france24--2020-04-15--Covid-19: France reports 1438 deaths in 24 hours, sharp increase due to unreported deaths from Easte

Covid-19: France reports 1438 deaths in 24 hours, sharp increase due to unreported deaths from Easter

Medical staff , wearing protective suits and face masks , treat a patient suffering from coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) in an intensive care unit at the Franco-Britannique hospital in Levallois-Perret near Paris as the spread of the coronavirus disease continues in France , April 15 , 2020 .
The number of people who died from coronavirus infection in France jumped by 1,438 or 9.1 % to 17,167 in the biggest single-day increase as a number of nursinghomes reported cumulative tolls following the three-day Easter weekend , the health ministry said on Wednesday .
The number of people who died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % to 10,643 , less than the 541 reported on Tuesday , but the cumulative death toll in nursing homes rose by 924 or 17 % to 6,524 , compared with 221 on Tuesday .
`` This increase is not the mortality rate over 24 hours but is due to a catch-up in reporting of data following the three-day weekend , '' Health Ministry Director Jerome Salomon said .
He said the COVID-19 pandemic is still highly active and called on French people to strictly respect confinement measures .
But he also reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start of the epidemic , the number of people in hospital for COVID-19 had fallen by 513 or 1.6 % to 31,779 in a sign that the infection rate is slowing and that confinement is working .
`` This is the first fall .
We must welcome it but we must remain careful and await the evolution in the next few days , '' Salomon said .
The number of people in intensive care units ( ICU ) also fell for the seventh day in a row , by 273 or 4.1 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the peak of 7,148 seen on April 8 .
In Italy , the number of people in ICU fell for the 12th day in a row on Wednesday and is now at 3,079 , nearly 1,000 below the peak of 4,068 seen early April .
In another sign that the infection rate is slowing , the number of reported coronavirus cases in France rose by 3,217 or just 2.5 % to a total of 133,470 .
The number of confirmed cases rose 2.5 % to 106,206 and the number of probable cases in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 27,264 .

The number of people who died from coronavirus infection in France jumped by 1,438 or 9.1% to 17,167 in the biggest single-day increase as a number of nursinghomes reported cumulative tolls following the three-day Easter weekend, the health ministry said on Wednesday.
Medical staff, wearing protective suits and face masks, treat a patient suffering from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in an intensive care unit at the Franco-Britannique hospital in Levallois-Perret near Paris as the spread of the coronavirus disease continues in France, April 15, 2020.
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The number of people who died in hospitals rose by 514 or 5% to 10,643, less than the 541 reported on Tuesday, but the cumulative death toll in nursing homes rose by 924 or 17% to 6,524, compared with 221 on Tuesday.
"This increase is not the mortality rate over 24 hours but is due to a catch-up in reporting of data following the three-day weekend," Health Ministry Director Jerome Salomon said.
He said the COVID-19 pandemic is still highly active and called on French people to strictly respect confinement measures.
But he also reported that for the first time since the start of the epidemic, the number of people in hospital for COVID-19 had fallen by 513 or 1.6% to 31,779 in a sign that the infection rate is slowing and that confinement is working.
"This is the first fall. We must welcome it but we must remain careful and await the evolution in the next few days," Salomon said.
The number of people in intensive care units (ICU) also fell for the seventh day in a row, by 273 or 4.1% to 6,457 and now stands well below the peak of 7,148 seen on April 8.
In Italy, the number of people in ICU fell for the 12th day in a row on Wednesday and is now at 3,079, nearly 1,000 below the peak of 4,068 seen early April.
In another sign that the infection rate is slowing, the number of reported coronavirus cases in France rose by 3,217 or just 2.5% to a total of 133,470. The number of confirmed cases rose 2.5% to 106,206 and the number of probable cases in nursing
homes was up 2.2% to 27,264.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-15--US Covid-19 single-day deaths hit new record of 2300 as Trump says US 'passed the peak'

Members of the Gutierrez family mourn graveside , during a non customary military burial service amid an outbreak of the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) , for Robert Gutierrez , who was given a Purple Heart award for serving in the Vietnam War and passed away of a non-coronavirus related death , at the Bakersfield National Cemetery in Arvin , California , U.S. , April 3 , 2020 .
The family was given limited social distance to the casket , only ten members allowed to attend the funeral and a ceremonial U.S. flag wasn ’ t given due to precautions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increased by a record number for the second day in a row , rising by at least 2,371 on Wednesday to top 30,800 , according to a Reuters tally , as states spared the worst of the pandemic mulled a partial lifting of restrictions on business and social life by May 1 .
The United States recorded its first coronavirus fatality on Feb. 29 .
It took 38 days to reach 10,000 deaths and just nine more days to go from 10,000 fatalities to 30,000 .
The previous high single-day death toll was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ topped 635,000 in the United States and 2 million globally .
Despite the spike in deaths , there were tentative signs in some parts of the country that the outbreak was beginning to ebb .
Governors of about 20 states with few coronavirus cases believe they may be ready to start the process of reopening their economies by President Donald Trump 's May 1 target date , a top U.S. health official said on Wednesday .
Governors in harder-hit states - New York , California , Louisiana , New Jersey , Massachusetts and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for more widespread testing before starting to end the coronavirus shutdown , which has thrown millions out of work with the closing of restaurants , businesses and schools .
Health officials have noted that death figures are a lagging indicator of the outbreak , coming after the most severely ill patients fall sick , and do not mean stay-at-home restrictions are failing to curb transmissions .
New York state and some other hard-hit areas continue to report sharp decreases in hospitalizations and numbers of patients on ventilators , although front-line healthcare workers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have also cautioned that coronavirus-related death figures are likely an undercount due to people dying at home or in nursing homes who were never tested for the virus .
President Donald Trump said Wednesday the United States is past the worst of the coronavirus pandemic and that he will announce guidelines for reopening the economy on Thursday .
`` It is clear that our aggressive strategy is working , '' he told a news conference .
`` The battle continues but the data suggests that nationwide we have passed the peak on new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these encouraging developments have put us in a very strong position to finalize guidelines for states on reopening the country . ''
He said he would discuss this in a news conference on Thursday , `` announcing guidelines . ''
Facing a tough re-election in November , the Republican president has been bullish on reopening the world 's largest economy as soon as possible .
On Monday , he threatened to invoke his `` total '' power to force state governors to follow his directives on reopening , prompting an outcry .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , saying he was not going to put `` any pressure '' on governors to reopen .
`` We 'll be opening up states , some states much sooner than others , '' Trump said during his Wednesday briefing .
`` We think some of the states can open up before the deadline of May 1 . ''
`` We 'll be the comeback kids , all of us . ''
Anthony Fauci , the veteran US pandemic expert , said in a televised interview Sunday that parts of the country could begin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that reopening would not work like a `` light switch . ''

