Academic institutions announced an increase in the total number of deaths and infections with the Corona virus (Covid-19), and the escalation of infections with the mutant Omicron led to the cancellation and postponement of thousands of flights globally during the Christmas holidays.

In the United States, "Johns Hopkins University" indicated that the total number of deaths and infections with the Corona virus in the world has risen to more than 278 million, with a total death toll of about 5.5 million.

The United States topped the list of countries in terms of the number of deaths from the virus, with about 816,000 people, with the number of infected people reaching 52 million.

Brazil came second in terms of the number of deaths, with about 618,000, with the number of injuries recorded at 22 million.

In third place came India, with a total of nearly 479,000 deaths, and about 34 million injuries.


Then Mexico is fourth, with a total of about 300,000 deaths, and nearly 4 million injured.

In Germany, the Robert Koch Institute for Virus Research announced that the weekly rate of new Corona infections in the country recorded a new decrease today, Saturday, compared to yesterday, Friday.

In Germany, 157 deaths, and nearly 22,000 injuries, were recorded in Corona during the past 24 hours.

The institute indicated that the number of discovered cases does not reflect the full picture of the spread of the virus in the country, due to the lack of tests during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

In France, the authorities announced the registration of 94,000 new cases of the virus yesterday, Friday, making it the worst case recorded since the beginning of the pandemic, and about 169 deaths were recorded.


And French health authorities announced that more than 52 million people have so far received a single dose of vaccines.

Next Monday, the Council of Ministers will hold an extraordinary meeting to discuss a draft law on what has become known as the "health passport", as part of measures to counter the spread of the mutated "Omicron", which is expected to become the most prevalent in the country in the coming days, according to French officials.

In Tunisia, the capital witnessed a protest sit-down to demand the abolition of the mandatory decision to show the permissibility of vaccination against the Corona virus to enter work institutions and public places.

The protesters raised slogans condemning the decision, and others considered it an attack on rights and freedoms.

Simultaneously, the Ministry of Health announced the registration of a turnout from citizens within the framework of the National Open Day for Intensive Vaccination, which is organized by the Ministry.


Japan's first omicron case

The governor of Japan's Fukuoka Prefecture, Setaro Hattori, said Saturday that the prefecture had recorded the first confirmed case of the mutated Omicron strain of the Corona virus.

He added - in a press conference - that the case apparently came as a result of a local transmission of infection, because it was not clear how she contracted the infection.

In China, the authorities in the northwestern city of Xi'an recorded an increase in daily cases of Covid-19, while local companies reduced their activities with the latest outbreak of the disease in the country entering the third day of closure.

Official data showed on Saturday that the city, which has a population of 13 million, detected 75 locally transmitted cases on Friday, which is the highest daily rate of infections during the year.

The cases had witnessed a decline the previous day.

In the southern city of Shenzhen, 5 passengers were confirmed to be infected with Corona upon their arrival last Wednesday on a flight from Los Angeles, and 3 passengers were confirmed to be infected with the mutated Omicron of the Corona virus yesterday, Friday, December 24, according to the China Central Television Network.

China confirmed that it had detected 87 local infections with the Corona virus yesterday, Friday, compared to 55 the previous day.

Also, 53 injuries were recorded among the arrivals from abroad.


Cancellation and postponement of flights

More than 4,500 flights were canceled around the world by Saturday, and thousands more were delayed as the outbreak of the highly contagious mutant Omicron disrupts holiday travel, according to Flightaware.

And the website specialized in flight affairs reported that about two thousand flights were canceled around the world on Christmas Day, including about 700 flights coming from or heading to airports in the United States, while more than 1500 flights were postponed until 07:20 GMT.

Yesterday, Friday, about 2,400 flights were canceled, while it was announced that about 11,000 flights were postponed.

The site also recorded more than 600 cancellations of flights scheduled for tomorrow, Sunday.

Pilots, flight attendants and other staff have requested sick leave or had to be quarantined after coming into contact with people infected with Covid-19 or contracting the epidemic, forcing Lufthansa, Delta, United Airlines and a large number of other airlines to cancel flights in the period Of the year, travel reaches its climax.


FlightAware data showed that "United" canceled nearly 200 flights yesterday, Friday and Saturday, which is equivalent to 10% of the scheduled flights.

Delta also canceled at least 260 flights today, Saturday, and about 170 yesterday, Friday, saying that it had "exhausted all options and resources, including changing the flight path and replacing aircraft and crews to cover scheduled flights."

And 11 Alaska Airlines flights were canceled after employees said they were likely exposed to Covid-19 and had to self-isolate.

The largest number of flight cancellation decisions were announced among Chinese airlines;

As "China Eastern" announced the cancellation of about 480 flights (more than 20% of its scheduled flights), while "Air China" suspended 15% of its scheduled flights around 07:20 GMT Saturday.