Paris (AFP)

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

- South Africa: vaccination from 12 years old -

South Africa will begin vaccination against Covid for adolescents from the age of 12 next week and offer a possibility of a third dose to people with immunity problems, the Ministry of Health announced on Friday.

According to South African law, children from the age of twelve only have their consent to give in order to be vaccinated, without the need for parental authorization.

- GB: antigenic tests for travelers -

Travelers vaccinated against the coronavirus arriving in England will be able from October 24 to perform an antigen test on the second day after their arrival, which is less expensive and faster than a PCR test, announced the British government.

Expected for several weeks, this measure comes into force in time for the fall school vacation week, which begins on October 25.

It nevertheless excludes passengers from countries classified at risk, appearing on the red list.

- Italy: demonstrations planned against the health pass -

Italy was preparing for protests, blockages and potential disruptions to the economy on Friday, with the mandatory health pass for all workers coming into force.

Protests degenerated last Saturday into violent clashes in the historic center of Rome, and further mobilisations are planned across Italy on Friday and Saturday.

Anyone who has not been vaccinated or has not recently recovered from Covid-19 must show their employer proof of a negative test that they have paid for themselves, under penalty of being declared absent and deprived of salary.

- New Caledonia again confined this weekend -

Strict containment of the population will be restored during this weekend in the French archipelago of New Caledonia, where the decline of the Covid-19 epidemic is considered insufficient to hope to avoid a rebound, the local government announced on Friday.

From Saturday 2 p.m. and until Monday 5 a.m., travel will again be subject to certification, only food shops and pharmacies will be open while the sale of alcohol was banned from Friday.

- Free comfort tests in Guyana, Antilles and Mayotte -

Covid comfort tests will remain free in French overseas territories in a state of health emergency, including the West Indies, Guyana and Mayotte, while they have become chargeable in the rest of France, according to a decree published Friday in the Official Journal.

- Latvian president with Covid-19, despite vaccine -

Latvian President Egils Levits contracted Covid-19 despite being fully vaccinated in the spring, his chief of staff announced.

On his return from a visit to Denmark and Sweden, Mr. Levits had a PCR test, which came back positive.

- Confusion in Australia -

New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, sparked a brief wave of hope in the tourism sector by announcing its imminent reopening to foreign visitors, quickly denied by the federal government.

- More than 4.87 million dead -

The pandemic has killed at least 4,878,719 people around the world since the end of December 2019, according to an assessment established by AFP from official sources, Friday at 10:00 GMT.

The United States is the most bereaved country with 721,567 dead, followed by Brazil (602,099), India (451,814), Mexico (283,574) and Russia (221,313).

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.

burx-fm / mw / ia

© 2021 AFP