The situation in France

The epidemic continues to flare up: an average of almost 53,000 cases are registered every day, and almost 16,000 Covid patients are currently being hospitalized. For the first time since May, more than 3,000 were in intensive care units on Monday. The epidemic could increase even further at a very high level because of the Omicron variant, which is very contagious and is spreading in Europe. He urged the Netherlands to impose a new prison sentence from Sunday. Denmark has closed theaters, cinemas and concert halls.

In France, the Scientific Council, which runs the government, warns of the New Year when we mix a family celebration more than Christmas. He leaves the choice of politics, but considers “substantial restrictive measures” to be necessary. However, he recognizes “the difficulty of introducing and accepting more stringent restrictive measures”.

To avoid this last resort, the government is considering that Omicron could result in fewer hospital admissions than previous variants. “When it starts to circulate, it is brought into orbit very quickly, very strongly, with an extremely violent but extremely volatile wave,” Véran told Brut on Saturday. “Violent, it doesn’t necessarily mean there is a major health impact,” he continued. “We don’t have an answer to this question, that’s why we are increasing the vaccination”

Omicron dominates in the US

In the USA, where President Joe Biden is due to give a speech on Tuesday, the Omicron variant is now largely in the majority, while in Germany the new Chancellor Olaf Scholz will announce restrictions without placing any restrictions on the agenda. Omicron accounted for in the week of the 18th. In the previous week it was only 12.6%.

According to the Centers for Prevention and Control Against Disease (CDC), Omicron’s percentage is around 95% of cases in one group of northwestern states (Oregon, Washington, and Idaho) and another in the southeast, including Florida. The United States is the most bereaved country in the world in absolute terms, with more than 807,000 dead, and White House Advisor on the Health Crisis Dr.

In this regard, Joe Biden must announce new “measures” on Tuesday, according to his spokeswoman Jen Psaki, aimed at “improving access to screening” for Covid. The president will insist on “the risks of unvaccinated people”, but no “containment of the country” is planned, she said. The Democrat, who was largely elected with promises to end the epidemic, doesn’t have much leverage at the federal level. And the few restrictive measures he has taken, including vaccinations in large corporations, are facing legal proceedings and fueling speeches by the Republican opposition about an attack on individual freedom.

The balance of the world

At least the pandemic did 5.35 million deaths worldwide since the WHO office in China reported the outbreak of the disease in late December 2019, according to a report drawn from official sources by AFP on Monday.

In absolute terms, the countries with the highest number of deaths since January 2020 are the USA with 807,924 dead, that Brazil (617,873), India (477,554) and Russia (298,222). Reported to the population, Peru, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Hungary are the countries where the epidemic has wreaked the most havoc.

The Europe region currently has the highest number of deaths (57% of the total), followed by the USA / Canada zone (19%).

The WHO estimates that, taking into account the excess mortality directly and indirectly linked to Covid-19, the consequences of the pandemic could be two to three times higher than those officially recorded.

Any reproduction is prohibited