Coronavirus: the state of the world facing the pandemic on Thursday, April 9

Text by: RFI Follow

More than one and a half million cases of infection with the new coronavirus were officially declared worldwide on Thursday. The number of deaths now exceeds 90,000. The United States remains the country most affected by the number of cases, while the majority of countries plan to extend containment. Some governments, however, suggest glimmers of hope.

Publicity

• Encouraging signs in New York

The situation improved this Thursday, April 9 in hospitals in New York, perhaps the sign of a turning point in this city, http://www.rfi.fr/fr/europe/20200409-coronavirus-boris- johnson-BETTER-UK-ALWAYS-d% C3% A9stabilis% C3% A9 The United Kingdom awaiting the peak of the pandemic. The country had been slow to follow its neighbors in containment measures but since March 23, the British are asked to stay at home as much as possible. While the balance sheet of the pandemic continues to worsen, the authorities believe that the peak should arrive in the coming days and welcomed good signs in the trend of new infections and hospitalizations. For the moment, no release of the confinement instructions is planned. In Italy, the assessment starts again on the rise The epidemic of COVID-19 made 610 deaths more this Thursday in Italy, against 542 the day before. The confinement, which is currently scheduled until April 13, should be extended until May 3, two union sources told Reuters news agency after interviewing government ministers. Some sectors of activity not essential to supplying the country could however reopen before the end of April, if sanitary conditions allow, added these sources. Hope in Spain? The president of the Spanish government, Pedro Sanchez, warned Thursday that the confinement in force since March could last until next May. However, he was encouraged by the latest statistics on the disease, which he said showed the beginning of a decline in the pandemic. The city of Paris blessed from the Sacred Heart The Archbishop of Paris, Mgr Michel Aupetit, blessed the capital and its inhabitants on Thursday from the esplanade of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the Montmartre hill, Holy Thursday day for the Catholics, forced to cut down on Easter celebrations because of the coronavirus. Only the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo and a few passers-by attended the blessing. Christians are preparing for a long and unique Easter weekend, just like the Jews on Passover. Gatherings are prohibited, this highlight of Catholic spirituality will therefore be confined, in privacy and in front of the screens: The celebrations of the sanctuary of Lourdes, without pilgrims, will be broadcast on Catholic channels. It was also without the faithful that Pope Francis celebrated the Last Supper Mass, the last meal of Jesus on the eve of his death. Good news, however, for thousands of lambs: for lack of family banquets they will escape the slaughterhouse this year. Over a million French people infected? These are only estimates but they are considered to be consistent: Nearly 1.6 million French people may have been contaminated by the new coronavirus at this stage. Data obtained by the MG France general practitioners' union, based on a survey of practitioners. Also in France, as part of a containment check, a thirty-something man died on Wednesday evening in Béziers (Hérault). The city is under curfew. The prosecution speaks of a "difficult" arrest by the municipal police. An investigation into manslaughter is underway. Angela Merkel asks the Germans for patience As pressure mounts for the authorities to loosen the containment, Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday called on the Germans to be patient. The situation remains fragile, she said at a press conference in Berlin. According to the Chancellor, there is "cautious hope" given the development of the epidemic in Germany, which is experiencing a decline in the curve of new cases of contamination. Currently, a tightening of confinement like the decisions made in France or Italy is "not necessary", she said. According to Health Minister Jens Spahn, large gatherings could remain banned for "months" yet. Digital tracing in Turkey The Turkish authorities will monitor the movements of people tested positive for the new coronavirus and their relatives using a smartphone application. The government, which announced the measure on Thursday, hopes to curb the spread of the epidemic in Turkey. How it works ? If a sick person or another person who has been in contact with them leaves their home, an SMS will be sent asking them to go home. Taiwan requests an apology to the WHO Taiwan demanded this Thursday an apology from the director general of the World Health Organization who accused Taipei of encouraging its citizens to attack the WHO on its management of the pandemic. At a press conference, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus claimed to have been the subject of personal attacks, particularly of a racist nature, mainly on the internet. Attacks allegedly from Taiwan, which the Taiwanese government has rejected. In India, the largest confined country in the world, the government plans to also extend the confinement beyond April 14. "It is not advisable to lift the containment," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, comments reported by our correspondent Sébastian Farcis. http://www.rfi.fr/fr/asie-pacifique/20200409-coronavirus-linde-envisage-prolonger-le-confinement-population Brésil Faced with Coronavirus, the Brazilian president loses the battle in social networks. He who has made twitter or Facebook a central pillar of his communication, is confronted more and more with negative comments concerning his management of the Covid-19 which he had long described as "small flu". According to the information site Nexo, the negative comments posted by Internet users exceed for the first time since coming to power in January 2019 the glowing remarks made by his supporters https://www.nexojornal.com.br/expresso/2020 / 04/08 / A-perda-de-influ% C3% AAncia-de-Bolsonaro-nas-redes-sociais Ecuador Part of the staff of a hospital in the economic capital Guayaquil is accused of corruption in the midst of the Coronavirus crisis. Justice has opened an investigation after charges were brought against certain employees who allegedly asked families for money so that they could recover the bodies of their loved ones who died of the coronavirus. https://www.expreso.ec/actualidad/fiscalia-investiga-concusion-cobros-entregar-cuerpos-hospitales-guayaquil-8856.html Iran The Iranian authorities announced this Thursday 117 additional deaths due to the new coronavirus, which brings to more than 4,000 dead the official death toll in the country, one of the most affected by the pandemic. According to the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Kianouche the latest figures however showed "a drop in the number of new cases of contamination" "target =" _ blank "> the epicenter of the coronavirus in the United States . But according to the authorities, The return to normal is not imminent. " We have not been out of the woods, " said Governor Andrew Cuomo.