President Donald Trump said the United States was past the worst of the coronavirus pandemic and he would announce guidelines for reopening the country on Thursday.
Members of the Gutierrez family mourn graveside, during a non customary military burial service amid an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), for Robert Gutierrez, who was given a Purple Heart award for serving in the Vietnam War and passed away of a non-coronavirus related death, at the Bakersfield National Cemetery in Arvin, California, U.S., April 3, 2020. The family was given limited social distance to the casket, only ten members allowed to attend the funeral and a ceremonial U.S. flag wasn’t given due to precautions from the coronavirus.
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US coronavirus deaths increased by a record number for the second day in a row, rising by 2,569 on Wednesday, based on data from Johns Hopkins University.
The United States recorded its first coronavirus fatality on Feb. 29. It took 38 days to reach 10,000 deaths and just nine more days to go from 10,000 fatalities to 30,000. The previous highest single-day death toll was 2,364 on Tuesday.
Confirmed cases topped 635,000 in the US and 2 million globally.
Despite the spike in fatalities, there were tentative signs in some parts of the country that the outbreak was beginning to ebb.
Governors of about 20 states with fewer coronavirus cases believe they may be ready to start the process of reopening their economies by President Donald Trump's May 1 target date, a top U.S. health official said on Wednesday.
Governors in harder-hit states - New York, California, Louisiana, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Michigan - said there was a need for more widespread testing before starting to end the coronavirus shutdown, which has thrown millions out of work and closed restaurants, businesses and schools.
Health officials have noted that death figures are a lagging indicator of the outbreak, coming after the most severely ill patients fall sick, and do not mean stay-at-home restrictions are failing to curb transmissions.
New York state and some other hard-hit areas continue to report sharp decreases in hospitalisations and numbers of patients on ventilators, although frontline healthcare workers and resources remained under extraordinary stress.
Officials have also cautioned that figures for coronavirus-related deaths are likely inaccurate due to people dying at home or in nursing homes who were never tested for the virus.
'Passed the Peak'
Trump said Wednesday the United States is past the worst of the coronavirus pandemic and that he will announce guidelines for reopening the economy on Thursday.
"It is clear that our aggressive strategy is working," he told a news conference. "The battle continues but the data suggests that nationwide we have passed the peak on new cases."
Trump added that "these encouraging developments have put us in a very strong position to finalize guidelines for states on reopening the country."
He said he would discuss this in a news conference on Thursday, "announcing guidelines."
Facing a tough re-election in November, the Republican president has been bullish on reopening the world's largest economy as soon as possible.
On Monday, he threatened to invoke his "total" power to force state governors to follow his directives on reopening, prompting an outcry.
He backpedaled on the comment the following day, saying he was not going to put "any pressure" on governors to reopen.
"We'll be opening up states, some states much sooner than others," Trump said during his Wednesday briefing. "We think some of the states can open up before the deadline of May 1."
"We'll be the comeback kids, all of us."
Anthony Fauci, the veteran US pandemic expert, said in a televised interview Sunday that parts of the country could begin easing restrictions in May, but cautioned that reopening would not work like a "light switch."
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-15--S. Korean ruling party wins legislative elections in landslide on strength of Covid-19 management

National Election Commission officials count ballots for the parliamentary elections , amid the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) outbreak , in Seoul , South Korea , April 15 , 2020 .
South Korea 's left-leaning ruling party won a landslide victory in Wednesday 's general election , partial results showed , after the coronavirus pandemic turned the political tide in President Moon Jae-in 's favour .
The country uses a mix of first-past-the-post seats and proportional representation , but even before all the individual constituencies were decided , Moon 's Democratic party had taken 163 seats in the 300-member National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sister party was expected to win another 17 proportional representation seats -- due to be declared later Thursday -- for a total of 180 .
The main conservative opposition United Future Party ( UFP ) and its satellite party were forecast to secure a total of 97 seats .
Turnout was 66.2 percent , higher than any parliamentary elections held in the South since 1992 .
Just a few months ago scandals over power abuse and sluggish economic growth threatened the left-leaning president , with critics calling his dovish approach towards North Korea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nuclear and ballistic missile test moratoriums -- unrealistic .
But the South 's relatively quick and effective handling of the epidemic -- it has also exported test kits to at least 20 countries -- has been a boon for Moon ahead of the parliamentary elections , largely seen as a referendum on his performance .
And his so-called `` coronavirus diplomacy '' -- such as recent publicity on his bilateral phone calls with at least 20 state leaders regarding epidemic response -- boosted Koreans ' confidence in his administration , said Minseon Ku @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University in the United States .
She added that the leader has been successfully framing the pandemic as an `` opportunity for South Korea to restructure its economy -- capitalizing on industries like AI and biopharma '' and this `` coupled with South Korea 's global recognition '' for its handling of the outbreak sat well with the voters .
South Korea was among the first countries to hold a national election during the pandemic , with citizens still being asked to maintain social distancing after enduring one of the worst early outbreaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ required to wear protective masks , clean their hands with sanitiser and don plastic gloves , and undergo temperature checks on arrival at the polling station .
Those found to have fevers cast their ballots in separate booths that were disinfected after each user .
The absolute majority win means Moon is likely to be less of a lame duck than previous presidents toward the end of their single five-year term .
`` It should give his administration greater momentum , '' said Andrew Yeo , a politics professor at the Catholic University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prime minister Hwang Kyo-ahn and ex-parliamentary floor leader Na Kyung-won failed to be re-elected .
The conservative party had `` failed to rebrand '' itself after the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye , which `` limited the boundary of support to older generations and core support regions '' , Ji Yeon Hong , a professor at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology , told AFP .
But while the pandemic took public attention away from the opposition 's criticisms , it would be `` dangerous '' if Moon interprets the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't working '' , said Leif-Eric Easley , a professor at Ewha University in Seoul .
`` Seoul 's engagement of Pyongyang has been met with diplomatic insults and missile tests .
Placating China has yielded little benefit , '' he told AFP .
`` Talking tough on Japan has not advanced South Korean interests .
And progressives want to accelerate military command reforms and resist cost-sharing pressures in Seoul 's alliance with Washington . ''

South Korean President Moon Jae-in's ruling party won an absolute majority in parliamentary elections, results on Thursday showed, a landslide victory propelled by successes in the country's efforts to contain the new coronavirus.
National Election Commission officials count ballots for the parliamentary elections, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Seoul, South Korea, April 15, 2020.
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The election was watched around the world as one of the first nationwide votes since the pandemic began.
Authorities took stringent safety measures, disinfecting all 14,000 polling stations and requiring voters to wear masks, have their temperatures checked, use hand sanitizer and plastic gloves and maintain a safe distance from others.
Driven by record high participation in early voting over the weekend, turnout was 66.2%, higher than any parliamentary elections held since 1992, according to the National Election Commission.
About 2,800 coronavirus patients were allowed to vote by mail or in person, using special booths, while more than 13,000 in self-quarantine cast their ballots after polls closed.
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Approval ratings for Moon and his Democratic Party took a serious blow in February when the first major outbreak outside of China hit South Korea, which was already reeling from a stagnant economy and a series of domestic political scandals.
But since then, the administration's largely successful campaign against the virus provided a boon in popularity for Moon and his progressive party.
The ruling camp secured 180 seats in the 300-member, single-chamber parliament, up from the current 120. The main conservative opposition coalition won 103 seats, according to the National Election Commission.
"The people empowered our desperate efforts to overcome the national crisis through the election," Moon said in a statement, thanking citizens for complying with safety guidance and the high voter turnout.
Former prime minister Lee Nak-yon, who ran the ruling party's campaign, said in a televised speech the victory was a "strict command" from the voters to tackle the virus and minimise its economic impact.
A ruling party majority in parliament will help Moon to press ahead with his agenda in his final two years in office, including looser fiscal policies aimed at creating jobs, a higher minimum wage and engagement with North Korea.
Defeat in Daegu
The Democratic Party got a boost from the greater Seoul metropolitan area, where it seized more than 80% of seats up for grabs.
One setback was in the swanky Gangnam district, where a former North Korean diplomat defector standing for the main opposition conservative party beat out a four-term ruling party lawmaker by nearly a 20% margin.
The United Future Party also swept the region of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, which was hardest hit by the coronavirus outbreak.
The area is a longtime conservative stronghold and experts say voter sentiment against the government may have been further fuelled by the initial struggle with the surge in cases there, including controversy over whether a lockdown was necessary.
South Korea has largely managed to bring its epidemic under control without major disruption thanks to an extensive testing campaign and intensive contact tracing, earning praise from the World Health Organization and other nations.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 22 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, bringing the total number to 10,613.
The daily tally of new cases has hovered around 30 in the past week, mostly people arriving from abroad.
"Though the situation is still tough, I think the government's response to the coronavirus, including its preparations for the vote, could have helped in the election," said Han Ga-hae, a 28-year-old voter.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-15--Covid-19: G20 endorses temporary debt standstill for the poorest countries

