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

– Record of worldwide contamination this week –

The world hit new records in Covid-19 cases last week, with more than 935,000 reported on average as of the 22nd.

These numbers, the highest since the pandemic began, are based on reports submitted daily by each country’s health authorities. Most of the less severe or asymptomatic cases go undetected in many countries, despite the intensification of screening. In addition, the testing guidelines differ from country to country.

– The risk associated with Omicron “very high” (WHO) –

The risk posed by the highly contagious variant of the Omicron coronavirus worldwide remains “very high,” warned the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday in its weekly epidemiological bulletin.

“Reliable evidence shows that the Omicron variant, with a doubling rate of two to three days, has a growth advantage over the delta variant,” the WHO states.

The rapid growth in cases in a number of countries “is likely related to a combination of the loss of immunity and the intrinsic increase in the transmissibility of Omicron, according to the WHO.

– GB: Up to 90% of patients in the intensive care unit have not received a booster dose –

Up to 90% of Covid-19 patients admitted to intensive care in the UK have not received a booster, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday, ruling out any tightening of restrictions before the new year.

– France: night clubs closed for another three weeks –

French nightclubs that were closed for a month on December 10th will keep their doors closed for another three weeks in January, the government announced and promised new aid to nightclub owners.

University Minister Frédérique Vidal also confirmed that the university exams scheduled for January would be “personally maintained” despite the high incidence rate of the pandemic among young people.

– China: suspects forced to parade –

Four suspects accused of jeopardizing the rules against Covid had to march through a southern Chinese city, media reported, some of which criticized disproportionate conduct.

Each suspect, handcuffed behind his back and in full suits, was escorted by two police officers and carried a tag with his name and photo, which, according to pictures from the event, commemorated the public humiliations of the “Cultural Revolution”.

– Djokovic withdraws from the ATP Cup in Sydney –

World tennis player Novak Djokovic, who refuses to say whether he is vaccinated against Covid-19 or not, will win the ATP Cup from Jan.

– Foot: Arsenal manager positive –

Spain’s Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta tested positive and will miss the Gunners’ Premier League game against Manchester City on Saturday at the Emirates Stadium, the club said.

– More than 5.4 million dead –

The Covid-19 pandemic has killed at least 5,413,630 people worldwide since the end of December 2019, according to a report compiled by AFP from official sources on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. GMT.

In absolute terms, the United States is the country with the most survivors, with 820,929 deaths, followed by Brazil (618,705), India (480,592) and Russia (307,022).

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, taking into account the excess mortality directly and indirectly linked to Covid-19, that the number of victims of the pandemic could be two to three times higher than the officially recorded.