Possible end of the vaccination pass at the end of March, the "
freedom convoys
" make the executive react, the WHO asks for money from rich countries...
Le Figaro
takes stock of the latest information related to the coronavirus pandemic Covid-19.
Read alsoWhy some have never had and will never have the Covid?
Gabriel Attal evokes a possible end of the vaccination pass from "
end of March, beginning of April
"
The government believes that there are “
reasons to hope
” that “ at the
end of March-beginning of April we will be able to lift the vaccination pass
”, due to the improvement in the health situation, spokesman Gabriel Attal said on Wednesday.
On the contamination front, “
the frank drop, we are there
”, added Gabriel Attal.
Regarding the school, “
there will be announcements by the end of the week, I hope from Friday
”, on “
the protocol which will have been retained
” and “
will apply from the start of the first zone
“, Zone B, which will return from vacation on February 21, he said after the Council of Ministers.
Read alsoVaccination pass: these countries which choose to abolish it
Alain Fischer lists a series of conditions for lifting the pass
The chairman of the Vaccine Strategy Guidance Council Alain Fischer also estimated, during a hearing in the Senate, that a lifting of the vaccination pass was possible "
by the end of March
" at the beginning of "
April
" if a series of conditions were met.
“
From a scientific and medical point of view, we need a reduced incidence rate, we are at 2,500. Reduced means significantly less, at least 10 or 20 times less, but there are elements of context, giving you a number wouldn't make sense
,” he said.
He also spoke of the need for “
the current hospital overload to have disappeared, for hospitals to return to a normal state of operation and for non-Covid patients to be able to be treated without delay, without delay
”.
It also requires “
high booster vaccination coverage
,” he said.
Read alsoCovid-19: Omicron rekindles hope for herd immunity
"
Convoys of freedom
"
: the executive recognizes "
weariness
" but rejects criticism
Government spokesman Gabriel Attal acknowledged the "
weariness
" of the French in the face of the Covid-19 crisis while affirming that France was one of the countries having taken "
the least restrictive measures
", to which s opposes
the movement of the "freedom convoys
".
"SEE ALSO - "
Convoy of freedom
": "
We are perfectly aware that there is a weariness
", answers Gabriel Attal
Asked after the Council of Ministers about the calls made on social networks to "
roll over Paris
" against the vaccine pass, Gabriel Attal declared that the government was "
lucid, perfectly aware, that there is a weariness -à-vis this epidemic and the measures that continue to apply
”.
"
There are more than a few hundred thousand people who are fed up with living with this virus and, in France as everywhere in the world, political movements, often radical, have sought to capitalize on this weariness
," he said. -he adds.
But “
France is probably one of the countries in Europe which has taken the fewest restrictive measures, which hinder the freedom of its fellow citizens
”, according to the spokesperson.
“
We have made this choice to limit the restrictive measures as much as possible thanks in particular to the (…) health passes yesterday, to the vaccination pass today
”, he added, assuring that these measures will be lifted “
as soon as when the situation improves
”.
Read alsoMichel Maffesoli: “The freedom convoys show that many are fed up with a control society”
Canada: Trudeau calls on truckers to lift their siege
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has urged the hundreds of truckers who have been blocking downtown Ottawa for more than a week to denounce the health measures against Covid, as part of
the "freedom convoys
", to put an end to to their mobilization.
Some provinces, however, have announced new relief: Saskatchewan and Alberta (center), will give up the vaccine passport, believing that “
the benefits no longer outweigh the costs
”.
And for the first time since the implementation of new restrictions related to Omicron, Quebec has announced a detailed schedule of the reliefs to come.
” SEE ALSO – Covid-19: in Canada, the demonstration of truckers persists
A potential new treatment in France
The French subcontractor Cenexi has announced that it has reached an agreement with the American biotech Humanigen to produce in France Lenzilumab, a potential treatment under study against Covid-19, in the process of being registered with the European and French health authorities.
Read alsoCovid-19: what can be the side effects of vaccination for children?
WHO asks for money from rich countries
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday urged rich countries to urgently provide the $ 16 billion that is still missing to finance its plan to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
The WHO deplored on Tuesday that there have been half a million deaths from Covid-19 since the discovery of the Omicron variant and although vaccines exist, describing this assessment as "
more than tragic
".
Read alsoCovax needs 5.2 billion dollars to continue its action
Boris Johnson wants to end the isolation of positive cases from the end of February
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday that he hoped to be able to lift the obligation to isolate themselves for people positive for the coronavirus as of the end of February, when England has already abandoned most of the anti-Covid restrictions.
Speaking to MPs during the weekly government question session, the Conservative leader said he wanted to return to Parliament on February 21, after the parliamentary recess, "
to present our strategy for living with Covid
".
“
Provided the current encouraging trends continue, I expect we will be able to lift the remaining national restrictions, including the legal requirement to self-isolate if one tests positive, a month ahead of schedule
,” a- he added.
On January 19, Boris Johnson committed England to lifting most of the tougher restrictions in the face of the Omicron wave, such as teleworking or the wearing of compulsory masks.
SEE ALSO – Partygate: Boris Johnson says he is “
sorry
” in front of MPs
South Korea: new strategy against Omicron
South Korea announced on Wednesday it was abandoning its '
trace, test and treat
' health policy, as a surge in Omicron cases threatens to overwhelm the country's health system, with more than a million infections over the weekend.
A new set of measures are gradually taking effect from this month, and will refocus resources on those most vulnerable, health officials said.
Authorities will prioritize testing for people aged 60 or over.
Read alsoTravel and Covid-19: the updated list of countries classified in green, orange, red and scarlet
Hong Kong: rush on provisions
Hong Kong residents scrambled for groceries on Wednesday, the day after severe restrictions were announced following a spike in cases.
The day before, Chief Executive Carrie Lam reiterated that the zero Covid strategy remained the best, due to low vaccination rates among the oldest people, while announcing unprecedented restrictions measures.
Gatherings of more than two people are prohibited and for the first time, more than two families will not be able to meet at home.
She also ordered the closure of religious buildings and hair salons.
»SEE ALSO – Covid-19: Hong Kong tightens its restrictions with a vaccine pass
King Felipe VI positive for Covid-19 with "
mild symptoms
"
The 54-year-old King of Spain Felipe VI is positive for Covid-19 and has "
mild symptoms
", the Royal House announced on Wednesday, adding that the monarch was suspending "
his official activities
" for seven days.
Read alsoThe Queen of Denmark positive for Covid-19
Indonesia tests its own vaccine
Indonesia, which is facing a wave of infections, began testing its own Covid vaccine on humans on Wednesday after obtaining the green light from the national health agency, the health minister announced. .
»SEE ALSO – Covid-19: King Mohammed VI launches the construction of a vaccine manufacturing plant in Morocco
More than 5.7 million dead worldwide
The pandemic has officially killed more than 5,761,646 people worldwide since the end of December 2019, according to a report established by AFP, while the threshold of 400 million recorded cases should be crossed soon.
The United States is the country with the most deaths (909,020), ahead of Brazil (633,810), India (505,279) and Russia (337,390).
The WHO estimates, taking into account the excess mortality directly and indirectly linked to Covid-19, that the overall assessment of the pandemic could be two to three times higher than that established from official national figures.