> The essential
Health authorities have recorded 243 deaths from the new coronavirus in hospital in the past 24 hours.
105,416 people have died in France since the start of the epidemic.
28,427 people are hospitalized for a Covid-19 infection, and 5,504 patients are in critical care.
The trend is downward, but hospital pressure remains very high.
The 2021 bac exam is debated and demonstrations are recorded in some high schools.
Hitherto inflexible on the holding of the tests in June, Jean-Michel Blanquer announces opening the door to adjustments.
Possible tracks.
The pandemic has killed more than 3.2 million people worldwide since the end of December 2019. The situation is critical in India, which exceeds 20 million cases.
> Follow the day's events live:
12:35.
Contamination versus population.
Hungary is the country with the highest death toll relative to its population, with 290 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by the Czech Republic (275), Bosnia and Herzegovina (266), Montenegro (241) and North Macedonia (240).
12:30 p.m. New global balance sheet.
The pandemic has killed at least 3,230,058 people around the world since the end of December 2019, according to AFP's daily assessment based on official statistics from the countries that have it. Nearly 155 million infections have also been identified, most of them cured. On the day of yesterday, 14,024 new deaths and 791,327 new cases were recorded worldwide.
12:20. 19 Indian variants on board a ship.
The Normandy Regional Health Agency has confirmed the detection of 19 cases of an “Indian variant derivative” among the crew of a ship off Le Havre (Seine-Maritime). Positive cases had been detected in mid-April while the ship was at sea. “The 25 crew members were then placed in isolation as soon as the signs appeared before their arrival in Le Havre, and the entire 'crew had been detected,' says the ARS. And to add that the confirmed sailors had been isolated in a hotel for fifteen of them, the sixteenth being hospitalized.
After their quarantine at another hotel, the nine crew members who had not tested positive were notified yesterday that they remained in isolation: three of theirs tested positive during this period. , they are all contact cases.
11:56 a.m.
More than 2,000 foreign workers on the front line during the naturalized health crisis.
The government was committed to facilitating the
naturalization of foreign workers on the front line in the face of the health crisis.
Over 8,000 applications have been filed.
To date, Marlène Schiappa announces in a press release, "2,009 people have acquired French nationality, including 665 children", and the other cases are being examined under an accelerated procedure.
11:44 am.
A test half-marathon organized in Japan.
A test half-marathon was held on Wednesday as the Tokyo and Osaka regions, among others, are still placed under a health emergency regime due to the coronavirus pandemic and the vaccination campaign progresses slowly.
"I can understand the nervousness of the population regarding the Games and we take it very very seriously," said the president of the International Athletics Federation Sebastian Coe after this test event in Sapporo (north).
“We have Covid protocols that have been put in place and tested.
I saw it this morning.
We take the health and well-being of local communities very seriously ”.
11:29 a.m.
Sebastian Coe understands the concerns of the Japanese but calls for the Olympic Games to be held.
The president of the International Athletics Federation Sebastian Coe understands the concerns of the Japanese about the holding of the Olympic Games but underlines this Wednesday the importance of the health measures taken to face the coronavirus pandemic and to ensure their holding.
According to polls, a majority of Japanese want the Games, which are due to open on July 23, to be postponed or canceled.
11:03 am.
India's G7 Foreign Minister says he has been exposed to potential Covid-19 cases.
Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, in Great Britain for G7 meetings, said on Wednesday that he had been exposed to potential cases of Covid-19, specifying that he would assume his commitments "in virtual mode".
“I was informed yesterday (Tuesday) evening of the exposure to potentially positive Covid cases.
As a measure of great prudence and also for the sake of others, I decided to conduct my engagements in virtual mode.
This will also be the case for the G7 meeting today, ”he tweets.
Was made aware yesterday evening of exposure to possible Covid positive cases.
As a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others, I decided to conduct my engagements in the virtual mode.
That will be the case with the G7 Meeting today as well.
- Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 5, 2021
11:01 am.
Between Covid, conflicts and hurricanes, food crises worsened in 2020.
Acute food insecurity further increased in 2020 under the effect of conflicts, economic crises exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and climatic events, warns the Global Network Against Food Crises which expects 2021 to be “difficult”.
