(Paris) New measures, new reports and highlights: an update on the latest developments in the COVID-19 pandemic around the world.
Posted at 8:17 a.m.
Record new cases in New Zealand
New Zealand recorded a record number of infections on Wednesday (1,160 new cases).
Inspired by Canada’s self-proclaimed ‘freedom convoys’, anti-vaccine protesters continue to block the streets around Parliament in Wellington. They were pleased that the police, who had toughened up their voices on Tuesday evening, had failed to dislodge them.
Xi calls on Hong Kong to act
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on Hong Kong authorities to take “all necessary measures” to control an unprecedented wave of Omicron variant infections, pro-Beijing Hong Kong newspapers reported on Wednesday.
This statement comes a day after Chief Executive Carrie Lam ruled out a total containment of the city, like what is being done in China.
Babies of well-protected vaccinated mothers
Babies born to mothers vaccinated during pregnancy are around 60% less likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19, according to a new US study released Tuesday.
The researchers believe that this protection comes in particular from a transfer of antibodies against the virus between a pregnant mother and her baby, via the placenta.
France is considering the end of the mask
The French government indicated on Wednesday that it was considering ending the wearing of masks indoors for adults and children “in mid-March”, as well as a reduction in the vaccination passport on this date, if the circulation of the virus is “very low “.
The minister, however, mentioned the prospect of “keeping (the mask) in places which are very at risk, such as discotheques, and there it would be until the end of March, the beginning of April”.
Nightclubs reopen their doors this Wednesday in France. Eating popcorn in a movie theater, a sandwich in a stadium or on a train, having a drink standing up at a bar counter or attending a concert is also possible again.
Norwegian economy rebounds
Norway posted 4.2% growth excluding hydrocarbons last year, completely erasing the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, official figures showed on Wednesday.
More than 5.8 million dead
The pandemic has officially killed more than 5,836,026 people worldwide since the end of December 2019, according to a report established by AFP on Wednesday at 6 a.m.
In absolute terms, the United States is the country with the most deaths (925,560), ahead of Brazil (639,689), India (509,872) and Russia (342,383).
Reported to the population, the countries where the epidemic has caused the most damage are Peru, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Hungary and North Macedonia.
The 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.