In France and in Europe, the Covid-19 epidemic continues to spread. To combat the fifth wave and the spread of the Omicron variant, several countries have taken action. Explanations.
- On December 24, 104,611 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the last 24 hours in France.
- To date, 1,440 cases of infection with the Omicron variant have been recorded in France.
- Since the start of the pandemic at the end of 2019, there have been at least 5.3 million deaths worldwide due to Covid-19.
104.611. This is the number of new cases of Covid-19 recorded on December 24, a record according to Santé Publique France. A week before, on December 18, the health authorities had identified 58,536 new cases. The previous Friday, December 17, 94,124 people tested positive for coronavirus. The impressive figure for the Christmas weekend can partly be explained by the fact that the French have been massively tested before reuniting with their families.
16,000 people hospitalized due to Covid-19
Another worrying figure: the number of new hospitalizations which amounted to 760 for the last 24 hours, while this figure was estimated at 816 the previous week. Among them, 160 people were admitted to intensive care on December 24, compared to 190 last week. Nationally, more than 16,000 people are currently hospitalized with a coronavirus infection, including 3,282 in intensive care. During this Christmas weekend, 84 deaths have been recorded in the past 24 hours, compared to 86 the previous week.
1,440 cases of Omicron in France
In France, the incidence rate exceeds 640, or the number of cases per week per 100,000 inhabitants. According to the epidemiological update of Public Health France of December 23, 1,440 cases confirmed by sequencing of infection with the Omicron variant have been identified in France. Faced with this fifth wave, the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, must chair a new health defense council this Monday, December 27 and, in parallel, a health defense council will take place the same day. At the end of it, the government spokesman, Gabriel Attal, should hold a press conference.
New health measures in Europe
Several European countries have already taken new health measures to combat the rise in Covid-19 cases and the active circulation of the Omicron variant. Wearing a mask outdoors is, for example, again compulsory in Spain and Greece. In addition, the inhabitants of Catalonia living in cities of more than 10,000 inhabitants, where the incidence exceeds 250 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over seven days, no longer have the right to go out between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m., except for reasons compelling. And, as in France, nightclubs are closed until further notice.
One of the pillars of the fight against Covid-19 is vaccination. Currently in France, more than 49 million people are vaccinated and more than 21 million have received their booster dose… This week, Ecuador made vaccination compulsory from the age of five. This is the first measure of this type in the world.
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