UPDATE ON THE SITUATION – New measures, new reports and highlights: Le Figaro takes stock of the latest developments in the Covid-19 pandemic.
Progress of the fifth wave in France, warning against a rush on the third dose in rich countries, vaccination of 5-11 year olds in Australia … Le Figaro takes stock this Thursday, December 9 on the latest information related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
2,461 patients in critical care in France
More than 56,000 new cases of Covid-19 contamination have been detected in the past 24 hours. At the same time, hospital pressure continues with a total of 2,461 patients (2,426 Wednesday), treated in critical care units which deal with severe forms of the disease. In 24 hours, 243 patients integrated these services. There were 1,007 only on November 23, the lowest before the arrival of the fifth wave of the pandemic in France.
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Thursday morning, the Minister of Health Olivier Véran advanced a much higher figure and a record of contaminations in 24 hours, at 72,000. A level never reached in two years of health crisis. The previous record, around 70,000, dated back to early November 2020.
Hospitals now treat 13,363 hospitalized Covid-19 patients (+1250 in 24 hours). A sign of the tension experienced by hospitals, six regions have already reactivated the white plan, including Ile-de-France on Wednesday, notably allowing operations to be deprogrammed and staff to be reassigned to critical care services.
The outbreak has resulted in the deaths of 130 hospital patients within 24 hours, according to SPF figures available from the Geodes database. A total of 120,168 patients have died from Covid-19 since the start of the epidemic.
Vaccination booster for 80% of nursing home residents
“80% of nursing home residents received their booster dose, their 3rd vaccine»Said on Franceinfo Brigitte Bourguignon, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Solidarity and Health. “This is a satisfactory figure, the staff is reassured, especially residents and families.“, Specified the Minister Delegate adding that it was necessary”above all, protect this population as much as possible, allow it to maintain a social life, and not close these establishments during this 5th wave“.
In France, 52,213,976 people have received at least one injection (77.4% of the total population) and 51,133,749 people are fully vaccinated (75.8% of the total population). Since the beginning of September, 12,985,227 people have received a booster dose.
Omicron: few serious cases
The Omicron variant is affecting more countries in Africa but, “sign of hope“Hospitalizations remain few in South Africa where it was detected first, WHO-Africa said Thursday.
Read alsoCovid-19: studies report a decrease in the effectiveness of vaccines against Omicron
Likewise, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Thursday that most cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in the European Union appeared “light“.
SEE ALSO – Omicron variant: “The cases are mostly light”, reassures the EMA
3rd dose: warning against a rush in the rich countries
A WHO official on Thursday asked rich countries not to rush into vaccines to the detriment of poor countries, stressing that the need for a third dose was not scientifically proven against Omicron.
With the appearance of this variant, “there is a risk that global stocks will once again be redirected to high-income countries that want to accumulate vaccines to protect their populations to the point of excessSaid Kate O’Brien, the head of immunization at the World Health Organization.
Australia: the vaccine from 5 years old
Australia will start vaccinating children aged 5 and 11 against Covid-19 from January 10, according to announcements by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday. Only the Pfizer vaccine has been authorized for this age group at this time. A decision for the Moderna vaccine should be made in the coming weeks. With around 90% of its population over 16 fully vaccinated, Australia is one of the most vaccinated countries on the planet.
United States: Pfizer recall authorized for 16-17 year olds
U.S. health officials on Thursday lowered the age at which a booster dose of Pfizer’s Covid vaccine can be received, allowing it in adolescents aged 16 and 17.
In Brazil, the Rio New Year maintained
The mayor of Rio de Janeiro assured Thursday that the New Year’s festivities would take place, five days after announcing their cancellation due to concerns related to Covid-19. With this turnaround, the transition to the year 2022 in Brazil’s second city will therefore have as its highlight the famous fireworks display on Copacabana beach.
The planned concerts were however canceled, Mayor Eduardo Paes told a press conference. “The city is open, the city will celebrateNew Years Eve, he added.
Morocco: borders closed until December 31
Morocco decided Thursday to extend the suspension of passenger flights to and from the country at least until December 31, according to a note from the Moroccan civil aviation directorate. “All flights to and from Morocco are suspended from December 9 until December 31 minimum», Announced the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC), specifying that exceptional repatriation flights were still subject to authorizations from the Moroccan authorities.
The kingdom’s air borders have been closed since November 29 due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 and the resurgence of the pandemic in Europe.
6% of doctors in Peru died from Covid-19
A country with the highest number of deaths in the world in relation to its population, Peru paid tribute on Thursday to the 551 doctors who died from Covid-19, or more than 6% of the profession.
On the railings of the national headquarters of the Order of Physicians, their portraits were hung and the street renamed “Paseo de los Heroes“.
With 6,111 deaths per million population, Peru has the highest per capita pandemic death rate in the world, according to AFP, based on official figures. The Andean country of 33 million inhabitants has more than two million cases and more than 201,000 deaths from the coronavirus.
More than 5.2 million dead
The pandemic has killed at least 5,278,777 people worldwide since the end of 2019, according to a report established by AFP from official sources Thursday at 11:00 GMT. The United States is the most bereaved country with 793,228 dead, ahead of Brazil (616,251), India (474,111), Mexico (295,894) and Russia (286,004).
Read alsoA vaccine booster, with Pfizer or Moderna, as soon as possible
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, taking into account the excess mortality directly and indirectly linked to Covid-19, that the toll of the pandemic in the world could be two to three times higher.
SEE ALSO – Covid-19: the number of serious cases very low in South Africa, according to WHO Africa