- Demonstrations against the health pass in France

Demonstrations against the health pass were organized on Saturday in France for the 23rd consecutive weekend, mobilizing a little more with about 25,000 people in the streets of different cities, according to the authorities.

The Interior Ministry recorded 131 actions throughout France and in Paris, according to the police headquarters, the demonstrators were 5,500, including 4,900 at the call of a far-right movement, the Patriots of Florian Philippot.

Last week, more than 20,000 demonstrators, some resistant to vaccination, including about 4,200 in the French capital, marched, according to the police, and 18,600 the week before, including 3,400 in Paris.

- Germany ranks UK as most at risk country

The German authorities announced on Saturday evening the classification of the United Kingdom in the category of countries hit by the Covid-19 pandemic most at risk, which will lead to many travel restrictions.

This decision will take effect from "Sunday at midnight", said the RKI health watch authority, specifying that people arriving from Britain should undergo a mandatory two-week quarantine in Germany, including for people vaccinated or cured of Covid-19.

A woman is administered the vaccine against Covid-19 in her car in an open vaccination center in Stuttgart, December 17, 2021 THOMAS KIENZLE AFP

Several other European countries, such as France, have already taken steps to limit the entry into their soil of travelers from British territory.

- Netherlands: confinement during the Christmas holidays

The Netherlands will be placed in "containment" on Sunday, for the Christmas holiday period, in an attempt to stop the fifth wave of Covid-19 and the strong progression of the Omicron variant, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced on Saturday .

- France: restrictions in sight for the New Year

The Scientific Council called on the French government to introduce "significant restrictions" to the risk of transmission of the epidemic on the occasion of New Year's Eve, in a notice published on Saturday.

The Paris city hall has announced the cancellation of the fireworks display and New Year's concerts planned on the Champs-Elysées.

"If all goes well", the vaccination of 5-11 year olds should begin Wednesday in France, according to the Minister of Health Olivier Véran.

The booster dose will be made compulsory for caregivers and firefighters from January 30.

- Alert procedure in London

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has launched an alert procedure involving a coordinated response from public services to curb the spread of Omicron.

This device had already been activated on January 8, 2021 when London hospitals were threatened with submersion.

- Turkey promises 15 million doses of anti-Covid vaccines to Africa

Turkey will send 15 million doses of anti-Covid vaccines to Africa, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised on Saturday at a summit bringing together dozens of leaders of the continent in Istanbul.

Turkish researchers have developed their own vaccine, "Turkovac" and applied for emergency approval: as soon as this is done, this vaccine will be shared with Africa, the president promised.

- Vaccination obligation for American employees

Tens of millions of American employees will be forced to be vaccinated by January 4, under penalty of having to be tested very regularly.

- More than 5.33 million deaths

The pandemic has killed more than 5.33 million people worldwide since the end of 2019, according to an assessment established from official figures by AFP on Friday at midday.

The United States is the most bereaved country with 806,260 deaths, ahead of Brazil (617,754), India (476,869) and Mexico (297,356).

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

burx-cn / ybl

© 2021 AFP