As such all Indonesians, including children and centenarians, were infected. And we are talking about the fourth most populous country in the world. The world budget for COVID now has huge numbers: about 274 million infected (exactly 273,900,334) since the start of the pandemic, with 5,351,812 deaths, all of Norway. The World Health Organization has also conducted a global vaccine census: so far 107.61 vaccine doses have been given for every 100 residents and 44.86 people have been fully vaccinated for every 100 inhabitants in the world.

Yet according to the WHO, which provides us with these appalling data, there are ten countries with zero infections. Of course, we are talking about two countries almost unknown in some respects (Tuvalu, Niue, Tokelau, Sant’Elena, Pitcairn, Nauru, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati) and North Korea and Turkmenistan, whose statistics on goodness This is a matter of doubt.

In short, an (almost) global transition. What time hangs over the Christmas holidays. To which the European Medicines Agency EMA cautions: “One year after the first approval of the vaccine, I do not believe that we are still in an epidemic, but as you all know, the epidemiological situation in Europe remains extremely worrying. And the variant Omicron has become the dominant form in an increasing number of countries,” says director Emer Cook, who advises everyone to “follow instructions from national and local authorities.”

And different countries are moving forward. In the United Kingdom, which yesterday announced an allocation of £1 billion to support companies in crisis, scientists (and much of public opinion) are puzzled by the decision of Boris Johnson’s government to decide on new parochialism yet. Done: “There are still 24-36 hours to decide,” warns Professor Jeremy Farrar, an infectious disease expert and former BoJo advisor on the pandemic. And Scotland has canceled the traditional New Year’s celebration Hogmanay, as did London for the year-end event in Trafalgar Square.

In Germany, yesterday’s Lender-Government meeting introduced new measures in view of the holiday: starting on 28 December, meetings with a maximum of ten people (if vaccinated), prohibited on New Year’s Eve in the square and closed doors. Behind the football match. “It’s not party time,” Angela Merkel’s successor, Olaf Scholz, cuts forcefully. France is looking at green passes: an extraordinary Council of Ministers should decide on 27 December, so that the provision can be discussed in Parliament the same week. Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersen has announced strict new rules, with a greater spread of work-from-home and table-only service in bars, restaurants and major events. Catalonia is intent on resuming drastic measures such as lockdowns and curfews. And due to the spread of the Omicron version, New Zealand has postponed hopes of reopening its borders by almost a month.