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The number of people infected with the coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic in the world reached 674,398,658 today. The number of people who died after contracting the disease from covid is 6,755,632, according to the specialized statistical data site "Worldometer".

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Here are the most important developments in the fight against the pandemic from the past week, broken down by country.

SPAIN

Almost three years after the start of the covid pandemic, Spain will end the mandatory use of masks in public transport, writes BTA.

Spain's Health Minister Carolina Darias said yesterday that she would recommend the government scrap the health provision when the cabinet meets on February 7.

Masks will remain mandatory in hospitals, other healthcare facilities, dentists' offices and pharmacies.

They became mandatory both indoors and outdoors in May 2020 as the country recovered from the initial wave of the coronavirus.

This was eventually repealed in April last year, and wearing them remained compulsory only in public transport and health centres.

Spain managed to deal with the pandemic thanks to the vaccination of more than 90 percent of its population.

CHINA

New coronavirus infections in China peaked at more than 7 million a day around Dec. 22, and deaths hit a daily peak of more than 4,000 on Jan. 22, the country's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Wednesday.

The data, published on the center's website, came after a prominent government scientist said over the weekend that 80 percent of China's 1.4 billion people had already been exposed to the virus, ruling out the possibility of a major spike in infections in the next two or three months.

According to government data, nearly 60,000 people with Covid had died in hospital as of January 12, roughly a month after China suddenly lifted its strict zero-Covid policy.

But some experts said that figure was likely to be significantly lower than the real number because it did not include those who died at home and because many doctors said they were dissuaded from citing Covid as the cause of death.

After nearly three years of strict measures to combat the coronavirus, China abruptly ended mandatory quarantines and widespread testing seven weeks ago.

Since then, there have been reports of overcrowded hospitals, overburdened crematoria and drug shortages.

NORTH KOREA

Authorities in North Korea have ordered a five-day lockdown in the capital Pyongyang due to an increase in cases of an unspecified respiratory illness, the North Korean government said in a statement.

It did not mention anything about COVID-19, but said that residents of the capital were required to stay at home until Sunday and that they should take their temperature several times a day, South Korean news portal NK News noted. which monitors news from North Korea.

Yesterday, South Korean media reported that Pyongyang residents had stocked up on goods in anticipation of tougher measures.

It is not clear whether new lockdowns have been imposed in other areas of the country.

China suspends visas for visitors from South Korea

North Korea acknowledged its first outbreak of the coronavirus last year, but by August it had declared victory over the virus.

Authorities have never confirmed how many people have been infected because they do not have the means for mass testing.

Instead, Pyongyang reported the daily number of "fever" patients, reaching 4.77 million out of a population of about 25 million.

But since July, he has not reported such cases.

State media have continued to report on anti-pandemic measures to combat respiratory illnesses, including the flu, but have yet to report on the shutdown order.

JAPAN

Japan will categorize covid in the same group as common infectious diseases such as seasonal flu from May 8.

The Japanese government plans to lift anti-epidemic regulations for the events, allowing spectators to shout and cheer even when the venue is full.

Loud talking is currently permitted at high-attendance events such as professional sports matches or concerts only if the venue or stadium is less than 50 percent full.

But with the country showing a downward trend in the number of new coronavirus cases, the government intends to lift the three-year-old restrictions.

However, visitors will be asked to continue wearing masks.

SOUTH KOREA

South Korea has said it will continue to restrict the entry of travelers from China until the end of February amid concerns that the spread of the coronavirus in that country could intensify following Lunar New Year celebrations.

In early January, South Korea stopped issuing most short-term visas at its consulates in China, citing concerns about a sharp increase in cases in the country, which suddenly eased anti-epidemic measures in December, and the possibility of new mutations emerging.

South Korea also required all travelers from China, Hong Kong and Macau to submit negative test results taken 48 hours before their arrival and retest them after their arrival.

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The epidemic of coronavirus (COVID-19)