-19 variant in Ecuador, although others such as XBB.1.16.1 have been detected in the provinces of Pichincha, Tungurahua and Pastaza.
Other variants that the MSP keeps under monitoring are XBB.1.9.2 (Cotopaxi and Pichincha), XBB.1.9.2 (Chimborazo and Pichincha) and XBB.2.3.3 (Pichincha). However, the entity assures that the contagion is scarce and practically no deaths have been registered due to this disease in the last weeks, said Perez.
In another sense, the undersecretary warned about the rebound of dengue cases and stated that, so far this year, 16 deaths have been confirmed due to this disease, a figure that equals the total number of deaths of the previous year.
International
40,000 tourists stranded in Israel amid airspace shutdown over Iran conflict
Approximately 40,000 tourists are stranded in Israel following the closure of the country’s airspace amid escalating hostilities with Iran, the Israeli Ministry of Tourism reported on Monday.
The ministry has set up a virtual office to provide information via email (virtual@goisrael.gov.il) and phone (+972-53-583-5808), as well as a Facebook page called Israel Virtual Tourist Office.
Israeli Tourism Minister Haim Katz is in contact with hotels and accommodations across the country to offer support to tourists in need, the ministry added.
Many stranded travelers are considering crossing overland into Jordan or Egypt to seek flights from those countries. The Israel Airports Authority reminded the public that land border crossings remain open.
Three German tourists stranded in Jerusalem told EFE today that they have not received any assistance from their country’s embassy in Israel, and their primary option currently is to cross into Jordan to catch a flight from there.
Since early Friday morning, Israel launched operations against Iran, targeting military personnel and infrastructure, including energy and nuclear facilities, as well as numerous residential areas in Tehran.
In response, Iran has fired hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel, some of which have struck various locations across the country, leaving at least 24 dead so far, according to Israeli authorities.
Iranian health officials report at least 224 deaths, mostly civilians, including at least 17 senior military officials—nine from the Revolutionary Guard—and more than a dozen nuclear scientists.
The Israeli military has warned that many more “targets” remain, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard declared on Monday that it will continue missile attacks against Israel until its “destruction.”
International
Trump directs ICE to focus deportation efforts on democratic-led states
On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to prioritize raids, deportations, and immigration enforcement in states governed by the Democratic Party, according to the news outlet Univision.
The U.S. president posted on his social media channels directing agents to “do everything possible to achieve the very important goal of delivering the largest mass deportation program in history,” the report said.
Trump further explained that efforts should be expanded to apprehend and deport illegal immigrants in the largest U.S. cities, such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, where millions of undocumented immigrants reside.
Previously, Stephen Miller, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff, informally stated that the agency aims to arrest 3,000 immigrants per day. He also demanded that agents actively seek out and detain undocumented immigrants, according to the American media outlet.
In recent weeks, ICE operations have faced criticism for the use of masked agents who do not identify themselves or present warrants during arrests.
International
Judge to rule next week on injunction against Trump’s student visa restrictions
A Boston (Massachusetts) federal judge postponed on Monday her decision on whether to maintain the injunction blocking President Donald Trump’s ban on foreign students at Harvard University.
District Judge Allison D. Burroughs announced after a hearing that she would decide next week whether to uphold or lift the temporary restraining order she issued in May against the policy.
The order will remain in effect until her ruling next week, according to local media reports.
Last month, the Trump administration barred Harvard from enrolling new foreign students and warned current international students that they must transfer to other universities or risk losing their immigration status.
Harvard, one of the most prestigious U.S. universities, filed a lawsuit arguing that its authorization to accept foreign students is “essential” for them to remain legally in the country.
In its legal challenge, the university stated that revoking this authorization has already “disrupted countless academic programs, research labs, and courses.”
Following Harvard’s lawsuit, Judge Burroughs issued a temporary restraining order against the government’s ban, which affects about a quarter of the university’s student body.
Despite the judge’s order, Harvard reported in court documents that several students who arrived in Boston on June 5 were sent to “secondary inspection” and “were detained for many hours without being able to contact anyone.”
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