Pope Francis Had Intestinal Surgery, Now Recovering In Hospital
The pope was treated for symptomatic stenotic diverticulitis and had half his colon removed. Separately, the delta covid variant is surging in poorer nations; India has a fake vaccine scandal; and Singapore advises less exercise after covid vaccines.
AP:
Vatican: Pope Alert And Well A Day After Intestinal Surgery
Pope Francis was “in good, overall condition, alert” and breathing on his own Monday, the Vatican said a day after the pontiff underwent a three-hour operation that involved removing half of his colon. Francis, 84, is expected to stay in Rome’s Gemelli Polyclinic, which has a special suite reserved for popes, for about seven days, assuming no complications, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said. (D'Emilio, 7/5)
The New York Times:
A Closer Look At The Colon Condition That Hospitalized The Pope
Despite its intimidating name, symptomatic stenotic diverticulitis is a relatively common and treatable disorder. It begins as a mild condition called diverticulosis, which is essentially a collection of pouches in the colon wall, usually on the left side. Diverticulosis is extremely common: About two out of three people have the pouches once they get to their 60s or 70s. (Mandavilli, 7/5)
AP:
EXPLAINER: What Kind Of Surgery Did Pope Francis Have?
Pope Francis has had surgery to remove part of his left colon in what the Vatican has described as a planned procedure. Doctors say the bowel problems that the 84-year-old pope was experiencing are very common in older people, although only about 10% to 20% of people with similar problems require surgery. Here’s a look at what we know about the operation and what the pope’s doctors will be watching out for. (Cheng, 7/5)
In developments from Indonesia, India, Singapore, Fiji and Brazil —
The Wall Street Journal:
Deaths, Hospitalizations Surge As Delta Variant Deals Blow To Poor Countries
The fast-spreading Delta variant of the coronavirus is driving up infections in developing countries that are dangerously short on Covid-19 vaccines to battle deadly surges and whose healthcare systems are struggling to cope. Indonesia, where Covid-19 cases have reached new highs, has reported about 500 deaths a day in the past week—almost triple the daily levels recorded in early June—data from its health ministry shows. Authorities are racing to add hospital beds as medical workers in parts of the country face shortages of ventilators and isolation rooms. Patients are traveling for hours for proper medical care, said the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which runs a hospital in West Java province and recently set up emergency tents on-site to accommodate the flow. (Enmont, 7/5)
Bloomberg:
Indonesia To Ship Oxygen From Neighbors On Covid Cases Spike
Indonesia is preparing to import liquid oxygen from neighboring countries to meet surging need as the country struggles with a rapid spike in coronavirus infections. Producers Linde Group, Air Products and Chemicals Inc., Air Liquide SA and Iwatani Corp are ready to ship liquid oxygen to the country from facilities in Singapore and Malaysia, which would take one week to arrive, Fridy Juwono, director for upstream chemicals at the Industry Ministry, said by phone on Tuesday. (Listiyorini, 7/6)
CBS News:
Thousands Get Fake COVID Vaccine Shots In Alleged Scam In India
Indian authorities have arrested 14 people and cordoned off a private hospital as they investigate an alleged vaccination scam that purportedly saw thousands of people given shots of saline solution when they thought they were getting coronavirus vaccines. At least 2,000 people in the Indian financial capital of Mumbai and 500 in the eastern state of Bengal may have fallen prey to the elaborate scam, authorities said. (Zargar, 7/5)
Bloomberg:
Singapore Advises Avoiding Exercise for Longer After Vaccination
Singapore’s government recommended that vaccinated people avoid strenuous physical activity for a week after getting the shots, as a few cases surfaced of mostly young men experiencing heart problems from receiving jabs while a teenager suffered from cardiac arrest. The Health Ministry updated its guidance on Monday for all those seeking vaccinations, particularly adolescents and men below 30 years, to avoid strenuous exercise for week after either the first or second dose as a “further precautionary measure.” Initially, it was a 12-24 hour period for refraining from exercise and on June 11, it was extended to one week after getting the second dose. (Koswanage, 7/5)
Bloomberg:
Fiji’s Covid Cases Hit Record as Virus Threatens Once-Safe Pacific Islands
Fiji is at the frontline of the battle against Covid-19 in the Pacific Islands as the nation faces its biggest challenge since the pandemic began and races to vaccinate its 900,000-strong population. The tropical nation, whose tourism-dependent economy has already been smashed, posted a record 522 new cases and three deaths on Sunday, according to Johns Hopkins University data. While new infections dipped to 352 on Monday, Fiji has now recorded more than 6,500 cases and 33 deaths. (Hussainpoor and Scott, 7/6)
Bloomberg:
Brazil Top Court Authorizes Bolsonaro Probe Related To Vaccines
Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Rosa Weber authorized the start of an investigation into President Jair Bolsonaro for possible negligence in the handling of corruption allegations related to the purchase of vaccines from India. The authorization was published on the top court’s website on Saturday, a day after the prosecutor general office’s request to investigate the president following the federal government’s erratic response to the pandemic. (Lara, 7/3)