A handout photo released by the Saudi Energy Ministry on April 10 , 2020 shows Saudi Arabia 's Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman ( 3rd-L ) chairing a virtual extraordinary meeting of G20 Oil ministers , in the capital Riyadh .
The Group of 20 nations announced support Wednesday for a temporary halt to debt payments by the world 's poorest nations as they struggle to deal with the coronavirus pandemic .
`` We support a time-bound suspension of debt service payments for the poorest countries that request forbearance , '' the G20 finance ministers and central bankers said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` All bilateral official creditors will participate in this initiative . ''
The group , which brings together the world 's largest economies , also called on private creditors , working through the Institute of International Finance , to participate in the initiative that extends to the world 's 76 poorest countries .
The International Monetary Fund and World Bank had been calling on the governments to provide six months of debt relief to the countries most in need , and finance ministers from the Group of Seven advanced economies agreed to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including China and Russia , was in favor .
`` This is a powerful , fast-acting initiative that will do much to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of millions of the most vulnerable people , '' the leaders of the IMF and World Bank said in a joint statement .
The IMF on Monday approved a six month standstill on debt payments from 25 nations , mostly in Africa .
The G20 officials also reiterated their commitment to deploy `` available tools '' to deal with the health and economic crisis caused by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and be amplified , '' the communique said .

The Group of 20 nations announced support Wednesday for a temporary halt to debt payments by the world's poorest nations as they struggle to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.
A handout photo released by the Saudi Energy Ministry on April 10, 2020 shows Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman (3rd-L) chairing a virtual extraordinary meeting of G20 Oil ministers, in the capital Riyadh.
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"We support a time-bound suspension of debt service payments for the poorest countries that request forbearance," the G20 finance ministers and central bankers said in a communique following their virtual meeting. "All bilateral official creditors will participate in this initiative."
The group, which brings together the world's largest economies, also called on private creditors, working through the Institute of International Finance, to participate in the initiative that extends to the world's 76 poorest countries.
The International Monetary Fund and World Bank had been calling on the governments to provide six months of debt relief to the countries most in need, and finance ministers from the Group of Seven advanced economies agreed to do so on Tuesday providing the G20, including China and Russia, was in favor.
"This is a powerful, fast-acting initiative that will do much to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of millions of the most vulnerable people," the leaders of the IMF and World Bank said in a joint statement.
The IMF on Monday approved a six month standstill on debt payments from 25 nations, mostly in Africa.
The G20 officials also reiterated their commitment to deploy "available tools" to deal with the health and economic crisis caused by COVID-19.
"Our efforts must continue and be amplified," the communique said.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-04-15--A third of French aircraft carrier crew have Covid-19, says defence ministry

A third of the nearly 2,000 sailors who were aboard France 's aircraft carrier and support craft when a coronavirus outbreak occurred at sea have tested positive for the virus , the defence ministry said on Wednesday .
With two-thirds of test results in , 668 sailors from the Charles-de-Gaulle and escort vessels in its battle group are confirmed to have the virus , it said .
Thirty-one were being treated in hospital , and one was in intensive care , a ministry statement said .
Last week , it was decided to bring the Charles-de-Gaulle home 10 days early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some crew members showed coronavirus symptoms .
The carrier which had helicopters and fighter jets on board , was accompanied by two frigates -- one for aerial defence and the other an anti-submarine vessel .
Sailors from the Charles-de-Gaulle , one of the frigates and the pilots who returned the aircraft to their respective bases , are all placed in isolation for 14 days , the ministry said .
There had been no virus outbreak on the other frigate .
So far , 1,767 sailors from the battle group have been tested for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the aircraft carrier itself , said the ministry statement .
Some thirty percent of results are still outstanding , meaning more than half of those tested so far have come back positive .
The Charles-de-Gaulle , which can transport about 2,000 sailors , had been deployed in the Atlantic as part of a NATO exercise after taking part in Operation Chammal that seeks to contain the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria .
The vessels in the battle group are being disinfected , the ministry said .

A third of the nearly 2,000 sailors who were aboard France's aircraft carrier and support craft when a coronavirus outbreak occurred at sea have tested positive for the virus, the defence ministry said on Wednesday.
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With two-thirds of test results in, 668 sailors from the Charles-de-Gaulle and escort vessels in its battle group are confirmed to have the virus, it said.
Thirty-one were being treated in hospital, and one was in intensive care, a ministry statement said.
Last week, it was decided to bring the Charles-de-Gaulle home 10 days early from a deployment in the Atlantic after some crew members showed coronavirus symptoms.
The carrier which had helicopters and fighter jets on board, was accompanied by two frigates -- one for aerial defence and the other an anti-submarine vessel.
Sailors from the Charles-de-Gaulle, one of the frigates and the pilots who returned the aircraft to their respective bases, are all placed in isolation for 14 days, the ministry said.
There had been no virus outbreak on the other frigate.
So far, 1,767 sailors from the battle group have been tested for the virus, the vast majority from the aircraft carrier itself, said the ministry statement.
Some thirty percent of results are still outstanding, meaning more than half of those tested so far have come back positive.
The Charles-de-Gaulle, which can transport about 2,000 sailors, had been deployed in the Atlantic as part of a NATO exercise after taking part in Operation Chammal that seeks to contain the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.
The vessels in the battle group are being disinfected, the ministry said.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-04-15--China denies criticising France's response to Covid-19 crisis

