Paris (AFP)

In the wake of several European countries, France, one of the most bruised by the new coronavirus, presented on Tuesday a very progressive deconfinement plan, warning against the risk of "collapsing the economy", while the pandemic has already killed more than 211,000 people worldwide.

Illustration of the deconfinement to which aspires a part of the planet still cloistered, the Australian surfers have again invested the beach of Bondi, in Sydney. This famous surf spot was again authorized on Tuesday for surfers, who rushed into the waves at dawn. It is nevertheless prohibited for walkers and sunbathing enthusiasts.

In Europe, the continent most grieving by the pandemic, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe presented on Tuesday the much stricter modalities of deconfinement in France, from May 11: massive tests, gradual reopening of schools, shops - but not in a first time in cafes and restaurants - and mandatory mask in public transport.

Cinemas, major museums and theaters will remain closed, and the 2019-2020 sports season will not resume. Gatherings of more than ten people will be prohibited.

"We are going to have to live with the virus," warned Edouard Philippe, in a long speech to the deputies, while 65% of the French believe that the executive is "not up to the task", according to a last poll.

"A little too carefree and it is the epidemic which starts again. A little too much caution and it is the whole country which sinks", he affirmed, while summarizing: "It is a delicate ridge line to follow. "

- Increase in infection rate in Germany -

France, confined since March 17, is one of the countries most affected in the world by the coronavirus, with more than 23,000 deaths. However, the country has seen a decline in the number of intensive care patients for more than two weeks.

In Spain, where the confinement has been extended until May 9, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez must present at 4:00 p.m. GMT the deconfinement plan adopted by the Council of Ministers.

Since Sunday, children can finally play on the street provided they respect a certain number of restrictions.

In Italy, the European country that has paid the heaviest price for the pandemic, the procedures for the deconfinement planned for May 4 have already been specified: gatherings prohibited, as well as travel between regions, wearing of compulsory masks in transport, schools closed until September.

Other European countries have already started a progressive lifting of restrictions, with the reopening of many businesses, but still strict slogans of "social distancing": Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Germany ...

In the latter country, however, the rate of infection, very monitored, has again reached the threshold of 1.0 according to health authorities, who urged the population to remain cautious, while Chancellor Angela Merkel worries about a precipitous deconfinement.

- "We are breathing badly" -

Willy-nilly, the Germans are already complying with the compulsory mask in transport. "It's hot, it slips, we breathe badly," complains Emil, in his twenties, who is waiting for his commuter train on the platform of a Berlin station. "But if it's to avoid infections, that's fine with me."

The human toll remains very heavy on the Old Continent, with nearly 127,000 deaths: 26,977 deaths in Italy, 23,822 in Spain, 23,293 in France, 21,092 in the United Kingdom. With nearly a third of the cases and more than 56,000 of the 211,000 victims worldwide, the United States is by far the most affected country.

Eager to make forget unhappy remarks on injections of "disinfectant", the American president was discreet this weekend, but resumed Monday with his almost daily press briefing at the White House, and at the same time with virulent attacks against China, where the virus appeared in late 2019.

The disease "could have been stopped at the source," said Donald Trump, citing a possible multi-billion dollar compensation claim.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry denounced "shameless lies" of "American politicians" who "have only one objective, to exonerate themselves from any responsibility for their own management of the epidemic and to divert attention".

The epidemic in China, now under control, has infected nearly 83,000 people and officially killed 4,633 people, a number questioned by the United States.

- Vascular syndrome -

In the United Kingdom, the British, led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, observed a minute of silence in tribute to the caregivers who died while fighting the new coronavirus. At 10 Downing Street for the head of government, in the rainy car parks of hospitals or in supermarkets, the country froze at 11:00 (10:00 GMT) in memory of the more than 82 carers of the NHS, the public health service, and of the 16 deceased social workers.

In addition to the official death toll of 21,092 people, nearly 4,300 people died in two weeks, between April 10 and 24, in retirement homes across the country, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (ONS).

Health authorities are also trying to establish whether there is a link between the coronavirus pandemic and a serious illness affecting recently a small number of children, a vascular syndrome close to Kawasaki disease. "This is something that concerns us," said Health Minister Matt Hancock on LBC radio.

Already postponed to 2021, the Olympic Games initially scheduled for this summer in Japan will be purely and simply "canceled" if the pandemic is not brought under control within a year, warned the head of the organizing committee Yoshiro Mori.

Elsewhere in the world, we continue to adapt as best we can. So in Argentina, the world of tango and its "embrace" dancers have no choice but to take a break. "I miss dancing," says a 43-year-old teacher, resigned to distance learning. "The only hope is a vaccine ...", says another amateur.

burs-thm / sg

© 2020 AFP