The essential
The European Commission has set a common framework for the 27 countries of the European Union with a view to setting up a "European green certificate".
In France, 173 new deaths and 4,352 patients hospitalized in critical care have been recorded in the past 24 hours.
More intense short-term side effects have been brought to light when two different vaccines are mixed, especially for those under the age of 50.
Fully immunized Americans are no longer required to wear masks, both indoors and outdoors.
Since the start of the vaccination campaign in France, 19,706,931 people have received at least one injection and 8,705,141 two injections.
Today's events
12:15.
Jean Castex sets the objective of "30 million first-time vaccinated in mid-June".
The Prime Minister, traveling to the giant vaccination center at Porte de Versailles, in Paris, welcomed the fact that "the epidemic is regressing everywhere in the territory, including in Ile-de-France".
According to him, "we should this evening (Saturday) achieve the collective objective of 20 million first-time vaccinated".
Jean Castex also recalled a new course now set: reaching “30 million first-time vaccinated in mid-June”.
In addition, the Prime Minister was pleased to see that "the epidemic is regressing everywhere on the territory, including in Ile-de-France."
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20 million French people vaccinated: follow the statement of the Prime Minister @JeanCastex.
https://t.co/QGVh3WerkT
- Government (@gouvernementFR) May 15, 2021
12:10.
Doses of vaccine against the coronavirus stolen from a vaccination center in Soustons (Landes).
This is not the first time that a vaccine theft has been recorded, a case was reported last February in Uzes in the Gard.
This time, the Dax prosecutor's office confirmed that six doses of the coronavirus vaccine were stolen from the Soustons vaccination center, in the Landes.
A gendarmerie investigation, according to France 3, was opened.
11:45 am. Uncertainty about the Copa America one month from kickoff.
While the kickoff in Argentina and Colombia must be given in a month, even if the two organizing countries assure, for the time being, that they will keep their commitments, uncertainty hangs over the holding of this competition. At the moment, the holding of the competition in Medellin, Cali and Bogota and Barranquilla, where the final is to be played on July 10, seems difficult to imagine due to the current situation of social revolt in Colombia. For nearly three weeks, the country has turned into violence. Clashes with the police left 42 dead and more than 1,500 injured.
11:00. Portugal allows tourist travel for most European countries.
After the United Kingdom, Portugal will authorize tourist trips for most European countries from Monday, announces the Ministry of the Interior. People from European Union countries with an incidence of the coronavirus "less than 500 cases per 100,000 inhabitants" will be able to make "all types of travel to Portugal, including non-essential trips," the government said. Read our article.
10:30 am. The mayor of Mazamet (Tarn) calls for the end of wearing masks outdoors for vaccinated people.
The mayor of Mazamet (Tarn), in a letter to the prefect of Tarn Catherine Ferrier, asks for the removal of the obligation to wear a mask, "outdoors at first", for all people vaccinated against Covid-19 due to the improvement in the health situation. According to him, this would constitute "a strong signal for the resumption of economic, tourist and social activities" and would also be "the reward for the efforts made over the past 14 months".
10:10 am.
60 people gathered for a party in an apartment in Paris.
The police intervened during the night to put an end to a party in an apartment in the third arrondissement of Paris.
The organizers were arrested and the participants fined.
# TousMobilized to fight against # Covid19!
That night in # Paris3, the local police intervened to put an end to a clandestine party bringing together about sixty people in an apartment.
➡️ Organizer arrested
➡️ Participants fined pic.twitter.com/aLDuEz56yf
- Police Prefecture (@prefpolice) May 15, 2021
9:50 a.m.
Taiwan decrees stricter physical distancing measures for its capital.
The authorities raised the alert level for Taipei and New Taipei City after the confirmation of 180 new coronavirus infections, against 29 cases the day before. No more than five people can meet indoors and ten outdoors. These measures come the day after the authorities' decision to shut down entertainment venues for an indefinite period. The ordinance covers bars, dance clubs, karaoke parlors, nightclubs, saunas and internet cafes, as well as hostess clubs and tea rooms. Municipal facilities, including libraries and sports centers, are also closed. In contrast, schools, government offices, workplaces, and most businesses can remain open.
9.45 a.m. Towards a third injection at the end of the year in Belgium.
According to Dirk Ramaekers, head of the vaccination task force, the country is currently working on a third injection in December. “We can say with a fairly high degree of certainty that at the end of this year, certainly at the beginning of next year, we will start giving an extra dose of the coronavirus vaccine. This additional injection is a booster to strengthen the immunity of the first series of vaccines, ”he explained although it is not yet decided whether everyone will receive this additional vaccine. “Studies are still underway on this subject. Maybe it will only be for high risk groups, but we always take into account that it will be for everyone. "
9:35 am. India has recorded a smaller increase in contamination.