Last year, 155 million people in 55 countries were in a "crisis" (phase 3 on the international food security scale) or "worse" situation.
That is 20 million more than in 2019, underlines a report published on Wednesday by this network which brings together the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the European Union and the World Food Program ( PAM).
More than 28 million people in 38 countries were in a “food emergency” situation (phase 4 and above).
The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Yemen and Afghanistan are particularly affected.
10:46 am.
Paris: the new vaccination center inaugurated by Emmanuel Macron on Thursday.
The Head of State will attend the opening of this vaccinodrome located at the Porte de Versailles Exhibition Center with Olivier Véran and Gérald Darmanin.
To read here.
10:28 am.
In the Alpes-Maritimes, the inhabitants are no longer obliged to wear the mask in certain places.
Wearing a mask is no longer compulsory in green spaces, on the coast, in public gardens, parks, and on the banks of water bodies in the Alpes-Maritimes department.
This decision is motivated by the low incidence rate in the department (157 per 100,000 inhabitants).
10:06 am.
The epidemiologist Dominique Costagliola fears a new wave.
Dominique Costagliola, deputy director of the Pierre-Louis Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health, takes a critical look at the deconfinement schedule announced by Emmanuel Macron in an interview with Le Monde. For her, the decision is "premature" and a fourth wave is possible. "The probability that it will pass, that is to say to avoid a new total saturation of the hospital, is low", according to the epidemiologist.
9:49 am.
The “yes but” of the deputies to the “sanitary pass” for large gatherings.
Members of the Laws Committee gave the first green light on Tuesday evening for the establishment of a "health pass" for access to gatherings of more than 1,000 people, despite strong reluctance among some elected officials.
As part of the committee's examination of the bill on the management of the exit from the health crisis, the deputies began to consider a battery of measures which should make it possible to gradually exit the state of health emergency, without abruptly ending the sanitary restrictions.
Among them is the creation of a "health pass", which the government wants to put in place for large gatherings through an amendment.
9:29 a.m.
Australia: Justice to review controversial ban on returns from India.
An Australian court agrees on Wednesday to look into Canberra's controversial decision to ban Australians from returning to the country from India, which is in the throes of a very serious epidemic.
A federal court announces that it would urgently examine the appeal of a 73-year-old Australian who lives in Bangalore and wishes to return to Australia.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison this week banned all arrivals from India, a country which is currently registering hundreds of thousands of new infections every day.
Those who nevertheless return from India risk prison terms and heavy fines.
9 hours.
New Defense Council.
Like every Wednesday, a Restricted Defense Council is held at the Elysee Palace.
The opportunity for the executive to take stock of the health situation, to continue working on the different phases of deconfinement and the protocols to be put in place for the next reopening of shops, museums and other places that can accommodate the public.
8:50 am.
Covid-19 epidemic: all without a mask outside this summer?
The low risk of transmission of the virus outdoors and the progress of vaccination suggest a relaxation of barrier gestures in the open air during the summer season, even if the epidemic will not have disappeared.
Our topic to read here.
8:28.
The semiconductor shortage prevented Stellantis (PSA-Fiat-Chrysler) from producing 190,000 vehicles in the first quarter.
The global shortage of semiconductors has prevented the automotive group Stellantis, resulting from the merger of Peugeot-Citroën and Fiat-Chrysler, from producing 190,000 vehicles in the first quarter, announced on Wednesday the second European manufacturer, which was forced as its competitors to temporarily shut down factories.
The group warns that the lack of microchips, manufactured mainly in Asia and subject to exceptional global demand, will continue and have a "greater impact" in the second quarter, before improving in the second half.
8:12 am.
FC Barcelona: possible breach of the Covid protocol.
La Liga, the body that manages professional football in Spain, has opened an investigation for a possible violation of the Covid-19 protocols of the Spanish league, after the meal organized by the FC Barcelona players at the home of Lionel Messi.
Barça players, some of whom were accompanied by their companions, met on Monday at the home of their captain Messi, while meetings of more than six people are prohibited in private homes in Barcelona.
7:50 a.m.
The UK is investing in testing the efficacy of variant vaccines.
The British government announces this Wednesday investing to test the effectiveness of anti-Covid vaccines against variants and stay "one step ahead" of the virus.
