Covid-19: the health pass enters into force in places of culture and sports halls

"

We have entered the fourth wave,

" said Gabriel Attal, Monday, July 19, leaving the Council of Ministers.

An observation confirmed the next day by Olivier Véran, who noted "

a virus which contaminates at lightning speed

", pushed by the rapid spread of the delta variant.

In 24 hours, 18,000 new cases were recorded, an increase in the circulation of the virus of around 150% over one week.

A Defense Council is also being held this Wednesday morning to take stock of the situation, while Prime Minister Jean Castex will speak at 1 p.m. on TF1.

To discover

• Covid-19: what we know about the Delta variant

Read also: Covid-19: have we already entered the fourth wave?

• Cinemas, theaters, museums, sports halls subject to the health pass as of today

To go to the cinema, to the museum or to sports establishments, the French must now present proof of vaccination or a Covid-19 test.

From this Wednesday July 20, the health pass becomes compulsory in these places as soon as more than 50 people are gathered.

A real headache especially for cinema managers who fear losing spectators after a particularly difficult year.

For Richard Patry, president of the National Federation of French Cinemas, theaters are "

treated like bad students

" while there has been no source of contamination listed.

Read also: Faced with the Delta variant, the executive on a ridge line

The Minister of Health wanted to be reassuring.

Once vaccinated, spectators or visitors will be able to remove the mask, announced Olivier Véran, the latter implying "

that we are sure that all the people who return are completely vaccinated or have a very recent test which is negative

".

• Compulsory vaccination of caregivers and expansion of the health pass: deputies examine the bill

At the same time, the law to make vaccination compulsory for caregivers and extend the health pass to restaurants and trains in early August was scrutinized by French deputies. "

If we are at the point where we ask you to set up a health pass, it is because we do not have the time and we have no choice

", declared Olivier Véran to convince the National Assembly to quickly vote on this law which should come into force at the end of the week despite the 600 amendments planned.

While the debates will continue or even intensify throughout the week in the Hemicycle, Emmanuel Macron is chairing a new Defense Council this Wednesday morning and Jean Castex will speak at 1 p.m. on TF1.

The goal of 40 million first injected doses "

should be reached

" at the end of July, one month ahead of the initial schedule, welcomed the Prime Minister to the Assembly.

Read also: The sanitary pass, a real headache for restaurateurs and cafetiers

• New step for the Sanofi Pasteur vaccine

The European Medicines Agency announced on Tuesday July 19 the launch of a “

continuous review

” procedure for the Covid-19 vaccine from the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi Pasteur, paving the way for a possible application for future authorization in the 'European Union.

To read also: "I trust Sanofi more than Pfizer": a tricolor vaccine to convince the hesitant?

• WHO boss calls to win "

  the race against the virus

  "

Drawing a parallel with the Tokyo Olympics which open on Friday, WHO boss Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on Wednesday, July 20, governments, businesses and populations around the world to unite in their "

race

" against Covid-19 .

"

We are not in a race against each other, we are in a race against the virus,

" said the director general of the UN agency in front of members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

"

To succeed in these Olympics, you need speed, strength and skill, but also determination, dedication and discipline,

" he said, calling on the world to show same qualities to "

triumph over the pandemic

".

Read also: Laurent Tillie, about the 2020 Olympics: "There is no middle ground in Japan"

• Half of Australians confined

Adelaide has been since Tuesday evening July 19, the third largest Australian city subject to an obligation of confinement, at a time when the island-continent is struggling to halt the progression of the very contagious variant Delta.

The state of southern Australia (south), of which Adelaide is the capital, will suffer the same fate as a large area around Sydney and the state of Victoria, of which Melbourne is the capital.

In total, 14 of the 25 million Australians will be confined.

Read also: Australia, a decried fortress of zero Covid

• The epidemic is on the rise in India and Iran

The number of people dead from Covid-19 in India could be ten times higher than the official death toll, currently close to 415,000 deaths, estimates a US study on Tuesday, which would make the pandemic the worst humanitarian tragedy in the country since its independence.

For its part, Iran was forced to adopt new health measures in the capital in order to stem an epidemic which is soaring with 27,444 new cases and 250 daily deaths, a new record for the country.

• Tunisia: the Minister of Health sacked

Tunisian head of government Hichem Mechichi decided on Tuesday July 19 to dismiss Health Minister Faouzi Mehdi, at the height of coronavirus contamination.

Faouzi Mehdi is behind the temporary opening of vaccination to all Tunisians over 18 for two days Tuesday and Wednesday, leading to a rush in vaccination centers.

The Ministry of Health finally restricted access to vaccination to those over 40 on Wednesday to avoid a new crush.

Read also: Covid 19: Tunisia facing an unprecedented wave

• More than 4.1 million deaths worldwide

The pandemic has killed at least 4,100,352 people around the world since the end of December 2019, according to a report established by AFP from official sources.

The United States is the most affected country with 609,501 deaths, followed by Brazil (544,180 dead), India (414,482), Mexico (236,469) and Peru (195,243).

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 which is officially established.