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The coronavirus epidemic is intensifying in France. Since Saturday, France is one of the main centers in Europe with Italy and Germany, with 130 cases since the end of January, as announced by the Ministry of Health on Sunday. In an attempt to slow the progression of the epidemic, the government has announced a new battery of measures, including the cancellation of many rallies, such as the Paris half-marathon on Sunday. A sign of concern that continues to grow, staff at the Louvre exercised their right of withdrawal on Sunday, causing the museum to close all day. Follow the situation live.
The main information to remember
- 130 cases are listed in France
- Several events were canceled this weekend. The Paris Book Fair scheduled from March 20 to 23 has been canceled
- Several schools remain closed in the Oise this week
130 cases now listed in France
During a press briefing, the Ministry of Health announced Sunday that 130 cases have now been confirmed in France since January. Of these 130 people infected, 12 have been cured, 2 have died and 116 have been hospitalized, including 9 in serious condition.
Of the 130 confirmed cases, 72 are part of a "chain of transmission or a cluster (a grouped case focus, editor's note), 35 are returning from areas abroad where the virus is circulating, 23 recent ones are in the process of 'investigation, 7 were detected by the systematic test "on people with acute respiratory distress syndrome, said Director General of Health Jérôme Salomon.
Oise and Haute-Savoie remain the biggest centers
The two largest outbreaks of grouped cases are still in the Oise and La Balme in Haute-Savoie, where strict measures (gatherings prohibited, residents requested to limit their movements, etc.) have been applied since Saturday to prevent the spread of the virus. In nine Oise municipalities, schools and extracurricular establishments will remain closed from Monday until March 14 inclusive.
Government Takes Action, Canceled Events
Several events were canceled this weekend, such as the Paris half-marathon, under measures announced by the government to try to slow the spread of the virus. As a reminder, "all gatherings of more than 5,000 people in confined areas" are canceled, but also gatherings "in open areas when they lead to mixtures with populations from areas where the virus is possibly circulating" are canceled. Sunday, the Louvre closed its doors after a right of withdrawal voted by part of its employees.
In addition, the Paris Book Fair, where some 160,000 visitors were expected from March 20 to 23 at Porte de Versailles, was canceled.
World toll rises above 3,000 dead
The toll of the new coronavirus epidemic exceeded 3,000 deaths worldwide on Monday. In China, where the virus appeared at the end of 2019, the authorities announced 42 new deaths on Monday, bringing the country's death toll to 2,912 and that of the world more than 3,000. The 202 new cases reported on Monday in mainland China, however, represent the lowest daily figure since the end of January.
But while the Covid-19 epidemic appears to be waning in China, where draconian quarantine measures target more than 50 million people, it continues to worsen in several countries. In Italy, some 500 new cases were identified Sunday, a spectacular jump which brings the number of contagions to nearly 1,700 in the country. Five new deaths have also been reported, bringing the death toll to 34 dead in the peninsula, still in three regions in the north of the country: Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Veneto. As for South Korea, the second most affected country after China, it recorded Monday nearly 500 additional cases and four new deaths, for a total of more than 4,000 contaminations, including 22 fatal.