France exceeds the ceiling of 100 thousand cases
Yesterday the infections reported were 104,611, with 84 deaths. The country had never seen so many infections. On 4 December, there were 50,000 cases: the doubling took place in three weeks. The intensive care units employed are 3,282, more than triple compared to Italy.
Omicron already dominant in Portugal
The most vaccinated country in Europe (88% of the total population with two doses) is witnessing a new increase in infections: over 10 thousand for the third consecutive day. “The Omicron variant is already dominant in Portugal”, with a prevalence “estimated at 61.5% last December 22”. The same statement from the Lisbon Directorate-General for Health specifies that mortality, hospitalization and intensive care remain stable. The country recorded 10,016 cases and 10 deaths on Saturday. According to forecasts, the new variant observed for the first time on November 25 in South Africa and Zimbabwe is expected to become dominant across Europe between Christmas and mid-January.
China is also struggling to contain the variant
China registered 140 new cases today, the highest figure in the last 4 months. The last country left to adopt the “zero strategy”, or the attempt to eradicate the coronavirus within its borders, is struggling against the highly contagious Omicron variant. The city of Xian, the epicenter of the outbreak, remains isolated, with millions of people confined. According to the media, however, the infections have already spread to 5 other cities, including Beijing. China has recorded two deaths from Covid in the last year and a half, but is anxious about the appointment with the winter Olympics scheduled in the capital in February.
“Jingle Jab” in England. Thousands lined up for the Christmas vaccine
“Jingle jabs” instead of “jingle bells”. Thousands of people in England queued up under a leaden winter sky on Christmas Day to get vaccinated against Covid-19, while the spread of the Omicron variant increases the number of infections in the United Kingdom. The government’s goal is to push for all adults to be offered the booster dose by the end of the year.
Vaccines in Africa still stuck at 8%
The average vaccination rate in Africa is still very low: 8%. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), 53 African countries out of 54 – Eritrea alone is missing – have started vaccination programs. So far, however, only 284 million doses have been administered, equal to 64% of those delivered. If the vaccination campaign does not see a significant acceleration, the continent may not reach the 70% vaccination coverage target set by the WHO for mid-2022 before August 2024.
Biden’s wishes: to find the light in the darkness
“Looking back on this year, we have seen tremendous courage, character and determination in all of you who care, comfort, teach, protect and serve in ways great and small.” Christmas greetings from American President Joe Biden could not ignore Covid. Now we have to “find the light in the dark, which is perhaps the most American of things to do”.
In India 7,189 new cases and 387 deaths
In India, 7,189 cases of Covid and 387 deaths have been recorded in the last 24 hours. The case of India raises questions and astonishment among scientists: the Asian giant seems to have defeated the pandemic and entered the endemic phase. Experts underlined that the situation appears truly surprising, not to say miraculous, as a few months ago the country was in a truly chaotic situation with skyrocketing numbers of infections and deaths.
Russia, 24,946 infections and deaths (981) down
The number of new cases in Russia continues to be high in the last 24 hours even if the victims are decreasing: there were 24,946 infections (yesterday there were 24,703) and 981 deaths, the lowest figure since last 12 October. More than 42 thousand patients recovered, for the fifth consecutive day over 40 thousand.
Australia, record of infections in the state of Sydney
In Australia, the state of New South Wales, that is Sydney, the most populous in the country, in the last 24 hours has recorded over 6 thousand cases of Covid-19 for the first time, precisely 6,288. This is the highest number of infections ever recorded in an Australian state since the beginning of the pandemic and marks an increase of 676 cases compared to the previous day. The number of coronavirus patients in the state has risen from 6 to 388, with 52 people in intensive care.
New Zealand, Christmas without Omicron
Christmas celebrations with few restrictions in New Zealand, one of the few countries in the world largely untouched by the Omicron variant of Covid-19. In mid-summer New Zealand, 95% of adults received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine, meaning it is one of the countries in the world with the most vaccinated population. The only Omicron cases detected in the country have been isolated and so far safely contained at the border. As Covid-19 has spread around the world for the past two years, New Zealand has used its isolation as an advantage. Border controls have mostly kept the virus at bay and by Christmas this year the country recorded 50 deaths out of a population of 5.5 million people. The Delta variant arrived in New Zealand in August and the largest city, Auckland, was in lockdown for 188 days. At its peak, the epidemic recorded about 220 cases per day. Then the average dropped to around 50. But success in managing the pandemic came with a cost: empty chairs at restaurant tables this holiday season, not least because some New Zealanders living and working overseas didn’t get the chance. to return due to the restrictions imposed on entry into the country.
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