UPDATE ON THE SITUATION – New measures, new reports and highlights: Le Figaro takes stock of the latest developments in the Covid-19 pandemic.
More than 104,000 cases detected in France in 24 hours, Omicron disrupts Christmas, vaccination is in full swing in the United Kingdom … Le Figaro takes stock this Christmas weekend on the latest information related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
A new record of daily cases in France
France crossed the threshold of 100,000 new cases of Covid-19 in 24 hours on Saturday, Christmas Day, unprecedented, while the government must reassess the situation on Monday. With 104,611 new cases in 24 hours, the country has reached a threshold unprecedented since the start of the epidemic in March 2020, according to figures published Saturday evening by Public Health France. The 50,000 mark was passed on December 4 and this figure has therefore doubled in three weeks, according to data from the health agency.
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In addition, the pressure remains stable on critical care services which have 3,282 patients, against 3,254 on Friday, with 160 new admissions (316 the day before). 16,162 people are currently hospitalized against 16,173 the day before, with 760 new admissions (1,398 the day before). The number of deaths since the start of the epidemic has reached 122,546, 84 more than the day before (169 Friday).
Finally, since the start of the vaccination campaign in France, 52,712,462 people have received at least one injection (i.e. 78.2% of the total population) and 51,606,171 people now have a complete vaccination schedule (i.e. 76, 5% of the total population). And since the start of the booster campaign, 21,947,185 people have received an additional dose.
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Savoy toughens the tone
With an incidence rate of 896 per 100,000 inhabitants as of December 21 according to Public Health France, against an average of 598 in the rest of the country, Savoie is one of the departments where the Covid-19 epidemic is the most virulent. A phenomenon further amplified by the arrival of many tourists who come to enjoy the ski slopes during the Christmas holidays. In an attempt to curb the spread of the virus, the prefecture announced a series of measures, in force at least until January 4.
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Wearing a mask is once again compulsory for anyone over eleven years old during gatherings of more than ten people, as well as in markets, flea markets or in queues. In ski resorts, especially Chambéry, Aix-les-Bains and Albertville, wearing a mask is compulsory outdoors in all circumstances from 9 a.m. to midnight.
Christmas clouded by the pandemic
Several billion people celebrated Christmas on Saturday, festivities hampered for the second year in a row by the Covid-19 pandemic.
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More than 5,600 flights were notably canceled by airlines while thousands more were delayed around the world, with the Omicron variant disrupting travel during these holidays.
India launches vaccination for young people aged 15 and over
India will launch the vaccination of young people aged 15 and over on January 3 to face the challenge posed to the country by the Omicron variant, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday. “Omicron is talking about him right nowMr. Modi said in a nationwide speech. “After analyzing the international situation and our vaccination campaign over the past eleven months against Covid-19, our scientists have taken crucial decisions today“.
“We have to be careful and be carefulHe added, announcing that the vaccines would be available to young people aged 15 and over from January 3. Caregivers and people aged 60 and over will also be able to receive “a precautionary doseA week later, he stressed.
In London, no truce for vaccination
In the face of the meteoric spread of the Omicron variant in the UK, the government recall campaign, carried out at unprecedented rates, is not taking a break for Christmas. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called the general mobilization to offer a booster dose to all adults in the UK by the end of the year.
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More than 32 million people have already benefited from this third dose, or 56% of those aged 12 and over, with a rate approaching one million injections per day.
Highest number of cases for 4 months in China
China reported 140 new cases of the coronavirus on Saturday, the highest figure in four months, as authorities try to contain the outbreak in several regions, including the city of Xi’an, where millions of people are confined and where most of the contaminations have occurred.
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China, which has so far successfully brought the epidemic under control on its soil and recorded just two deaths in a year and a half, is on high alert as it is due to host the Olympic Games in February. winter in its capital Beijing. The Xi’an cases have so far spread to five other cities, including Beijing, state media say, fueling fears about the speed of a spread.
Omicron dominant in Portugal
The Omicron variant has become dominant in Portugal (61.5% of cases), while the country recorded on Friday a record of new cases of Covid-19 in 24 hours since the end of January, announced the General Directorate of Health (DGS) . Mortality and hospitalizations in intensive care remain “stable“.
More than 5.39 million deaths worldwide
The pandemic has killed at least 5,391,404 people around the world since the end of 2019, according to a report established by AFP from official sources on Saturday at 11 a.m. GMT. In absolute terms, the countries that have recorded the most deaths are the United States (816,436), Brazil (618,392), India (479,520) and Russia (302,250). Among the hardest hit countries, Peru is the one with the highest death toll relative to its population, followed by Hungary and Bosnia.
The World Health Organization (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 recorded.
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