COVID-19 Daily - July 20, 2021: France and England introduce COVID-19 certificates for access to enclosed and crowded spaces; infected people at the Tokyo Olympics!

We have good and less good news in a pandemic context. In England, most internal anti-covid restrictions have been lifted, except that Boris Johnson plans to introduce the vaccination certificate for open access indoors. A similar law has been approved by the French government. Let's see the news from July 20!

• British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that vaccination certificates will be required to enter nightclubs and in other crowded places, starting in late September.

• The French government on Monday approved a bill regulating access to events with more than 50 people. So, people participating in church services, cinemas, swimming pools and other public places with more than 50 people will need the certificate of COVID-19. Permission from health will be needed to enter campsites and holiday parks which have swimming pools or entertainment venues. The permit provides proof of a negative PCR test, a complete vaccination or natural immunization in the last six months.

EasyJet has announced it will increase passenger capacity from 17% to 60% compared to the pre-covid period to cover demand in the 2021 summer season.

• Global post-pandemic recovery is leading to record carbon emissions, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), based in Paris. The AIE estimates that at this rate, CO2 emissions will reach record levels by 2023.

• The number of people involved in organizing the Olympic Games and tested positive for COVID-19 reached 71. Thomas Bach acknowledged that "there were sleepless nights", but "cancellation was never an option". 

• Smajor sponsors of the Olympic Games, such as Panasonic and Fujitsu, announced that will not attend this week's opening ceremony.

• The death toll from COVID-19 in India could be up to 10 times higher compared to official reporting, according to a study by the Center for Global Development. He estimates that until 4,7 million people died in India since the beginning of the pandemic.