130,000 deaths in France, lifting of restrictions in England, Pfizer pill approved in Europe ...
Le Figaro
takes stock this Wednesday, January 26 on the latest information related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Read alsoWhere can we travel?
Our map of open countries and restrictions for French tourists
More than 130,000 dead in France
The threshold of 130,000 deaths linked to Covid-19 was crossed Thursday in France, less than two years after the start of the epidemic, according to figures from Public Health France, which again identified nearly 400,000 new cases in 24 hours.
The macabre counter continues to turn: since the start of the epidemic, 130,015 people infected with Covid-19 have died in hospital, retirement homes or other medico-social establishments.
That is 268 more than the day before.
At the same time, the virus is still circulating widely, with 392,168 new contaminations.
Over the past seven days, the daily average stands at more than 360,000 cases.
Read also“We do not feel forgotten”: in rural areas, the vaccine against Covid-19 brought directly to the inhabitants
Lifting of restrictions in England
In the United Kingdom, England on Thursday abandoned almost all of the last restrictions in force against Covid-19, with which, the government hopes, the population will get used to living as they do with the flu.
This wind of freedom aimed at replacing legal obligations with
“advice or recommendations”
is timely for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, more than ever weakened by the scandal of parties organized in Downing Street in defiance of health rules.
Finland begins gradual lifting of health restrictions
“The burden on hospitals remains high, but the most serious cases are down and the situation has improved in intensive care
,” Health Minister Hanna Sarkkinen said in a statement.
From February 1, restrictions on cultural and sporting events and low-risk businesses will be eased.
From the start of next month, restaurants will be able to remain open until 9 p.m., three hours longer than currently allowed.
Read alsoCovid: Finland reduces the duration of isolation despite the outbreak of cases
The Nordic nation of 5.5 million has maintained some of the lowest incidence rates in the European Union throughout the pandemic, but the number of infections had increased in recent weeks due to the Omicron variant .
European agency approves Pfizer pill
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has approved the anti-Covid pill from manufacturer Pfizer marketed as Paxlovid, which is to become the first oral antiviral treatment for the disease authorized in the European Union.
The regulator recommended “
allowing Paxlovid for the treatment of Covid-19 in adults who do not require supplemental oxygen and who are at increased risk of the disease becoming serious”
.
Read alsoCovid-19: why Pfizer's Paxlovid pill will not benefit everyone at risk
Washington asks Beijing to ease its restrictions for diplomats
The United States on Thursday reported diplomatic efforts to convince China to relax its draconian anti-Covid rules for diplomats, saying they went against international standards.
China, which has implemented a “zero Covid” policy, imposes compulsory quarantines of at least 14 days on passengers arriving from abroad, and multiplies localized confinements.
Read alsoIn China, the shadow of Covid-19 on the Winter Olympics
Morocco reopens its airspace
The Moroccan government has decided to reopen the airspace from February 7 to flights to and from the country, after more than two months of closure, according to a statement released Thursday evening by the MAP agency.
In addition, Morocco has launched the construction of an anti-Covid vaccine manufacturing plant, which should start production next July and ensure the kingdom's vaccine self-sufficiency, the Moroccan press agency also indicated on Thursday.
Hong Kong eases its quarantines
Hong Kong has announced that the mandatory hotel quarantine for travelers from overseas, one of the longest in the world, will be reduced from three to two weeks from February 5.
Sweden: no general vaccination for 5-11 year olds
Sweden has chosen not to recommend the vaccination of 5-11 year olds against Covid-19, except for children at risk.
Read alsoWithout confinement, did Sweden manage to cope with the Covid?
New Delhi: end of curfew
The capital of India announced on Thursday an easing of restrictions linked to Covid-19 and the end of the curfew imposed on weekends since the beginning of January, after a slowdown in positive cases in the country.
More than 5.6 million dead
The Covid-19 pandemic has killed at least 5,625,889 people worldwide since the end of December 2019, according to a report compiled by AFP from official sources on Thursday.
In absolute terms, the countries with the most deaths are the United States with 878,325 deaths, Brazil (625,085), India (491,700) and Russia (328,770).
The World Health Organization 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 officially recorded.