Paris (AFP)

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

- Israel reopens its doors to tourists -

After a month's hiatus due to a new wave of Covid-19 contamination, Israel will reopen its doors from September 19 to groups of foreign tourists, authorities said on Sunday.

On the strength of an intense vaccination campaign in the winter, the Hebrew state had deconfined most of its economy in the spring and in May authorized groups of foreign tourists to enter the country following the health protocol.

But the authorities had frozen this program on August 11 due to a new influx of cases linked to the Delta variant, especially among the unvaccinated.

- Iraq: few foreigners allowed for an important pilgrimage -

Iraq will only allow 40,000 foreigners, including 30,000 Iranians, to participate in the Shiite pilgrimage from Arbain at the end of September to the holy city of Kerbala, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, health authorities announced on Sunday.

Before the pandemic, millions of Shia pilgrims flocked to Kerbala in central Iraq every year to mark the end of 40 days of mourning for Imam Hussein, the third Imam of Shia Muslims, who died in 680.

- 75% of Italians in favor of the health pass -

About three in four Italians are in favor of using the health pass and its wider extension to fight the Covid-19 epidemic, according to a survey published by the daily La Stampa.

Since September 1, the "green pass", initially compulsory only for medical personnel, has been extended to teaching personnel, as well as to passengers on long-distance trains, ships, planes and buses.

The head of government Mario Draghi intends to extend its use to other sectors.

In addition, the Minister of the Economy announced to expect a rebound in the country's growth of 5.8%, or even "slightly higher", for 2021 after a drop of 8.9% in 2020 because of the pandemic.

- France: no vaccination for children under 12 for the moment -

The French director general of health Jérôme Salomon ruled out Sunday the hypothesis of a vaccination of children under 12 years old, for the moment.

"We are not at all with the vaccination of children (under 12 years: editor's note), for many reasons: because we lack scientific data, then because studies are in progress" and " so we will adapt to the evolution of scientific knowledge, "he said on BFMTV.

- Target 70% of vaccinated in French Polynesia -

Faced with the epidemic wave, Polynesia has set itself the goal of vaccinating 70% of its population, after the sluggish start of its injection campaign.

The Pacific archipelago is just over 50% first-time vaccinated and just over 40% fully vaccinated.

Since the beginning of August, the territory, which had been relatively spared until then, has experienced a real outbreak of cases in a very short time.

Entrance to the Papeete hospital, August 20, 2021 Mike LEYRAL AFP / Archives

- More than 4.56 million dead -

The pandemic has killed more than 4.56 million people worldwide since the end of December 2019, out of more than 220 million confirmed infections, according to a report established by AFP on Sunday at 10 a.m. GMT.

The United States is the country with the most deaths (648,121), ahead of Brazil (583,362) and India (440,533).

The WHO estimates, taking into account the excess mortality directly and indirectly linked to Covid-19, that the toll of the pandemic could be two to three times higher than that which is officially established.

burs-jah-ot / ber / cls

© 2021 AFP