Will the summer be nice? Everyone wants to believe in a summer period without a cold snap carried by a wave of Covid-19. From China reducing its drastic restrictions to the positive momentum in French hospitals to the enthusiasm of Spain, convinced of regaining color thanks to tourism, optimism is shared across the planet.
In France, the health indicators are rather encouraging. They are all down, according to data from Public Health France published on Wednesday. Critical care services, which often inform the louse of the epidemic, welcomed 1,465 patients on Wednesday, almost 2.5 times less than in January. Overview of the dynamics in France and elsewhere.
- Indicators down in France
The contaminations identified are decreasing in France. With a seven-day daily average (smoothing out the variations) of 46,080 positive cases, i.e. almost 3,000 fewer cases compared to Tuesday, and above all against 73,000 a week ago, the epidemic seems to be in a downward phase. Critical care services, which treat the most serious forms of Covid-19, welcomed 1,465 patients on Wednesday. By way of comparison, nearly 4,000 people were received by these services at the peak of the fifth wave in January. During low periods, we approach 1,000 critically ill patients on average.
An even more salient figure in the analysis of the trajectory of the disease, 746 patients were admitted to the intensive care units over seven days. It drops since the patients were 776 on Tuesday. The number of hospitalizations over seven days crossed the threshold of 7,000 admissions. It was above 8,300 in the previous reading a week ago. However, the disease is no less formidable since 102 people have lost their lives in the last 24 hours, ie 146,376 people have died in more than two years.
- China loosens (very slightly) the vice
Despite the mild temperatures and clear skies of recent days, residents of Beijing have had to make do for several weeks with a hampered daily life of short walks near their homes. Restaurants, cafes, museums or gymnasiums being closed. Metro stations are also condemned. Faced with the epidemic wave that has affected a large part of the country since March, screening tests must be carried out every day, in the wake of the “zero Covid” strategy set up by the Chinese government to limit the spread. 50 new positive cases were declared Thursday in Beijing. A stable figure for several days.
Faced with the discontent that slumbers in Shanghai, the country’s other megalopolis, the epicenter of the resurgence of the epidemic in the spring and the scene of one of the strictest containment policies throughout the world, the local authorities called on the inhabitants to go to the office by car or bicycle when they could no longer telecommute. Also alerted by a fear of the financial markets on the country’s ability to get out of its control policy, the Chinese government announced a slight relaxation for international travelers, authorized to escape from quarantine after 10 days in the hotel and seven days at home compared to 21 days previously.
- Spain benefits from the reopening of its borders
It is an economic indicator, this time, which should delight the Spanish public authorities. Spain welcomed eight times more tourists in the first quarter than in the same period in 2021. A new boost for the country’s economy based on tourism-related receipts. This news is explained above all by the gradual reopening of its borders and the return of foreign tourists to its soil. In March alone, the country welcomed four million travellers, thanks in particular to British visitors, returning after two years of health crisis.
“Month after month, tourism continues to consolidate,” said Spanish minister Reyes Maroto in a statement. If the situation seems to be clearing up in the Iberian sky, the turnover of the activity is still very far from that of the pre-pandemic period (71% of the March 2019 figure). Second tourist destination in the world behind France before the health crisis, with 83.5 million foreign visitors on average, the country led by the socialist Pedro Sanchez only welcomed 31.1 million travelers in 2021, while the government expected 45 million.
- In South Africa, the end of the mask for children
Despite a rapid increase in cases of Covid-19 contamination linked to two new sub-variants from Omicron, the South African government has lifted the obligation to wear a mask at school. A decision reminiscent of that taken by the French Prime Minister, Jean Castex, last March. Unlike the country led by Emmanuel Macron, the mask remains compulsory in closed public places. To curb the excess mortality caused by Covid-19, South Africa’s objective is to increase its vaccination coverage. Of nearly 60 million citizens, less than 45% of the adult population is fully immunized.
- 13 to 17 million people died at the end of 2021
The figure is much higher than that officially presented. According to a new WHO estimate published on Thursday, the Covid-19 pandemic is responsible for the death of 13 to 17 million people at the end of 2021, far more than the number of officially recorded deaths. Since the start of the pandemic, figures from member countries compiled by the WHO come to a total of 5.4 million deaths over the same period. Already the WHO indicated that these elements were well below reality.
“These sobering data underscore not only the impact of the pandemic, but also the need for all countries to invest in more resilient health systems that can sustain essential health services during crises. including stronger health information systems,” commented WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The excess mortality linked to the virus would be concentrated mainly in Southeast Asia, Europe and the Americas. Also according to this study, the number of deaths in the world is higher among men (57%) than among women (43%). “These new estimates are based on the best available data produced using a robust methodology and a completely transparent approach,” detailed Samira Asma, lead methodologist for this WHO work.