New measures, new reports and highlights: an update on the latest developments in the Covid-19 pandemic around the world.
The situation in France
Number of cases
The number of people hospitalized and admitted to intensive care due to Covid-19 rose slightly on Tuesday, according to health authorities. Some 32,894 patients are currently in hospital with a Covid diagnosis (compared to 30,189 seven days ago and 32,374 on Monday), according to Santé Publique France. Critical care services welcomed 3,751 patients, slightly more than the day before (3,700), and slightly more than last Tuesday (3,741 patients). By contrast, the number of new cases stood at 416,896, down from 501,635 new cases a week ago.
Alleviation of constraints
France will start lifting the restrictions on Wednesday despite a still very high number of contaminations. Wearing a mask will no longer be compulsory outdoors, gauges in places receiving a seated public (stadiums, cultural establishments, etc.) will be abandoned and teleworking will no longer be compulsory, but only recommended.
Denmark, the 1st EU country to lift all its restrictions
Despite the omnipresence of Covid-19, Denmark on Tuesday became the first country in the European Union to lift all its restrictions, considering itself able to do so thanks to its high vaccination coverage and the lesser severity of the disease. Omicron variant. Very few restrictions remain in force on entry into the country, for unvaccinated travelers arriving from a country outside the Schengen area.
The WHO considers it premature to declare victory
The director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Tuesday that it was too early for countries to claim victory over Covid-19 or abandon their attempts to stem transmission of the virus. His call for caution comes as some countries consider returning to life before. “More transmission means more deaths,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The mountain of medical waste linked to Covid-19 poses risks to health and the environment, said the WHO, which calls for measures to be taken to reduce the use of gloves in particular.
Catalonia reopens nightclubs
Discotheques and other nightlife establishments will be able to reopen on February 11 in Catalonia, after almost two months of closure, the government of this region announced on Tuesday.
The balance sheet in the world
The pandemic has officially made at least 5,671,154 dead worldwide since the end of December 2019, according to a report established by AFP on Tuesday at 11:00 GMT. The United States are the country with the most deaths (886,687), ahead of the Brazil (627.138), theIndia (496.242) and the Russia (332.012). 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 established.
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