Paris (AFP)
Highlights, new measures, new reports: an update on the latest developments in the Covid-19 pandemic around the world.
- Germany: new cases at their highest since April -
Germany on Saturday recorded its highest daily number of new coronavirus cases since April, with 2,297 new infections, according to the Robert Koch epidemiological watch institute.
In total, some 270,070 people have tested positive in Germany since the start of the epidemic, which has killed 9,384 (+6 in 24 hours).
The deterioration of the epidemiological situation prompted the organizers of carnivals in North Rhine-Westphalia on Friday to cancel these festivities this year.
- More than 950,000 deaths worldwide -
The pandemic caused by the new coronavirus has killed at least 953,025 people worldwide since the onset of the disease at the end of December, according to an assessment established by AFP from official sources on Saturday at 11:00 GMT.
More than 30,556,040 cases of infection have been officially diagnosed.
The United States is the most bereaved country with 198,597 dead.
Next come Brazil (135,793), India (85,619), Mexico (72,803) and the United Kingdom (41,732).
- Israel is reconfiguring itself -
Israel reconfigured itself on Friday, the first day of the Jewish holiday season, causing discontent among many of the population.
Israel recorded between Thursday evening and Friday noon 5,238 new cases of contamination, a record.
- Spain tightens the screw -
Epicenter of the epidemic in Spain, the Madrid region imposes drastic restrictions.
858,000 people, or 13% of the population of the capital, living in disadvantaged southern neighborhoods, will not be able, from Monday, to leave their neighborhood except for essential reasons such as working, going to the doctor or bringing children at school.
- France hardens its measures -
In the Paris region, where the epidemic is worsening, the health authorities have called to avoid private gatherings of more than 10 people.
In the south-east, in Nice, no more aperitifs on the beach after 8:00 p.m., picnics for more than ten people in the parks.
In Toulouse (south-west), the measures restricting festive activities are reinforced.
Saliva tests will be allowed in the country, but only for people with symptoms.
- "Second wave" in the UK -
The UK is facing a "second wave" of the new coronavirus, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned, his government not ruling out resorting to new general containment for all of England as a "last line of defense".
New restrictions have come into effect for two million inhabitants of the north-east of England, including banning meetings between people from different homes and introducing a curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. in places of entertainment.
- New restrictions in Europe, Argentina -
The Irish government on Friday announced further tightening of restrictions on pubs and restaurants in Dublin, for the second time in a week.
Argentina has decided to extend until October 11 the restrictions imposed to deal with the pandemic, with however an easing in the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires where the number of cases has stabilized.
The Greek government is stepping up protective measures in the face of the resurgence of cases especially in the Athens region, again closing its cinemas and partially returning to telework.
In Iceland, Reykjavik's bars and nightclubs are kept closed for four days from Friday.
burx-paj / mw / mc
© 2020 AFP