New measures, new reports and highlights: update on the latest developments in the Covid-19 pandemic around the world.
The situation in France
The results in France: Hospitalizations and patients in critical care are decreasing. The number of people hospitalized with Covid-19 continues to drop slightly, including those in critical care, continues to decline, as does the circulation of the virus, according to official figures released Wednesday evening. The total number of hospitalized patients reached 30,578 against 31,091 on Tuesday and 32,878 people last Wednesday. The number of new admissions (1,975) is also down compared to the previous day (2,454), or compared to that of Wednesday of the previous week (2,614). The critical care services, which receive the most serious cases, had 3,126 Covid patients on Wednesday (including 207 admissions), against 3,235 the day before (291 admissions) and 3,503 the previous Wednesday. A figure that also continues to decline slowly.
On Wednesday, 98,735 people tested positive in the past 24 hours, according to data published by Public Health France. This brings the average over the past seven days to 108,148 daily cases, compared to 192,323 the previous Wednesday. This calculation helps to smooth out the deviations observed from one day to the next, often artificially created by data collection problems. Since the start of the epidemic just under two years ago, 135,855 people have died. 244 people died in hospital with a Covid diagnosis according to figures released Wednesday evening, compared to 304 on Tuesday. Nearly 54.2 million people have now received at least one injection (80.4% of the total population) and 53.1 million are fully vaccinated (78.8% of the population). 38.2 million people received a booster dose.
France is considering the end of the mask. The French government indicated on Wednesday that it was considering ending the wearing of masks indoors for adults and children “in mid-March”, as well as a reduction in the vaccination pass on this date, if the circulation of the virus is “very low “. The minister, however, mentioned the prospect of “keeping (the mask) in places which are very at risk, such as discotheques, and there it would be until the end of March, the beginning of April”.
The bamboche is back. From Wednesday, dancing in a disco, eating popcorn in a cinema, a sandwich in a stadium or a train, having a drink standing at the counter of a bar or attending a concert will again be allowed in France. While Belgium will wait Friday and Germany until March 4 to reopen clubs and nightclubs, France, which hopes to approach the end of the fifth wave after the surge linked to the Omicron variant, will allow these establishments closed since the 10 December to welcome the public again.
The situation in the world
The balance sheet in the world: pMore than 5.8 million dead. The pandemic has officially killed more than 5,836,026 people worldwide since the end of December 2019, according to a report established by AFP on Wednesday at 11 a.m. GMT. In absolute value, the United States is the country with the most deaths (925,560), ahead of Brazil (639,689), India (509,872) and Russia (342,383). Reported to the population, the countries where the epidemic has caused the most damage are Peru, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Hungary and North Macedonia. The WHO 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 established.
Quebec drops the health pass. Canada announced on Tuesday the easing of health restrictions at its borders and in particular the end of the requirement for a PCR test to enter the country, while Quebec will gradually abandon its vaccine passport. The country has also lifted its recommendation to avoid travel abroad, at a time when the country has been shaken for more than two weeks by an anti-sanitary measures challenge. As of February 28, vaccinated travelers will no longer be required to present a negative PCR test when entering Canada. In Quebec, the Minister of Health of the French-speaking province announced for his part on Tuesday “the gradual withdrawal of the vaccine passport in Quebec” by March 14, following the example of several other Canadian provinces.
Record new cases in New Zealand. New Zealand recorded a record number of infections on Wednesday (1,160 new cases). Inspired by Canada’s self-proclaimed “freedom convoys”, anti-vaccine protesters continue to block the streets around Parliament in Wellington. They were pleased that the police, who had toughened up their voices on Tuesday evening, had not succeeded in dislodging them.
Xi calls on Hong Kong to act. Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on Hong Kong authorities to take “all necessary measures” to control an unprecedented wave of Omicron variant infections, pro-Beijing Hong Kong newspapers reported on Wednesday. This statement comes a day after Chief Executive Carrie Lam ruled out a total containment of the city, like what is being done in China.
Babies of well-protected vaccinated mothers. Babies born to mothers vaccinated during pregnancy are around 60% less likely to be hospitalized with Covid-19, according to a new American study published on Tuesday. The researchers believe that this protection comes in particular from a transfer of antibodies against the virus between a pregnant mother and her baby, via the placenta.
Rebound of the Norwegian economy. Norway posted growth of 4.2% last year, excluding hydrocarbons, completely erasing the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to official figures published on Wednesday.
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