Paris (AFP)

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

- WHO criticizes the slowness of vaccination in Europe -

The World Health Organization (WHO) criticized Thursday the "unacceptable" slowness of vaccination against Covid-19 in Europe, which is facing the "most worrying" epidemic situation for "months".

- 12-15 year olds soon to be vaccinated in Israel -

Israel could start vaccinating adolescents 12 to 15 years old in May, health officials said, after the announcement from Pfizer and BioNTech laboratories that their vaccine against Covid-19 is 100% effective in this segment of the population. 'age.

- New restrictions in France -

Schools closed for three to four weeks, limited traffic and non-essential businesses closed across the country from Monday: French MPs on Thursday approved the new restrictions announced the day before by President Emmanuel Macron, but almost all opposition boycotted the ballot.

The consumption of alcohol on public roads will be prohibited in order to prevent any gathering, said Prime Minister Jean Castex.

The Head of State has promised the reopening of certain places of culture and the terraces of bars and restaurants from mid-May.

- Millions of wasted doses -

Some 15 million doses of Johnson & Johnson's Covid-19 vaccine were mistakenly wasted at an American plant in Baltimore, which could threaten supply delays to the United States, the New York Times said on Wednesday.

Several weeks ago, employees of this huge factory managed by the partner company Emergent BioSolutions confused the ingredients necessary for the preparation of the vaccine, according to the daily.

- A "bubble" between Taiwan and Palau -

Taiwan and the Palau archipelago, in the Pacific, on Thursday inaugurated a "bubble" in which their nationals will be able to travel again, the two allies seeking to support their tourism industry hard hit by the pandemic.

- Towards re-containment in Ontario -

Ontario, Canada's most populous province and economic engine, is expected to announce a 28-day reconfinement as the number of Covid-19 cases soars, local media reported.

- Osaka does not want the Olympic torch -

The Olympic torch relay should avoid the metropolis of Osaka (western Japan) due to a further increase in Covid-19 infections, the governor of the department of the same name said Thursday.

According to local media, Osaka Mayor Ichiro Matsui also wants the Olympic Torch Relay to avoid the city.

- Containment project withdrawn in Finland -

The Finnish government has withdrawn its containment plan from part of the Nordic country.

On Wednesday, a constitutional committee made up of parliamentarians warned that the bill went against the Finnish Constitution, in particular because of measures deemed disproportionate to fundamental freedoms.

- German President vaccinated -

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, 65, received a first dose of AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine, in line with Germany's recent decision to reserve this product for those over 60, said the office of the head of state.

- More than 2.8 million dead -

The pandemic has killed at least 2,816,908 people around the world since the end of December 2019, according to an AFP report from official sources Thursday at 10:00 GMT.

The United States is the country with the most deaths with 552,073 dead, ahead of Brazil (321,515), Mexico (203,210), India (162,927) and the United Kingdom (126,713).

These figures are globally underestimated.

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

burs-paj / mw / sr

© 2021 AFP