New reports, new measures and highlights: an update on the latest developments in the Covid-19 pandemic around the world.
A compulsory vaccine?
Australia on Wednesday launched the debate on the need for countries to make the future vaccine against the coronavirus mandatory, as contaminations start to rise again and restrictions multiply around the world.
According to the WHO, 168 vaccine candidates against Covid-19 are currently in development, but none are yet ready to be marketed.
In the United States, the Moderna laboratory has an advanced project while Australia has made sure to obtain a “promising” vaccine thanks to an agreement made with the Swedish-British pharmaceutical group AstraZeneca. A Chinese vaccine will soon be tested in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Pope Francis wanted future vaccines not to be primarily intended for “the richest”.
More than 780,000 dead
The novel coronavirus pandemic has killed at least 781,194 worldwide since the WHO office in China reported the onset of the disease at the end of December, according to a report established by AFP from official sources Wednesday at 11:00 GMT.
More than 22,187,780 cases of infection have been officially diagnosed in 196 countries and territories.
The United States is the most affected country in terms of both deaths and cases, with 171,833 deaths for 5,482,823 cases. Next come Brazil (109,888 dead), Mexico (57,774), India (52,889), and the United Kingdom (41,381).
Sierra Leone: impact on malaria
In Sierra Leone, doctors and NGOs are worried that malaria will flourish over fears related to the coronavirus. They see extreme cases of malaria on the increase since patients avoid going to the hospital for fear of being infected with Covid-19.
Lack of adequate medical monitoring is particularly dangerous for children during the current rainy season, when malaria is on the rise due to the increasing mosquito population.
Mask compulsory in Toulouse
Wearing a mask will be compulsory from Friday throughout the municipality of Toulouse due to the active circulation of the Covid-19 in the fourth city in France, decided the prefect of Haute-Garonne.
At a time when the obligation to wear a mask is spreading in France, for example within companies, Professor Didier Raoult, director of the Institut Méditerranée-Infection in Marseille, said for his part that he “would have preferred that we remain at a level of recommendation rather than obligation “.
“If the masks can reassure that is one thing, but I am worried that we are focusing too much on it, because now it is people who will want to lay down the law,” he said.
Finland protects itself
To “preserve the relatively good situation” with regard to Covid-19 within its borders, Finland has withdrawn from its green list most travelers coming from countries of the European Union, who will now have to observe a quarantine at their arrival. France and Belgium are particularly concerned.
Brittany Ferries reduces its sails
The shipping company Brittany Ferries will reduce its crossings between France and England and carry out partial unemployment measures, less than a week after the announcement of a British quarantine for travelers coming from France.
Brittany Ferries, of which 85% of passengers are British, has recorded 35,000 cancellations or postponements of trips since last weekend.
– .
