Paris (AFP)

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

- Spain: balance sheet revised upwards -

This new figure includes deaths for which the virus had been definitively identified as the cause of death (32,652) and those for which it is suspected to be the cause because of the symptoms.

- More than 1.57 million dead -

The pandemic has killed at least 1.57 million people worldwide since the end of December 2019, according to a report established by AFP from official sources Thursday at 11:00 GMT.

Some 68.8 million cases of infection have been officially diagnosed since the start of the epidemic.

The United States is the most affected country, with 289,450 deaths, followed by Brazil (178,995 deaths), India (141,772) and Mexico (111,655).

- USA: vaccine reviewed by independent experts -

Thursday on the internet about twenty independent American experts will examine the vaccine data of the American-German duo Pfizer / BioNTech in order to recommend or not its authorization.

The advisory committee will then vote its recommendation to the Medicines Agency (FDA), whose green light should arrive in the following days.

- Vaccine: the Gates Foundation injects an additional 250 M USD -

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has announced that it will inject an additional $ 250 million (€ 206 million) into the international campaign to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Part of these funds will be devoted to the distribution of vaccines in regions of sub-Saharan Africa and in South Asia.

Colombia adopted a law on Wednesday guaranteeing free and universal access to vaccination from 2021.

- Macron worries about "critical situations" in Europe -

French President Emmanuel Macron was alarmed Thursday in Brussels of "very critical situations" as the end of the year holidays approach in "many places in Europe", which requires strong coordination from the countries of the EU.

Its Prime Minister, Jean Castex, must decide Thursday whether deconfinement in France will take place as planned on December 15 or if the health situation requires the maintenance of restrictions, fifteen days before Christmas.

On Wednesday, 14,595 positive cases were recorded in France in 24 hours, well above the target.

- Germany: "worrying" rise in infections -

The current increase in the number of Covid-19 infections in Germany is "worrying", said Thursday the president of the Robert-Koch (RKI) health watch institute.

Germany on Thursday recorded a record increase of 23,679 cases in 24 hours.

Angela Merkel could meet with leaders of regional states this weekend to decide on new measures.

- Rep.

Czech: state of emergency prolonged -

The Czech government extended Thursday until December 23 the state of emergency in the face of the rebound in the number of contaminations, asking restaurants since Wednesday to close at 8:00 p.m.

- GB: growth is slowing -

Growth continued to slow in the UK in October, to 0.4%, on the back of further restrictive activity measures to tackle the pandemic.

- World Indoor Athletics Championships postponed -

The World Athletics Indoor Championships scheduled for Nanjing (China), already postponed by one year to March 2021, are now postponed to March 2023, World Athletics announced Thursday.

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© 2020 AFP