Paris (AFP)
New measures, new reports and highlights: an update on the latest developments in the Covid-19 pandemic around the world.
- The EU begins to reopen to the UK -
France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic are starting to reopen their borders with the United Kingdom in order to allow the return of their nationals in particular.
Cross-Channel freight links are resumed under conditions.
The port of Dover reopened overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, Eurostar train connections from London resumed early in the morning.
- Vaccination in Switzerland -
The vaccination campaign against Covid-19 started Wednesday in Switzerland: a woman over 90, in the canton of Lucerne, was the first patient, just four days after the authorization of the product by the authorities.
- In Mexico -
Mexico will launch its campaign on Thursday after the first batch of vaccines ordered from the US-German pharmaceutical duo Pfizer / BioNTech arrives, the government said.
- and Sunday in France -
The first vaccination campaign will begin Sunday in France in "two or three" establishments for the elderly and will concern "a few dozen residents", according to the Ministry of Health.
- Sydney loosens the noose for Christmas -
Sydney eased Christmas restrictions slightly on Wednesday, as Australia's largest city recorded fewer than ten coronavirus cases for the second day in a row.
- Tests at home -
The French analysis group Eurofins Scientific has announced the launch in Europe of kits allowing you to take a sample yourself and at home with a view to performing a PCR test and detecting Covid-19.
This “non-invasive” sampling method has been marketed in the United States since October 19 under the name “EmpowerDX kit”.
- USA: Trump rejects the 900 billion plan -
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday evening rejected the $ 900 billion stimulus package adopted by Congress the day before after months of blockage, calling it a "shame" and calling for an increase in the amount of checks sent to families .
The new aid package was to take over from the gigantic 2,200 billion plan adopted urgently at the end of March, during the first wave.
President-elect Joe Biden has announced that next year he will ask Congress to vote on a new plan to support the economy.
- More than 1.7 million dead -
The pandemic has killed at least 1.7 million people worldwide since the end of December, according to a report established by AFP from official sources on Wednesday at 11:00 GMT.
More than 77.9 million cases of infection have been officially diagnosed.
The United States remains the most affected country with 322,849 deaths, followed by Brazil (188,259 deaths), India (146,444), Mexico (119,495) and Italy (69,842).
burs-paj / cds / fio
© 2020 AFP