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Coronavirus – hospitals under pressure: can France avoid a lockdown?

As a fifth coronavirus epidemic wave is hitting France, the spread of the Omicron variant has the world worried. Is another lockdown still avoidable?

Coronavirus: plasma transfusions not effective against the disease, WHO says

Is plasma transfusion an effective solution against Covid? The WHO eventually addressed this matter and advises against this past December 6 after assessing data available. These data seem to show these tranfusions are useless and do not prevent severe illness and death.

Covid: Lille Institut Pasteur on a trail of a way to prevent the virus from replicating itself

And what if the Lille Institut Pasteur found a way to create a therapy that fight against coronavirus more directly? Anyway, this is what scientists from the institute say in the Angewandte Chimie magazine this past September as they found a way to prevent the virus from replicating itself in one’s organism.

Covid: vaccines’ effectiveness, severe disease… The WHO intends to reassure about the Omicron variant

As many countries are making more health measures to face the Omicron variant, the OMS tries to reassure. According to one of the Organization seniors who spoke to the AFP, there is “no reason” to think the current vaccines do not protect against the variant found for the first time in South Africa. Furthermore, the Omicron does not “cause more severe illness”.

Covid: EMA approved use of RoActemra (Tocilizumab) for severe disease

Is Tocilizumab – a Covid therapy – still under rolling review? The European Medicines Agency announced they have approved RoActemra (Tocilizumab) on hospitalized severe Covid patients. This anti-inflammatory therapy usually used against arthritis is able to bloc interleukin-6 and prevent cytokine storms, namely a secondary inflammation of the lungs.

Coronavirus: festive gatherings, health pass… the French government’s latest announcements

Following the health defense council, Prime Minister Jean Castex and Health Minister Olivier Véran announced new restrictions especially as it comes to festive gatherings. Here are the measures instated for the Holidays.

Covid: health protocol unchanged in bars and restaurants?

As Jean Castex and Olivier Véran are expected to address this Monday December 6, at 7 p.m., Le Parisien daily says the health protocol is to remain unchanged in bars and restaurants.

Covid: U.S. does not recommend travels to France placed as maximum risk

France is now placed on a “very high risk” level by the United States, because of the number of new Covid-19 contaminations. Therefore, the U.S. does not recommend travels to Paris.

Covid: the WHO claims the new variant currently only causes “mild disease”

Faced with the panic caused by the new Omicron variant, the World Health Organization intends to sound reassuring: at the moment, it only causes “mild disease”.

Covid: vaccines and therapies available or still being reviewed

Take a stock on Covid-19 vaccines and treatments across the world. Where are the first vaccines at? Are there effective Covid-19 treatments? What are the latest discoveries and breakthroughs performed by scientists?

Covid: omicron variant three times more likely to cause reinfection, a study says

As nine Omicron variant cases have been reported in France to this stage, a South African study says the reinfection risk increases with the Omicron variant. Keep reading to find out more.

Covid: Sotrovimab, an antibody-based therapy developed by GSK, approved in the United Kingdom

To fight against Covid and especially the Omicron variant, the UK regulator announced this Thursday December 2 they have approved Sotrovimab, a therapy developed by the GSK laboratories based on monoclonal antibodies based on the “natural antibodies humans already make”. A therapy the European Union already ordered this past June.

Covid: Omicron variant likely to “settle” in France from early 2022, according to Pr. Delfraissy

While the Omicron variant has been reported this December 2 in Île-de-France, Jean-François Delfraissy considers the new variant is likely to “settle” in France and more specifically in Europe from “early 2022 or late January 2022”.

Covid: Dapsone, a promising and affordable therapy under rolling review

And what if Canada just found an effective Covid therapy? Searchers from the Montreal McGill university launched in late November the 3rd phase of a clinical trial on dapsone, a therapy with anti-inflammatory properties working against cytokine storms. Its asset? Being affordable compared to the other therapies under rolling review or currently administrated, particularly expensive.

Covid: Omicron variant spotted in Europe as soon as November 19th

The Dutch health authorities claim they have spotted the Omicron variant in a test collected this past November 19th, namely over 10 days ago and before the first reports in South Africa.

Covid: the United States considers making requirements harsher to enter their territory

After closing for 18 months, the United States eventually reopened their borders this past November 8 to EU and UK travelers. But with the outbreak of the Omicron variant, the Biden administration is considering making requirements to enter the US territory harsher.

Covid: requirements to enter France made harsher, Gabriel Attal’s announcements

After December 1, 2021’s council of ministers, Gabriel Attal announced requirements at the borders were now harsher. Compulsory negative test from less than 48 hours for all non-EU travelers, test from less than 24 hours for all non-vaccinated travelers from an EU member country… Here are the latest restrictions.

Omicron variant: the WHO advises people aged 60+ and vulnerable people against traveling

Facing the Omicron variant threat, several countries have decided to close their borders. But for the World Health Organization, these restrictions “will not prevent the international spread” of the variant and which will “only worsen inequities”. Therefore, the WHO recommends people at risk not to travel.

Omicron variant: current vaccines likely less effectives, according to Moderna CEO

Shall one fear a major loss in the effectiveness of the current vaccines because of the Omicron variant? Interview by the Financial Times, Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel expects a “material drop” in the Covid vaccines effectiveness currently given.

Omicron variant: one positive case found in Reunion, the first case in France

While Europe is currently hit by the 5th epidemic wave, the discovery of the Omicron variant – spotted for the first time in South Africa – makes fear the worst. This Tuesday November 30, 2021, an Omicron positive case - the first one in France - has been identified in Reunion. It is a "53-year-old man" who travelled to Mozambique and "stopped by South Africa".