The coronavirus pandemic has claimed at least 2.77 million lives worldwide since the end of December 2019, according to an AFP report from official sources on Sunday at 10:00 GMT.
The United States is the most bereaved country with 549,306 dead, ahead of Brazil (312,206), Mexico (201,429), India (161,552) and the United Kingdom (126,573).
These figures are generally underestimated. They are based on daily reports from national health authorities, without including reassessments based on statistics.
Europe
Lockdown relief in England
Meetings and outdoor sports have been authorized since Monday in England, where the second phase of progressive deconfinement contrasts with the progression of the epidemic elsewhere in Europe, especially in France where the medical world is increasing the alarm signals.
« Happy Monday » (« Happy Monday »), headline some newspapers: the English can breathe a little easier, since groups of up to six people or two different households are now allowed to meet outside, and that lovers of sport can resume their outdoor practice.
The most bereaved country in Europe with more than 126,500 dead, the United Kingdom launched a vaccination race in December in order to get out of a devastating confinement for its economy: some 30 million first doses had been administered. Sunday, almost 60% of the adult population.
“We must remain cautious,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson reminded, however, because “the increase in cases in Europe and the new variants which threaten our vaccination campaign” could arrive in the United Kingdom in three weeks.
“People let their guard down” in France
From France, the number of patients with Covid-19 in intensive care continued to increase there on Sunday, reaching 4,872 patients, almost the peak of the second wave in the fall, according to official data. A total of 94,492 people succumbed to Covid-19 in France.
Exasperated, 41 crisis medical directors of the Hospitals of Paris evoke a « disaster medicine situation », saying they are preparing to have to « sort patients in order to save as many lives as possible », in a column published by the Journal du Sunday (JDD). « In the next fortnight », say the signatories, « we already know that our support capacities will be exceeded ».
A defense council is to be held on Wednesday to decide on a possible tightening of current measures (curfew, closure of certain businesses). « For the coming days, we will look at the effectiveness of the braking measures and we will take the necessary ones if necessary, » President Emmanuel Macron told the JDD during an interview on Friday evening, while the health situation is again described as « critical » by the executive.
Call to order in Germany
Germany too is facing a third wave, also causing political upheavals. Chancellor Angela Merkel thus severely called the regional states to order on Sunday, urging them to apply the restrictions while several Länder announced relaxations.
Ms. Merkel brandished the threat of more restrictive intervention by the central state if the rules were not applied firmly, while health management is the responsibility of the regions. « I’m not going to stay two weeks without doing anything, » warned the Chancellor.
America
Concern in the USA
In the United States, Anthony Fauci, the White House adviser on the pandemic, said he was worried on Sunday about the plateau observed in the number of contaminations in the country, believing that it was due to the “premature” lifting of restrictions. in some states.
The reporters then interviewed President Joe Biden. “From what I hear, apparently people are letting their guard down, but I have a meeting with my team tomorrow (Monday) and I can get a better idea of it,” he said.
Canada recommends reserving AstraZeneca’s vaccine for those over 55
Canadian health authorities will recommend on Monday to the provinces of the country to reserve the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19 to people over the age of 55, we learned from a source close to the government.
Canada’s decision is expected to be formalized by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, an independent expert committee that provides advice to the Public Health Agency of Canada, according to the source, who requested anonymity.
Mexico records 69% more deaths than those listed
Mexico has recorded 294,287 deaths associated with Covid-19 as of February 13, 69.3 percent more than those originally listed for the same period, according to an official report. The Ministry of Health had previously listed 173,771 deaths for the same period.
But a study on mortality, published this week, indicates that since the start of the epidemic and until February 13, Mexico has actually recorded 294,287 deaths. The first death attributed to the coronavirus occurred there on March 18, 2020.
On Sunday, the ministry gave the figure of 201,623 dead in its daily report, or 194 new deaths in 24 hours.
If we add the 27,416 deaths that have occurred since February 13 to the 294,287 counted in this study, the total number of deaths then exceeds 300,000.
The figures of this study join those given by the National Institute of Statistics which had also indicated at the end of January that the mortality attributed to the virus was 68% higher than that initially reported in this country of 126 million inhabitants.
