Covid-19: imminent WHO recommendations on variants

The WHO is preparing to give its recommendations to deal with the emergence of many variants, France is lowering its curfew to 6 p.m., Germany is considering new restrictions ... So as not to miss any of the latest facts highlights linked to Covid-19,

Le Figaro

takes stock of the latest news for this Friday, January 15.

• WHO to issue recommendations on variants

The emergency committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) is due to issue recommendations on Friday in the face of the appearance of more contagious variants of the coronavirus, likely to cause a new explosion of the pandemic which is already approaching two million victims.

The number of countries and territories where the variant initially spotted in the UK is found stands at 50, and it is 20 for the variant identified in South Africa, according to the WHO.

A third mutation detected in Japan and originating in the Brazilian Amazon could impact the immune response.

• Generalized curfew in France

In France, a curfew from 6 p.m. will be imposed from Saturday and for at least 15 days throughout mainland France.

To prevent the spread of the British and South African variants, a negative test will be required for all travelers arriving in France from a country outside the EU as well as a seven-day quarantine, along with a new PCR test.

The schools will therefore remain open.

But indoor school and extracurricular physical and sports activities are suspended until further notice and the health protocol in canteens will be further strengthened.

Up to one million children and teachers will be tested every month.

Read also: English variant of Covid-19: the threat becomes clearer

• Angela Merkel for new restrictions

Chancellor Angela Merkel pleaded at a meeting Thursday evening for significantly tightened restrictions in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic in Germany, where partial containment is already imposed, and asked for a meeting of the authorities as early as next week, according to several German media.

According to the magazine

Der Spiegel

and the daily

Bild

, among the measures under study are the reintroduction of border controls, as last spring, a generalization of the wearing of the FPP2 mask by the public, the imposition of teleworking, even the closure public transport.

• Joe Biden unveils stimulus package

US President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday unveiled a new $ 1.9 trillion emergency stimulus package that will be followed in the coming weeks by an investment plan to revive the economy.

Checks to families, funds to reopen schools, money to speed up tests and vaccines, cash for small businesses, or even more food aid: this "backup plan" must respond to the emergency, and prevent the country, where nearly 390,000 people have been cut down by the disease, sinking further into the crisis.

Read also: Joe Biden at the bedside of an America in recession ready to bounce back

• Two million Israelis vaccinated

Israel on Thursday passed the milestone of two million people who received their first dose of vaccine against the new coronavirus, with the vaccination of a pediatric nurse in Ramla, near Tel Aviv, attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

• Research for a vaccination passport

IT companies including Microsoft, healthcare institutions and NGOs have formed a coalition to develop a vaccination passport, anticipating the potential need for people to have to prove to authorities and businesses that they are vaccinated against Covid -19.

• Nearly two million dead in the world

The pandemic has killed nearly two million people worldwide since the end of December 2019, according to a report established Thursday by AFP.

The United States is the most affected country in terms of both deaths and cases, with 388,159 deaths, followed by Brazil (207,095), India (151,727), Mexico (137,916) and the United Kingdom (84,767) ).

In France, the disease has killed 283 people (against 232 the day before), bringing the total death toll to 69,313 since the start of the epidemic.