UPDATE ON THE SITUATION – New measures, new reports and highlights: Le Figaro takes stock of the latest developments in the Covid-19 pandemic.
End of compulsory masks in Spain and in American transport, Shanghai cautiously easing certain restrictions, Greece ready to cohabitate with the virus… Le Figaro takes stock of the latest information related to this Wednesday, April 20th of the Covid pandemic -19.
Read the fileCovid-19: the coronavirus pandemic in figures and infographics
25,179 patients hospitalized in France
221 people have died from Covid in the last 24 hours, according to figures released by Public Health France on Wednesday. 25,179 patients are currently hospitalized (up from 25,276 on Monday), including 2,537 in 24 hours. 1677 patients are also being treated in intensive care, up from 1681 the day before.
Also read The night, another Achilles’ heel of the hospital
End of the mask requirement indoors in Spain
Since Wednesday, thanks to the improvement in the health situation, Spaniards have been able to take off the mask indoors such as in shopping centers, with the exception of public transport, hospitals and retirement homes. This measure had been in effect since May 20, 2020, with Spain being one of the few countries that had not yet lifted it. However, almost half of Spaniards (48.5%) feel the end of compulsory masks indoors, more than 54% consider this measure to be premature.
Also readCovid-19: The indoor mask requirement ends on Wednesday in Spain
In the United States, the mask requirement has been lifted on certain modes of transport
The mask has become optional for passengers as well as employees on American planes, Uber vehicles and most public transportation in the United States. Washington decided last week to extend the mask requirement on public transport until at least May 3rd. However, a federal judge on Monday ruled that health officials exceeded their prerogatives and overturned the decision, prompting the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) to overturn the requirement. The new instructions were not long in coming.
The country’s major airlines, most of which introduced mask requirements in spring 2020, dropped the restriction in a snap Monday night, followed by rail company Amtrak. VTC companies Uber and Lyft followed suit on Tuesday morning. For the time being, the mask remains de rigueur in the New York subway and buses. And the agency that oversees New York’s airports didn’t immediately announce changes.
” SEE ALSO – USA: A judge lifts the mask requirement for public transport
Greece is ready to live together with the Covid, according to its health minister.
“After two years of the pandemic, we are in a different phase of coping (…) that of living with the virus,” Health Minister Thanos Plevris announced during a press conference. New cases and ICU hospitalizations have declined and 85% of Greek adults are vaccinated, he said. Greece, whose economy depends on tourism for around a quarter of its gross domestic product (GDP), scrapped mandatory screening tests for travelers with EU vaccination certificates in February. In addition, from May 1st, vaccination certificates will no longer be required in restaurants, bars and shops, while wearing a mask indoors will no longer be mandatory from June 1st. The government has indicated that these measures will be reviewed by September 1 depending on the evolution of the pandemic.
Also readCovid-19: In Greece the pandemic continues on Mount Athos
China: Shanghai cautiously eases some restrictions
The city of Shanghai, which has been in total lockdown since the beginning of the month, on Wednesday eased restrictions slightly, which penalize supplies and weigh heavily on China’s economy despite a surge in Covid-19 cases and deaths. The 25 million residents of Shanghai, where more than 400,000 infections have been reported since early March, are generally subject to a strict curfew. But some rules have been relaxed since last week, the city hall announced on Wednesday. More than 12 million people can technically leave their homes but must remain within the confines of their residence or neighborhood, she said.
In theory, residents of neighborhoods where no cases have been reported in the past 14 days are free to move about. Shanghai on Wednesday reported seven more deaths in 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths in the metropolis to 17. The seven deaths involve people suffering from diseases such as lung cancer or diabetes, and five of them were over the age of 70. The city also reported more than 18,000 cases on Wednesday.
” SEE ALSO – After separating Covid-19 positive children from their parents, Shanghai partially reverses its decision
Mozambique is relaxing its health measures
Mozambique President Felipe Nyusi on Wednesday announced the end of the state of “public catastrophe”, a series of measures taken in 2020 to limit the spread of Covid-19. “13.7 million Mozambicans are fully vaccinated against Covid-19,” or 90% of the vaccine-affected group, hailed Felipe Nyusi in a speech broadcast by government media. Almost half of the 31 million Mozambicans are thus fully vaccinated, a percentage well above the average on the African continent, which barely exceeds 15.8%, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A total of 225,338 cases of Covid have been registered in the country, including 2,201 deaths. Wearing a mask thus remains mandatory in all closed places, public and semi-public transport, but is no longer mandatory in open places. Travelers entering the country must always show proof of vaccination or a negative test, and people who test positive for Covid-19 will be isolated for seven days instead of the previous fifteen.