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian takes a question at the daily media briefing in Beijing on April 8 , 2020 .
China on Tuesday denied criticising France 's response to the coronavirus pandemic , saying there had been `` misunderstandings '' after French officials summoned the Chinese ambassador in Paris .
`` China has never issued negative comments on the way France has handled the epidemic , '' foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a regular press briefing .
`` To the contrary , we share the concerns of France , which today faces the serious challenges brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ embassy to France has been leading a high-profile public relations campaign in recent weeks to vaunt the country 's success in largely quelling the coronavirus while criticising the handling of the crisis by Western countries .
On Sunday , the Chinese embassy published on its website a long text titled `` Restoring distorted facts - Observations of a Chinese diplomat posted to Paris '' .
The diplomat , who was not named in the text , sharply criticised the Western response to the coronavirus outbreak as laggardly .
But most pointedly , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` abandoning their posts overnight ... and leaving their residents to die of hunger and disease '' .
That comment sparked fury across the political spectrum in France , with people leaping to the defence of nursing home workers .
The French version of the text used the acronym for French nursing homes , but the Chinese version used a general term for the facilities and the embassy later said it was referring to deaths in Spain .
Zhao said Chinese embassies have been responding to `` false information '' and `` unfounded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some media , experts and Western politicians .
`` This is to clarify certain facts , to explain our position of principle , and to preserve the current international cooperation against the epidemic , '' Zhao said .
`` We hope that the French side will dispel these misunderstandings . ''

China on Tuesday denied criticising France's response to the coronavirus pandemic, saying there had been "misunderstandings" after French officials summoned the Chinese ambassador in Paris.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian takes a question at the daily media briefing in Beijing on April 8, 2020.
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"China has never issued negative comments on the way France has handled the epidemic," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a regular press briefing.
"To the contrary, we share the concerns of France, which today faces the serious challenges brought by this epidemic."
China's embassy to France has been leading a high-profile public relations campaign in recent weeks to vaunt the country's success in largely quelling the coronavirus while criticising the handling of the crisis by Western countries.
On Sunday, the Chinese embassy published on its website a long text titled "Restoring distorted facts - Observations of a Chinese diplomat posted to Paris".
The diplomat, who was not named in the text, sharply criticised the Western response to the coronavirus outbreak as laggardly.
But most pointedly, the diplomat accused workers at nursing homes of "abandoning their posts overnight... and leaving their residents to die of hunger and disease".
That comment sparked fury across the political spectrum in France, with people leaping to the defence of nursing home workers.
The French version of the text used the acronym for French nursing homes, but the Chinese version used a general term for the facilities and the embassy later said it was referring to deaths in Spain.
Zhao said Chinese embassies have been responding to "false information" and "unfounded criticism" of Sino-French cooperation made by some media, experts and Western politicians.
"This is to clarify certain facts, to explain our position of principle, and to preserve the current international cooperation against the epidemic," Zhao said.
"We hope that the French side will dispel these misunderstandings."
(AFP)
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france24--2020-04-15--Trump’s WHO funding freeze sparks global outcry as virus toll mounts

The US president announces his decision to defund the world 's health body at the White House on April 14 , 2020 .
Global efforts to join forces against the coronavirus faltered Wednesday after Donald Trump halted funding for the World Health Organization , igniting criticism from leaders who are urging solidarity in the face of a crippling economic crisis .
The US president 's shock move came as a patchwork of countries experiment with loosening lockdown measures , ushering the planet into a new and uncertain phase of a pandemic that has killed more than 125,000 people worldwide and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe , Denmark became the first country on the badly-hit continent to start reopening schools , while Finland lifted a travel blockade on the Helsinki region .
Italy and Spain have also allowed some businesses to restart after signs both are finally flattening the curve following weeks of punishing death tolls .
But as leaders launch into delicate debates of how to jump-start economies without triggering new waves of infection , Trump rattled efforts at global solidarity by ramping up his blame-game with the WHO , the UN 's health agency .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pending a review into the WHO 's role in `` severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus '' .
Trump charged that the outbreak could have been contained `` with very little death '' if the WHO had accurately assessed the situation in China , where the disease broke out late last year .
Leaders around the globe fired back at the US president , who had initially downplayed the dangers of a virus that has now killed more people in the United Sates than any other country on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would `` undermine the international cooperation '' at a `` critical moment '' in the pandemic .
Trump also earned a rebuke from UN chief Antonio Guterres as well as entrepreneur Bill Gates who tweeted that cutting funding was `` as dangerous as it sounds '' .
`` There is no reason justifying this move at a moment when their efforts are needed more than ever to help contain and mitigate the coronavirus pandemic , '' Josep Borrell said in a tweet .
Trump 's controversial attack came the world is facing down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ International Monetary Fund has said could see $ 9 trillion wiped from the global economy in the worst downturn since the 1930s Great Depression .
Underlining the point , Europe 's powerhouse Germany has been in recession since March , the government said Wednesday .
The virus-hit Chinese economy , second only to the US , probably contracted for the first time in around three decades in the first quarter , according to an AFP poll of economists .
Meanwhile finance ministers from the G20 -- the world 's richest countries -- held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mororatorium for poor states struggling to weather the costs of the pandemic .
With tentative hope the pandemic could be past its peak in some European hotspots , countries are gradually lifting restrictions - to mixed reception .
Children started returning to nurseries , kindergartens and primary schools in parts of Denmark , where other measures , such as the closing of borders , bars , restaurants remained in place .
Finland 's Prime Minister Sanna Marin also lifted a travel ban in the Helsinki region even as she urged residents to continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not the right time to go to the summer cottage '' .
Italy , the first European country to enter a full lockdown , is allowing bookshops , launderettes , stationers and children 's clothing retailers to reopen .
And Spain , which saw another dip in its daily death toll , has permitted work to start some factories and construction sites , though most people remain under strict stay-at-home measures .
Yet warnings abound that a real return to normal is still a long way off .
Spain 's Prime Minister Pedro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that `` nothing will be the same until a vaccine is found '' .
Germany was also expected to extend its coronavirus restrictions to May 3 , regional government sources said Wednesday .
Harvard scientists , meanwhile , have warned it is unlikely that one-time lockdowns will do the job , predicting that repeated periods of social distancing could be needed into 2022 to avoid overwhelming hospitals .
Elsewhere , governments are struggling to enforce lockdowns in impoverished regions where shutdowns are spreading hunger among the poorest .
As the virus appeared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of richer Europe , it is slowly taking hold in Africa , which has seen 15,000 cases and 800 deaths continent-wide -- with fears over growing hunger and possible social unrest .
`` You are condemning people to a choice between starving and getting sick , '' said Jakkie Cilliers at the Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies ( ISS ) , wrning that lockdowns were unsustainable across much of Africa .
`` It 's not possible for 10 people living in a tin shack ... to not go outside for three weeks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ecuador , where hunger trumps fear of the virus for residents in rundown areas of the badly affected city of Guayaquil .
`` The police come with a whip to send people running , but how do you say to a poor person 'Stay home ' if you do n't have enough to eat ? ''
said Carlos Valencia , a 35-year-old teacher .
The city 's mayor has warned that overstretched medical facilities mean many are dying without the chance to be tested -- a reality that could be be hiding the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poorer places .
People are continuing to `` collapse in their houses , in the hospitals , all over the place , '' said mayor Cynthia Viteri .
However , in parts of the world that saw early outbreaks , there were some hopeful examples of life going on as normal .
Though they were required to wear face masks and gloves , South Koreans nevertheless headed to the polls Wednesday and delivered a strong show of support for President Moon Jae-in , commending his handling of the epidemic .

