Paris (AFP)

New reports, new measures and highlights: an update on the latest developments in the Covid-19 pandemic around the world.

- Vaccine: a 3rd candidate in the running -

The British laboratory AstraZeneca, associated with the University of Oxford, has developed a vaccine effective at 70% on average, even 90% in some cases, according to the interim results of large-scale clinical trials carried out in the United Kingdom and the United Kingdom. Brazil.

These results seem for the moment less convincing than those of its competitors Pfizer / BioNTech or Moderna, whose effectiveness exceeds 90%, but the British formula has the advantage of using a more traditional technology, making its future vaccine less expensive and easier to store since it does not need to be kept at very low temperature.

- Vaccines soon authorized in Europe?

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The European Medicines Agency (EMA) could approve the first vaccines against Covid-19 by the end of the year or early 2021, said Monday this body responsible for authorizing and controlling medicines in the European Union.

The final green light, given by the European Commission, allows laboratories to market their medicine throughout the EU.

The EMA has set up a fast-track procedure, which allows it to examine vaccine safety and efficacy data as they become available, even before a formal request for authorization is submitted by the maker.

Oxford / AstraZeneca, Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna are the three vaccine projects subject to this "continuous review".

- Almost 1.4 million dead -

The novel coronavirus pandemic has killed at least 1,388,590 worldwide since the WHO office in China reported the onset of the disease at the end of December, according to a report established by AFP from official sources Monday at 11:00 GMT.

The United States is the most bereaved country with 256,798 deaths, followed by Brazil (169,183 dead), India (133,738 dead), Mexico (101,676 dead) and the United Kingdom (55,024 dead).

- Danone size in its workforce -

The French agri-food giant Danone, whose sales are battered by the Covid-19 pandemic, has announced that it wants to cut up to 2,000 administrative positions in its headquarters, including "400 to 500" in France, in order to "simplify" its organization, return to growth and improve profitability.

The multinational of 100,000 employees expects "a decrease in its general and administrative expenses of 700 million euros, representing about 20% of the structural costs of the company".

- Boris Johnson's plans -

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will detail his plan for local restrictions against the new coronavirus on Monday, which will replace confinement in England in early December and will be based on the deployment of mass screening.

According to media reports, the conservative leader will announce to MPs the reopening of non-essential stores, pubs and restaurants from December 3, a boost for the economy, very weakened by the pandemic, during this generally auspicious period leading up to Christmas .

burs-kd / ber / sba

© 2020 AFP