Paris (AFP)

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

- Belgium: the Indian variant detected -

The "Indian" variant of the coronavirus was detected for the first time in Belgium among a group of students arriving this month from India via Roissy airport (France), AFP learned Thursday from official source in Brussels.

A total of 20 Indian students have tested positive for the new variant and placed in quarantine in the cities of Aalst and Leuven, where they arrived in mid-April for nursing training.

- Travel restrictions with India -

Canada has decided to suspend for 30 days flights from India, but also from Pakistan, due to an increase in Covid-19 cases among passengers arriving from these two countries.

- Brazil: plateau of 2,500 deaths per day -

In Brazil, the daily death toll from Covid-19 has been stable for a week on a very high plateau of around 2,500 deaths, after several months of dizzying increases in death and contamination curves.

- 70,000 deaths in Colombia -

Colombia has crossed the threshold of 70,000 deaths from Covid-19, including 430 in 24 hours, a new record, while this South American country is facing a third wave of contagion that threatens to overwhelm its hospitals.

- Germany: vaccine for all in June -

Germany is planning access to Covid-19 vaccines for all adults no later than June.

Berlin plans to buy 30 million doses of the Russian Sputnik serum, which has yet to receive the green light from the European Union.

Almost 18.5 million people in Germany have already received at least one injection of the anti-Covid vaccine, according to official data, more than one in five people.

- Relaxation of measures in France -

In France, a gradual easing of measures will begin on May 3, announced Prime Minister Jean Castex.

The ban on moving more than ten kilometers from home will be lifted and the reopening of non-essential businesses should take place "around mid-May".

- Italy reopens its restaurants ... -

In Italy, from April 26, restaurants will be authorized to open to the public for lunch, and also for dinner for the first time since the end of October, but only in the open air and in areas classified as "yellow", presenting the risk of contagion. the weakest.

Cinemas, theaters and concert halls will also be able to reopen next Monday, respecting the distancing and remaining below 50% of their maximum capacity.

- ... like Hungary and Greece -

Hungary will reopen its terraces of cafes and restaurants from Saturday, while more than a third of the population has already received at least one dose of vaccine against Covid-19.

In Greece, the terraces of bars and restaurants will reopen from May 3, but travel between regions will be prohibited for the Easter holidays, celebrated on May 2 by the Orthodox.

- More than three million dead -

The novel coronavirus pandemic has killed at least 3,073,969 people worldwide since the WHO office in China reported the onset of the disease at the end of December 2019, according to a report established by AFP from from official sources Friday at 10:00 GMT.

The United States is the country with the highest death toll with 570,346 deaths, followed by Brazil (383,502), Mexico (214,095), India (186,920) and the United Kingdom (127,345).

These figures are globally underestimated.

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

burs-rbj / mw / mr

© 2021 AFP