Denmark is the EU's first nation to lift all domestic Covid restrictions raising hopes in northern Europe and beyond. Here in France, new infections have never been higher, but they are relaxing rules too. That is because the vaccination rate's near 90% and hospitals are managing. The omicron variant's more infectious but milder. Milder if you are vaccinated, warns the World Health Organization. Many nations remain vulnerable.

Hard to believe that the United States is one of those nations, what with such huge stockpile of vaccines and impressive means to get the message out. And it is precisely in the messaging that lies the problem. In the US and in many countries, a clear and present public health risk has instead become an argument about free speech.

The messaging, which as we have discovered with Neil Young pulling his music from streaming giant Spotify, is also about the medium. From the podcast that is at the center of this Covid misinformation row to competing cable news chatter, how we get our news does matter. How much? And what to do about it?

🔔 Subscribe to France 24 now: https://f24.my/YTen
🔴 LIVE - Watch FRANCE 24 English 24/7 here: https://f24.my/YTliveEN

🌍 Read the latest International News and Top Stories: https://www.france24.com/en/

Like us on Facebook: https://f24.my/FBen
Follow us on Twitter: https://f24.my/TWen
Discover the news in pictures on Instagram: https://f24.my/IGen