Restrictions are easing all over the world. While in France Jean-Michel Blanquer, the Minister of National Education, paved the way for a (slight) relaxation of the health protocol at school during the month, Australia is taking a big step by announcing the reopening of its borders on February 21.
According to an AFP report, this Monday, the pandemic has killed more than 5.7 million people worldwide since the end of December 2019. In absolute terms, the United States is the country with the most deaths (902 624), ahead of Brazil (632,193), India (502,874) and Russia (336,023). However, the WHO estimates that by taking into account the excess mortality directly and indirectly from Covid-19, the overall assessment of the pandemic could be two to three times higher than that which is established from official national figures.
- In Dunkirk, two years without carnival
The agglomeration of Dunkirk will take place for the second consecutive year of its carnival, one of the most important in France. “Today, a new examination of the health situation was carried out by the State services and reveals that the figures of the pandemic are still high on the territory of Dunkirk”, justified, this Monday, the mayors of the Community city of Dunkirk in a press release.
Earlier in the day, the northern prefecture had recommended the cancellation of the festivities which extend from the end of January to mid-March and attract tens of thousands of visitors. The conditions are “unfortunately not met” for the holding of such events, “totally incompatible with the application of barrier gestures”, indicate the city officials. In Nice, on the other hand, the carnival – canceled in 2021 – was maintained, from February 11 to 27.
- Australia will reopen its borders
Welcome back. On February 21, Australia will reopen its borders to fully vaccinated tourists, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Monday. Australia’s field entry restrictions were among the strictest on the planet. The island-continent had closed its borders in March 2020 and was counting on its insularity to limit the pandemic on its territory. Only a few countries including Japan, China, New Zealand and Pacific Islands keep their borders closed.
- Morocco reopens its airspace
After more than two months of closure, Morocco reopened its airspace on Monday. The Kingdom hopes to save its tourist season: in 2021, the number of arrivals had fallen by 71% compared to 2019. Travelers, vaccinated, must present before boarding a negative PCR test of less than 48 hours. Upon arrival in Morocco, tourists are subjected to an antigen test. “Random” PCR tests will be performed.
- 4th dose campaign in Chile
The country, yet one of the most vaccinated in the world, is currently facing a new wave of contamination. To stop it, a national campaign for a fourth dose of vaccine against Covid-19 was launched on Monday. It is reserved, initially, for people aged over 55. This campaign had really started on January 10, only for immunocompromised people, health personnel and the elderly in nursing homes. “To protect ourselves, we have followed a strategy since day one which consists of anticipating, of being one step ahead so that the coronavirus does not take us by surprise”, justified Sebastian Piñera, the Chilean president. It follows the example of Israel, which also authorized the injection of a fourth dose for certain categories of people at risk.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has been very critical of this strategy. “Indiscriminate booster programs have every chance of prolonging the pandemic, rather than ending it, by diverting available doses to countries that already have high vaccination rates, thus giving the virus more opportunities to spread. spread and mutate”, said its general manager Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
- Canada: State of emergency in Ottawa
Ottawa has been paralyzed for more than a week by opponents of health measures. Deeming the situation “out of control”, the mayor of the city declared, on Sunday, a “state of emergency” in the Canadian capital. The police also got tough on the protesters. The city councilor asked the Canadian government to appoint a mediator to put an end to the rally. Similar movements, however on a smaller scale, also took place in Toronto, Quebec or Winnipeg.