Coronavirus: what to remember from this third weekend of containment

The new coronavirus epidemic has already caused more than 65,000 deaths worldwide and infected more than 1.2 million people. If in Europe, the effects of confinement are timidly starting to be felt, especially in Spain and Italy, and to a lesser extent in France, the authorities call for caution. The epidemic seems to continue on its other side of the Atlantic, especially in the United States and Brazil, which are calling for help.

Here is a summary of news from Covid-19 this weekend in France and around the world.

In France

• 7,560 deaths in France since March 1, including more than 2,000 in nursing homes

In addition to the 5,532 deaths from Covid-19 in hospitals in France, there are officially "at least 2,028" deaths in nursing homes and other medical and social establishments, announced on Saturday evening the Director General of Health Jérôme Salomon, one total of 7,560 dead in France since March 1. In addition, France has so far detected 89,953 cases of contamination. More than 15,000 people have left hospital cured.

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• A timid start to slowdown

Despite this impressive record, the quarantine imposed in France is timidly starting to take effect. On Saturday evening, Director General of Health Jérôme Salomon indicated that there was " a slow decrease in the increase " in the number of patients in intensive care. Overall, the number of hospital patients in France continues to increase every day, but this increase is a little slower than before.

Read also: Coronavirus: what does "a slow decrease in increase" mean?

• Authorities call to stay at home

Despite this encouraging initial news since the start of the confinement, the authorities call for great caution and urge the French to stay at home.

The Canal Saint-Martin Sunday April 5 in Paris. BERTRAND GUAY / AFP

In addition, the debate on the generalized wearing of the mask was fed by the declarations of the Academy of medicine which is for. The authorities, on this point, believe that this port is not useless, without making it compulsory. " The alternative mask can be a complement " but it " does not replace containment measures and barrier gestures ," said Jérôme Salomon .

To read also: Coronavirus: towards a generalized port of the mask?

Read also: Coronavirus: authorities urge the French to stay at home

In Europe

In Western Europe, the first glimmers of hope appear in Spain and Italy, the two countries most affected in the world by the epidemic, with respectively more than 12,000 and 15,000 deaths from the consequences of Covid-19.

• Death toll continues to decline in Spain

Spain has recorded this Sunday 674 deaths from coronavirus in the last 24 hours, the lowest toll for ten days, down for the third consecutive day, according to figures from the Ministry of Health.

• Unprecedented drop in hospitalization in Italy

The number of hospitalizations in intensive care decreased for the first time in Italy since the pandemic exploded there more than a month ago, announced Saturday the civil protection. The number of Covid-19 patients in intensive care in Italian hospitals has dropped below 4,000 (3,994 compared to 4,068 the previous day). The country is slowly preparing to put in place a plan for a gradual exit from the pandemic. A 5-point plan which would include: wearing a generalized mask, scrupulous social distancing in living and working places, hospital system dedicated to Covid-19, strengthening local health networks and setting up an application on smartphone, on the South Korean model, both to map the movements of patients.

Read also: Coronavirus: Italy's plan to “gradually” get out of the pandemic

Read also: Coronavirus: a glimmer of hope is emerging in Italy

• In the United Kingdom, death of a five-year-old child and historic speech by Queen Elisabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II is scheduled to express herself on television this Sunday at 7 p.m. (9 p.m. in France). The speech will come as the country has registered an additional 621 deaths. On Saturday, a five-year-old child died. Nearly 5,000 people have died from the virus in the UK and Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been infected himself. So did his wife.

Read also: Coronavirus: Queen Elizabeth II will speak on British television on Sunday, a historic speech

" I hope that in the years to come, everyone can be proud of how we took up this challenge, " said the queen, according to extracts released in advance. This televised address is only Elizabeth II's fourth intervention since the start of her reign 68 years ago.

In the world

• The epidemic is spreading in the United States, New York calls for help

In number of cases, the United States is the most affected country in the world, with more than 310,000 officially registered infections - but note that the case detection system is not the same from one country to another. In terms of mortality, the United States is the third most affected country after Italy and Spain, with 8,503 deaths - and 15,025 healed.

The main focus of the American epidemic is New York State and in particular the city of New York, which alone recorded 1,905 deaths. The mayor of New York appealed for the general mobilization of medical personnel, believing that he needed the help of 45,000 additional professionals.

Read also: In New York, confined, sick and dead, between silence and sirens

• Brazil lacks everything

Brazil lacks respirators, intensive care beds, trained staff, protective equipment and diagnostic tests as it approaches the "most acute phase" of Covid-2019, the Ministry of Health warned on Saturday Health. The Latin American giant of 210 million inhabitants has officially listed 10,278 coronavirus patients and deplores 432 deaths.

• Holy Week celebrations affected

Impressive image illustrating the pandemic that infests the planet, Pope Francis celebrated this Palm Sunday - the entry into Easter week of Easter - in a Saint Peter's basilica in Rome almost empty of faithful, the Vatican, like Italy being still under quarantine.

Saint Peter's Basilica on this Palm Sunday. HANDOUT / AFP

Read also: Coronavirus: the Pope celebrates Palm Sunday Mass without the faithful

For its part, the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt has decided to extend the suspension of prayers during Holy Week before Orthodox Easter in order to fight against the coronavirus.

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