In the past 24 hours, India recorded 326,098 new cases of the coronavirus, the smallest increase in three weeks, bringing the total to 24.37 million. The number of deaths stood at 3,890.
9:15 am. China suspends expeditions to Everest.
China has canceled any ascent of Everest from its territory in order to avoid any risk of contamination with Covid-19 by mountaineers from Nepal. While the borders have been virtually closed since March 2020, China is now worried about risks at the snow-capped Top of the World, which it shares with Nepal at 8,848 meters above sea level. Nepal, India's neighbor, is hard hit by a second epidemic wave, when the Himalayan state was planning to relaunch its tourism this summer after a 2020 season reduced to nothing. But Beijing had not specified how it intended to concretely mark its territory on the narrow summit of the highest mountain in the world, where only a few climbers can stand at the same time.
8:30 am.
Reinforced measures are put in place from Sunday for travel to France from Bahrain, Colombia, Costa Rica and Uruguay.
# COVID19 |
As of May 16, reinforced measures are put in place for travel to France from several countries: Bahrain, Colombia, Costa Rica, Uruguay.
ℹ️To find out more, visit the @Interieur_Gouv website https://t.co/m4yErTPKZr
- France Consul @ ire (@FR_Consulaire) May 14, 2021
8:25 am. Walmart, the number one American retailer, renounces the mandatory mask.
In the United States, the giant Walmart has announced that the mask is no longer mandatory in its stores following new recommendations from health authorities, but it is still required in many companies. "From today, vaccinated customers and members will be able to shop without a mask," wrote the supermarket chain in a statement. Other establishments catering to the general public remain in the background, such as the low-cost supermarket chain Aldi, the Home Depot stores, a chain of DIY and household goods stores and even the Gap clothing stores.
8:20 am. Unfounded fears about fertility are hurting the vaccination campaign in the United States.
False reports that vaccination against Covid-19 can render sterile dissuading some Americans from receiving their injection, and forcing healthcare professionals to demonstrate to their patients that what they have read online has no scientific basis . This false information is spread in particular on social networks like Facebook, where we can read that 97% of vaccinated become sterile.
8:10 am. "The athletes need a decision" on the holding of the Olympics, according to Roger Federer.
Tennis champion Roger Federer said "the athletes need a firm decision" on whether to hold the Tokyo Olympics, the tennis star adding that he would fully understand if the already postponed event. 'one year, was finally canceled. An Olympic gold medal in singles is the only major honor missing from the impressive collection of the former world No.1. The 39-year-old Swiss was previously a doubles gold medalist in Beijing in 2008.
8 hours. Authorities deny the existence of a black market for vaccines in Peru.
The Peruvian health ministry has refuted any existence of a black market in coronavirus vaccines following its investigation into suspected vaccination of patients with empty syringes. The case came to light when a person accompanying a nun to her vaccination appointment in Lima, and who filmed her, realized that the syringe used was empty. According to the ministry's investigation, the three suspected caregivers said it was "human error, due to distraction."
7.45 a.m. Holding the Tokyo Olympics this summer would be a "suicide mission", according to the boss of Japanese online retail giant Rakuten.
“It is dangerous to host the big international event from all over the world,” CEO Hiroshi Mikitani said in an interview with CNN. "The risk is therefore too great and ... I am against the holding of the Tokyo Olympics this year," he said, describing the Games as "a suicide mission". Japan extended the coronavirus state of emergency on Friday as the country battles a fourth wave of infections. A petition to cancel the Tokyo Olympics has collected hundreds of thousands of signatures. Read our article.
7:25 am. Portugal is preparing to welcome tourists and British supporters.
Hundreds of British holidaymakers are expected from Monday in Portugal to take advantage of the lifting of restrictions granted by Lisbon to its first tourist market. This decision will also allow English supporters to attend the Champions League final between Manchester City and Chelsea on May 29, relocated to Porto. However, the British will have to present a negative PCR test less than 72 hours before boarding, "even if they have been vaccinated", explained the Secretary of State for Tourism.
7:10.
WHO calls for providing doses to poor countries before immunizing children.
As the United States began vaccinating adolescents this week, World Health Organization director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says it is more urgent to deliver doses to the Covax system for the most disadvantaged countries .
He also estimated that the second year of the pandemic will be more deadly than the first.
7 hours.
Hello and welcome to this live.
It will allow you to follow the latest developments in the Covid-19 crisis, throughout the day.
