Coronavirus: the state of the world facing the pandemic on Wednesday April 1

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New transfers by medical trains in France, a congress center transformed into a giant hospital in London, a draft resolution at the UN Security Council, efforts to fight the new coronavirus continued this Wednesday, April 1 while the pandemic has killed more than 43,000 people worldwide. The worst crisis humanity has faced since 1945 is now threatening to overwhelm the United States.

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• WHO is concerned about the “quasi-exponential” progression of the pandemic

The World Health Organization (WHO) alerted this Wednesday, April 1, on the " quasi-exponential " progression of the pandemic caused by the new coronavirus, while the number of deaths more than doubled in one week. “ I am deeply concerned about the rapid escalation and global spread of infections. The number of deaths has more than doubled in the past week. In the coming days, we will reach 1 million confirmed cases and 50,000 deaths, ”said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, during a virtual press conference from Geneva.

► Read also: Africa facing the coronavirus pandemic Wednesday April 1

• In France, medical trains and veterinary equipment

In France, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe considers it " probable " that " deconfinement " will not take place "all at once and for everyone " . The head of government and the Minister of Health were heard on Wednesday evening by a fact-finding mission to the National Assembly on the impact and management of the consequences of the epidemic.

It is likely that we are not moving towards a deconfinement which would be general and absolute, all at once, everywhere and for everyone.

Edouard Philippe deems progressive deconfinement likely

To relieve the hospitals of Ile-de-France, the most affected region, two medical TGVs evacuated 36 coronavirus patients in intensive care, from Paris to Brittany. Last week already, a very first medicalized TGV left Strasbourg (east of France), before two other transfers by TGV during the weekend from Nancy and Mulhouse.

• The 4,000 dead mark crossed in France

France passed this Wednesday, April 1 the bar of 4,000 deaths from coronavirus in hospitals, with 4,032 deaths recorded in a month, including 509 in the last 24 hours, new highest daily balance, announced the director general of Health. A total of 24,639 people are now hospitalized, 1,882 more than on Tuesday. Among them, the influx of heavy cases continues with more than 6,000 people in intensive care: 6,017 (+452), or "more than the initial capacity of France", before the hospitals increased their capacity, a clarified Professor Jérôme Salomon.

In addition, Austria is preparing to receive three contaminated French patients hospitalized in intensive care in eastern France. Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg have already received patients from this very affected French region. Austria is the first non-border country of France to do the same.

Two migrants from Calais, in the north of France , tested positive for coronavirus and placed in solitary confinement shortly before a " major operation " planned to shelter these exiles living in precarious conditions, according to the prefecture. Between 600 and 1,000 migrants according to sources currently live in makeshift camps in Calais from where they hope to go to the United Kingdom.

While, to cope with the scale of the epidemic, French hospitals are increasing efforts to open more resuscitation beds, veterinarians have been mobilizing to put material at their disposal For the past ten days, the National Order veterinarians request clinics and schools to lend their resuscitation equipment. " 420 loan proposals for anesthesia respirators, 1,749 oxygen concentrators made available, as well as 504 monitoring devices ", lists the president of the Order Jacques Guérin, contacted by RFI. In the most affected regions, hospitals have already rushed on the proposed respirators. Oxygen concentrators, on the other hand, are of interest to Ehpad (hospitals for dependent elderly people).

Veterinarians mobilize, a report by Laura Martel

• New hospital in London, Poutine telecommuting

In Germany, the restrictive measures were extended at least until April 19.

In the United Kingdom, a large hospital in a large London convention center converted in just fifteen days has just opened. Called NHS Nightingale, the hospital will eventually have 4,000 beds to specially treat patients affected by Covid-19. Thanks to a lightning conversion carried out with the help of the British army, this temporary hospital entirely dedicated to the fight against coronavirus, will be the largest in the United Kingdom. Hitherto known for hosting giant exhibitions and forums, the Excel Center is located on the banks of the Thames in East London. Its conversion to a large field hospital is probably one of the most ambitious medical projects the country has ever undertaken since the end of the Second World War. With its 100,000 m2 of space capable of accommodating 4,000 patients, the center exceeds the capacity of all the other hospitals in the country. The coronavirus has killed more than 500 people in one day in the UK on Wednesday, 2,352 since the start of the crisis.

Furthermore, the Wimbledon tennis tournament, scheduled for June 29 to July 12 in London, was canceled due to the Covid-19 epidemic.

Spain recorded a record 864 coronavirus deaths on April 1 in over 24 hours, exceeding 9,000 victims, but authorities estimate that the progression of the pandemic is slowing in the second most bereaved country after Italy.

A caregiver from the delegation of 39 Cuban doctors and nurses who came to assist the Principality of Andorra was tested carrying the coronavirus. The man had arrived Monday the small landlocked territory between Spain and France, following a request for reinforcements launched by Andorra in Havana.

In Russia, a plane of the Russian army loaded with medical material and protective masks took off this Wednesday from a base close to Moscow bound for the United States, where the epidemic due to the coronavirus made nearly 3 900 dead for 187,000 cases.

Russia will also release 1,400 billion rubles (16.2 billion euros at the current rate) to fight the coronavirus and take measures to support the economy, announced Prime Minister Mikhail Michoustin. For his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin has opted for teleworking, according to the Kremlin spokesman.

• The barrier of 3,000 dead crossed in Iran

In Iran, Iranian authorities are announcing 138 new deaths from the coronavirus, bringing the official toll of the pandemic in that country, one of the countries most affected by the disease, to more than 3,000. Iranian President Hassan Rohani believes that the United States has missed a " historic opportunity " to lift sanctions against Tehran.

Japan has announced that travelers from the United States, China and most European countries will be denied access to its territory. Among the countries concerned are Australia, the United Kingdom, South Korea and a large number of countries in Southeast Asia. The measure will take effect on Friday April 3. Tokyo had already blocked arrivals from several European countries and parts of China and South Korea.

In Kyrgyzstan , the Minister of Health was sacked after criticism from the president on their insufficient efforts to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

• Draft resolution at the UN and risk of food shortage

At the UN , Tunisia has submitted to its 14 Security Council partners a draft resolution on Covid-19 calling for " urgent international action to limit the impact " of the pandemic. In general, the text " calls for a global humanitarian cease-fire " to better fight the disease, echoing a similar request last week by Secretary General Antonio Guterres for countries in conflict. The Covid-19 pandemic is " the worst global crisis since World War II " Said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday, fearing to see more conflicts in the world.

There is also a risk of food shortages on the world market due to the epidemic. This is the warning issued by the leaders of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organization and the World Trade Organization.

In their joint press release, the Chinese Qu Dongyu (FAO), the Ethiopian Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (WHO) and the Brazilian Roberto Azevedo (WTO) believe that it is important " to ensure trade, (…) in order to avoid food shortages ” .

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