The Johnson & Johnson vaccine can be used as a booster, the government evokes new measures at the end of the week, vaccination alone "
will not be enough
" against Omicron ...
Le Figaro
takes stock this Wednesday, December 15 on the latest information related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Read also Omicron variant: should we really fear a sixth wave of Covid-19 in France?
The government discusses new measures at the end of the week
The French government plans to take new measures to fight Covid-19 by the weekend, its spokesperson, Gabriel Attal announced on Wednesday, warning that the number of patients in intensive care should reach 4,000 around the holidays. . There could be "
new decisions by the end of the week (...) to take the necessary measures
," said Gabriel Attal, leaving the Council of Ministers.
He mentioned an acceleration of the vaccination campaign, the strengthening of border controls and the establishment of recommendations for family celebrations.
In this context, to which is added the arrival of the new variant Omicron a priori very contagious, the government should convene a new Health Defense Council before the weekend.
This will take place "
probably Friday
", specified the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, during a hearing before the deputies.
"SEE ALSO - Covid-19: the executive plans"
4000 patients in intensive care around the holidays
"
Omicron: vaccination alone "
will not be enough
", warns the European disease agency
A "
strong action
" is "
urgent
" in the face of the rapid progression of the Omicron variant because "
vaccination alone will not be enough
", warned the European agency in charge of epidemics. “
In the current situation, vaccination alone will not allow us to prevent the impact of the Omicron variant, as there is no time to fill the still existing vaccination gaps
,” said the director of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Andrea Ammon, in a video address.
The European Union health agency has also raised
its assessment of the risks of the new variant to public health
by a notch, to "
very high
", recommending a series of measures including a return to telework and increased caution. during end-of-year celebrations and trips.
According to her, it is "
very likely
" that the new variant will cause hospitalizations and deaths in addition to those already predicted by previous forecasts centered on the hitherto dominant Delta variant.
Read also United Kingdom: a vaccine dyke facing the "Omicron tidal wave"
Possible domination of Omicron in Europe in mid-January
The new Omicron variant could become dominant among Covid-19 infections in Europe by mid-January, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned on Wednesday, adding that there were now enough vaccines for all Europeans.
»SEE ALSO - Covid-19: the Omicron variant could be dominant in Europe by mid-January
Beginning of childhood immunizations in Europe
The city of Berlin, Greece, Spain and Hungary have started vaccination campaigns against Covid for children under 12, an age group among the most exposed to current contamination.
France also launched the vaccination of children on Wednesday, but limited for the time being to children "
at risk
", likely to develop serious forms of Covid-19.
Vaccination of 5-11 year olds, with a version of the Pfizer vaccine less strong than that intended for adults, has been possible in the European Union since its authorization by the drug regulator on November 25.
Denmark and Austria have already taken the plunge.
Read alsoIs it really necessary to vaccinate children against Covid-19?
New restrictions in Poland
Poland on Wednesday introduced new restrictions on the number of people allowed to enter restaurants, hotels and theaters, as the daily number of Covid deaths reached its highest level since April with 669 deaths in the past. last 24 hours.
The new limits, set at 30% of maximum facility capacity, do not apply to people vaccinated, giving business owners and managers the responsibility of verifying vaccination status.
Read alsoVaccine: between reluctant parents and those who are in favor, positions are tightening
Restricted entry requirements in Italy
Italy announced a restriction of entry conditions to its territory for travelers from the European Union (EU) from Thursday, with a mandatory negative test for all and a five-day quarantine for those not vaccinated .
Read also Covid-19: why countries led by women have better managed the health crisis
Morocco: first case of the Omicron variant despite border closures
Morocco has detected its first case of infection with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, the Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday.
"
This first case of contamination by the new Omicron strain was detected in a Moroccan citizen whose state of health is stable and does not cause concern,
" said a statement from the ministry released by the MAP agency.
The patient was placed under medical supervision in a hospital in Casablanca, the economic capital of the kingdom.
The authorities have decided to close the air and sea borders until December 31 "in
order to preserve Morocco's achievements in the fight against the pandemic
".
"SEE ALSO - Covid-19: No variant has spread as quickly as Omicron, worries WHO
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine can be used as a booster
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Wednesday that Johnson & Johnson's vaccine can be used for booster doses at least two months after the first dose in people 18 years and older.
Read also Encouraging news for Pfizer's vaccine and anti-Covid pill
New delay for Sanofi's vaccine candidate
The French laboratory Sanofi now plans to publish the final results of its clinical trial on its vaccine against Covid-19 during the first quarter of 2022, while they were initially expected at the end of 2021. The group, which is developing this vaccine with the British GSK based on recombinant protein, on Wednesday unveiled interim results deemed positive as a booster dose, but it does not give a precise timetable for its marketing.
"SEE ALSO -"
No one has been vaccinated at home
": Karim, 48 years old and placed on oxygen because of Covid-19
Germany: police raid against antivax
The criminal police of the Saxony region (ex-GDR), assisted by special intervention forces, carried out a large-scale operation in Dresden on Wednesday after death threats aimed at an anti-vaccine group of the Telegram application, the Minister-President of the Land.
This region of eastern Germany is a stronghold of the anti-restriction movement in the country and also of the far right which, according to the authorities, is at the forefront of the movement.
Justice suspects "
the preparation of a serious violent crime which threatens the state
", explained the police of Saxony on Twitter.
Read alsoCovid-19: who really are the 5.7 million unvaccinated French people?
More than 5.3 million dead
The pandemic has killed at least 5,320,431 million people worldwide since the end of 2019, according to a report established by AFP.
The United States is the most bereaved country with 800,473 dead, ahead of Brazil (616,970), India (476,135), Mexico (296,984) and Russia (292,891).
The WHO estimates, taking into account the excess mortality directly and indirectly linked to Covid-19, that the toll of the pandemic in the world could be two to three times higher.
