New reports, new measures and highlights: an update on the latest developments in the Covid-19 pandemic in France and around the world.
The situation in France
Prime Minister Jean Castex is working on “rules” for the country until the arrival of a vaccine against the coronavirus, he indicates to the daily “Le Monde” on Saturday. “One thing is certain: festive and family gatherings in party rooms will not be able to resume for a long time. Likewise, the bars and restaurants which are also part of the places of strong contamination will not be able to reopen on December 1, unlike toy stores, for example, ”he explains.
The number of Covid-19 patients who died in hospital in the last 24 hours has risen to 359, and 327 patients have been admitted to intensive care, according to figures released Saturday by Public Health France. The number of deaths since the start of the epidemic has risen to 44 246, including 30,507 in hospital. As of Friday, 467 people had died and 473 had entered an intensive care unit or intensive care unit. Regarding people hospitalized in sheaves, they are currently 4,855, down from Friday (4,887 people).
Read also: Covid, the young peril
The situation in the world
The Covid-19 pandemic has killed at least 1,313,471 people worldwide since December, according to a report established by AFP from official sources on Sunday at 11 a.m. GMT.
The United States is the most bereaved country with 245,614 deaths, ahead of Brazil (165,658 dead), India (129,635 dead), Mexico (98,259 dead) and the United Kingdom (51,766 dead) . Mexico surpassed one million cases on Saturday, becoming the 11th country to cross this threshold after the United States, India, Brazil, France, Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Colombia and Italy.
Large-scale tests in Austria
Austria will conduct a large-scale Covid-19 testing campaign in an attempt to shorten the second lockdown which will begin next Tuesday, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said on Sunday. Referring to large-scale tests carried out in neighboring Slovakia, Mr Kurz told ORF public radio: “We have decided, here in Austria (…) to follow the same path”.
Two-thirds of the population were tested two weeks ago, resulting in just over 1% positive.
Anti-restriction demonstrations in Europe
At Portugal, after the nighttime curfew instituted last Monday, a weekend curfew came into effect on Saturday for 70% of the population. Next week, 80% of the population will be affected. In the afternoon, 500 demonstrators braved restrictions in Lisbon for a “march for freedom”. “The pandemic is here and we must protect ourselves, but without killing the economy,” said Carla Torres, 33, working in communications for chefs, restaurants and hotels. “Our customers can no longer pay us and many will have to lay off employees as of next month.”
In Germany, nearly a thousand anti-masks marched in Frankfurt (center) at the call of a “Free Thinker” collective, 700 people also gathered in Regensburg (south), and other demonstrations are planned Sunday. German Chancellor Angela Merkel had estimated that the epidemic would at least “occupy us all winter”.
Protests against the restrictions were held on Saturday in France, bringing together several hundred demonstrators in Marseille (south-east) and 1,500 people in Nice (south-east). In the Nice procession, we could read on placards: “Masks from 6 years old is no!”, “Culture sacrificed” or “Curfew? We are not at war”.
A worrying situation in the United States
US city worst hit by the first wave in spring with more than 23,000 dead, New York is again experiencing a surge in cases, and Mayor Bill de Blasio called on parents of students to “prepare” for the closure of schools. schools Monday. But in his first public intervention since the announcement of his presidential defeat on Saturday – which he refuses to recognize – Donald Trump hammered: “this administration will not impose confinement”.
Any reproduction prohibited–
