Paris (AFP)

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

- The epidemic is racing in Moscow -

The Russian capital is facing a record outbreak of Covid-19 due to the Delta variant of the coronavirus, said the mayor of Moscow on Friday, who announced certain restrictions but is still refraining from ordering strict containment measures.

- Africa: "very, very worrying" situation -

The trajectory of Covid cases in Africa is "very, very worrying", estimated the person in charge of emergency situations at the WHO, Doctor Michael Ryan, with the spread of more contagious variants and a dangerously low vaccination rate.

- Doses are missing in dozens of countries -

Dozens of countries are unable to administer the second dose of vaccine due to a lack of sufficient doses, which risks lasting destabilization of vaccination campaigns, the WHO warned.

- AstraZeneca: the EU gets fewer doses than claimed -

The AstraZeneca laboratory, sued by the EU before the Belgian courts for delays in deliveries, was forced to provide 50 million doses of vaccine to the 27 member countries by the end of September, a quantity lower than what was claimed and on a longer period.

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- Transfer of vaccines -

Israel will provide the Palestinian Authority with one million doses of Pfizer vaccines about to expire, according to an agreement between the two parties announced by the Jewish state.

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has announced that he wants to offer a million doses to the countries of the Balkans.

- Italy: quarantine for travelers from the United Kingdom -

Italy has announced that passengers from the UK will have to observe a brief quarantine again, while those from many other countries will be able to enter freely if they have the anti-Covid health pass.

- Norway loosens the screw -

Easier to travel, play sports, serve alcohol in bars and throw a wedding party: Norway has announced further easing of restrictions in the face of the decline in Covid-19 and the progress of vaccination on its soil.

- Spain: soon no more compulsory mask outside -

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the end of the compulsory wearing of masks outdoors from June 26 in the country, where the health situation is in marked improvement.

- Notting Hill Carnival canceled -

The carnival in London's Notting Hill, scheduled for the end of August, has been canceled again, with organizers citing "uncertainty" linked to the pandemic in the midst of the Delta variant in the United Kingdom.

- Tokyo: vaccinations before the Olympics -

Thousands of volunteers and Olympic officials began to be vaccinated in Tokyo, nearly a month before the Games, as experts warned it would be safer to hold the event without spectators.

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- More than 3.8 million dead -

The pandemic has killed more than 3,844,390 people around the world since the end of December 2019, according to an assessment established by AFP from official sources on Friday in the middle of the day.

After the United States (600,934 deaths), the countries with the highest number of deaths are Brazil (496,004), India (383,490), Mexico (230,792) and Peru (189,757).

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

The WHO estimates that the toll of the pandemic could be two to three times higher than that officially recorded.

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© 2021 AFP