The Covid-19 pandemic has killed at least 4.9 million people worldwide since the end of December 2019, according to a report established by Agence France-Presse (AFP) from official sources, Thursday, October 21. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), taking into account the excess mortality directly and indirectly linked to the coronavirus, the toll could be two to three times higher, or between 10 and 15 million deaths.
Moscow stationary for eleven days
On Thursday, Sergei Sobyanin, the mayor of Moscow, ordered the closure, from October 28 to November 7, of all non-essential businesses and organizations in order to stem the outbreak. Only supermarkets and pharmacies can remain open.
Moscow City Hall had already announced on Tuesday that all people over the age of 60 should be confined for four months from October 28 and that companies should resort to 30% teleworking at least until the end of February.
On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a week off throughout Russia from October 30 to November 7, which can be anticipated or extended at the level of each region. Mr. Putin will not attend any in-person events, the Kremlin said on Thursday. The authorities still refuse, for the time being, to any confinement or curfew, for fear of experiencing an already fragile economy.
Thursday, the country recorded in twenty-four hours an unprecedented number of contaminations (36,339) and deaths (1,036). The Russian government has officially recorded nearly 227,500 deaths from Covid-19 to date, but this toll is largely underestimated, the national statistics agency Rosstat having, for its part, counted more than 400,000 deaths at the end of August.
The effects of this wave are increased tenfold by a laborious vaccination campaign. Less than a third of Russians are vaccinated.
Health pass: avalanche of sick leaves in Italy
Since the health pass became compulsory to go to work on October 15, Italy has recorded a sharp increase in the number of sick leaves. According to figures transmitted by social security, on October 15, 94,113 sick leaves were issued by attending physicians, against 76,836 a week earlier (+ 28%). Monday, October 18, 192,174 sick leaves were issued, against 165,061 a week earlier (+ 16%).
The introduction of the mandatory health pass has also led to a significant increase in the number of rapid antigenic tests, with more than 900,000 tests carried out on Monday, around 600,000 on Tuesday and 800,000 on Wednesday, according to the government website.
The first European country to be affected by the epidemic in February 2020, Italy paid a heavy price with more than 130,000 deaths.
The Covid-19 comes to remember the memory of the British
The United Kingdom recorded, Thursday, 52,009 cases of Covid-19 and the toll has increased by 115 deaths, reaching 139,146 deaths since the start of the pandemic. Disappeared for weeks from current events and concerns, the pandemic suddenly comes back to remember the British.
The government admitted on Wednesday that contaminations could soon reach 100,000 cases per day. However, he rejected calls to reverse the lifting of the last restrictions, in July, instead encouraging those over 50 to receive a booster dose and young people who are not vaccinated to do so in order to avoid a round. live as Christmas approaches. Faced with the deterioration of the situation, calls are increasing for the government to apply its “plan B”, which provides for a possible return of the mask indoors, encouragement of teleworking, even vaccine passports.
The British Medical Association accused the government of showing “Willful negligence”, judging the situation ” unsustainable “ and calling for immediate action.
Thailand opens borders to vaccinated tourists from over 40 countries
From 1is November, vaccinated travelers from more than 40 countries will be allowed to travel to Thailand without having to undergo a quarantine.
This decision responds to the urgent need to “Stimulate the tourism sector and other economic sectors [qui lui sont] related “, justified the Prime Minister, Prayuth Chan-o-Cha.
Besides those from the United States, Great Britain and China, vaccinated tourists from European countries like France and Germany will be allowed to visit Thailand. Upon arrival, travelers will be required to undergo a PCR test and remain isolated for a single night in a government-approved hotel while awaiting the results, before being allowed to continue their journey freely.
Thailand recorded its worst economic performance in more than two decades last year, losing $ 50 billion in tourism revenue. The number of foreign travelers collapsed 83% to 6.7 million, from nearly 40 million before the pandemic.