Text/Chen Jing

　　The latest data from the WHO website shows that as of 18:18 on the 4th Central European time (1:18 on the 5th, Beijing time), the number of confirmed cases worldwide increased by 1,276,532 from the previous day, reaching 2,09959,019; the number of deaths increased by 4,632. Reached 5,446,753 cases.

　　In addition, according to the latest WHO statistics, as of December 29, 2021, 128 countries or regions have reported infections with the mutated new coronavirus Omi Kiron strain.

Preliminary studies have shown that the Omi Kiron strain mainly affects the upper respiratory tract rather than the lungs, but high-risk and unvaccinated people may still develop severe illness after being infected with the strain.

　　The official said that the best way to reduce the impact of the Omi Kiron strain is to achieve the WHO goal of vaccinating 70% of the population in each country by July this year.

Omi Keron strain infections account for 95.4% of new cases in the U.S.

　　The high infectiousness of Omi Keron means that it will become a mainstream strain in some places within a few weeks.

With the recent accelerated spread of the Omi Keron strain in the United States, the U.S. epidemic has rebounded severely.

In the last 5 days of 2021, 4 days in the U.S., the number of new cases in a single day was close to or exceeded 500,000.

　　According to data updated on the 4th by Johns Hopkins University in the United States, the number of new confirmed cases of new crowns in the United States exceeded 1 million on the 3rd, once again setting the record for the highest number of new cases in a single day since the outbreak.

As of 20:00 on the 4th, the cumulative number of confirmed cases in the United States exceeded 56.19 million, and the number of deaths was 827,000.

　　At present, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has adjusted the epidemic risk in all regions of the United States to the highest red level.

According to statistics on January 1, 2022, Omi Keron strain infections accounted for 95.4% of new cases in the United States.

　　Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said at the end of last year that the surge in cases caused by the Omi Keron strain is expected to reach its peak by the end of January 2022.

The demand for testing has greatly increased, and false testing points have been found in many places in the United States

　　The number of cases has increased sharply, and the demand for new coronavirus testing has increased significantly in various places. Fake detection points have even appeared in cities such as Chicago and Philadelphia.

　　According to the ABC TV station of ABC, a few days ago, some people in Chicago, Illinois, in order to avoid waiting in line, chose to pay out of their pockets for sampling at some temporary “new crown testing stations”, but ultimately failed to receive nucleic acid test results.

In this regard, the Illinois Department of Health recommends that the public verify the qualifications of the testing sites that they plan to visit.

　　The Better Business Bureau, a non-profit organization, stated on the 4th that such toll detection stations are likely to be false detection points.

Most COVID-19 testing sites in the United States provide free services. If there are testing sites that charge fees and ask for personal information such as social security numbers or credit card numbers, the public should be alert to whether they have fallen into a scam.

　　In addition to false test points, counterfeit home test kits for the new coronavirus have also been exposed in many places in the United States.

On the 4th, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reminded the public to beware of being deceived when buying COVID-19 test kits online.

The committee issued guidelines for the purchase of new crown test kits, which include confirming whether the product is authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and whether the sales website is credible, etc.

　　According to data released by the Mayo Medical Center on the 3rd, the positive rate of the new coronavirus test in the United States is 18%.

France’s increasing number of cases exceeds 270,000, and parliament deliberates on vaccine pass bill

　　Official French data showed that France had 271,686 newly confirmed cases in a single day on the 4th, a record high in France since the outbreak of the crown epidemic.

A total of 10,589,505 confirmed cases have been confirmed.

　　Many French epidemic data indicators continue to deteriorate. The French new crown incidence rate is now 1,850 infected people per 100,000 inhabitants, and the positive rate of new crown virus testing has risen to 16.8%.

The average number of newly confirmed cases in a single day has risen to 180,000.

　　The French Parliament is reviewing the vaccine pass bill.

The French government hopes to replace the current health pass with a vaccine pass. People need to enter public places such as catering and entertainment and participate in large-scale events by showing a certificate of full vaccination against the new crown.

　　According to the French Ministry of Health, 53 million people in France have received at least one dose of the vaccine, accounting for 78.6% of the French population; 51.83 million people have completed two doses, accounting for 76.9% of the French population; 25.54 million people have been vaccinated The third dose of vaccine.

The number of confirmed cases in the UK exceeds 200,000 for the first time, and experts say that the fourth injection should not be implemented for the time being

　　According to reports, the latest official data show that the UK has added 218,724 confirmed cases and 48 deaths within 24 hours.

　　According to the British "Guardian" report, the actual number of new coronavirus infections in the UK may be higher, because not all infected people have been recorded by the testing program.

　　Andrew Pollard, head of the British Vaccine Advisory Committee, said that until there is more scientific evidence, the United Kingdom should not implement the fourth dose of new coronary pneumonia vaccine.

Pollard said in an interview with the British "Daily Telegraph" that providing a vaccine every six months is "unsustainable."

He said that the United Kingdom does not need to block again: "When we really release the epidemic prevention policy, the number of infected people will have a period of time to surge."

Israeli study: The fourth shot of the new crown vaccine can increase the antibodies of the vaccinated by five times

　　Unlike the UK's cautious attitude towards the fourth shot of the new crown vaccine, Israel has taken the lead in opening the fourth shot.

　　Israeli Prime Minister Bennett cited the results of a preliminary study in the country and said that one week after the fourth shot of the new crown vaccine, the antibodies in the vaccinated person's body will increase by 5 times.

　　It is understood that on January 2, Bennett announced that the Ministry of Health had approved the fourth dose of vaccine for people over 60 years of age and medical workers in the country.

　　Bennett said that due to the new crown variant strain Omi Keron raging around the world, the number of new cases in a single day in Israel in the next few days may "dramatically increase", and the vaccine can largely prevent the occurrence of severe illness.

　　On the 2nd, about 100,000 eligible Israelis have been vaccinated or scheduled for vaccination.

According to the health department, the fourth shot of vaccination aims to reduce the severe illness rate and death rate of vulnerable groups, while avoiding the collapse of the domestic medical and health system.

Australia hit a record high in the number of new confirmed cases in a single day

　　Australia notified more than 64,000 confirmed cases on the 5th, a record high in the number of new confirmed cases in a single day since the outbreak.

The Prime Minister of Australia has held a video conference with the heads of the states to discuss how to deal with the worsening epidemic.

　　New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, notified 35,054 new confirmed cases on the same day, and 17,636 new confirmed cases in Victoria, both of which are the highest number of new confirmed cases in a single day after the outbreak.

　　Source: China News Service, The Paper