(Paris) Faced with the surge of the Omicron variant which is exploding the number of COVID-19 cases, countries around the world are increasingly betting on vaccination and, to avoid economic paralysis, many are easing the rules for isolating patients and their relatives.
The extreme contagiousness of Omicron and its procession of work stoppages and quarantines weigh heavily even if the acceleration of contaminations is not, for the time being, accompanied by an increase in deaths. Since the discovery of the virus in December 2019, the pandemic has killed more than 5.4 million people worldwide, according to an AFP count.
First region concerned, Europe – currently the main focus of the pandemic – is recording unprecedented levels of contamination, with a 59% increase in new infections over seven days last week, to more than 4.9 million. In total, more than 100 million cases have been recorded there since December 2019.
Kuwait on Sunday evening called on its citizens to “postpone their trips” in general and in particular to five European countries – France, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy – and to leave them if they are already there, ” given the significant and unprecedented increase in the number of cases ”.
Across the Atlantic, the wave is also strong. The Dr Anthony Fauci, senior White House adviser on the health crisis, stressed Sunday that the increase in cases in the United States, “almost vertical”, was “unprecedented”, with an average of almost 400,000 new infections by day.
The Pentagon announced Sunday that US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin has contracted COVID-19, with “mild” symptoms, and would remain in quarantine at his home for the next five days.
Israel, which pioneered COVID-19 vaccination under an agreement with US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, began administering a fourth dose of the vaccine to people over the age of 60 on Monday. Medical staff will also benefit.
Adolescents vaccinated in India
India started immunizing young people aged 15 to 18 on Monday and the authorities are stepping up health measures in large cities, including a curfew from 10 p.m. in New Delhi and Bangalore.
In China, which follows a “zero COVID-19” strategy, two senior officials were sacked in the city of Xi’an (North) for, according to the authorities, “to strengthen the work of prevention and control of the epidemic ” In the region.
In France, deputies are examining Monday, before senators from Wednesday, a bill transforming the current health passport into a vaccine passport. The law “strengthening the tools for managing the health crisis”, the adoption of which is without doubt despite a tense climate, is due to come into force on January 15.
With recent peaks of 200,000 new daily cases, despite a vaccination rate of some 90% of the population over 12, Paris wants to increase the pressure on the unvaccinated. Without being able to justify a vaccination status, they will no longer have access to leisure activities, restaurants and bars or interregional public transport.
To preserve socio-economic life, the quarantine periods are relaxed from Monday in France, like other countries. Isolation of patients is reduced to five days after a negative test and new provisions come into force – reinforced tests for schoolchildren, wearing a mask compulsory from six years old, minimum number of three days of teleworking per week in particular.
Switzerland, Spain, Argentina and Portugal also decided last week to reduce quarantines to minimize their impact on economic activity.
To limit absences and avoid blockages and shortages, Joe Biden’s administration decided last Monday to reduce the recommended quarantine period from ten to five days for people positive for COVID-19, provided they are asymptomatic .
Canceled flights
South Africa, believing to have passed the peak of the Omicron wave, for its part abolished the night curfew in force for 21 months on December 31.
But other countries have taken or are keeping strict health restrictions such as the Netherlands, which reimposed lockdown a week before Christmas. Thousands of people demonstrated in Amsterdam on Sunday against this provision and the police reported 30 arrests, notably for disturbing public order.
Illustration of the impact of Omicron, global air traffic is still experiencing numerous disruptions with flights canceled due to the lack of flight personnel, sick with COVID-19 or contact cases in quarantine.
Sunday, the day back from vacation, more than 2,500 flights to the United States were canceled, due to winter storm Frida added to the disruptions related to Omicron.
The situation should remain complicated on Monday, for the first working day of 2022, with more than 2,000 flights already canceled.