Covid-19: the pandemic stopped accelerating in the world this week

"

Mini-plateau

" of the epidemic in France, a preventive treatment of AstraZeneca on trial, a third dose from the age of 40 in Israel ...

Le Figaro

takes stock this Friday, August 20 on the latest related information to the Covid pandemic.

To discover

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

Read also Health pass in bars and restaurants: the authorities threaten but little control

• "

  Mini-plateau

  " in view for the circulation of the virus, according to Public Health France

The circulation of the virus causing Covid-19 "

remains intense

" in France with a "

very critical

" situation in the West Indies but Public Health France has detected a "

mini-plateau

" in the progression of new contaminations in metropolitan France. In its weekly epidemiological update on Friday, the public body confirms "

extremely high incidence rates, saturated hospital capacities and a significant excess of mortality

" in Martinique and Guadeloupe. But in the rest of the country, the "

slight increase in the incidence rate

" over the week of August 9 to 15 (+ 3%) is explained, according to SPF, "

probably by a sharp increase in the screening rate.

», Linked to the implementation of the health pass (certificate of vaccination or negative test) to enter bars, restaurants, cultural and leisure places.

Read alsoOrganizing daily life without a health pass, the thorny challenge of the unvaccinated

• The pandemic stopped accelerating around the world this week

With 643,100 contaminations recorded daily in the world this week, the indicator stabilized at the same level as the previous week, according to an AFP report stopped on Thursday.

The pandemic had gained ground again since mid-June, fueled by a very contagious Delta variant and which had become the majority in many countries.

This week, most regions of the world have seen slight improvements: -7% of new contaminations recorded in Africa, -6% in the Latin America / Caribbean zone, -3% in Asia and Europe.

However, the situation continues to deteriorate sharply in the United States / Canada zone (+ 11%).

Oceania is also experiencing a strong acceleration (+ 20%), but the virus still circulates relatively little there.

In the Middle East, the situation is also deteriorating, but less rapidly (+ 4%).

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bracelet

"to save restaurant

owners

time

• AstraZeneca preventive treatment being tested

AstraZeneca has announced encouraging results for a treatment against Covid-19 that significantly reduces the risk of developing a symptomatic form of the disease in fragile patients.

This antibody treatment, whose code name is AZD7442, had previously not shown its effectiveness in people already exposed to the virus.

But by administering it before being in contact with the virus, the results are there, according to the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical group.

Read alsoVaccinating children against Covid, good or bad idea?

• 3rd dose from 40 years old in Israel

Israel has decided to lower the minimum age to 40 years for receiving a 3rd dose of vaccine against the coronavirus, in order to fight against an increase in contamination linked to the Delta variant.

It should be administered for this age group from Sunday.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, 49, received his third dose on Friday, encouraging people to follow suit.

For those aged 60 and over, the booster vaccination campaign began three weeks ago.

On August 13, the minimum age was lowered for the first time, to 50 years.

Read alsoCovid-19: despite vaccines, Israel fears re-containment

• Prolonged confinements in New Zealand and Sydney

New Zealand extended the containment of the entire archipelago by four days on Friday.

The three-day national confinement was initially to be lifted overnight from Friday to Saturday.

The first local case in six months appeared this week in an Auckland resident.

In Australia, the Sydney containment, which began two months ago, was extended by one month on Friday, due to an epidemic resurgence due to the Delta variant.

Read also In Sydney, the controversial use of the army to enforce confinement

• Record of contamination in the Philippines, which eases its restrictions

The Philippines recorded a new 24-hour contamination record on Friday, as authorities ease health restrictions to relieve the economy, in the face of the financial difficulties of the population. More than 13 million people in the capital region of Manila have been confined since August 6 in an attempt to contain a surge in cases linked to the Delta variant, which has overwhelmed hospitals. The authorities responsible for managing the pandemic resolved on Thursday to authorize the reopening of shops from Saturday. But the stay-at-home order for non-essential workers is still in effect, while restaurants remain closed.

"SEE ALSO - Covid-19:"

Helping to vaccinate the majority of people is an act of love

", pleads Pope Francis

• Rugby: the All Blacks postpone their matches

The All Blacks decided on Friday to withdraw from the Rugby Championship until new dates are found for their five games to play, consistent with the resumption of the pandemic in the southern hemisphere.

In the meantime, the three-time world champions remain in New Zealand, instead of leaving for Australia for the next match, which was scheduled for August 28 in Perth.

• More than 4.4 million dead

The Covid-19 pandemic has killed at least 4,401,486 people around the world since the end of December 2019, according to a report established by AFP. The United States is the most affected country with 625,166 deaths, ahead of Brazil (572,641 deaths), India (433,589), Mexico (251,319) and Peru (197,716). 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 calculated from official figures.