The fifth wave is flowing back into France, the wearing of a relaxed mask, the "
freedom convoys
" expected in Paris...
Le Figaro
takes stock this Friday, February 11 on the latest information related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Read alsoCovid-19: the United Kingdom is about to succeed in the bet of the total abandonment of restrictions
The "
acute phase
" of the global pandemic ends in 2022, if 70% vaccinated
The WHO director-general said on Friday that the "
acute phase
" of the Covid-19 pandemic would end this year, if the target of 70% of the world's population vaccinated is reached.
"
We are counting on an end to the acute phase of the pandemic this year, on the condition of course that 70% of the world's population is vaccinated by the middle of the year, around June or July
", declared during the meeting.
a press conference Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, visiting a vaccine factory in South Africa.
Read alsoCovid-19: is the risk of going to intensive care “multiplied by 22” for pregnant women?
The fifth wave is flowing back to France but the rest remains uncertain
Nearly two years after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, France hopes to approach the end of the fifth wave after the related surge Omicron variant.
But the rest of the scenario remains uncertain.
” SEE ALSO – Covid-19: “
The epidemic is receding everywhere and clearly
”, assures Gabriel Attal
“
We did the hardest part of this wave
”, assures the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, for ten days.
While at least eleven million French people have been infected with the new Omicron variant, which is considerably more transmissible than its predecessor Delta but less severe, the peak of infections seems to have passed.
The slowdown in the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 is confirmed, summarized Public Health France on Friday in its weekly update, noting a decrease in the incidence rate of 29% from January 31 to February 6.
If a decline seems to be beginning for hospitalizations (-15% over the past week), the pressure is still strong in the hospital.
Deaths, which have increased sharply since November, remain for the moment at a very high level, mainly among unvaccinated and immunocompromised people.
“
Over the last seven days, the epidemic has killed 2,000 people
,” noted Prime Minister Jean Castex on Friday.
Read alsoCovid-19: in vaccinated people, the risk of serious forms is linked to age or comorbidities, according to a large study
Wearing a relaxed mask in France
The mask will no longer be compulsory in closed places subject to the vaccination pass from February 28 in France, with the exception of transport, the Ministry of Health said on Friday, highlighting the "
improvement of the health situation
".
Wearing a mask will therefore no longer be compulsory in establishments dedicated to leisure activities, restaurants, drinking establishments, fairs... On the other hand, it “
will be maintained in transport and closed places not subject to the vaccination pass
“, detailed the ministry in a press release.
Read alsoTests, masks… These French on the verge of a nervous breakdown
In schools, a protocol soon to be lightened
The health protocol linked to Covid in French schools will be lightened upon the return from school holidays, with the abolition in particular of the wearing of a mask in the playground, the Ministry of National Education announced on Friday.
The number of self-tests requested for contact case students will be reduced from three to one from February 28.
The sworn statements submitted by families after the first self-test will be abolished from February 21.
Read alsoCovid-19 at school: “My children are no longer considered as students but as cases”
The “
freedom convoys
” expected in Paris
Leaving from all over France, thousands of opponents of health restrictions took to the road on Friday in convoys, determined to reach the outskirts of Paris in the evening, despite the ban from the police headquarters and the firmness displayed by the authorities.
From daybreak, processions of several dozen private cars, motorhomes and vans formed in Lille, Strasbourg or Vimy (Pas-de-Calais).
In the west, 280 vehicles according to the gendarmerie, more than 400 according to AFP, left in the morning from Châteaubourg (Ille-et-Vilaine).
Some 2,600 vehicles, according to the police, were on their way to the capital in the early afternoon.
Inspired by the mobilization in Canada, the organizers denounce the vaccination pass and call themselves "
Yellow Vests
", a popular protest movement of 2018-2019 triggered by a rise in gasoline prices which had turned into a revolt against the President Emmanuel Macron.
” SEE ALSO – A “freedom convoy” leaves Brest in the direction of Paris, despite the ban
Italy drops the mask outdoors
Italy took a step towards a gradual return to normality in the fight against Covid on Friday with the end of the obligation to wear a mask outside and the reopening of nightclubs.
From this Friday, throughout the national territory, the mask is no longer essential in the open air, but you must always have one at hand to be able to wear it in the event of a crowd, even outside, specified the Ministry of Health.
The mask remains compulsory in closed places.
Read alsoTravel to Italy and Covid-19: vaccination pass, FFP2 mask ... What has changed since February 1
Germany: the peak of infections “
in sight
”
The peak of Covid-19 infections, the number of which is currently at record highs, is “
in sight
” in Germany, assured Chancellor Olaf Scholz who is facing growing pressure to ease certain restrictions.
With variations between regions, these restrictions mainly concern restaurants, bars, cafes or so-called non-essential businesses, access to which is prohibited for non-vaccinated people.
” SEE ALSO – Covid-19: “The peak of the wave is in sight”, says Chancellor Olaf Scholz
Iceland plans to lift all restrictions ahead of schedule
Gauges raised, bars and restaurants allowed to close later... Iceland will take another step in lifting its Covid-19 restrictions, the government announced on Friday, which plans to lift all restrictions at the end of February, two weeks in advance.
From Saturday midnight, the gauge of public gatherings will increase from 50 to 200, while swimming pools, sports halls and ski resorts will once again be able to operate at their maximum capacity.
Bars, restaurants and nightclubs will be able to remain open for an hour longer than currently – until 1 a.m.
If the quarantine measures disappear from this Friday at the domestic level, the isolation for confirmed infections remains valid contrary to what had been initially planned.
Read also“I even passed an aperitif test”: when the recruitment process turns into an obstacle course
The pandemic has decreased significantly around the world this week
The Covid-19 pandemic continued to decline around the world this week.
With 2.52 million contaminations recorded every day on the planet, the indicator drops sharply for the second consecutive week (-17% compared to the previous week) after fifteen weeks of increase, according to an AFP report stopped at Thursday.
” SEE ALSO – WHO urges rich countries to pay 16 billion dollars for the fight against Covid
This week, all regions of the world have seen their situation improve: -41% in the United States/Canada zone, -30% in Africa, -26% in the Latin America/Caribbean zone, -13% in Asia, -9% in Europe and -2% in the Middle East.
Oceania also experienced a sharp decline (-63%), but this is highly overvalued due to a catch-up in Australia the previous week.
Without this catch-up, daily cases actually drop by around 25%.
Globally, the number of daily deaths is increasing for the fifth consecutive week (+6%, to 11,111 deaths per day), but less sharply than in previous weeks.
The pandemic has officially killed more than 5.78 million people worldwide since the end of December 2019, out of more than 404 million confirmed contaminations, according to a report established by AFP.
The United States is the country with the most deaths (915,617), ahead of Brazil (636,017) and India (507,177).
