New measures, new reports and highlights: an update on the latest developments in the Covid-19 pandemic around the world.
Austria: vaccination”obligatory” from February
Austria will return compulsory at the beginning of February for adults vaccination against the coronavirus, on pain of a heavy fine, said the Austrian Chancellor, Karl Nehammer, aware of the character “sensible” of this first in Europe which divides society.
“Checks will be carried out” and not being vaccinated will constitute a “offense“liable to”sanctions“financial varying between 600 and 3600 euros, in the event of recidivism.
The vaccination pass is required in an increasing number of countries for certain professions, categories of population or the practice of activities, but the anti-Covid vaccination compulsory for all remains an exception.
France: adoption of the bill establishing the vaccination pass
The French Parliament has definitively adopted, by a final vote of the deputies, a bill establishing the vaccination pass, which the government wants to implement as quickly as possible in the face of the resurgence of the epidemic.
The text was adopted by 215 votes to 58, with 7 abstentions. Socialist parliamentarians have planned to seize the Constitutional Council to guarantee respect for “fundamental liberties“, which will postpone the promulgation of the bill for a few days.
Djokovic deprived of the Australian Open
After a long soap opera with twists and turns, Novak Djokovic, not vaccinated against Covid-19, left Australia following the rejection by the courts of the appeal he had brought against his expulsion, ordered by the Australian government.
“I am extremely disappointed“, reacted the world number 1 in tennis, who had contracted Covid 19 in December and hoped to benefit from an exemption to play the Australian Open which begins on Monday.
He had been blocked on his arrival in Melbourne on January 5 and placed in administrative detention. But a judge had ordered his release. The Minister of Immigration then counter-attacked by canceling his visa on January 14. Justice finally agreed with the Australian authorities.
Three-week-old baby dies of Covid-19 in Qatar
A three-week-old infant has died in Qatar from the consequences of a “infection grave“due to Covid-19, a rare case announced on Sunday by this Gulf country.
Mortality due to the coronavirus is very limited among children, but health authorities in several countries have recorded more cases of infection among them since the spread of the Omicron variant.
“Partygate‘: Boris Johnson to take action
Boris Johnson will tackle the “underlying culture” in Downing Street having allowed several parties in full confinement, declared one of his ministers, the head of the British government seeking to raise the bar after having seen his popularity plummet.
Accused by the opposition of having “break the law“Boris Johnson is about to announce measures including a ban on alcohol in Downing Street offices and the dismissal of several of his staff, according to the Sunday Times.
More than 5.53 million dead
The Covid-19 pandemic has killed at least 5,533,105 people worldwide since the end of December 2019, according to a report compiled by AFP from official sources on Sunday.
In absolute terms, the countries that have recorded the most deaths since January 2020 are the United States (850,163 deaths), Brazil (620,971), India (486,066) and Russia (321,320 deaths).
The World Health Organization estimates, taking into account the excess mortality directly and indirectly linked to Covid-19, that the toll of the pandemic could be two to three times higher than that officially recorded.