A strict lockdown requiring most people in France to remain at home has been enacted. AFP
France on November 24 was set to become the latest country to ease coronavirus restrictions in the run-up to Christmas, as Russia joined in a flurry of encouraging announcements about possible vaccines.
In an evening television address, French President Emmanuel Macron was also expected to announce a strategy for procuring vaccines as world governments scramble to put together a complex and lengthy vaccination programme.
“We will see a slight relaxing of the lockdown,” Prime Minister Jean Castex told leaders of Macron’s La Republique En Marche (LREM) party hours before the president’s primetime appearance, participants told AFP.
Hopes over Covid-19 vaccines have given a boost to virus-weary citizens across the globe in recent days, as well as pushing up stock markets.
The Dow surged past 30,000 points for the first time ever on November 24 as receding US political uncertainty and hopes for virus vaccines offset worries over spiking Covid-19 cases.
Near 1630 GMT, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 1.4 per cent to 30,000.08.
Care homes first in line
But the disease remains rampant and world leaders are urging people to be patient.
In Brussels, the EU announced it was concluding a sixth contract to reserve doses – this time for up to 160 million from US giant Moderna.
“Every member state will receive it at the same time on a pro rata basis,” European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said.
Austria said it would acquire more than 16 million doses of the vaccine through the EU and could start a vaccination campaign in January.
The government in Spain, one of the worst hit countries in Europe, also said vaccinations could start in January and care home residents would have priority, followed by medical workers.
Even once a vaccine becomes available, any return to normality for a global economy ravaged by the pandemic seems a long way off.
The boss of Australia’s Qantas airline, Alan Joyce, on November 24 said proof of vaccination will likely become the only way people will be allowed to fly.
Aviation has been particularly hard-hit, with the global industry body International Air Transport Association (Iata) estimating that airline revenue this year will plunge 60 per cent.
Easing rules for Christmas
Despite greater vaccine optimism, the world is still engulfed in the unprecedented health crisis which has infected almost 58.9 million people and left nearly 1.4 million dead since the virus emerged in China late last year.
But an easing in infection rates in parts of Europe – still the worst-affected region in the world – has led some countries to start announcing a cautious easing of restrictions.
Germany’s 16 states have also agreed to slightly loosen limits on social contact over Christmas, according to a draft deal seen by AFP.
State leaders agreed to cap gatherings to 10 people over the December 23 to January 1 holiday – double the limit for the rest of December.
The measures mark a compromise on the politically charged issue for Europe’s largest economy, where some less-affected regions had called for lighter restrictions.