Global efforts to join forces against the coronavirus faltered Wednesday after Donald Trump halted funding for the World Health Organization, igniting criticism from leaders who are urging solidarity in the face of a crippling economic crisis.
The US president announces his decision to defund the world's health body at the White House on April 14, 2020.
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The US president's shock move came as a patchwork of countries experiment with loosening lockdown measures, ushering the planet into a new and uncertain phase of a pandemic that has killed more than 125,000 people worldwide and infected at least two million.
In Europe, Denmark became the first country on the badly-hit continent to start reopening schools, while Finland lifted a travel blockade on the Helsinki region.
Italy and Spain have also allowed some businesses to restart after signs both are finally flattening the curve following weeks of punishing death tolls.
But as leaders launch into delicate debates of how to jump-start economies without triggering new waves of infection, Trump rattled efforts at global solidarity by ramping up his blame-game with the WHO, the UN's health agency.
The president ordered the US to freeze funding pending a review into the WHO's role in "severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus".
President @realDonaldTrump is halting funding of the World Health Organization while a review is conducted to assess WHO's role in mismanaging the Coronavirus outbreak. pic.twitter.com/jTrEf4WWj0 — The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 14, 2020
Trump charged that the outbreak could have been contained "with very little death" if the WHO had accurately assessed the situation in China, where the disease broke out late last year.
Leaders around the globe fired back at the US president, who had initially downplayed the dangers of a virus that has now killed more people in the United Sates than any other country on the planet.
Beijing warned that the move would "undermine the international cooperation" at a "critical moment" in the pandemic.
Trump also earned a rebuke from UN chief Antonio Guterres as well as entrepreneur Bill Gates who tweeted that cutting funding was "as dangerous as it sounds".
The European Union's foreign policy chief was similarly disapproving.
"There is no reason justifying this move at a moment when their efforts are needed more than ever to help contain and mitigate the coronavirus pandemic," Josep Borrell said in a tweet.
Deeply regret US decision to suspend funding to @WHO. There is no reason justifying this move at a moment when their efforts are needed more than ever to help contain & mitigate the #coronavirus pandemic. Only by joining forces we can overcome this crisis that knows no borders. — Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) April 15, 2020
And African Union chief Moussa Faki Mahamat condemned Trump's decision as "deeply regrettable".
Trump's controversial attack came the world is facing down a looming economic catastrophe, which the International Monetary Fund has said could see $9 trillion wiped from the global economy in the worst downturn since the 1930s Great Depression.
Underlining the point, Europe's powerhouse Germany has been in recession since March, the government said Wednesday.
The virus-hit Chinese economy, second only to the US, probably contracted for the first time in around three decades in the first quarter, according to an AFP poll of economists.
Meanwhile finance ministers from the G20 -- the world's richest countries -- held virtual talks Wednesday about a possible debt mororatorium for poor states struggling to weather the costs of the pandemic.
European lockdowns easing
With tentative hope the pandemic could be past its peak in some European hotspots, countries are gradually lifting restrictions - to mixed reception.
Children started returning to nurseries, kindergartens and primary schools in parts of Denmark, where other measures, such as the closing of borders, bars, restaurants remained in place.
Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin also lifted a travel ban in the Helsinki region even as she urged residents to continue avoiding movement, saying "now is not the right time to go to the summer cottage".
Italy, the first European country to enter a full lockdown, is allowing bookshops, launderettes, stationers and children's clothing retailers to reopen.
And Spain, which saw another dip in its daily death toll, has permitted work to start some factories and construction sites, though most people remain under strict stay-at-home measures.
Yet warnings abound that a real return to normal is still a long way off.
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the confinement was working but that "nothing will be the same until a vaccine is found".
Germany was also expected to extend its coronavirus restrictions to May 3, regional government sources said Wednesday.
Harvard scientists, meanwhile, have warned it is unlikely that one-time lockdowns will do the job, predicting that repeated periods of social distancing could be needed into 2022 to avoid overwhelming hospitals.
'Unenforceable and unsustainable'
Elsewhere, governments are struggling to enforce lockdowns in impoverished regions where shutdowns are spreading hunger among the poorest.
As the virus appeared to be on the retreat in some parts of richer Europe, it is slowly taking hold in Africa, which has seen 15,000 cases and 800 deaths continent-wide -- with fears over growing hunger and possible social unrest.
"You are condemning people to a choice between starving and getting sick," said Jakkie Cilliers at the Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies (ISS), wrning that lockdowns were unsustainable across much of Africa.
"It's not possible for 10 people living in a tin shack... to not go outside for three weeks."
A similar crisis is emerging in Ecuador, where hunger trumps fear of the virus for residents in rundown areas of the badly affected city of Guayaquil.
"The police come with a whip to send people running, but how do you say to a poor person 'Stay home' if you don't have enough to eat?" said Carlos Valencia, a 35-year-old teacher.
The city's mayor has warned that overstretched medical facilities mean many are dying without the chance to be tested -- a reality that could be be hiding the true extent of the carnage in many poorer places.
People are continuing to "collapse in their houses, in the hospitals, all over the place," said mayor Cynthia Viteri.
However, in parts of the world that saw early outbreaks, there were some hopeful examples of life going on as normal.
Though they were required to wear face masks and gloves, South Koreans nevertheless headed to the polls Wednesday and delivered a strong show of support for President Moon Jae-in, commending his handling of the epidemic.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-04-15--A year after the Notre-Dame fire, restoration is suspended amid Covid-19 lockdown

On the first anniversary Wednesday of the devastating blaze that ripped through Notre-Dame Cathedral , there are no builders on site and the scientists involved are working from home .
FRANCE 24 investigates how Covid-19 is affecting the reconstruction of the 850-year-old monument .
The construction site engulfing Paris ’ s Notre-Dame Cathedral stands silent , all restoration and rubble-clearing stopped in its tracks on the first anniversary of the blaze .
Before France ’ s Covid-19 lockdown , around 100 workers were present at the site : engineers , architects , archaeologists and scientists .
But since March 16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while a weekly visit by the public body overseeing the restoration ensures that everything is in order .
At 8pm on Wednesday evening the cathedral 's great bell rang out across the capital in support of the care workers on the Covid-19 frontline , and to pay tribute to the Gothic landmark 's resilience .
The day before the anniversary of the fire , Jean-Louis Georgelin , the French general and former military chief of staff appointed by President Emmanuel Macron to oversee the restoration , toured the restricted zone .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can , ” he told FRANCE 24 , adding that Covid-19 protection measures would have to be assessed “ extremely carefully ” to protect the employees and experts from across France who are working on the reconstruction .
“ We have to be sure they are protected and not exposed to this damned virus in a way that could threaten their health at either their accommodations [ in Paris ] or on site.
” The first employees to get back to work would be those tasked with dismantling the nearly 300 tonnes of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Georgelin .
Originally in place to repair the roof , the fire turned the scaffolding into 40,000 pieces of mangled metal that threaten to destabilise Notre-Dame ’ s structure if they fall on any of the weakened walls .
Only after they are painstakingly removed will the Cathedral be out of danger , although Georgelin said he is optimistic .
“ We now have a year ’ s worth of experience to draw on .
We have taken measurements all around the Cathedral and we can see that it has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expect for a gothic structure of this size , ” he said , adding that he expects the scaffolding to be taken down by mid-summer .
Asked about the ambitious five-year timeline set by French President Emmanuel Macron to reopen Notre-Dame by 2024 ( the year France is due to host the summer Olympics ) , Georgelin said simply : “ We will have to roll up our sleeves and get to work.
” Meanwhile , many of the other specialists who were working on Notre-Dame will continue working from home .
Experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Laboratoire de recherche des monuments historiques ) were accessing the site until mid-March , extracting and analysing the Cathedral ’ s stone , timber , glass and metal to assess the extent of the fire and water damage .
Thierry Zimmer , deputy director of the research laboratory , told FRANCE 24 that the work on site has come to a standstill .
“ Everyone went home with their hard drives , ” he said , adding that now they are “ writing reports and analysing data ” for use when the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certain frustration at the delay .
“ We were still in the process of sorting and clearing , ” he said .
“ We were able to take two initial samples from the vaults of Notre Dame for testing , but then we had to stop for the lockdown because it is now impossible to get up into the vaults.
” As soon as they get back on site , scientists will also be conducting tests on two chapels to assess the damage to the paintwork .
That will help determine the best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repair work – as opposed to securing the site , clearing debris and initial testing – finally gets under way .
That is now expected to start at the beginning of next year .

