Paris (AFP)

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

- New daily death record in Russia -

Russia recorded on Wednesday, for the first time, more than 900 deaths from Covid-19 in 24 hours, an epidemic outbreak exacerbated by a sluggish vaccination, forcing some regions to introduce health passes.

The government count, which is based on a very restrictive definition of deaths due to Covid-19, officially reaches 212,625 deaths since the start of the pandemic, making Russia the most bereaved country in Europe.

With a broader definition, the Rosstat statistics institute reported more than 350,000 deaths at the end of July.

- Recall of 200,000 self-tests in the United States -

Australian medical technology maker Ellume said it has recalled nearly 200,000 self-tests for Covid-19 in the United States due to an increased risk of false positives.

The US Medicines Agency (FDA) has warned of the "risk of false positive results with certain lots of Ellume's Covid-19 home test, due to a recently identified manufacturing problem."

- Towards an increase in business failures -

The number of business failures, after having decreased thanks to the support of States in the face of the health crisis, should rebound next year, both in France and elsewhere in the world, according to a study published on Wednesday by the insurer. credit Euler Hermes.

Globally, these defaults declined in 2020 and are expected to decline by another 6% this year, before rising again by 15% in 2022, according to the study.

Covid-19: AFP global report

- The Emirates say they have overcome the crisis -

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyane, de facto ruler of the United Arab Emirates, said the wealthy Gulf nation had "overcome" the coronavirus crisis as the number of cases fell sharply.

On Wednesday, the country had three deaths and 156 new cases of Covid-19 contamination.

As of Tuesday, it was one death and 176 cases.

- WHO warning -

World Health Organization (WHO) Covid-19 epidemic management official Maria Van Kerkhove has warned that the novel coronavirus is still not under control, warning those who believe the pandemic is over.

"We're not out of the woods yet. We're completely in the middle of this pandemic. But where in the middle ... we don't know yet," she said on Tuesday.

According to Ms. Van Kerkhove, 3.1 million new cases of contamination and 54,000 deaths were reported last week around the world, the true figures being probably much higher.

The world facing the coronavirus Simon MALFATTO AFP

- More than 4.8 million dead -

The pandemic has killed at least 4,813,581 people around the world since the end of December 2019, according to a report established by AFP from official sources, Wednesday at 10:00 GMT.

The United States is the most bereaved country with 705,284 deaths, followed by Brazil (598,829), India (449,538) and Mexico (279,896).

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.

burs-paj / mw / mba

© 2021 AFP