The Omicron variant is rampant throughout Europe with a surge in cases that worries and continues to oblige EU governments to gradually stricter measures. Worse data comes from Great Britain and France. So much so that Paris recommended reducing the interval between the second and third dose of the vaccine to three months.
France overwhelmed by Omicron, over 94,000 cases in 24 hours
In the last 24 hours, 94,124 new cases have been registered in France, the highest number since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, according to data released by health authorities. There are 169 deaths and bring the total number of deaths to 122,462. Thus, in the face of the fifth wave of the pandemic, the French health authority (Has) has recommended reducing the interval between the second and third booster doses of the vaccine to three months. Has also recommended giving the third dose to adolescents ages 12 to 17 who suffer from immunodeficiency or comorbidities in her latest opinion.
The race for the “vaccination pass” in France
The French government, on the proposal of President Macron, is thinking of transforming the French health pass into a “vaccination pass” with a bill, a sort of French equivalent of the Italian Super Green Pass, which will be examined in commission at the national assembly next Wednesday . After the expected go-ahead in the extraordinary council of ministers set for Monday in Paris, the bill will be examined on Wednesday in the commission, at the national assembly and the minister of health, Olivier Vèran, will be questioned the same day by the deputies. The entry into force was initially expected by the end of January but given the urgency of the situation, with the Omicron variant in strong progress, the goal is to adopt it earlier, according to the latest information, from January 15th.
Great Britain: new contagion record but there are fewer hospitalizations
In Great Britain, 122,186 new cases of Covid -19 have been recorded in the last 24 hours; this is the highest daily increase in infections since the beginning of the pandemic. It is the third consecutive day of an all-time record of new infections. Yesterday the figure was 119,789. The deaths related to Covid -19 in the last 24 hours were 137. But from London, in the same hours, the first good news also arrived: the risk of hospitalization with Omicron, according to the British health agency, is up to 70% lower than Delta. The spread of the new variant, however, continues to oblige EU governments to gradually stricter measures.
Covid, Israel stops the fourth dose of the vaccine: it is not needed, Omicron less serious than the Delta
Japan approves the Merck pill
Japan has approved the Covid-19 pill developed by US pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. Health Minister Shigeyuki Goto told reporters that the drug will be shipped to hospitals and pharmacies starting next week. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the country is buying 1.6 million doses from Merck. Japan has also organized the shipment of 2 million doses of Pfizer’s anti-Covid pill, which has not yet received approval for use in the country.
Argentina: 16,279 cases, never so many since the end of July
In the last 24 hours, Argentina has registered 16,279 new cases of Covid, the highest number since last July 27. Also in the last 24 hours, the deaths due to the virus have been 29 and have brought the total number to 117,008. Health authorities say they are concerned about the resurgence of the epidemic after months of low numbers. The percentage of occupancy of beds in intensive care units, for all types of pathologies, is 34.8% at the same level and 36.9% if only Buenos Aires and its suburbs are nationally.
The situation in India
The cases of Covid in India in the last 24 hours are 7,189, the deaths 387. The case of India questions and amazement among scientists: the Asian giant seems to have defeated the pandemic and to be in the endemic cause. Experts underlined that the situation appears truly miraculous, as a few months ago the country was in a truly chaotic situation with the number of infections and deaths skyrocketing.
Chile plans fourth dose of the vaccine from February
Chile plans to offer a fourth dose of the coronavirus vaccine to its citizens. President Sebastian Pinera said Thursday that the fourth dose is expected to begin in February. Health Secretary Enrique Paris says the injection will be different than what people have previously received. Chile reported that nearly 86% of its population is fully vaccinated. Has the highest level of coronavirus immunization in Latin America and among the best in the world, according to the online research site Our World in Data. Pinera says 10.2 million out of 19 million people in Chile have received a third dose. Chile has recorded nearly 39,000 deaths from Covid -19.
New Zealand without Omicron, Christmas without restrictions
Instead, New Zealanders celebrated Christmas with few restrictions: it is one of the few countries in the world not touched by the Omicron variant. Ninety-five percent of adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine, making it one of the most vaccinated populations in the world. The only Omicron variant cases that have been recorded in New Zealand have been safely contained at the border. With Covid-19 spreading around the world over the past two years, New Zealand has used its isolation to its advantage. Border controls have kept the worst of the virus at bay and at Christmas this year New Zealand recorded 50 deaths out of a population of 5.5 million.