Paris (AFP)
New measures, new reports and highlights: an update on the latest developments in the Covid-19 pandemic around the world.
- WHO requests laboratory control in China -
The World Health Organization on Friday called for "laboratory checks" in the region where the first human cases of Covid-19 were identified in December 2019, following its investigation into the origin of the pandemic.
Beijing rejected earlier on Friday criticism from WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus about China's supposed lack of cooperation in this investigation.
- Dreaded case rebound in Europe -
The European disease agency predicts a strong rebound in the number of Covid-19 cases in the coming weeks, with nearly five times as many new cases by August 1 due to the Delta variant and the easing of measures, according to its projections released Friday.
In its area including the European Union as well as Norway and Iceland, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) expects an incidence of more than 420 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants for the week ending. August 1, compared to less than 90 last week.
- Biden-Facebook pass on disinformation -
US President Joe Biden has accused major social networks of "killing people" by letting false information about vaccines circulate.
Facebook brushed aside these criticisms by claiming to help "save lives. Full stop."
- Audience in the stadiums of Colombia -
After nearly 500 days without an audience in the stadiums, the Colombian football league gave the green light for the return of spectators to the stands as professional matches resumed in September.
The Atanasio Girardot Stadium in Medellín hosted some 3,000 people on Friday, or 7% of its total capacity.
Wearing a mask is compulsory.
- Return of the curfew in Catalonia -
Catalonia (north-eastern Spain) is preparing to re-establish the curfew in most of its localities, including Barcelona, from the weekend and for at least a week, due to the meteoric rise in contamination by the Delta variant in young people.
Other regions are considering or are planning similar measures, including the region of Valencia (east).
- Appeal against the lifting of restrictions in England -
Influential international scientists on Friday called on the British government to reverse its decision to lift most of the latest coronavirus restrictions in England on Monday, denouncing the risks of this strategy not only in the United Kingdom but also in other countries .
- Mandatory quarantine for the British coming from France -
Residents of the United Kingdom coming from France, even fully vaccinated, will have to continue to observe a quarantine on their arrival in England, because of "the persistent presence of cases in France of the Beta variant, which was first identified in South Africa ", announced the British government.
- Reopening of the Eiffel Tower -
From Wednesday, the health pass will be compulsory to access the monument.
- Vaccination of caregivers compulsory in Hungary -
Hungary will make vaccination compulsory for caregivers, according to Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
France announced Monday, after Greece, Italy and the United Kingdom, compulsory vaccination for caregivers and for all people working in contact with fragile people.
- Fifth confinement in Melbourne -
Since Sydney has been subject to a similar measure since the end of June, a total of more than 12 million Australians must stay at home.
- USA ships vaccines to Africa -
The United States will ship 25 million doses of vaccine to Africa, senior American and African officials told AFP on Friday.
- More than 4 million dead -
The pandemic has killed at least 4,070,508 people around the world since December 2019, according to a report established by AFP from official sources on Friday at 10 a.m. GMT.
The United States is the most bereaved country with 608,804 dead, followed by Brazil (540,398), India (412,531), Mexico (235,740) and Peru (194,845).
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These figures, which are based on daily reports from national health authorities, are generally underestimated.
WHO estimates that the true number of deaths could be two to three times higher.
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© 2021 AFP