Paris (AFP)

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

- Brazil: vaccine imports authorized -

The Brazilian regulator Anvisa granted on Friday an exceptional authorization to import doses of the Russian anti-Covid vaccines Sputnik V and Indian Covaxin, while limiting their use.

The Agency initially opposed their approval, considering that there was a lack of data to ensure their safety and effectiveness.

These doses can only be administered to adults between 18 and 60 years of age, with the exception of pregnant women, people suffering from co-morbidity, seropositive or carriers of the hepatitis B or C virus.

The batches must have been manufactured in factories inspected by Anvisa and analyzed in a laboratory of Fiocruz, the benchmark institute in public health.

- Record of vaccinations in Italy -

A record 600,000 doses of anti-Covid vaccines were administered in Italy on Friday, the country's health authorities announced on Saturday.

According to figures published on the Italian government website, 37.06 million doses of vaccine have been administered since the start of the vaccination campaign, and 12.7 million people are fully vaccinated, or 23.48% of the elderly population. over 12 years old.

- Gradual deconfinement in New Delhi and Bombay -

In India, markets and shopping malls in New Delhi will be able to reopen every other day from Monday, authorities announced on Saturday, amid a drop in contamination in major cities.

The Delhi metro will also resume at 50%.

Offices can also reopen at 50% of their capacity, but the mayor has urged his fellow citizens to work from home instead.

On Saturday, New Delhi recorded 400 new infections, against 25,000 daily cases seven weeks ago, when containment was decided.

The state government of Maharashtra - which includes Bombay, India's economic powerhouse - has announced a five-step plan to ease restrictions, depending on infection rates and hospital capacity.

- JO: the fears of swimmer Kyle Chalmers -

Australia's Kyle Chalmers, reigning Olympic 100m freestyle champion, said the prospect of going to the Olympics in a Japan hit by a new wave of coronavirus scared him "a little bit."

"My biggest fear is to pass the rounds and the semi-finals, then to be tested positive for the Covid and excluded from the final, to remain locked in a room for 14 days", he said according to the media. Australian Adelaide Advertiser.

- More than 3.7 million dead -

The pandemic has killed more than 3,714,923 people around the world since the end of December 2019, according to a report established by AFP from official sources on Saturday at 10:00 GMT.

After the United States (597,001 dead), the countries with the highest number of deaths are Brazil (470,842), India (344,082), Mexico (228,568) and Peru (185,813).

These figures, which are based on daily reports from national health authorities, are generally underestimated.

They exclude the upward revisions carried out a posteriori by certain statistical organizations.

By taking into account the excess mortality directly and indirectly linked to Covid-19, the WHO estimates that the real toll is "two to three times higher".

burs-ang / cds / cls

© 2021 AFP