Today, Friday, the chief adviser to the French government on Covid-19 suggested that a new mutated version of the Corona virus would appear during the next winter months, expecting that life would return to normal in 2022 or 2023.

While an increasing number of European countries began to strengthen measures to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, by pressuring citizens to receive the vaccine and adhere to the instructions, amid the increasing infections due to the outbreak of the Delta strain.

"We will probably see the arrival of another mutant during the winter," Jean-François Delfraisy, head of the French government's scientific council, told BFM news channel.

He indicated that he could not anticipate the consequences of this or know whether they would be more serious, adding that Covid had a relatively limited ability to mutate.


France is currently suffering from a significant increase in the number of new infections caused by the outbreak of the highly contagious "Delta" mutant, which was first detected in India.

Delfrisse urged the French to return to social distancing and wear masks, noting that "a return to normal" will most likely be in 2022 or 2023.

The big challenge for the next few years, he said, is how we can coexist with two worlds: countries that are immune and others that are not.

Strengthening Actions

In a related context, an increasing number of European countries - such as Italy and Greece - began strengthening measures to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, by pressuring citizens to receive the vaccine and adhere to the instructions, amid the increase in infections due to the outbreak of the Delta strain.

Yesterday, Thursday, Italy followed France's example and announced that obtaining the vaccine or providing immunity will be mandatory to practice a number of activities, including eating in closed areas, and entering places such as gyms, swimming pools, museums and cinemas.

European countries began easing the precautionary restrictions to confront Corona before re-imposing them with the spread of mutated (European) strains

Greece has made it mandatory to submit a certificate of obtaining the vaccine to allow entry to restaurants and bars since last week, while dozens of municipalities in Portugal have implemented restrictions during the


indoor

weekend

since early July.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi defended his decision to make the so-called green pass mandatory to participate in most activities of public life


. We'll have to shut everything down again."

travel comment

The New Zealand government has temporarily suspended travel to all of Australia without quarantine for at least 8 weeks, as the delta mutant continues to spread in the country.

The New Zealand Cabinet, according to what was reported by Radio New Zealand today, Friday, approved the recommendation of the Director-General of Health, Ashley Bloomfield, to suspend quarantine-free travel with Australia for at least 8 weeks.

Prime Minister of New South Wales, Australia, Gladys Berejiklian, prepares to speak at a press conference Friday on the developments of Corona (Getty)

The New Zealand government said it was closely monitoring the situation and would continue to act with great caution at every turn.

She affirmed her commitment to the return of New Zealanders from Australia, noting that return flights for New Zealand and Australian citizens will be prepared in New Zealand.

It is worth noting that more than 200,000 people have flown between New Zealand and Australia since the return of travel between the two countries last April.

German classification

The German government classified Spain and the Netherlands as two high-infection regions with corona due to the high number of infections.

And the German Robert Koch Institute for Disease Control announced - today, Friday - that this decision will be implemented as of next Tuesday.

Under this classification, anyone who returns from a high-infection area who has not been fully vaccinated or recovered from Corona must remain in quarantine for 10 days, but can shorten the period to 5 days after submitting a negative test.