Paris (AFP)

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

- Delta predominant in the coming months -

The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that the Delta variant, which is very contagious and which is already the cause of more than three quarters of new cases of Covid in many large countries, is predominant in the next months.

- Recall of different vaccines -

People who have received the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine may benefit from receiving a booster dose of a different, messenger RNA vaccine, according to preliminary results from a US study published Wednesday.

This study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, was eagerly awaited in the United States because it focuses on the possibility of "mixing" the vaccines - that is, using a different vaccine for the booster dose. only for the initial series - which is not allowed at the moment in the country.

- Russia: new records of deaths and cases -

Russia on Thursday recorded daily records for new infections and deaths from the coronavirus, as the epidemic is in full swing amid a sluggish vaccination campaign and very reduced health restrictions.

According to the government's daily report, 31,299 infected people have been counted in the last 24 hours and 986 people have died.

- Bali reopens to international flights, no tourists in sight -

Bali officially reopened its airport to some international flights on Thursday, including those from China, Japan and France, to allow tourism to resume, devastated after more than a year and a half of the Indonesian island's closure to tourists foreigners due to pandemic.

But the local authorities specified that no international flight was expected for the moment and the international terminal remained deserted.

- India: crowds return to religious festivals -

The main religious holiday season is in full swing in India and huge and noisy crowds are flocking to markets and fairs for the first time in two years, just six months after a devastating wave of Covid-19.

- Golf: Australian Open canceled -

The men's and women's Australian Open golf tournaments have been canceled due to travel restrictions linked to the coronavirus pandemic, the Australian federation announced Thursday.

- More than 4.87 million dead -

The pandemic has killed at least 4,870,405 worldwide since the end of December 2019, according to an assessment established by AFP from official sources, Thursday at midday.

The United States is the most bereaved country with 719,530 dead, followed by Brazil (601,574), India (451,435), Mexico (283,193) and Russia (220,315).

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

burs-ang / cds / ia

© 2021 AFP