New measures, new reports and highlights: an update on the latest developments in the Covid 19 pandemic worldwide.

– On the way to the “vaccine passport” in France –

The health card will become a “vaccination card” at the beginning of the year, which can only be activated with a full vaccination plan and no longer with a simple negative test, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced on Friday evening.

City halls would have to forego concerts and fireworks on New Year’s Eve, during which alcohol consumption on public roads would be banned in order to limit the spread of the Omicron variant, he also instructed.

– France and Denmark “high risk” for Germany –

Germany on Friday classified France and Denmark as “high risk of infection” areas and will therefore quarantine unvaccinated travelers from these countries.

From Sunday this measure also applies to travelers from Norway, Lebanon and Andorra.

Germany, which is already affected by a significant recovery in coronavirus contamination, must prepare for a new “massive wave” in connection with the meteoric spread of the Omicron variant, said Health Minister Karl Lauterbach on Friday.

– Approval of the Indian vaccine –

The World Health Organization approved the Indian anti-Covid vaccine Covovax on Friday.

This vaccine “is manufactured by the Serum Institute of India under license from Novovax and is part of the Covax portfolio (the international distribution system for anti-Covid vaccines, nn countries,” said the WHO.

– Ireland: curfew for pubs and restaurants –

Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin announced on Friday evening that a curfew at 8 p.m. would be imposed on pubs, bars and restaurants until the end of January to combat the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

– UK pollution peak –

The UK set a new record of Covid-19 contamination on Friday for the third year in a row, with 93,045 cases in 24 hours, according to health officials.

– Switzerland: Stricter anti-Covid measures –

The federal government announced that Switzerland will tighten its anti-Covid measures on Monday. Only vaccinated or cured people have access to the interiors of restaurants, cultural, sports and leisure facilities as well as indoor events.

– Denmark closes its cultural life –

Denmark will order the closure of cinemas, theaters and concert halls in order to curb the record increase in Covid-19 cases accelerated by the new Omicron variant.

– Rugby: postponing matches between French and British –

The matches scheduled for Saturday and Sunday between French and British clubs in the two European rugby cups will be postponed “to a later date” due to travel restrictions between the two countries.

– Vaccines: 335 million doses delivered by Washington –

Washington has so far shipped more than 335 million doses of anti-Covid vaccines to 110 countries, as many doses as there are people in the United States, a senior White House official told AFP on Friday.

– South Africa: Omicron cases explode, but serious cases do not –

The Omicron variant has exploded cases of Covid-19 infections in South Africa, but for now there are fewer hospital admissions and deaths than in previous waves, health officials said on Friday.

– More than 5.33 million dead –

The pandemic has killed more than 5.33 million people worldwide since the end of 2019, according to an assessment by AFP on Friday afternoon from official figures.

The United States is the country with the most survivors, with 803,652 deaths, followed by Brazil (617,395), India (476,869) and Mexico (297,356).

Taking into account the excess mortality directly and indirectly linked to Covid-19, the WHO estimates that the toll of the pandemic could be two to three times higher worldwide.

burs-ot-kd / ber / as