Paris (AFP)

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

- Two vaccines approved in Brazil

The Brazilian regulator on Sunday approved the emergency use of two vaccines, the British AstraZeneca and the Chinese CoronaVac, the first two to get the green light in Brazil, where the pandemic has already killed almost 210,000.

This authorization made it possible to launch the vaccination campaign in Brazil.

- UK expands vaccination campaign

The United Kingdom is expanding its vaccination campaign against the coronavirus on Monday to those over 70 years old, when the quarantine imposed on all arrivals comes into force to avoid the importation of new variants.

- Vaccination of Palestinian prisoners

Israeli prison authorities announced on Sunday that they had started administering the Covid-19 vaccine to its prisoners, including 4,400 Palestinian detainees, after repeated demands from the courts, NGOs and Palestinian officials.

- A hundred arrests during a demonstration in Amsterdam

Around 100 protesters were arrested on Sunday at a rally in Amsterdam where some 2,000 people were protesting against restrictions linked to the Covid-19 pandemic and against the Dutch government, which resigned Friday after an allowances scandal.

- Peru extends suspension of flights from Europe

Peru has extended the suspension of flights from Europe until January 31 as a preventive measure to prevent the entry of passengers who may be infected with the new variant of the coronavirus discovered in the United Kingdom, the government reported on Sunday.

- Spain administers the second dose

Spain on Sunday began administering the second dose of the vaccine to priority people who had already received a first dose in December.

- Vaccination: Biden's objective "feasible"

New US President Joe Biden's goal of injecting 100 million doses of the vaccine during the first 100 days of his mandate is "feasible", said Anthony Fauci on Sunday, who will become his senior advisor on Covid-19 after having was that of Donald Trump.

- Variant: contamination in Belgium

More than 100 people have been infected in a retirement home in West Flanders (north-western Belgium) by the British variant of Covid-19, which has infected two thirds of residents and caused three deaths.

- More than two million dead

The pandemic has killed at least 2,022,740 people around the world since its discovery in China in December 2019, according to a count made by AFP from official reports provided by the authorities on Sunday.

More than 94.4 million cases of infection have been officially diagnosed.

The United States remains the most affected country in terms of both deaths and cases, with 397,494 deaths.

They are followed by Brazil (209,847), India (152,274), Mexico (140,241) and the United Kingdom (88,590).

These figures are globally underestimated.

They are based on daily reports from national health authorities, without including reassessments based on statistical bases.

- The Australian Open maintained

The Australian Open boss assured Sunday that the Grand Slam tennis tournament would start as scheduled in three weeks, while admitting it was "not a good situation" for players confined for two weeks without permission from practice.

- NBA: Oklahoma City-Philadelphia postponed

The North American Basketball League (NBA) has announced the postponement of the game scheduled for Sunday between Oklahoma City and Philadelphia due to the coronavirus, the Sixers not having enough players available while a minimum of eight per team is required to play.

© 2021 AFP