At the forefront of variant sequencing, the United Kingdom will release 29.3 million pounds (33.8 million euros) to increase the screening capacities of the military center of Porton Down (south of England), indicates the Ministry of Health in a press release.
The latter will thus be able to process 3,000 samples per week, against 700 currently, to measure the level of antibodies generated by the vaccines in order to develop more rapidly sera against mutations in the Covid-19 disease.
“The increased testing capacity at Porton Down will ensure the UK stays ahead of the virus,” the ministry said.
7.40 am.
No more department in France has an incidence rate greater than 400 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Val-de-Marne and Seine-Saint-Denis were the only two still above so far.
This threshold of 400 is decisive, since Emmanuel Macron assured that it was one of the conditions for continuing the next stages of deconfinement.
7:33.
After a year of telecommuting, Wall Street is preparing to return to face-to-face.
After a year of cautions and massive teleworking, Wall Street is preparing to return to face-to-face business, with more licensed traders on the New York Stock Exchange floor as of Monday and Goldman Sachs employees expected to return to the office in June.
7:16.
Biden wants to immunize even more adults and include teenagers.
Joe Biden launches a "new phase" of the Covid-19 vaccination campaign in the United States, which must integrate adolescents and target more reluctant Americans, with a new target of at least one injection for 70% of adults by the national holiday of July 4.
The US president also announces a target of 160 million Americans fully immunized by the same date.
A request to extend the emergency authorization of Pfizer / BioNTech's vaccine for 12-15 year olds was filed in early April in the United States, and the decision of the American Medicines Agency (FDA) is expected within days to come.
“I want American parents to know that when this announcement falls, we will be ready to act immediately,” says Joe Biden.
20,000 pharmacies will be able to immediately vaccinate adolescents, and doses will then be sent to pediatricians, he says.
7:10.
India releases 6.7 billion dollars for vaccines and businesses in the health sector.
The Central Bank of India announced on Wednesday that $ 6.7 billion in cheap financing would be released for vaccine manufacturers, hospitals and healthcare companies to help counter the second wave of Covid-19 which ravages the country.
The Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Shaktikanta Das, announces that these loans would be available until March 31 of next year and promises "unconventional" measures if the crisis were to worsen.
7:08 am.
Anti-Covid vaccines: the G7 under pressure to show more solidarity.
Called by the WHO to solidarity in the face of the pandemic, the rich countries of the G7 are discussing this Wednesday means to ensure a more equitable distribution of anti-Covid vaccines.
Meeting in London since Monday for their first face-to-face meeting in two years, the foreign ministers of Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom are to resume their discussions this Wednesday to look in particular at the health situation.
At a time when the progress of vaccination campaigns in Europe or the United States are allowing a gradual lifting of the restrictions in place against the coronavirus, poor countries are still sorely lacking in doses to be injected to fight the pandemic.
6:50 a.m.
India passes the 20 million case mark.
India, overwhelmed by an outbreak of the pandemic that is suffocating its health system, has passed the 20 million officially recorded milestone.
The Asian giant has reached more than 222,000 deaths and nearly 20.3 million infections since the start of the pandemic.
6:40 am.
5,504 patients in critical care.
Currently, 28,427 people are hospitalized for complications related to the coronavirus.
In critical care, which includes intensive care units, intensive care units and continuous monitoring units, there are 355 additional patients in 24 hours.
This brings the number of people in one of these services to 5,504.
They were 5,630 the day before.
6.30 a.m.
243 new deaths in France in
the last 24 hours.
In total,
105,416 people have died since the start of the epidemic.
6:25 am.
Update on the vaccination campaign.
Since the start of the vaccination campaign in France, 15,590,272 people have received at least one injection, according to the Directorate General of Health.
6,441,726 people received two injections.
6:20 am.
Bac 2021: what will the exam look like in June?
The year
last, due to the first containment, the ferry was canceled and based on continuous monitoring.
The virus continues to disrupt the education system.
Hitherto inflexible on the holding of the tests in June, Jean-Michel Blanquer announces opening the door to adjustments.
Find here the possible tracks.
6:10 am.
Hello and welcome to this live.
As for more than fifteen months, we will follow live the events related to the Covid-19 pandemic this Wednesday, May 5, 2021.