Paris (AFP)

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

- China one billion doses administered -

China has now administered more than a billion doses of anti-Covid vaccines, the Ministry of Health announced on Sunday, without however specifying the percentage of the population having received a full vaccination.

This number of injected doses represents more than a third of the planetary total.

The world had passed the 2.5 billion mark on Friday, according to an AFP count made from official sources.

- Flexibilities in France ... -

Three days after the end of the obligation to wear a mask outdoors, the French are back to an almost normal life, with the lifting of the curfew introduced eight months ago, thanks to the drop in contamination.

France, one of the countries in Europe most affected by the virus with more than 110,000 deaths, was one of the last to maintain such a measure along with Italy and Greece.

- ... as well as in Japan -

In Japan, one month before the Olympics (July 23-August 8), the state of health emergency was lifted on Sunday as planned in Tokyo and eight other departments, but restrictions are maintained and could limit the presence of a local audience at the Olympics.

Bars and restaurants will again be allowed to serve alcohol until 7:00 p.m., but will have to continue to close at 8:00 p.m.

- Russia: sanction in case of refusal of vaccine -

Employees refusing vaccination against Covid-19 in regions where it is mandatory may be put on unpaid leave, announced the Russian Minister of Labor against the backdrop of a galloping epidemic and a sluggish immunization campaign.

- England: marriages allowed outside -

Civil weddings will be able to take place outdoors in England and Wales from July, the British government said on Sunday, further welcome to an industry hard hit by restrictions linked to the coronavirus pandemic.

- More than 3.8 million dead -

The pandemic has killed more than 3,862,364 people around the world since the end of December 2019, according to a report established by AFP from official sources on Sunday at 10:00 GMT.

After the United States (601,741 deaths), the countries with the highest number of deaths are Brazil (500,800), India (386,713), Mexico (231,151) and Peru (190,202).

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.

burs-frd / ber / cac

© 2021 AFP