While being very careful, the very popular doctor Anthony Fauci estimated on Thursday that the Americans could perhaps take a summer vacation. A stabilization in the number of hospitalizations suggests that a first turning point in the Covid-19 pandemic is near.

The country has nevertheless crossed the 15,000 death mark today according to the count of the American university Johns Hopkins. The epidemic has killed at least 15,774 people in the country which now has 363,851 identified cases of new coronavirus, according to continuously updated figures from the university, which refer.

► Read also: Africa and the coronavirus pandemic Thursday April 9

• France passes the milestone of 12,000 deaths

The coronavirus epidemic has killed a total of 12,210 people in France since its start in March, including 8,044 in hospitals and 4,166 in nursing homes and medico-social establishments, said on Thursday April 9 the director general of the health. For the first time since the beginning of the epidemic, the number of patients in intensive care registered a decrease in 24 hours, with 7,066 patients, 82 less than Wednesday, said Jérôme Salomon, during a press conference.

These are only estimates but they are considered to be consistent, nearly 1.6 million French people may have been infected at this stage by the new coronavirus. Data obtained by the MG France general practitioners' union, based on a survey of practitioners.

• The city of Paris blessed from the Sacred Heart

The Archbishop of Paris, Mgr Michel Aupetit, blessed the capital and its inhabitants on Thursday from the esplanade of the Sacré-Coeur basilica on Montmartre hill, Holy Thursday day for Catholics, forced to reduce Easter holidays to cause of coronavirus. Only the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo and a few passers-by attended the blessing. Christians are preparing for a long and unique Easter weekend, just like the Jews on Passover. Gatherings are prohibited, this highlight of Catholic spirituality will therefore be confined, in privacy and in front of the screens. The celebrations of the sanctuary of Lourdes, without pilgrims, will be broadcast on Catholic channels.

• In Italy, the balance sheet begins to rise again

The Covid-19 epidemic left 610 more dead this Thursday in Italy , up from 542 the day before. The confinement, which is currently scheduled until April 13, should be extended until May 3, two union sources told Reuters news agency after interviewing government ministers. Some sectors of activity not essential to supplying the country could however reopen before the end of April, if sanitary conditions allow, added these sources.

The president of the Spanish government , Pedro Sanchez, warned on Thursday that the confinement in force since March could last until next May. However, he was encouraged by the latest statistics on the disease, which he said showed the beginning of a decline in the pandemic.

• Boris Johnson out of intensive care

The British government is thinking about a possible extension of the confinement, while Prime Minister Boris Johnson left intensive care this Thursday evening. However, he remains hospitalized in another unit under close supervision.

