New York State lifts indoor mask requirement

The State of New York lifts from Thursday the obligation to wear a mask indoors, in particular in shops, restaurants, businesses, announced the governor of the State, at a time when the number of contaminations with Covid-19 is in free fall in the United States.

13th day of blocking in Canada

On the 13th day of protest in Canada, concerns were mounting about the economic impact of the truckers' movement which is not weakening despite the first announcements of the easing of health restrictions in certain parts of the country.

Besides the federal capital Ottawa, the protesters also want to paralyze some essential trade routes.

The blocking since Monday of the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Ontario to Detroit, in the United States has raised the tension a notch.

Protesters opposed to health restrictions block the Amassador Bridge that connects Ontario to Detroit, February 9, 2022 Geoff Robins AFP

New Zealand: anti-vaccine protesters arrested

Clashes erupted Thursday near the New Zealand parliament in Wellington between police and anti-vaccine protesters against Covid-19, gathered for three days and more than fifty of whom were arrested.

The police, who intervened to disperse this gathering and in particular to dismantle the impromptu camp set up near parliament, were greeted with "shame on you" or "Abandon the obligation".

Protesters opposed to health restrictions face police on February 10, 2022 in Wellington, New Zealand Marty MELVILLE AFP

France: a possible end of the vaccination pass

The French government hopes to be able to lift the vaccination pass "at the end of March-beginning of April, due to the improvement in the health situation, its spokesman Gabriel Attal said on Wednesday.

Thousands of opponents of the vaccine pass announced on social networks that they wanted to "drive on Paris" on Saturday as part of an action called "freedom convoys", inspired by Canadian truckers.

Motorists prepare to "drive through Paris" as part of an action called "freedom convoys", on February 9, 2022 in Nice Valery HACHE AFP

- WHO asks for money from rich countries -

The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged rich countries to urgently pay the 16 billion dollars that are still missing to finance its plan to fight Covid-19.

South Korea: new strategy against Omicron

South Korea has announced it is abandoning its 'trace, test and treat' health policy as a surge in Omicron cases threatens to overwhelm the country's health system, with more than a million infections in the country. weekend course.

A new set of measures comes into effect gradually from this month, and will refocus resources on the most vulnerable people.

Positives

Denmark's Queen Margrethe II has tested positive with mild symptoms, the royal palace has announced.

Queen of Denmark Margrethe II, January 14, 2022 in Copenhagen Mads Claus Rasmussen Ritzau Scanpix/AFP/Archives

The 54-year-old King of Spain Felipe VI is positive for Covid-19 and has "mild symptoms", the Royal House announced, adding that the monarch was suspending "his official activities" for seven days.

Slovenian conservative Prime Minister Janez Jansa also announced that he had tested positive.

Indonesia tests its own vaccine

Indonesia, which is facing a wave of contamination, has started testing its own anti-Covid vaccine on humans after obtaining the green light from the national health agency, announced the Minister of Health.

A nurse prepares a dose of the Covid-19 vaccine on February 9, 2022 in Banda Aceh, Indonesia CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN AFP

Potential treatment in France

The French subcontractor Cenexi has announced that it has reached an agreement with the American biotech Humanigen to produce in France Lenzilumab, a potential treatment under study against Covid-19, in the process of being registered with the European and French health authorities.

- More than 5.7 million dead -

The pandemic has officially killed more than 5,761,646 people worldwide since the end of December 2019, according to a report established by AFP on Wednesday at 11:00 GMT, while the threshold of 400 million recorded cases should be crossed soon.

The United States is the country with the most deaths (912,077), ahead of Brazil (635,074), India (505,279) and Russia (337,390).

The world facing the coronavirus Simon MALFATTO AFP

The WHO estimates, taking into account the excess mortality directly and indirectly linked to Covid-19, that the overall assessment of the pandemic could be two to three times higher than that established from official national figures.

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© 2022 AFP