With fifteen million cases worldwide, the coronavirus pandemic continues to progress, very rapidly in the Americas and more slowly in the areas affected at the start of the year, including Europe. In France, 212 "clusters" are still active, according to the Directorate General of Health. The government announced that 40 million masks, now mandatory, would be sent to the poorest 7 million French people. Follow the evolution of the situation live.
Information to remember:
- Olivier Véran announced that 40 million masks would be sent to the poorest 7 million French people
- Eight airlines are singled out for "violations" of passenger rights, including reimbursement of canceled flights
- The pandemic has killed more than 617,000 people worldwide, according to AFP's latest report
212 clusters in France, masks promised to the most modest
In France, the epidemic has killed 7 people since Tuesday in hospitals, bringing the total number of deaths to 30,172 since the start of the epidemic in France, the Directorate General of Health announced on Wednesday. Since the start of the epidemic, 19,656 people have died in hospitals and 10,516 in social and medico-social establishments (Ehpad) where the general toll has been revised downwards. The next update of the figures for these establishments will take place on July 28.
In total, 6,366 people are currently hospitalized for a Covid-19 infection, including 445 patients in intensive care, or 10 less than Tuesday. Four regions (Ile-de-France, Grand-Est, Hauts-de-France and Guyana) account for 69% of patients hospitalized in intensive care. Since May 9, 561 grouped cases (clusters) have been detected but 349 closed, notes the DGS, bringing to 212 the number of outbreaks still active.
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In this context, the Minister of Health Olivier Véran announced that the government would send 40 million masks, now compulsory, to the poorest seven million French people. "We are signing a contract with the Post Office which has undertaken to send these free masks within a few days, for three months' protection. In addition, health insurance will reimburse 100% for surgical masks for 2 million. of French people who are carriers of vulnerability, "he said.
Airplane users, harmed by the health crisis?
Eight airlines, including Air France, EasyJet or Ryanair, have been singled out by the European Bureau of Consumer Unions (Beuc) for "violations" of passenger rights, in particular that of reimbursement in the event of a canceled flight. The Brussels-based organization said it had alerted the European Commission and national consumer protection authorities to these violations, calling for an investigation into these "unfair" practices.
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"Since the start of the Covid-19 crisis, many airlines (...) have deprived passengers of their right to a refund in the event of a canceled flight and deceived passengers by providing them with incorrect, partial or unclear information on their rights ", denounced the general manager of Beuc, Monique Goyens, in a press release. The consumer associations members of Beuc have been "inundated with thousands of complaints", she noted.
Over 15 million cases worldwide
More than 15 million cases have been officially recorded worldwide, including more than half in the United States and Latin America, according to a count made by AFP from official sources. For a week, more than 230,000 cases have been announced daily on average.
In total, the pandemic has killed at least 617,603 people worldwide since the end of December. The United States is the country most affected with 142,942 deaths. In Africa, where the WHO is also worried about the acceleration of the epidemic, the bar of 15,000 deaths has been crossed (15,765 for 753,124 cases). The Middle East has passed one million cases (1,044,925 identified infections including 23,929 dead).
The Americas still in the eye of the storm
Latin America and the Caribbean, the second most affected region in terms of number of cases (4,040,925 contaminations and 172,886 deaths) is still facing a very rapid progression of the virus. Brazil has recorded an explosion of new coronavirus contaminations, with 67,860 cases in the past 24 hours, while the WHO said last Friday that the pandemic had reached a plateau in the country. Peru revised its balance sheet upwards to 17,455.
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In Ecuador, six in ten cases of the new coronavirus did not respect their mandatory isolation in June, which resulted in an increase in contagion, especially in Quito, Deputy Health Minister Xavier said on Wednesday. Solorzano. "In May, 54% of people who knew they were infected violated their isolation for up to seven hours a day (...) And in June, it rose to 59.5%, six out of ten," he said. he lamented on the Ecuavisa channel. The small country of 17.5 million inhabitants has nearly 77,300 confirmed cases of Covid-19, including more than 5,400 dead.