Thursday, 19th September 2024

France extends lockdown as countries see hope of Covid-19 peak

Tuesday, 14th April 2020

France extended its nationwide lockdown on Monday for another month in a bid to halt the coronavirus pandemic, as other hard-hit countries assessed easing their measures with hopes increasing that death rates can soon plateau.

More than half of humanity is now underneath confinement to include the virus, which has killed more than 117,000 human beings and infected nearly 1.9 million since emerging in China late last year.

Most of the dead are in Europe; however, the United States has also been severely hit -- especially New York nation where more than 10,000 have died, near half of all fatalities in the country.

Governments around the world are under pressure to store their economies from total collapse due to the mass shutdown of groups and confinement of humans; however, officials are also attempting to keep away from a deadly second wave of the disease.

While New York’s governor stated the height had exceeded on Monday, Spain started to ease lockdown orders on Monday and Austria readied to reopen some shops.

But France did now not observe suit, extending a lockdown until May 11, after which schools and corporations are set to reopen gradually.

President Emmanuel Macron said the epidemic was “beginning to steady and hope is returning”, speaking in a televised addressed to the nation.

“May 11 may be the begin of a new phase. It may be progressive, and the rules can be adapted consistent with our results,” he added.

France said a mild boom in deaths on Monday -- although still under its record numbers of the final week -- and a moderate dip in extensive care patients for a 5th day running.

The announcement got here because the World Health Organization said lifting curbs too quickly could declare the second wave of cases and warned that a vaccine would entirely stop the spread of the COVID-19 disease.