On the first anniversary Wednesday of the devastating blaze that ripped through Notre-Dame Cathedral, there are no builders on site and the scientists involved are working from home. FRANCE 24 investigates how Covid-19 is affecting the reconstruction of the 850-year-old monument.
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The construction site engulfing Paris’s Notre-Dame Cathedral stands silent, all restoration and rubble-clearing stopped in its tracks on the first anniversary of the blaze.
Before France’s Covid-19 lockdown, around 100 workers were present at the site: engineers, architects, archaeologists and scientists. But since March 16 only a security team guards the entrance while a weekly visit by the public body overseeing the restoration ensures that everything is in order.
At 8pm on Wednesday evening the cathedral's great bell rang out
across the capital in support of the care workers on the Covid-19 frontline, and to pay tribute to the Gothic landmark's resilience.
Ce soir, le "Bourdon" de #NotreDame résonne à nouveau en hommage aux soignants qui luttent contre le #COVID19.
Un an après l’incendie de la cathédrale, nous n’oublions rien du courage de ceux qui se sont battus pour la sauver & de l’élan de générosité. pic.twitter.com/uBppca7q9q — Pieyre-Alexandre Anglade (@PA_Anglade) April 15, 2020
The day before the anniversary of the fire, Jean-Louis Georgelin, the French general and former military chief of staff appointed by President Emmanuel Macron to oversee the restoration, toured the restricted zone.
“We will restart work as soon as we can,” he told FRANCE 24, adding that Covid-19 protection measures would have to be assessed “extremely carefully” to protect the employees and experts from across France who are working on the reconstruction. “We have to be sure they are protected and not exposed to this damned virus in a way that could threaten their health at either their accommodations [in Paris] or on site.”
02:12
The first employees to get back to work would be those tasked with dismantling the nearly 300 tonnes of burned and broken scaffolding on the Cathedral, said Georgelin. Originally in place to repair the roof, the fire turned the scaffolding into 40,000 pieces of mangled metal that threaten to destabilise Notre-Dame’s structure if they fall on any of the weakened walls. Only after they are painstakingly removed will the Cathedral be out of danger, although Georgelin said he is optimistic.
“We now have a year’s worth of experience to draw on. We have taken measurements all around the Cathedral and we can see that it has not moved any more than you’d expect for a gothic structure of this size,” he said, adding that he expects the scaffolding to be taken down by mid-summer.
Asked about the ambitious five-year timeline set by French President Emmanuel Macron to reopen Notre-Dame by 2024 (the year France is due to host the summer Olympics), Georgelin said simply: “We will have to roll up our sleeves and get to work.”
Scientists analysing debris inside Notre-Dame Cathedral. © Laboratoire de recherche des monuments nationaux
Meanwhile, many of the other specialists who were working on Notre-Dame will continue working from home. Experts from the Historical Monuments Research Laboratory (Laboratoire de recherche des monuments historiques) were accessing the site until mid-March, extracting and analysing the Cathedral’s stone, timber, glass and metal to assess the extent of the fire and water damage.
Thierry Zimmer, deputy director of the research laboratory, told FRANCE 24 that the work on site has come to a standstill. “Everyone went home with their hard drives,” he said, adding that now they are “writing reports and analysing data” for use when the coronavirus lockdown is lifted.
Zimmer voices a certain frustration at the delay. “We were still in the process of sorting and clearing,” he said. “We were able to take two initial samples from the vaults of Notre Dame for testing, but then we had to stop for the lockdown because it is now impossible to get up into the vaults.”
As soon as they get back on site, scientists will also be conducting tests on two chapels to assess the damage to the paintwork. That will help determine the best restoration techniques to use when the actual repair work – as opposed to securing the site, clearing debris and initial testing – finally gets under way. That is now expected to start at the beginning of next year.
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france24--2020-04-15--Amazon closes French warehouses for five days after court ruling

The Nanterre court ruled that Amazon deliveries in France should be limited in a move to protect workers from the deadly coronavirus .
Amazon will close its warehouses in France until at least early next week after a court ordered it to limit deliveries to essential goods such as food and medical supplies .
In an internal document sent to French unions ahead of a meeting on Wednesday afternoon , Amazon said it planned to close the country 's six warehouses , which employ 10,000 permanent and interim workers , from April 16 until April 20 at least .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ production activities in all of its distribution centers in order to assess the inherent risks in the COVID-19 epidemic and take the necessary measures to ensure the safety of its employees ( during that period ) , '' Amazon said in the document seen by Reuters .
During the suspension , Amazon will tap a state partial unemployment scheme to pay its employees , the group said in the internal document .
The world 's largest online retailer is facing mounting scrutiny on both sides of the Atlantic of the health measures it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the coronavirus while it deals with a surge in online orders .
With most shops in France shuttered as the government tries to contain the pandemic , the closure of the warehouses will likely disrupt deliveries across the country .
In a ruling on Tuesday , a French court said Amazon had to carry out a more thorough assessment of the risk of coronavirus contagion at its warehouses and should restrict its deliveries in the meantime , or face a fine .
`` We 're puzzled by the court ruling given the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put in place to protect our employees '' , Amazon said in a statement .
`` Our interpretation suggests that we may be forced to suspend the activity of our distribution centres in France , '' the group said , adding it would appeal the decision .
The case followed a complaint filed by Union Syndicale Solidaires , a French group of trade unions .
Some of them had called for the complete closure of Amazon 's activities in France , or at the very least a clampdown , after raising concerns over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arguing they were too crowded .
Amazon currently employs close to 10,000 people at its six French warehouses , 6,500 of whom are on permanent contracts , according to the court decision .
Cases of COVID-19 , the flu-like infection caused by the virus , have been reported among staff from at least 19 Amazon warehouses in the United States and the company has been hit by high-profile protests at several warehouses there .

