The deadline for the booster dose reduced from Tuesday, Germany plans to remove its main restrictions in March, Hong Kong hospitals overwhelmed by Omicron...
Le Figaro
takes stock this Monday, February 14 on the latest developments in the Covid-19 pandemic.
Read also “
The year I of the post-Covid must be the year of the right to breathe
”
Vaccination pass: the deadline for the booster dose increases to 4 months on Tuesday
From Tuesday, to maintain a valid vaccination pass, the booster dose of vaccines against Covid-19 must be carried out no later than four months after the end of the initial vaccination schedule, except for those who have contracted the disease since then.
The maximum period for recall was up to now seven months.
“SEE ALSO – Gabriel Attal evokes a possible end of the vaccination pass from “
end of March, beginning of April
”
In detail, the recall must have been carried out “
no later than four months
” after the second injection for those who received two doses, “
no later than four months
” after the single injection for those who had Covid then a dose of vaccine, and “no later than four months” after infection for those who had a dose and then the disease, according to the Ministry of Health.
People who have caught the disease when they have already had two injections or an injection and an infection are exempt from the booster dose, under the principle "
one infection = one injection
" stated by the Minister of Health Olivier Véran .
Other exceptions: people aged 16 and 17 are not required to do a reminder to keep their vaccination pass, and the youngest are not subject to the vaccination pass.
On the other hand, French people who wish to leave the country, for example for the next vacation, must have made a recall in order to have a valid certificate to cross the border.
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The vaccine pass must be lifted now and not just before the first round!
»
The end of the mask in transport will be "
discussed
" in the Defense Council this week, says Djebbari
Towards a further relaxation of health restrictions?
The end of wearing a mask in public transport will be “
discussed
” at the next Health Defense Council this week, said Minister Delegate for Transport Jean-Baptiste Djebbari on Monday morning.
Asked about this question on RMC, the minister said: “
We will have to consider it, for sure.
“
We will have a defense council this week, it will be one of the subjects that will be discussed
,” he added, without advancing on a horizon for lifting this measure.
Read alsoCovid-19: the mask will no longer be compulsory in closed places subject to the vaccination pass from February 28
“
Freedom convoys
”: the police filter access to Brussels
Belgian authorities on Monday blocked vehicles preparing to converge on Brussels as part of the so-called
“freedom
” convoys of opponents of anti-Covid restrictions, the city’s mayor announced on Monday.
The demonstration, inspired by convoys of truck drivers in Canada, was banned in Belgium and, after weekend rallies in France, Belgian police were deployed on several highways to filter access to the capital, where it will be possible to "
negotiate with the police a route on foot
," said the mayor.
Around 1,300 vehicles, according to French police, stopped on Sunday evening near Lille, not far from the Belgian border.
In Strasbourg, a prefectural decree prohibited any "
undeclared demonstration
" of anti-vaccine pass convoys near the European Parliament, meeting in plenary session.
"SEE ALSO - Vehicles of
the "Freedom Convoy
" try to access Brussels, despite the ban on demonstrations
Convoys in Canada: the Ambassador Bridge reopens to traffic
The Ambassador Bridge, a strategic trade route between the United States and Canada, reopened after seven days of blockage, but protesters against health measures continued their occupation of the capital Ottawa on Monday.
Washington had put pressure on the Canadian government by asking it a few days ago to use "
federal powers
" to end a blockage with "
serious consequences
" on the American economy.
Read also“Freedom convoy”: the demonstrators failed to reproduce the Canadian model
Germany plans to remove key restrictions in March
Germany plans to gradually remove, from March 20, most of the restrictions put in place to combat the Covid-19 epidemic, according to a government plan unveiled on Monday.
“
By early spring, March 20, 2022, restrictions on social, cultural and economic life should be gradually lifted
,” reads the eight-page document obtained by AFP which will serve as the basis of discussions during a meeting on Wednesday between the government and the German regions.
»SEE ALSO – Covid-19: return to normal for the Venice carnival after the pandemic
Hong Kong hospitals overwhelmed by Omicron
Hong Kong hospitals almost reached their maximum occupancy rate on Monday, authorities announced after acknowledging that the wave of contamination by the Omicron variant has dealt a "
hard blow
" to the health system.
Although the infection rate remains low compared to other major cities around the world, Hong Kong's policy of sending infected people, even asymptomatic ones, to hospitals and quarantine places there has led to overcrowding and an increase waiting times.
Read alsoFaced with a wave of Omicron, South Korea is changing its health strategy
Vietnam lifts restrictions on international travel
Vietnam will lift coronavirus-related restrictions on international flights for fully vaccinated passengers from Tuesday, its aviation authorities said.
Anyone wishing to enter this communist country which has practically isolated itself from the rest of the world since the start of the pandemic must be fully vaccinated and must observe a three-day quarantine.
Read alsoWhere can we travel?
Our map of open countries and restrictions for French tourists
Sweden: fourth dose for over 80s
Swedish health authorities on Monday recommended a fourth dose of the Covid vaccine for all people over the age of 80, as well as for residents of nursing homes regardless of age.
Sweden distinguished itself during the pandemic by a more flexible strategy, without confinement and without masks.
With around 16,500 dead for just over 10 million inhabitants, its toll is slightly lower than the European average, but higher than those of Denmark, Norway and Finland.
»SEE ALSO – Professor Luc Montagnier, Nobel Prize and anti-vaccine figure, is dead
Prince Charles' wife, Camilla, in turn positive for Covid-19
Prince Charles' wife, Camilla, has tested positive for Covid-19, the couple's services announced on Monday, which had already announced last Thursday that the prince had caught Covid.
The announcement of the positive test of Prince Charles, 73, had raised concern for his mother Queen Elizabeth II, whom he had met the day before, according to British media.
A source at Buckingham Palace was content to indicate that the 95-year-old sovereign had no symptoms, without further details.
Read alsoTunisia: the Covid test is no longer compulsory for vaccinated travelers
More than 5.8 million dead worldwide
The pandemic has officially killed more than 5,813,329 people worldwide since the end of December 2019, according to a report established by AFP.
In absolute value, the United States is the country with the most deaths (919,697), ahead of Brazil (638,362) and India (509,011).
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 officially established.