The UK is awaiting the peak of the pandemic. The country had been slow to follow its neighbors in containment measures, but since March 23, the British have been asked to stay at home as much as possible. While the balance sheet of the pandemic continues to worsen, the authorities believe that the peak should arrive in the coming days and welcomed good signs in the trend of new infections and hospitalizations. For the moment, no release of the confinement instructions is planned.

• Angela Merkel asks the Germans for patience

As pressure mounts for authorities to ease containment, Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday called on the Germans to be patient. The situation remains fragile, she said at a press conference in Berlin. According to the Chancellor, there is " cautious hope ", given the development of the epidemic in Germany, which is experiencing a decline in the curve of new cases of contamination. Currently, a tightening of confinement like the decisions made in France or Italy is " not necessary ", she said. According to Health Minister Jens Spahn, large gatherings could remain banned for " more months ".

• Digital tracing in Turkey

The Turkish authorities will monitor the movements of people tested positive for the new coronavirus and their relatives using a smartphone application. The government, which announced the measure on Thursday, hopes to curb the spread of the epidemic in Turkey. If a sick person or another person who has been in contact with them leaves their home, an SMS will be sent asking them to go home.

• Iran officially counts more than 4,000 deaths

Iranian authorities announced on Thursday 117 additional deaths from the new coronavirus, bringing the official death toll in the country, one of the most affected by the pandemic, to more than 4,000. According to the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, the latest figures however showed " a decrease in the number of new cases of contamination ".

• "The worst economic consequences since the Great Depression "

The boss of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, did not mince words. According to her, this pandemic will have " the worst economic consequences since the Great Depression " of 1929.

In the United States, the number of new unemployment benefit claims has exploded again. 6.6 million people registered last week, bringing the number of job seekers to 16.7 million.

The Central Bank of the United States, for its part, announced a $ 2,300 billion program of new loans to " support the economy ". Money intended primarily for businesses and local communities suffering from the consequences of the pandemic.

Angela Merkel also said that Germany is ready to show solidarity with the eurozone member states hit hard by the coronavirus crisis. However, it rejected the solution of common obligations, desired by Italy. After 16 hours of discussions, Tuesday and Wednesday, the finance ministers of the euro area could not agree on common mechanisms to overcome the economic crisis caused by the pandemic.

• Taiwan apologizes to WHO

Taiwan on Thursday demanded an apology from the director general of the World Health Organization who accused Taipei of encouraging its citizens to attack WHO over its handling of the pandemic. At a press conference, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus claimed to have been the subject of personal attacks, particularly of a racist nature, mainly on the internet. Attacks allegedly from Taiwan, which the Taiwanese government has rejected.

• India plans to extend containment

In India, the largest confined country in the world, the government plans to also extend the confinement beyond April 14. " It is not advisable to lift the containment, " said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, comments reported by our correspondent Sébastien Farcis .

• Bolsonaro outraged by social networks

Faced with the coronavirus, the Brazilian president loses the battle in social networks. He who made Twitter or Facebook a central pillar of his communication, is confronted more and more with negative comments concerning his management of the Covid-19 which he had long described as " small flu ". Negative comments posted by internet users exceed for the first time since coming to power in January 2019, the positive comments made by his supporters, according to the Nexo news site

• Suspicions of corruption in a hospital in Ecuador

Part of the staff of a hospital in the economic capital Guayaquil is accused of corruption during the coronavirus crisis. Justice has opened an investigation after charges were brought against certain employees who allegedly asked families for money so that they could recover the bodies of their loved ones who died of the coronavirus.

Our selection on SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus

• Listen to Coronavirus Info , daily chronicle on the pandemic

• Explanation: The origins of the Covid-19

• Analysis: What strategies in the face of the Covid-19 epidemic?

• Practical questions:
→ What is the lifespan of the virus ?
→ How do you treat Covid-19 patients ?
→ Update on ongoing clinical trials
→ How the Institut Pasteur hopes to find a vaccine
→ How to make a mask and use it well

• Doctors' answers to your questions about the Covid-19

Find all our articles, reports, chronicles and programs on the coronavirus by clicking here .

See also our contents on containment .

Newsletter With the Daily Newsletter, find the headlines directly in your mailbox

Follow all international news by downloading the RFI application

• United States
• France
• Coronavirus
• Health and Medicine