Amazon will close its warehouses in France until at least early next week after a court ordered it to limit deliveries to essential goods such as food and medical supplies.
The Nanterre court ruled that Amazon deliveries in France should be limited in a move to protect workers from the deadly coronavirus.
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In an internal document sent to French unions ahead of a meeting on Wednesday afternoon, Amazon said it planned to close the country's six warehouses, which employ 10,000 permanent and interim workers, from April 16 until April 20 at least.
"The company is forced to suspend all production activities in all of its distribution centers in order to assess the inherent risks in the COVID-19 epidemic and take the necessary measures to ensure the safety of its employees (during that period)," Amazon said in the document seen by Reuters.
During the suspension, Amazon will tap a state partial unemployment scheme to pay its employees, the group said in the internal document.
Amazon's French subsidiary did not return calls seeking comments.
The world's largest online retailer is facing mounting scrutiny on both sides of the Atlantic of the health measures it has put in place to protect employees from the coronavirus while it deals with a surge in online orders.
With most shops in France shuttered as the government tries to contain the pandemic, the closure of the warehouses will likely disrupt deliveries across the country.
In a ruling on Tuesday, a French court said Amazon had to carry out a more thorough assessment of the risk of coronavirus contagion at its warehouses and should restrict its deliveries in the meantime, or face a fine.
"We're puzzled by the court ruling given the hard evidence brought forward regarding security measures put in place to protect our employees", Amazon said in a statement.
"Our interpretation suggests that we may be forced to suspend the activity of our distribution centres in France," the group said, adding it would appeal the decision.
The case followed a complaint filed by Union Syndicale Solidaires, a French group of trade unions.
Some of them had called for the complete closure of Amazon's activities in France, or at the very least a clampdown, after raising concerns over health standards at its shipping sites, arguing they were too crowded.
Amazon currently employs close to 10,000 people at its six French warehouses, 6,500 of whom are on permanent contracts, according to the court decision.
Cases of COVID-19, the flu-like infection caused by the virus, have been reported among staff from at least 19 Amazon warehouses in the United States and the company has been hit by high-profile protests at several warehouses there.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-15--France announces €1,500 bonus for health workers on Covid-19 front line

French health workers carry a patient on a stretcher from Mulhouse hospital before a helicopter transport on March 23 , 2020 .
France 's Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Wednesday said healthcare staff working in areas most impacted by the new coronavirus would receive a bonus of 1,500 euros ( $ 1,637 ) as well as higher pay than usual for their extra hours .
Philippe was speaking after a cabinet meeting that decided on a 110 billion euros rescue package to support the economy through the coronavirus crisis .
Philippe says France ’ s emergency package has been more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( $ 120 billion ) in aid for businesses and workers hard-hit by the virus crisis .
This plan includes 24 billion euros ( $ 26 billion ) for workers on partial unemployment because their companies have shut down amid the country ’ s lockdown since March 17 .
It also includes 8 billion euros ( 8.7 billion ) for emergency health expenses , including masks and medical equipment , and a special aid allocated to French poorest households .
France is forecasting an 8 % drop in growth this year because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worst recession since World War II .

France's Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Wednesday said healthcare staff working in areas most impacted by the new coronavirus would receive a bonus of 1,500 euros ($1,637) as well as higher pay than usual for their extra hours.
French health workers carry a patient on a stretcher from Mulhouse hospital before a helicopter transport on March 23, 2020.
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Philippe was speaking after a cabinet meeting that decided on a 110 billion euros rescue package to support the economy through the coronavirus crisis.
Philippe says France’s emergency package has been more than doubled to reach 110 billion euros ($120 billion) in aid for businesses and workers hard-hit by the virus crisis.
This plan includes 24 billion euros ($26 billion) for workers on partial unemployment because their companies have shut down amid the country’s lockdown since March 17. It also includes 8 billion euros (8.7 billion) for emergency health expenses, including masks and medical equipment, and a special aid allocated to French poorest households.
France is forecasting an 8% drop in growth this year because of virus confinement measures as it faces its worst recession since World War II.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-15--UK WWII veteran raises millions for the NHS by walking laps in his garden

Retired British Army Captain Tom Moore , 99 , walks to raise money for health workers , by attempting to walk the length of his garden one hundred times before his 100th birthday this month as the spread of coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) continues , Marston Moretaine , Britain , April 15 , 2020 A 99-year-old British army veteran who started walking laps in his garden as part of a humble fundraiser for the National Health Service has surprised himself by generating millions of pounds .
Tom Moore 's family used social media to help him get donations to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic as a way to thank the doctors and nurses who took care of him when he broke his hip .
Moore , who uses a walker while putting in his paces , aimed to complete 100 laps of his 25-metre garden before he turns 100 on April 30 .
His family thought it would be a stretch to reach the 1,000-pound fundraising goal set for Moore 's campaign last week .
But the drive clearly captured the public mood at a time of national crisis .
Within days , the cause attracted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8.5 million pounds .
Celebrities , fellow veterans , health workers and many other Britons have rallied behind Moore after the World War II veteran and his family appeared on national television .
Moore said the response was “ completely out of this world '' .
“ Thank you so much to all you people who subscribe to the National Health Service , because for every penny that we get , they deserve every one of it , ” he told the BBC .
Moore trained as a civil engineer before enlisting in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the rank of captain and served in India and Burma .
His daughter described the flood of donations to be “ beyond our wildest expectations '' .
“ Whilst he ’ s had a life full of purpose , he did fall and break his hip and became much less independent than he had been for the preceding 98 years , ” Hannah Ingram-Moore told the BBC on Wednesday .
“ What you have done , the British public and everyone who ’ s supported him , is giving him his next @ @ @

A 99-year-old British army veteran who started walking laps in his garden as part of a humble fundraiser for the National Health Service has surprised himself by generating millions of pounds.
Retired British Army Captain Tom Moore, 99, walks to raise money for health workers, by attempting to walk the length of his garden one hundred times before his 100th birthday this month as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, Marston Moretaine, Britain, April 15, 2020
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Tom Moore's family used social media to help him get donations to support health care workers during the coronavirus pandemic as a way to thank the doctors and nurses who took care of him when he broke his hip.
Moore, who uses a walker while putting in his paces, aimed to complete 100 laps of his 25-metre garden before he turns 100 on April 30.
His family thought it would be a stretch to reach the 1,000-pound fundraising goal set for Moore's campaign last week. But the drive clearly captured the public mood at a time of national crisis. Within days, the cause attracted more than 250,000 supporters pledging more than 8.5 million pounds.
Celebrities, fellow veterans, health workers and many other Britons have rallied behind Moore after the World War II veteran and his family appeared on national television.
I’m Captain Tom Moore, war veteran, 99 years of age (soon to be 100) and I’m walking for the NHS to raise money for our heroes.https://t.co/M1dkvoV3kE — Captain Tom Moore (@captaintommoore) April 10, 2020
Moore said the response was “completely out of this world".
“Thank you so much to all you people who subscribe to the National Health Service, because for every penny that we get, they deserve every one of it,” he told the BBC.
Moore trained as a civil engineer before enlisting in the army during WWII. He rose to the rank of captain and served in India and Burma.
His daughter described the flood of donations to be “beyond our wildest expectations".
“Whilst he’s had a life full of purpose, he did fall and break his hip and became much less independent than he had been for the preceding 98 years,” Hannah Ingram-Moore told the BBC on Wednesday. “What you have done, the British public and everyone who’s supported him, is giving him his next purpose.”
(FRANCE 24 with AP)
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france24--2020-04-15--UK Covid-19 hospital death toll rises by 761 in 24 hours

