The Covid-19 pandemic is experiencing a new upsurge in several countries. Some, like the epidemiologist Antoine Flahaud, even speak of a “new wave in Western Europe”. And this Sunday, China reports an impressive number of new infections.
Record pollution in China. China reported 3,393 cases of Covid-19 this Sunday, according to official figures. This is a record since the outbreak at the end of 2019. Due to such a surge in cases in the country, authorities have closed schools in Shanghai and restricted several cities in the northeast, while more than a dozen provinces are trying to contain localized outbreaks. The surge comes as cases spiral out of control in southern China’s Hong Kong Territory, where tens of thousands of cases are reported every day and hospitals are overwhelmed with patients.
China’s borders remain virtually closed as politicians continue to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to the virus. China is responding to outbreaks with local lockdowns, mass screening, and monitoring its population with tracking apps.
But the weariness of this strict approach is becoming more and more audible. Several officials are calling for softer, targeted measures to contain the spread of the virus. Economists, for their part, warn that drastic measures are hurting the country’s economy.
The Chinese city of Jilin is partially restricted. The major city of Jilin in northeast China is partially closed. Hundreds of areas are closed as the country records a record number of daily cases. This shows that the ‘Omicron (…)’ variant is highly contagious, fast and difficult to detect in the early stages of ‘transmission’, says Zhang Yan, an urban provincial health official.
Stabilization of hospitalizations. After several weeks of decline, the number of hospitalizations of people with Covid-19 in France is stabilizing.
Number of patients #COVID-19 admitted to the hospital every day for the week did not decrease, just below 1000 (data as of the date of the announcement).
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— Nicolas Berrod (@nicolasberrod) March 12, 2022
72,443 cases in 24 hours. The latest estimate in France reports 72,443 new infections in 24 hours, up from 53,678 a week earlier. This corresponds to an increase of 35%. Hospitals are treating 20,860 people with Covid-19. A week earlier, there were 22,196 people. There are 1857 of them in intensive care compared to 2075 a week earlier.
Possible fourth dose for those over 80 and immunocompromised. People over 80 are eligible for a second booster dose on Monday, which in most cases corresponds to the fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. This new injection, optional, is possible if the previous reminder is more than three months old, Prime Minister Jean Castex explains in an interview with Parisian. This second booster dose is also available from Monday for immunocompromised people.