PARIS, Dec 2, 2021 (AFP) – Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:
Germany to lock down unjabbed
Chancellor Angela Merkel and her successor Olaf Scholz are set to approve a “lockdown for the unvaccinated”, banning them from entering bars, restaurants, theatres and cinemas.
Previous infection ‘won’t stop strain’
People who caught earlier variants do not appear to be protected against Omicron, although vaccination will still prevent serious illness, a top South African scientist researching the new variant says.
‘Toxic mix’ warns WHO
The World Health Organization warns of a “toxic mix of low vaccine coverage and very low testing — a recipe for breeding and amplifying variants” as the European Union raises the prospect of mandatory jabs.
New drug ‘works on Omicron’
British regulators approve a GlaxoSmithKline drug to treat those at high risk of severe Covid, with the maker saying it appears to be effective against the Omicron variant.
‘Worrying’ S.Africa spike
The new strain is driving a “worrying” sharp rise in virus cases in South Africa, with an “exponential increase” over the past two weeks, health official say.
‘Better quality doses’
Rich countries must give “better quality” vaccine doses to the Covax scheme for poorer countries rather than ones about to expire, its chief says.
Many blame a lack of vaccines in Africa for allowing the Omicron variant to develop.
Tougher US travel rules
President Joe Biden is to announce tougher rules for virus testing for travellers to the United States after the first cases of variant are discovered there.
Omicron in India
India also identifies two Omicron cases in southern Karnataka state.
UK orders 114 million doses
Britain orders 114 million more vaccine doses from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, to bolster its jabs drive.
Pilots quit over HK rules
Pilots are quitting Hong Kong airline Cathay Pacific angry over its strict quarantine regime as the territory ties itself to China’s zero-virus strategy.
More than 5.2 million dead
The coronavirus has killed at least 5,223,072 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at 1100 GMT on Thursday.
The US has suffered the most Covid-related deaths with 782,100, followed by Brazil with 614,964, India with 469,724, Mexico with 294,428 and Russia with 277,640.
The countries with the most new deaths are US with 2,015, followed by Russia with 1,221 and Ukraine with 525.
Taking into account excess mortality linked to Covid-19, the World Health Organization estimates the overall death toll could be two to three times higher.
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