Paris (AFP)

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

- New objectives for Biden -

Joe Biden on Tuesday launched a "new phase" of the Covid-19 vaccination campaign in the United States, which must integrate adolescents and target more reluctant Americans, with a new target of at least one injection for 70% adults by the national holiday of July 4th.

The US president also announced a target of 160 million fully immunized Americans by the same date.

A request to extend the emergency authorization of Pfizer / BioNTech's vaccine for 12-15 year olds was filed in early April in the United States, and the decision of the American Medicines Agency (FDA) is expected within days to come.

- A quarter of Europeans first vaccinated -

More than a quarter of the EU's population has received at least one dose of the anti-Covid vaccine, the European Commission greeted on Tuesday, and more than 9% of its inhabitants are now fully vaccinated according to an AFP count .

"Vaccination is accelerating in Europe: we have just passed 150 million vaccinations (...) We will have enough doses to vaccinate 70% of adults in the EU by July," tweeted Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European executive.

- EMA: review of a Chinese vaccine -

The European Medicines Agency announced on Tuesday the launch of a "continuous review" procedure for the vaccine from the Chinese laboratory Sinovac, which opens the way to a possible application for an upcoming authorization in the EU.

Sinovac's vaccine, which uses the classic inactivated virus technique, was authorized in February in China and then in Chile, Brazil, the Philippines, Ukraine and Turkey.

- Brazil: Bolsonaro incriminated by a former minister -

A former Brazilian Minister of Health, Luiz Henrique Mandetta, assured Tuesday before a parliamentary commission of inquiry that he "expressly" warned President Jair Bolsonaro of the "serious consequences" of his denial of the coronavirus pandemic, which has kills nearly 410,000 in the country.

Mr. Mandetta was sacked at the end of March 2020, at the start of the pandemic, because he defended physical distancing in an attempt to stem contamination, an idea totally rejected by the head of state.

- 20 million cases in India -

The situation in India is increasingly worrying, with more than 20 million infections identified since the start of the pandemic and a completely asphyxiated health system.

More than 350,000 new cases of Covid-19 were reported on Tuesday, a slight drop from the peak on April 30, with 402,000 contaminations.

Many experts believe that the real toll is much higher.

- Towards a return to normal for vaccinated Germans -

Germany will initiate a return to normal for people vaccinated against Covid, with the lifting of restrictions such as nighttime curfews or restrictions on private meetings.

Angela Merkel's government on Tuesday adopted an order relaxing for people who have received two doses the many bans in force for several months.

- FC Barcelona: possible breach of the Covid protocol -

LaLiga, the body that manages professional football in Spain, has opened an investigation for a possible violation of the Covid-19 protocols of the Spanish league, after the meal organized by the FC Barcelona players at the home of Lionel Messi.

Barça players, some of whom were accompanied by their companions, met on Monday at the home of their captain Messi, while meetings of more than six people are prohibited in private homes in Barcelona.

- More than 3.2 million dead -

The pandemic has killed at least 3,214,644 people around the world since the end of December 2019, according to a report established by AFP from official sources on Tuesday.

The United States is the country with the most deaths (578,403), ahead of Brazil (411,588), India (222,408), Mexico (217,345) and the United Kingdom (127,539).

These figures are globally underestimated.

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

burs-mlb / roc

© 2021 AFP