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The risk of a resumption of the Covid-19 epidemic is still present in France on Saturday. The indicators continue to deteriorate. According to the latest report released Friday by the Ministry of Health, seven additional deaths have been recorded in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths to 30,324. To fight against the proliferation of the virus, many cities make it compulsory to wear a mask outdoors. This is particularly the case in Marseille and Saint-Tropez, two very touristy areas.
Worldwide, more than 19 million cases have been officially recorded. In all, the pandemic has killed more than 715,000 people worldwide since the end of December, according to a report established on Friday.
The main information to remember
- The total toll is 30,324 deaths and several indicators are deteriorating
- The wearing of a compulsory mask outdoors is developing in several municipalities, in particular Marseille
- The health protocol for the start of the school year has been published, universities will be able to reopen in September
- More than 19 million officially recorded cases worldwide
The number of cases is increasing in France
The toll in France stands at 30,324 dead in France, according to the toll released Friday by the Ministry of Health, or 12 more in 24 hours. The number of patients in intensive care stands at 383. An indicator alternating between decline and increase for a few days but remains far from the 8,000 patients identified at the height of the epidemic.
The number of new confirmed cases is, however, continuously rising: the latest report shows 2,288 additional cases in 24 hours. This is the first time since mid-April that the milestone of 2,000 cases identified per day has been exceeded.
Masks mandatory in many cities
Faced with the "significant flow of tourists", wearing a mask is compulsory from Saturday in the center of the French seaside town of Saint-Tropez, a famous town on the Côte d'Azur popular with the jet-set. The city center, the port and the citadel of the city, known throughout the world for its nightlife, are affected by this obligation, which has a renewable period of one month. This is also the case in Marseille, Nice and Toulouse. The measure should also be adopted in Paris as early as next week. The Minister of Health Olivier Véran, visiting the Dordogne on Friday, called on the French to "hold on", even if the high heat makes certain health actions difficult.
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The health protocol for the start of the school year revealed
For the start of the September school year, the physical distancing rules that prevailed until now will be further relaxed in schools, according to the health protocol published Friday by the Ministry of Education. Several changes between the two texts concern the rules of physical distancing and mixing between students.
In closed spaces (classrooms, libraries, canteens, etc.), physical distancing will no longer be compulsory "when it is not materially possible" or "when it does not accommodate all the students". Students over 11 years of age must however continue to wear a mask in enclosed and outdoor spaces when a distance of one meter cannot be guaranteed and they are placed face to face or side by side.
New job losses in France
In France, private companies destroyed nearly 120,000 jobs in the second quarter of 2020, after the elimination of nearly 500,000 jobs in the previous quarter. This slight improvement is linked to a rebound in temporary work, with 108,500 jobs created in this sector.
Tests for visitors to Europe
Germany is imposing a compulsory Covid-19 test from Saturday for any traveler returning from a region at risk. In the United Kingdom, a quarantine is imposed from Saturday to visitors coming from Belgium, Andorra or the Bahamas.
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715,000 deaths worldwide
In all, the pandemic has killed more than 715,000 people worldwide since the end of December, according to a report established by AFP on Friday. More than 19 million cases have been officially recorded, of which more than 11 million are now cured. The United States remains the most bereaved nation with more than 160,000 deaths, including a thousand on Friday. But in proportion to the population, excluding micro-states, it is in Belgium that mortality is highest (851 deaths per million inhabitants), ahead of the United Kingdom (684), Peru (619), 'Spain (610) and Italy (582).
Latin America, the most bereaved region
Latin America and the Caribbean on Friday became the region of the world most affected in terms of death toll from the new coronavirus, according to an AFP count from official data. With at least 213,120 deaths, this region exceeds Europe, which has 212,660 deaths, according to a report drawn up on Friday. Brazil, the second most affected country in the world in terms of number of deaths, is close to the 100,000 mark killed by the virus. Mexico has passed the 50,000 death mark and Colombia that of 12,000, while India and the African continent reach two million and one million confirmed cases respectively.
Employment in the United States
The US economy created 1.8 million jobs in July, well below the 4.8 million jobs created in June, the Labor Department said on Friday. The resumption of activity was in fact slowed down by a virus which spread even more vigorously in a large part of the country. The unemployment rate, however, fell to 10.2% in July, from 11.1% in June.