(Paris) The novel coronavirus pandemic has killed at least 5,173,915 worldwide since the WHO office in China reported the onset of the disease at the end of December 2019, according to a report established by the AFP from official sources Thursday at 6 a.m.
Since the start of the epidemic, 258,929,020 cases of infection have been officially diagnosed. The vast majority of patients recover, but a still poorly evaluated part retains symptoms for weeks or even months.
The figures are based on reports communicated daily by the health authorities in each country. They exclude the revisions carried out a posteriori by certain statistical organizations, which conclude with a much higher number of deaths.
The WHO even 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.
A large proportion of the less severe or asymptomatic cases also remain undetected despite the intensification of screening in many countries.
On Wednesday, 8,865 new deaths and 626,666 new cases were recorded worldwide. The countries that have recorded the most new deaths in their latest reports are the United States with 1,788 new deaths, Russia (1,238) and Ukraine (628).
The United States is the most affected country in terms of both deaths and cases, with 775,397 deaths for 48,091,937 cases, according to the Johns Hopkins University count.
After the United States, the most affected countries are Brazil with 613,339 deaths and 22,043,112 cases, India with 466,980 deaths (34,544,882 cases), Mexico with 293,186 deaths (3,872,263 cases) , and Russia with 269,057 deaths (9,468,189 cases).
Among the hardest hit countries, Peru is the one with the highest number of deaths relative to its population, with 609 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Bulgaria (398), Bosnia (378), Montenegro (361), North Macedonia (359), Hungary (347) and the Czech Republic (304).
Latin America and the Caribbean had a total of 1,536,984 deaths for 46,537,071 cases on Thursday at 6 a.m., Europe 1,500,157 deaths (82,374,912 cases), Asia 892,783 deaths (56,984,911 cases), United States and Canada 804,977 deaths (49,866,883 cases), Africa 222,030 deaths (8,616,303 cases), the Middle East 213,734 deaths (14,249,368 cases), and Oceania 3,250 deaths ( 299,572 cases).
This assessment was carried out using data collected by AFP offices from the competent national authorities and information from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Due to corrections made by the authorities or late publication of the data, the 24 hour increase figures may not correspond exactly to those published the day before.
Update on the pandemic
New measures, new reports and highlights: an update on the latest developments in the COVID-19 pandemic around the world.
Europe: Pfizer vaccine approved for 5-11 year olds
Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for children aged 5 to 11 by the European medicines regulator, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Thursday.
South Africa: new variant
A new variant of COVID-19, known as B.1.1529, potentially highly contagious and with multiple mutations, has been detected in South Africa, which is seeing signs of a new wave.
At this point, South African scientists are unsure of the effectiveness of existing vaccines against this new variant.
New measures in France
Faced with the epidemic rebound, France announced Thursday a strengthening of measures for vaccination and the health passport, without considering at this stage “neither containment nor curfew”.
The booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine, currently available to over 65s, will be open to all adults from Saturday.
From January 15, 2022, in the absence of a reminder, the health passport will be invalid seven months after the last injection. As for the period of validity of negative tests, giving entitlement to a passport, it will be reduced to 24 hours (instead of 72 hours).
Due to the resumption of the pandemic in France, Morocco will suspend regular flights between the two countries from Friday evening.
European recommendations
The European Commission on Thursday recommended the 27 EU countries to administer a booster dose no later than nine months after a first full vaccination to maintain the validity of the European health passport.
Africa: one in 4 caregivers fully vaccinated
Only 27% of health professionals, or about one in four, have been fully vaccinated in Africa against COVID-19, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated Thursday.
Germany: Merkel calls for “additional restrictions
Outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday urged the emerging German government to quickly tighten measures to tackle the spike in infections as the country crosses the 100,000 virus-related death mark.
Czech Republic: Christmas markets and nightclubs closed
The Czech government declared a thirty-day state of emergency on Thursday, including the closure of Christmas markets and nightclubs.
Belgium: the rebound exceeds the “most pessimistic” forecasts
The increase in contaminations and hospitalizations linked to COVID-19 in Belgium is “higher than the most pessimistic curves” of the experts, announced Thursday the Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, who will bring together urgently on Friday morning the heads of the executives of the entities federated to decide on new measures.
Daily contaminations broke a record in Belgium on Monday with 23,621 new infections according to the public health institute Sciensano.
More than 5.17 million dead
The pandemic caused by the coronavirus has killed at least 5,173,915 worldwide since the end of 2019, according to a report established by AFP from official sources Thursday at 6 a.m.
The United States is the most bereaved country, with 775,397 deaths, ahead of Brazil (613,339), India (466,980), Mexico (293,186) and Russia (269,057 deaths).
In Europe, COVID-19 has caused the death of more than 1.5 million people, according to the AFP count.
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 in the world could be two to three times higher than that calculated from official figures.