Hong Kong (AFP)

Hong Kong launched a massive Covid-19 screening campaign on Tuesday, while, from France to Russia, the start of the school year was with masks and disinfectant, to prevent schools from becoming hotbeds of the virus.

More than half a million Hong Kong people have already registered for this free screening, despite mistrust over the involvement of doctors and companies from mainland China.

And more than half of the 141 test points spread across the city, including schools and stadiums, are full for their first day of activity on Tuesday.

Hong Kong, very densely populated, has a very honorable record when it comes to the fight against the coronavirus.

But since July it has experienced an upsurge in contamination, mainly linked to cases in professions exempt from strict quarantine measures.

Authorities say the massive screening campaign will break unidentified chains of contamination.

- Mask at school -

In Europe, the young French, Belgians, Russians and Ukrainians return to school on Tuesday after their German, Northern Irish or Scottish comrades.

In French schools, wearing a mask is compulsory for teachers and students from 11 years old, without going as far as Greece's decision to make the mask compulsory from kindergarten.

In Spain, where the start of the school year will be staggered between September 4 and 15 depending on the region, children from the age of six will have to wear the mask at school, and at all times.

Sweden, which has not confined its population unlike the rest of Europe, is one of the rare countries not to impose the wearing of masks.

In Stockholm, few wear it in supermarkets, offices, buses and subways.

Only a handle bends for its use.

"They think they know better than the rest of the world," criticizes Jenny Ohlsson, manager of a shop selling masks in the Swedish capital.

Algeria for its part decided on Monday to relax the containment measures, reducing the number of prefectures subject to a curfew and reopening nurseries, bookstores and museums, after a drop in contamination.

The United States, where the health response remains fragmented and uneven from one state to another, has for its part exceeded six million cases.

The US death toll of more than 183,000 is expected to exceed 200,000 during the month of September, according to epidemic models, even if the White House seeks to limit the number of tests to minimize the epidemic.

Globally, the pandemic has an official toll of more than 25.3 million people infected, a figure that is certainly underestimated, especially in countries like India, which now records the most new cases per day, ahead of the United States.

On the research front, besides those on a vaccine, Canadian researchers are looking at a food, the fruit of the acai palm, in their quest for a treatment for the most severe symptoms, because it reduces inflammation.

- Diversion -

Latest Covid-related alleged embezzlement case: In Kenya, President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday ordered the Ministry of Health to release details of all purchases made during the pandemic, after accusations of embezzlement of millions of dollars in supplies essential medical care.

Caregivers had posted images on social media of defective protective equipment sent to emergency services.

In South America, Peru is now the country holding the sad world record for death from coronavirus, with 87 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.

"We lack hospitals, health centers, drugs, laboratories. Many people die at home for fear of coming to the hospital or because there are no beds or ventilators", said sorry the president of the Federation of Peruvian doctors, Godofredo Talavera, questioned by AFP.

In Brazil, which remains the second most affected country behind the United States, with nearly 121,000 dead, a famous indigenous leader, the cacique Raoni Metuktire, infected, is hospitalized.

In Mexico, a tattoo artist offers survivors a free tattoo: "COVID-19 SURVIVOR".

"Like that, in a few years, they will be able to tell their grandchildren and their children, + look, I remember that in 2020 I had the Covid", explains to AFP the tattoo artist, Omi Debua.

A tattoo for those who saved their skin.

burs-dth / ybl

© 2020 AFP