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Day after day, the balance sheet of coronavirus in France continues to increase. The latest figures, released on Saturday evening, show 104,901 cases of infection in 94 countries and territories, causing the death of 3,556 people. In France, seven new deaths increased the death toll to 16 on Saturday, out of nearly 1,000 proven infections. Drastic measures are being taken everywhere. Italy in particular has decided to recruit 20,000 additional doctors, nurses and nursing assistants, as well as to place entire regions under quarantine. Follow the situation live.
The main information to remember:
- There are 949 cases and 16 deaths in France
- Defense counsel to be held Sunday at 6 p.m. on the subject
- Italy has implemented major measures, quarantining entire regions and considerably strengthening the resources of its hospitals
In France, 949 cases and 16 deaths
On Saturday, the Ministry of Health reported seven more deaths, bringing the total number of deaths in France to 16. Across the country, 949 cases are now listed. Forty-five people are in intensive care, announced the Director General of Health, Jérôme Salomon. The inventory justifies the meeting of a new Defense Council around the Head of State, Sunday at 6 pm, announced the Elysée: "It is a question of taking stock of the situation. We must reassure and protect ", explained the entourage of Emmanuel Macron.
If, for the moment, the whole country remains in "stage 2" of the state of alert, the transition to stage 3, that of the epidemic, which provides for more restrictions, seems inexorable.
Health services on the brink of the "white plan"
The accelerated spread of the coronavirus sounds the general mobilization of the health services, summoned to be ready to launch their "white plan" to face an exceptional situation. "We have started level 1 of the white plan which puts all the hospitals under tension to plan" the rapid implementation of the "essential means in case of an influx" of patients, underlined Jerome Salomon.
A "white plan" had already been launched on February 25 in the hospitals of Creil and Compiègne. A "blue plan" which notably provides for an increase in staff to prevent the isolation of residents, will similarly be activated in the nursing homes.
Abroad, drastic measures to stem the epidemic
Elsewhere in the world, some states are taking drastic measures to fight the disease. Italy will soon quarantine all of Lombardy, including the economic capital of the country Milan. The Venice region, northern Emilia-Romagna and eastern Piedmont will also be affected, according to a draft government decree quoted by the media. Travel to and from these areas will be strictly limited during quarantine, which will remain in effect until April 3, according to the same sources. The Italian government has also decided to send 20,000 reinforcements to its hospitals, which will bring the number of intensive care beds from 5,000 to 7,500.
In the United States, the expansion of the epidemic worries: the virus was detected on 21 people aboard the Grand Princess, a cruise ship maintained off the coast of California, after the discovery of symptoms in some of its 3,533 passengers and crew members. Two people also died of coronavirus in Florida, the first American victims outside the west coast, announced the health authorities of this state in the southeast of the United States. On the East Coast, the state of New York has declared a state of emergency.
In China, on the other hand, the province of Hubei could soon be reopened, implied the government, because the new contaminations of people are there. However, 24 cases of "imported" coronavirus were also reported on Saturday across China, raising fears of a new increase in contaminations in the country in unison with an acceleration of the epidemic on a global scale.