2 million cases per day worldwide

More than 2 million daily cases of Covid-19 were recorded on average worldwide over the week of January 1 to 7, a figure which has doubled in ten days, according to an AFP count.

The number of new daily cases has increased by 270% since the discovery in late November 2021 of the Omicron variant in Botswana and South Africa.

The vast majority of new cases are currently detected in Europe (7,211,290 cases in seven days, + 47% compared to the previous week) and in the United States and Canada (4,808,098 cases, + 76%).

The current wave of contamination is not, however, accompanied by an increase in deaths.

Over the past seven days, an average of 6,237 deaths have been recorded each day worldwide, the lowest since the end of October 2020.

Djokovic asks to be able to train

Novak Djokovic, banned from entering Australia for health reasons and who believes he can be exempted from vaccination after contracting the Covid in December, asked on Saturday to be able to leave the Melbourne detention center to train.

An appeal from the world tennis No.1 is due to be examined in federal court on Monday, just over a week before the Australian Open.

Members of the Serbian community demonstrate in front of the Melbourne detention center where their compatriot Novak Djokovic was placed after being banned from entering Australia because of his vaccination status, January 8, 2022 William WEST AFP

Djokovic attended two public events in Belgrade, the day and the day after his lawyers tested positive, according to various social media posts: a ceremony in honor of young Serbian players December 17 - without mask - and the presentation of a tribute stamp to his effigy the day before.

Czech player Renata Voracova, for her part, left Australia on Saturday after her visa was canceled for health reasons.

CAN: the Burkina team affected

"Four to five managerial players" from Burkina Faso and the coach have tested positive for Covid and are expected to miss the opening match of the African Cup of Nations (CAN) on Sunday in Yaoundé, explained the assistant coach, who contests the procedure.

Iran: death of poet Baktash Abtin, infected in prison

Iranian poet and filmmaker Baktash Abtin, critic of the Tehran regime, died in prison after contracting Covid-19, several human rights organizations announced on Saturday.

Hong Kong: end of quarantine for dozens of personalities

Dozens of prominent Hong Kong figures, including the police chief and the finance minister, will be allowed to leave their quarantine after one of the two cases of Covid-19 detected at a party they were attending was declared false positive Saturday.

About 180 people who attended the celebration, including senior politicians and administration, were placed in quarantine camps this week for a period of 21 days, as health officials in Hong Kong fear a surge in the disease. epidemic due to the Omicron variant.

More than 5.4 million dead

The pandemic has killed more than 5,478,486 people worldwide, according to AFP's report on Saturday at 11 a.m. GMT.

The United States is the most bereaved country with 836,603 dead, followed by Brazil (619,822), India (483,463) and Russia (315,400).

Mexico passed the 300,000 dead mark on Friday.

However, the World Health Organization estimates, taking into account the excess mortality directly and indirectly linked to Covid-19, that the toll of the pandemic could be two to three times higher than that officially recorded.

© 2022 AFP