DIRECT. Covid-19: Canada authorizes Novavax vaccine

The essential

• In France, the end of wearing a mask indoors in places without a vaccination pass will be studied once the total number of patients in intensive care is less than 2000.

• The number of patients hospitalized with Covid-19, whether or not this is the main reason for their hospitalization, has fallen below 30,000.

• The latest assessment in 24 hours in France reports 259 deaths.

  3055 people are in critical care, against 3126 the day before and 3416 a week earlier.

• Worldwide, the pandemic has killed more than 5.8 million officially.

  More than 10.3 billion doses of vaccine have been injected.

> The events of the day live

7:30 a.m.

Easing of restrictions in South Korea.

South Korean authorities are ending some restrictions, fearing too much economic damage.

The move comes as the country crossed the 100,000 daily cases mark for the first time.

Bars and restaurants, for example, will close at 10 p.m. from Saturday, compared to 9 p.m. recently.

7:10 a.m.

Arrests in Ottawa.

Canadian police have made the first targeted arrests of leaders of the anti-sanitary measures movement which has been blocking the streets of Ottawa, the federal capital, for almost three weeks.

For the first time since the beginning of the movement, groups of police have positioned themselves en masse in the streets of the city facing the protesters and the hundreds of trucks blocking the streets.

6:40 a.m.

Novavax authorized in Canada.

Canada approves Novavax vaccine.

It thus becomes the fifth authorized in the country for people over 18 years of age.

Unlike the messenger RNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, that of the American firm Novavax uses a more classic technology, similar to that of the whooping cough vaccine.

According to clinical trials, it is 90% effective in preventing symptomatic Covid-19 and 100% in preventing severe forms.

6:20 a.m.

End of the mask at Disney in the United States.

Visitors to Disneyland in California and Disney World in Florida are no longer required to wear a mask if they are up to date with their vaccinations.

It remains compulsory only indoors for unvaccinated people and for all visitors, regardless of vaccination status, in particularly cramped or sensitive places such as transport shuttles or infirmaries.

6 hours.

Welcome to this direct dedicated to the Covid-19 pandemic.