|
|
France Posts Record New Virus Cases as Minister Warns of ‘Violent’ Second Wave
Sign up here for our daily coronavirus newsletter on what you need to know, and subscribe to our Covid-19 podcast for the latest news and analysis.To get more news about WikiFX, you can visit wikifx official website.
France posted a record number of new virus cases, 58,046, as the nations health minister warned of a “violent” second wave of the illness sweeping the country.
France is also facing a surge in intensive care patients, Health Minister Olivier Veran said at a briefing on Thursday. Virus patients now account for more than 85% of French hospitals initial intensive-care capacity. Another 363 people died from the virus, bringing the total to 39,037, French public health agency figures showed.
Europe is battling a new surge in the virus, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French Prime Minister Jean Castex discussing the epidemic in a video conference on Thursday. France started a second lockdown last week, with limits on movement and closures of some stores. Paris is also shutting down all food-delivery and takeout services between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., as well as banning alcohol sales and public drinking.
The French economy will shrink 11% in 2020, based on the lockdown ending on Dec. 1 and a gradual recovery in activity afterwards, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Wednesday. |
