Reopening of nightclubs in France, lifting of the restrictions envisaged in Germany, end of the vaccination pass in Austria, outbreak of cases in New Zealand and Hong Kong...
Le Figaro
takes stock this Wednesday, February 16 on the latest information related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Read the fileCovid-19: the coronavirus pandemic in figures and infographics
France reopens nightclubs
Since this Wednesday, dancing in a disco, having a drink at the bar or attending a standing concert will again be allowed in France.
While Belgium will wait Friday and Germany until March 4 to reopen clubs and nightclubs, France, which hopes to approach the end of the fifth wave after the surge linked to the Omicron variant, will allow these establishments closed since the 10 December to host the party again.
Read alsoGauges, masks, teleworking: what changes and what is maintained in the health protocol
Olivier Véran considers the end of the mask
The Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, envisaged this Wednesday February 16 the end of the wearing of the mask indoors for adults and children “
in mid-March
”, as well as a reduction in the vaccination pass on this date, if the circulation of the virus is “
very weak
”.
“
We can start to greatly lighten the vaccine pass device, perhaps not all in one block, perhaps we will keep measures for the end of March at the beginning of April
”, he continued.
The minister considered the prospect of “
keeping (the mask) in places which are very at risk, such as discotheques, and there it would be until the end of March, the beginning of April
”.
SEE ALSO -
Covid-19: Olivier Véran evokes the end of the mask "
at work
" and "
in transport
" "
probably for the end of March
"
Germany to gradually lift restrictions
Germany, which has passed the peak of Covid-19 infections, will begin to lift its restrictions, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on Wednesday.
Europe's leading economic power will embark on a three-step relaxation plan aimed at removing
"a large part of the restrictions currently in place"
by March 20, said at a press conference, the German chancellor, calling however to continue to wear the mask because
“the pandemic is not over”.
Read alsoCovid-19: Germany begins to relax measures to control the epidemic
End of the vaccination pass and curfew in Austria
“As of March 5, a large part of the restrictions, which people complain about so much, will disappear
,” Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer told a press conference in Vienna.
No more need to show the vaccination pass at the entrance of hotels, restaurants, concerts and sporting events.
The curfew is also removed.
No more antigenic and PCR tests regularly required in addition in the Alpine country.
Made free of charge,
"they will be evaluated"
, underlined the conservative official, recalling their high cost.
It will also be possible to wear the FFP2 mask, currently compulsory in Austria, everywhere except in transport, supermarkets, pharmacies and hospitals.
»
SEE ALSO –
Covid-19: Austria announces the forthcoming relaxation of its health restrictions
Return to near-normality in Switzerland
Two years after the first case of Covid in Switzerland, the country is preparing to return to a certain normality, with the lifting of almost all measures, following in the footsteps of the Netherlands, Norway and Denmark.
Only the mask in public transport and health establishments and the isolation of the sick for 5 days are maintained until the end of March, announced the Federal Council (government), after a meeting on Wednesday.
From midnight, access to shops, restaurants, cultural establishments, establishments open to the public and events is again possible without mask or Covid certificate.
The wearing of a compulsory mask - except in public transport and health establishments - and the recommendation to work from home are also repealed.
The obligation to obtain a permit for large events, the restrictions on private meetings, as well as the capacity restrictions in retail shops and ski lifts are also lifted.
Read alsoSwitzerland lifts most measures to fight Covid-19
Record new cases in New Zealand
New Zealand recorded a record number of infections on Wednesday (1,160 new cases).
Inspired by Canada's self-proclaimed
'freedom convoys'
, anti-vaccine protesters continue to block streets around Parliament in Wellington.
They were pleased that the police, who had toughened up their voices on Tuesday evening, had failed to dislodge them.
»
SEE ALSO –
Covid-19: New Zealand anti-vaccine protesters determined despite the threat of Cyclone Dovi
Xi Jinping calls on Hong Kong to act
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on Hong Kong authorities to take
“all necessary measures”
to control an unprecedented wave of Omicron variant infections, pro-Beijing Hong Kong newspapers reported on Wednesday.
This statement comes a day after Chief Executive Carrie Lam ruled out a total containment of the city, like what is being done in China.
Read alsoHow Xi Jinping, emperor and dictator, locks down China
Netherlands: an investigation criticizes the government's management of the pandemic
In this report released on Wednesday, the independent Netherlands Safety Investigation Bureau (OVV) said the government's lack of comprehensive planning demonstrates that it is obsessed with fighting the virus and does not did not consider the wider impact it had on society.
The authorities remained fixated on hospitals and failed to protect the economy, education, culture and, in particular, retirement homes where they unleashed
"a silent disaster"
, according to the OVV.
Read alsoCovid: reopening of restaurants and cultural venues in the Netherlands
"There is a lot of room for improvement
," said OVV chairman, former finance minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem, presenting the 300-page report.
“The Netherlands have proven to be vulnerable,”
according to Jeroen Dijsselbloem.
With a population of 17 million people, the Netherlands has recorded 21,414 deaths linked to Covid-19 with 5.8 million cases since the start of the pandemic.
In the country, 86.3% of the adult population is vaccinated.
The report further criticizes the head of the government's pandemic management team, infectious disease specialist Jaap van Dissel, over his stance on the mask.
The Netherlands introduced the requirement for widespread mask use much later than most other European countries.
In 2020, Jaap van Dissel said it was a
“political”
choice rather than a scientific one.
”
SEE ALSO –
Netherlands: a “freedom convoy” blocks the city center of The Hague
Babies of well-protected vaccinated mothers
Babies born to mothers vaccinated during pregnancy are around 60% less likely to be hospitalized with Covid-19, according to a new American study published on Tuesday.
The researchers believe that this protection comes in particular from a transfer of antibodies against the virus between a pregnant mother and her baby, via the placenta.
Read alsoCovid vaccine: is it possible that Pfizer has a disclaimer?
More than 5.8 million dead
The pandemic has officially killed more than 5,836,026 people worldwide since the end of December 2019, according to a report established by AFP on Wednesday at 11 a.m. GMT.
In absolute value, the United States is the country with the most deaths (925,560), ahead of Brazil (639,689), India (509,872) and Russia (342,383).
Reported to the population, the countries where the epidemic has caused the most damage are Peru, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Hungary and North Macedonia.
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.