- EU: the disease agency calls for measures "urgently" -

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on Wednesday called on member states to "urgently" take action against the ongoing epidemic rebound in Europe and the risk of a "very high" health burden in December and January.

Booster doses for anti-Covid vaccines must be "available" for adults, giving priority to those over 40 and vulnerable people, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday after a call for this from the ECDC.

France: measures announced Thursday

French Minister of Health Olivier Véran will present new measures on Thursday, including "the acceleration" of the vaccination schedule in the face of the 5th wave of the epidemic, after consultation with political forces, the government spokesman announced on Wednesday. at the end of a Defense Council and the Council of Ministers.

The Minister of Health Olivier Véran leaves the Elysée Palace after the Council of Ministers, November 24, 2021 in Paris Thomas COEX AFP

New Zealand: borders closed until the end of April

New Zealand announced Wednesday that its borders will remain closed to foreign travelers until the end of April, when the archipelago gradually eases measures for international arrivals, so far among the strictest in the world.

Russia: antivaxers invited to hospitals

Reputable Russian doctors on Wednesday invited celebrities and politicians opposed to vaccines to visit hospitals treating Covid-19 patients, in order to see the effects of the disease with their own eyes.

A caregiver in the intensive care unit for patients with Covid-19 at Sklifosovsky hospital, October 20, 2021 in Moscow Dimitar DILKOFF AFP / Archives

Only 37.2% of Russians are immune to date, according to the specialized site Gogov.

French West Indies: call for the lifting of dams in Martinique

The inter-union, which launched a strike movement in Martinique on Monday, decided to lift the roadblocks to avoid an escalation of violence, after shots fired on the police in the French West Indies.

In neighboring Guadeloupe, the prefecture decided, after a fifth night of violence, to extend the curfew until November 28.

Protesters block a road during a general strike on November 23, 2021 in Fort-de-France, Martinique LOIC VENANCE AFP

Guadeloupe and, recently, Martinique, two French Caribbean islands, are shaken by a social movement to denounce the vaccine obligation and the suspensions of caregivers, but also the cost of living, and fuel prices.

Cluster in Austria in ski resorts: survey closed

The investigation opened to determine possible criminal liability in the formation of an outbreak of Covid-19 contamination in the Austrian Alps in March 2020 has been closed, the Innsbruck prosecutor's office told AFP on Wednesday.

This decision "has no impact" on civil complaints filed elsewhere by a consumer association.

The first trial opened in September.

More than 5.16 million dead

The pandemic caused by the coronavirus has killed at least 5,165,289 people around the world since the end of 2019, according to a report established by AFP from official sources on Wednesday at 11:00 GMT.

The United States is the most bereaved country, with 773,857 deaths, ahead of Brazil (613,066), India (466,584), Mexico (292,850) and Russia (267,819).

Covid-19: AFP global report

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, taking into account the excess mortality directly and indirectly linked to Covid-19, that the global toll of the pandemic could be two to three times higher than that calculated from official figures .

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