The new figures are explained by taking into account death certificates which incorporate deaths at home.
In Chile, possible postponement of constitutional elections due to Covid
Chile’s President Sebastián Piñera said on Sunday he would request the « postponement » until May of the constituent election scheduled for April 10-11 due to a new wave of Covid-19, a measure that must be ratified. by Congress. This measure had already been demanded by most political parties. The Head of State proposed that the elections, relating in particular to the designation of the members of a Constituent Assembly which will be responsible for drafting the future Constitution of the country, be held on May 15 and 16. In recent days, Chile has been facing a sharp increase in contamination, despite a rapid vaccination campaign. More than 80% of the population has been subjected since Saturday to a new total confinement.
Oil for vaccines in Venezuela
In Venezuela, President Nicolas Maduro proposed an « oil for vaccine » system on Sunday evening, echoing the UN’s « oil for food » program for Iraq in 1990. « Venezuela has oil tankers, has customers ready to buy oil from us. He would devote part of his production to obtain the vaccines he needs. Oil for vaccines!”, he launched on public television.
The pandemic has claimed at least 2.77 million lives worldwide since the end of December 2019, according to an AFP report from official sources on Sunday at 10:00 GMT.
The United States is the most bereaved country with 549,306 dead, ahead of Brazil (312,206), Mexico (201,429), India (161,552) and the United Kingdom (126,573).
ASIA
New containment in the Philippines in the face of the outbreak of Covid-19
More than 24 million people in and around Manila, the economic heart of the Philippines, were locked down on Monday, restrictions planned for a week but which could be extended if Covid-19 infections do not drop, authorities warned. . The affected population will have to stay at home and work from home, except for essential workers, as the Manila region and four neighboring provinces struggle to absorb a surge in infections.
Just hours after the start of this new confinement, which concerns a fifth of the country’s population, the chief epidemiologist of the Ministry of Health, Alethea de Guzman, warned that this measure could be extended in order to obtain a reduction. « sustainable ».
« All options are on the table, » said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who chairs the government’s Covid-19 task force.
The resurgence of infections, fueled by more contagious variants, has brought the number of cases to more than 720,000 in this country of around 110 million inhabitants.
On Monday morning in Manila, traffic was blocked for hundreds of meters around checkpoints set up on major avenues as police scrambled to ensure only essential workers were moving.
But AFP journalists saw police periodically open the streets to relieve traffic.
Religious services and other large gatherings are banned, a curfew is in effect from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m., and public transport has been reduced.
Supermarkets, pharmacies and other essential businesses are allowed to operate, and people are allowed outside to exercise.
While previous lockdowns had hit the Philippines’ economy hard and left many struggling households, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the decision to tighten restrictions again was « very delicate ».
Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado said help would be available for nearly 23 million people in lockdown, nearly everyone affected, but did not give details.
A growing number of hospitals in the capital are reporting that all of their beds dedicated to Covid patients are occupied. Several caregivers have told AFP in recent days that the shortage of beds and nurses has forced some establishments to refuse patients.
AFRICA
Janssen will supply up to 400 million doses of vaccine to the African Union
Belgian drugmaker Janssen Pharmaceutica will supply up to 400 million doses of its corona vaccine to the 55 member countries of the African Union (AU). An agreement has been reached on this subject with the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT), according to a press release from the American parent company of Janssen, Johnson & Johnson on Monday. Janssen Pharmaceutica will make at least 220 million doses of the vaccine available to member states, according to the agreement announced on Monday. Deliveries are expected to begin in the third quarter of this year.
AVAT also has an option for an additional 180 million doses of vaccine to be delivered by 2022. A total of 400 million people could thus be vaccinated, as only one dose of this vaccine is needed.
« Johnson & Johnson believes that no one is safe until everyone is safe. We are committed to balanced global access to new Covid-19 vaccines, » said Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky. & Johnson.
Availability of the vaccine in AU Member States will be subject to approval or clearance by national regulatory authorities.
The impact of the coronavirus is increasing in many African countries, in part due to the rise of the South African variant of the virus. In addition, the availability of vaccines is much lower than in European countries.
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