Fewer contaminations and hospitalized patients, strengthening of measures in Beijing, manufacturing activity at its lowest for two years in China...
Le Figaro
takes stock this Saturday, April 30 on the latest information related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
49,482 new cases positive for the Omicron variant
The Covid continues to decline in France, according to figures published on Saturday by the health authorities.
In all, 49,482 new cases positive for the Omicron variant have been recorded in the past 24 hours.
The seven-day average, which smoothes variations depending on the day of the week, stands at 57,186 cases, against 61,628 on Friday.
It exceeded 130,000 in early April.
Read alsoWill Covid-19 cause as many deaths in 2022 as in 2020 and 2021?
The number of patients hospitalized with Covid-19 is also down, to 23,302 including 558 new admissions, against 24,840 including 916 new admissions a week ago, according to data from Public Health France.
Within the hospital, critical care is also affected by this drop: there were 1,562 Covid patients on Saturday, against 1,636 last Saturday.
The number of new admissions fell from 69 a week ago to 45 on Saturday.
The total number of deaths since the start of the epidemic stands at 145,930, 61 more than the day before.
Reinforcement of measures in Beijing
Beijing will strengthen measures to fight against Covid-19 by making new tests compulsory, authorities in the Chinese capital announced on Saturday.
The move comes on the first day of a long weekend on Labor Day.
Chinese people usually take the opportunity to travel across the country but this year the worst outbreak of cases since early 2020 is forcing many to stay at home.
Faced with the highly contagious Omicron variant, the Chinese authorities have reinforced their zero Covid policy, carrying out massive screenings and confinements as soon as the first cases appear.
These strict measures have led to a slowdown in the country's economy and growing frustration among the people.
Read alsoShanghai containment marks the failure of China's anti-Covid strategy
Beijing announced on Saturday that after these five public holidays, access to public spaces will be further limited.
From May 5, a negative Covid test taken within the past week will be mandatory to enter "
many public places and to take public transport
", according to an announcement made on the capital's WeChat account.
For activities such as sporting events and group travel, participants will also need to present a negative Covid test taken within the last 48 hours, along with proof that they have been fully vaccinated.
Manufacturing activity at two-year low in China
Manufacturing activity in China fell in April to its lowest level since February 2020, weighed down by an epidemic outbreak of Covid cases which is weighing on the country's economy, according to an official index published on Saturday.
Read alsoChina drives coal production in the world
The Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), a key indicator of manufacturing activity, stood at 47.4 in April.
A number above 50 indicates an expansion in activity and below that indicates a contraction.
Authorities said the "
decline in production and demand
" has deepened.
Since March, an epidemic outbreak, the strongest since the beginning of 2020, has affected almost all the provinces of China.
