(Paris) New measures, new reports and highlights: an update on the latest developments in the COVID-19 pandemic around the world.
Posted at 7:00 a.m.
“Freedom convoys” banned in Paris
The prefect of police banned in Paris the “freedom convoys” which planned to “block the capital” from Friday. This call is inspired by a movement of Canadian truckers who block the center of their country’s capital, Ottawa, to protest against health restrictions.
The police headquarters promises to “prevent the blocking of roads” and to “verbalise and arrest offenders”.
New Zealand: anti-vaccine protesters arrested
Clashes erupted Thursday near New Zealand’s parliament in Wellington between police and anti-COVID-19 vaccine protesters, gathered for three days and more than 120 of whom have been arrested.
The police, who intervened to disperse this gathering and in particular to dismantle the impromptu camp set up near the parliament, were greeted with “Shame on you” or “Abandon the obligation”.
Drop the masks in New York
The State of New York lifts the obligation to wear a mask indoors as of Thursday, in particular in shops, restaurants, businesses, announced the governor of the State, at a time when the number of contaminations with COVID- 19 is in free fall in the United States.
Partygate in London: the investigation accelerates
London police are stepping up their investigation into gatherings in Downing Street during lockdown and will question more than 50 people who will have to respond within seven days.
The announcement comes as the Daily Mirror tabloid published a new photo showing the Prime Minister taking part in an online quiz on December 15, 2020, flanked by two aides, one of whom has a garland around his neck, with a bottle of sparkling wine open on the table.
The police indicated that they were considering whether to add this event to the twelve others they are already investigating.
More than 5.77 million dead
The pandemic has officially killed more than 5.77 million people worldwide since the end of December 2019, out of more than 402 million confirmed contaminations, according to a report established by AFP on Thursday at 6 a.m.
The United States is the country with the most deaths (912,255), ahead of Brazil (635,074) and India (506,520).
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.