Paris (AFP)

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

- New restrictions in Belgium and Poland -

In Belgium, the professions of non-medical contacts (hairdressers in particular) are closing again from this Saturday for four weeks.

"Non-essential" shops (excluding food, pharmacies, bookstores) can only welcome customers by appointment.

Next week, the last before the Easter holidays, only kindergartens will remain open.

In Poland, the government has decided to close nurseries, kindergartens, large furniture and DIY stores, as well as beauty and hairdressing salons.

In churches, one person for every 20 square meters of surface area will now be authorized, against 15 square meters previously.

- Confined shackle -

The Philippines on Saturday ordered new containment for more than 24 million people in and around Manila, as hospitals in the capital struggle to absorb a spike in infections.

- Chile is reconfiguring itself -

In Chile as of this Saturday, more than 80% of the population is subject to a new total containment, without even the possibility of going out to buy basic products on the weekend.

The presence of new variants, the relaxation of the population in the face of the rapid progression of vaccination and the end of the summer holidays in the southern summer have contributed to the increase in infections, according to experts.

- Kenya: Isolated Nairobi, schools closed -

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday announced the isolation from midnight of Nairobi and four other neighboring counties from the rest of the country, as well as the closure of schools, in the face of the third wave of Covid-19.

- Brazil: new death record -

Brazil announced on Friday a new record of coronavirus deaths in 24 hours, with 3,650 deaths, just three days after crossing the threshold of 3,000 people killed by an epidemic out of control.

- Argentina: contamination at its highest -

Argentina recorded nearly 13,000 new Covid-19 infections on Friday, a high for more than two months, while the government announced the suspension of flights from Brazil, Chile and Mexico.

- France: intensified controls -

The French authorities on Saturday stepped up checks at airports and road tolls to enforce the ban on travel in 19 departments, including the Paris region, facing a "critical" epidemic situation.

- More than 2.7 million deaths

The pandemic has killed at least 2.76 million people worldwide since the end of December 2019, according to an AFP report from official sources on Saturday at 11:00 GMT.

The United States is the most bereaved country with 548,089 dead, ahead of Brazil (307,112), Mexico (200,862), India (161,240) and the United Kingdom (126,515).

These figures are globally underestimated.

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

burs-ang / ber / cac

© 2021 AFP