The heavily affected by the pandemic, USA, took a positive step as half of all adult Americans have been vaccinated with at least one dose of the vaccine against Covid, and from today all citizens over 18 can be vaccinated.
The suspension of the administration of the mononucleosis vaccine of Johnson & Johnson, does not affect the pace of the vaccination campaign in the country, as this formulation was part of a small batch of vaccines administered.
Overall, over 132.12 million people have received at least one dose of the vaccine in the US. In particular, 50.4% of citizens over 18 years of age are partially immunised, while 32.5% are fully immunised.
The good news from the USA coincides with the lifting of anti-pandemic restrictions in several European countries, as well as the implementation of an open border system between Australia and New Zealand.
From today, Australian residents are allowed to fly to New Zealand for the first time in a year, without the obligation to be quarantined for two weeks.
Although most Australian states have allowed quarantine-free visits from New Zealand since late last year, New Zealand imposed the quarantine on arrivals from its neighbour, citing concerns about sporadic outbreaks of COVID-19 transmission in Australia.
In Europe, the health situation remains worrying, but some countries are beginning to gradually lift restrictions due to population fatigue.
These include Switzerland, Belgium, Belgium, Slovenia, Slovakia, Monaco, Portugal, Denmark and Switzerland.
In particular, Portugal today entered the third phase of a gradual lifting of measures that started a month ago, with the reopening of shopping centres, the interiors of cafés and restaurants, event venues, high schools and universities.
The third and final stage of the opening in the country is expected after two weeks, epidemiological data permitting, with the start of public events outdoors.
Italy will lift restrictions in many areas of the country from 26 April with the warning that caution is needed to the activities that are opened will not have to be closed again.
The Netherlands and France, for their part, plan to reopen their open café areas a little later, from the end of April to mid-May.
In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, however, a country that records high daily death rates from covid, bars and restaurants have been open since the beginning of April and from today the beaches are expected to open.
On the other hand, some countries, such as India and Tunisia, have tightened the restrictive measures as of today as the health situation is deteriorating.
For example, in the Indian capital, New Delhi, a six-day lockdown begins today, as the daily positive diagnoses for COVID-19 recorded nationwide set a new record and the health system collapses under the weight of new infections.
India's hospitals are struggling to cope with a shortage of beds, oxygen and essential medicines as infections exceeded 15 million, fewer only than those in the United States.
In Tunisia, all schools are closed until 30 April and travel restrictions are imposed on citizens in order to contain the pandemic.
