Paris (AFP)
New reports, new measures and highlights: an update on the latest developments in the Covid-19 pandemic around the world.
- First vaccinations before the end of 2020?
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The announcement of a 90% effective vaccine against Covid-19, developed by the American Pfizer and the German BioNTtech, continues to arouse immense hope.
WHO hails "unprecedented innovation and scientific collaboration".
Americans who have pre-ordered 100 million doses say vaccinations could start before the end of the year and Europeans, who have pre-purchased 200 million doses and are negotiating for 100 million more, hope to be able to have them in early 2021.
- Confinements and curfews in Europe -
Most European countries, where more than 13 million cases have been recorded, are subject to varying levels of containment or curfews.
Portugal, in a state of health emergency since Monday, has imposed a curfew in most of the country, as in Romania and Hungary where it is extended.
In France, the second wave is progressing more slowly, especially in the Paris region, ten days after the reconfinement.
In Italy, the epidemic situation is "largely out of control" according to doctors who are calling for total containment.
- More than 1.2 million dead -
The novel coronavirus pandemic has killed at least 1,263,890 worldwide since the WHO office in China reported its onset at the end of December, according to an AFP report from official sources Tuesday at 11 a.m. GMT.
The United States is the most affected country in terms of both deaths and cases, with 238,251 deaths for 10,110,552 cases, according to the count from Johns Hopkins University.
After the United States, the countries most affected are Brazil (162,628 dead), India (127,059 dead), Mexico (95,255 dead) and the United Kingdom (49,063 dead).
- Saëb Erakat swept away by the Covid -
The Secretary General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Saëb Erakat, died of the new coronavirus on Tuesday at the age of 65.
He had pulmonary fibrosis and had a lung transplant.
His transfer to a hospital in Jerusalem drew criticism.
- 9% unemployment in France -
The unemployment rate jumped in the third quarter in France to stand at 9%, or 2.7 million unemployed.
Prime Minister Jean Castex will hold a press conference on Thursday during which he should not announce the reopening so much requested by small businesses.
- New Caledonia is resisting -
New Caledonia continues until July 31, 2021 to drastically limit its international air service to protect itself from the coronavirus which does not circulate in the archipelago.
"We are a small village of Gauls who are resisting. All around us, the world is experiencing an upsurge of the virus; we therefore have the responsibility to keep New Caledonia in this favorable situation", explained the president of the collegiate government in September. .
© 2020 AFP