Paris (AFP)
New measures, new reports and highlights: an update on the latest developments in the Covid-19 pandemic around the world.
- Tokyo Olympics behind closed doors -
New blow for the "Games of the pandemic": the Olympic Games will be held from July 23 to August 8 behind closed doors on the sites of Tokyo, due to the resurgence of the coronavirus in the capital.
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The announcement came hours after the government's decision to reinstate a state of health emergency in Tokyo from Monday until August 22.
The Olympic flame arrived in Tokyo on Friday for a relay without an audience.
- Resurgence in Africa -
"Africa has just experienced the most disastrous week in the history of pandemics on the continent. But the worst is yet to come, as the third wave continues to spread," said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, director of World Health Organization for Africa.
WHO, however, notes progress in the distribution of vaccines.
More than 1.6 million doses have been deployed in Africa by the Covax mechanism.
In addition, more than 20 million doses of the Johnson and Johnson / Janssen and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines are expected very soon.
- Tunisia: health system "collapsed" -
The health situation is "catastrophic" in Tunisia, which has recorded in recent weeks a record number of contaminations, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health announced on Thursday, referring to the "collapse" of the health system.
Libya has decided to close its borders with Tunisia and suspend air links for a week because of the catastrophic health situation.
- Relaxed measures for the vaccinated -
Fully vaccinated British residents will soon be exempt from quarantine upon their return to England from many countries placed on the "orange" list, including tourist destinations such as France, Spain and Italy.
Greece will once again allow the public to attend professional sporting events but only for vaccinated and masked people, Greece's Sports Minister said on Thursday.
- Three doses -
The Pfizer / BioNTech alliance plans to ask "in the coming weeks" for authorization for the injection of a third dose of its vaccine against Covid-19, in the United States and in Europe in particular.
This booster dose, administered 6 months after the second dose, aims to provide enhanced immune protection.
- Easing in Chile -
The Chilean government announced Thursday an easing of restrictions without however reopening the borders, while 73% of its 19 million inhabitants are vaccinated: return of students to schools, reopening of many businesses.
The country, where the curfew is maintained, has recorded 1.5 million cases, including 33,000 deaths.
- Chinese vaccine less effective against the Gamma variant -
The antibodies produced after injection of the Chinese vaccine CoronaVac, widely used against Covid-19 in Brazil, are less effective against the Gamma variant than against the previous strain of the virus present in this country, according to a study published on Friday.
- Not vaccinated, no entry into Canada -
Canada has started easing travel restrictions for its citizens but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday unvaccinated foreign travelers would not be allowed into the country until "a good while."
- Paris advises against Spain and Portugal -
Faced with the rapid spread of the Delta variant, the French Secretary of State for European Affairs advises the French to "avoid Spain and Portugal" this summer.
"Those who have not yet booked their holidays, avoid Spain, Portugal in your destinations, it is a word of caution," said Clément Beaune.
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The Portuguese will have to present a health pass or a negative coronavirus test to stay in a hotel or have access to restaurants in the regions most affected by the resurgence of the Covid-19 epidemic, the Portuguese government decided on Thursday.
- Bolsonaro lets go -
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Thursday he would not testify before a Senate committee investigating possible irregularities in the negotiation of anti-Covid vaccines by his government: "I'm shitting on the ICC," he said launched.
- Final of the Euro: concerns of officials -
Many European officials are expressing their concern about the England-Italy football Euro final in London on Sunday.
It will likely be "the largest crowd gathered for a sporting event in over fifteen months in the UK", according to the UK government.
In France, an outbreak of nine positive cases for the Delta variant was detected in the Vosges (east) among supporters returning from Hungary where they had attended a Euro match.
- More than four million dead -
The pandemic has killed at least 4,004,966 people around the world since the end of December 2019, according to a report established Thursday by AFP from official sources.
The United States is the most affected country in terms of both deaths and cases, with 606,466 deaths for 33,788,896 cases, according to the Johns Hopkins University count.
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After the United States, the most affected countries are Brazil with 530,179 deaths and 18,962,762 cases, India with 405,028 deaths (30,709,557 cases), Mexico with 234,192 deaths (2,558,369 cases), and the Peru with 193,743 deaths (2,071,637 cases).
© 2021 AFP