Insight - Covid-weary world facing a distressing reality check

Long way: A woman passing a mural seeking to encourage the wearing of masks. The now-stalled US vaccine campaign will take eight or nine months to reach 75% coverage because of entrenched pockets of vaccine resistance in parts of the country. — AP

JUST a few weeks ago, much of the world seemed poised to leave Covid-19 behind.

US President Joe Biden declared the United States close to independence from the virus. Britons hit the dance floor to celebrate “Freedom Day.” Singapore’s legendarily strict government signalled it would begin to loosen its zero-cases approach and make life and travel more manageable.