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France crossed the threshold of 12,000 coronavirus deaths on Thursday, but it sees a ray of hope. For the first time since the start of the pandemic, the number of resuscitation patients has decreased, although the authorities immediately called for caution.
President Emmanuel Macron, on all fronts, will consult the social partners on Friday morning to continue the preparation of his speech on Monday. Worldwide, the coronavirus has killed nearly 94,000 people, including almost 16,000 in the United States. Follow the situation live.
Information to remember:
- France counts more than 12,000 coronavirus deaths, but intensive care patients are declining for the first time
- Emmanuel Macron meets social partners Friday morning
- The pandemic has claimed nearly 94,000 lives worldwide
More than 12,000 dead, patients in intensive care decline
The coronavirus epidemic has now exceeded 12,000 deaths in France: 8,044 in hospitals and 4,166 in nursing homes and medico-social establishments. But the authorities also reported good news. For the first time since the start of the epidemic, the number of intensive care patients in France fell over 24 hours, with 7,066 patients, 82 less than on Wednesday. Health director Jérôme Salomon immediately called for restraint, ensuring that "we must remain extremely careful".
In addition, two new medical TGVs will carry out medical evacuations on Friday of seriously ill patients from Ile-de-France, a region particularly affected at the moment, and New Aquitaine.
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Emmanuel Macron meets the social partners
Emmanuel Macron continues to increase his consultations. Thursday, he moved to a Parisian suburban hospital before paying a visit to the controversial professor Didier Raoult, in Marseille. Friday, the head of state has planned to meet with several European leaders, before continuing with a meeting with the social partners - unions and employers - by audio conference, for the second time in 15 days, surrounded by the Prime Minister and of some ministers (Labor, Health, Economy, Pensions…).
These consultations come as Emmanuel Macron prepares his speech to the French on Monday evening, during which he will specify the duration of the extension of the confinement, which will be extended beyond April 15, and will take stock of the health crisis .
Thursday evening on Europe 1, Marine Le Pen taxed the government "of unpreparedness", estimating to have "the impression that one navigates by sight since the beginning of the crisis".
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The EU finally agrees on a plan to support the economy
After almost three days of discussions, the European Union (finally) agreed Thursday evening on a common economic response to the coronavirus crisis. European finance ministers finally found common ground with the Netherlands, which blocked negotiations.
"The meeting ended with the applause of the ministers," the spokesperson for the president of the Eurogroup announced on Twitter. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire welcomed an "excellent agreement" including "500 billion euros available immediately" and "a stimulus fund to come".
Nearly 94,000 dead worldwide
The pandemic is now close to 94,000 dead worldwide. Over 1.5 million cases have been officially identified. The United States, the new epicenter of the epidemic, recorded a record 2,100 deaths in 24 hours, approaching 16,000 deaths in total. New York State recorded a new daily death record, with 799 deaths, but the number of new hospitalizations has never been lower.
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Italy remains the most battered country on the planet, with 18,000 deaths. Spain, on the other hand, has just over 15,000. The death toll, however, fell over 24 hours in these two countries. The pandemic however continues to progress strongly in the United Kingdom, which has exceeded 7,000 victims. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, positive for coronavirus, left intensive care on Thursday.