Military personnel are seen testing people at a coronavirus test centre in the car park of Chessington World of Adventures as the spread of the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) continues , Chessington , Britain , April 15 , 2020 .
The United Kingdom 's hospital death toll from COVID-19 rose by 761 to 12,868 as of 1600 on April 14 , the health ministry said .
The 761 rise is down from 778 in the previous period and a high of 980 on April 10 .
The ministry said 313,769 people have been tested of which 98,476 tested positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far exceeds the hospital toll as people have also died in nursing homes and in the wider community , broader data showed on Tuesday .
Deaths in English hospitals rose 651 to 11,656 , the national health service said .
Twenty of the 651 patients ( aged between 20 and 101 ) had no known underlying health condition .
The official British death toll is the fifth-highest globally after the United States , Italy , Spain and France .
Scientists and opposition leaders have said they fear the United Kingdom could be the @ @ @ @ @

The United Kingdom's hospital death toll from COVID-19 rose by 761 to 12,868 as of 1600 on April 14, the health ministry said.
Military personnel are seen testing people at a coronavirus test centre in the car park of Chessington World of Adventures as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, Chessington, Britain, April 15, 2020.
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The 761 rise is down from 778 in the previous period and a high of 980 on April 10.
The ministry said 313,769 people have been tested of which 98,476 tested positive.
The true UK death toll however far exceeds the hospital toll as people have also died in nursing homes and in the wider community, broader data showed on Tuesday.
Deaths in English hospitals rose 651 to 11,656, the national health service said. Twenty of the 651 patients (aged between 20 and 101) had no known underlying health condition.
The official British death toll is the fifth-highest globally after the United States, Italy, Spain and France. Scientists and opposition leaders have said they fear the United Kingdom could be the worst-hit country in Europe.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-15--Covid-19 delays Tour de France until August 29

The Tour de France , cycling 's biggest race , has been postponed to Aug 29-Sept 20 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic , the International Cycling Union ( UCI ) said on Wednesday .
The Tour was originally slated to start from Nice on June 27 and finish in Paris on July 19 , but has been forced to reschedule with large public gatherings banned until mid-July under France 's coronavirus lockdown .
The UCI added that Italy 's Giro and Spain 's Vuelta would follow the Tour in a revised calendar and the men 's road race at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , would go ahead as scheduled on Sept 27 .
Tour general director Christian Prudhomme has said riders will need two months after the lockdown ends to prepare for the race .
The race ’ s route is over 3,000km long , with roughly 500,000 fans lining the roads each day .
Suggestions the Tour could be held without the supporters had been ruled out .
“ The Tour de France is 3000km of smiles , ” Prudhomme said regarding roadside gatherings .
“ We won ’ t run a Tour de France @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 176 riders on a Tour , but the whole event involves around 4,500 people , with team staff , police and media all moving every day .
The “ Grande Boucle ” , as the Tour is known in France , is the central economic pillar which supports the sports ’ 22 professional teams .

The Tour de France, cycling's biggest race, has been postponed to Aug 29-Sept 20 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the International Cycling Union (UCI) said on Wednesday.
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The Tour was originally slated to start from Nice on June 27 and finish in Paris on July 19, but has been forced to reschedule with large public gatherings banned until mid-July under France's coronavirus lockdown.
The UCI added that Italy's Giro and Spain's Vuelta would follow the Tour in a revised calendar and the men's road race at the world championships in Martigny, Switzerland, would go ahead as scheduled on Sept 27.
Tour general director Christian Prudhomme has said riders will need two months after the lockdown ends to prepare for the race.
Le Tour de France will take place on the planned route, with no changes, from Nice to Paris, from Saturday 29th August to Sunday 20th September.
For more information ➡ https://t.co/Ik9vmcp7sN#TDF2020 pic.twitter.com/0HSJLLYnXs — Tour de France™ (@LeTour) April 15, 2020
The race’s route is over 3,000km long, with roughly 500,000 fans lining the roads each day. Suggestions the Tour could be held without the supporters had been ruled out.
“The Tour de France is 3000km of smiles,” Prudhomme said regarding roadside gatherings. “We won’t run a Tour de France without the fans.”
There are only 176 riders on a Tour, but the whole event involves around 4,500 people, with team staff, police and media all moving every day.
The “Grande Boucle”, as the Tour is known in France, is the central economic pillar which supports the sports’ 22 professional teams.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-04-15--'The Soul of France': New book revisits the embers of Notre-Dame, one year on

'The Soul of France ' : New book revisits the embers of Notre-Dame , one year on On April 15 @ @ @ @ @ watched in horror as France 's most cherished cathedral went up in flames .
Writer @ @ @ @ @ the scene from her window on Paris 's Left Bank , transfixed as 850 years @ @ @ @ @ social history hung in the balance .
Poirier has revisited that moment in her book @ @ @ @ @ of France '' , as well as shedding light on some pivotal moments in the @ @ @ @ @ From its secular stint during the French Revolution to the crumbling setting of Victor Hugo @ @ @ @ @ the cathedral 's status as a treasure of world heritage and discusses the ongoing efforts @ @ @ @ @ former glory .
> > A year after the Notre-Dame fire , restoration is suspended @ @ @ @ @ news everywhere with you !
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'The Soul of France': New book revisits the embers of Notre-Dame, one year on
11:24 ENCORE! © FRANCE 24
On April 15, 2019, the world watched in horror as France's most cherished cathedral went up in flames. Writer and journalist Agnès Poirier witnessed the scene from her window on Paris's Left Bank, transfixed as 850 years of architectural, cultural and social history hung in the balance. Poirier has revisited that moment in her book "Notre-Dame: The Soul of France", as well as shedding light on some pivotal moments in the building’s history.


france24--2020-04-15--France boosts Covid-19 economic rescue package to €110 billion

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire has twice increased his coronavirus rescue package as the expected costs of the country 's coronavirus lockdown escalate .
The French government has hiked up the expected cost of its measures to support the economy through the coronavirus crisis to 110 billion euros , its finance minister said on Wednesday , with the country 's GDP set to suffer its biggest drop in decades .
`` We are going to go from 45 billion euros in a first economic support plan ( ... ) to about 110 billion euros [ $ 120.6 billion ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ radio , announcing a second increase to the rescue package .
He added that the package included 20 billion euros to help big companies and said that support would be offered to Air France KLM in the coming days .
On Tuesday , Le Maire said the French economy would shrink by as much as eight percent due to the shutdown .
The finance minister had forecast a six percent GDP drop last week , but the figure was revised upward following Macron 's decision to extend the country 's coronavirus lockdown until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government aid for smaller companies at risk of going under would be raised to as much as €5,000 , up from €1,500 previously .
The total amount of this rescue fund would now reach seven billion euros , he said .
Gérald Darmanin , the budget minister , has said the massive relief effort for bars , restaurants , hotels , shops and other businesses closed during the lockdown will push France 's budget deficit to a postwar record of 9 % this year .
`` Each day , each week of confinement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finances , '' Darmanin told France Info radio , adding that France 's debt pile would soar to 115 percent of GDP , up from just under 100 percent last year .
The International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) on Tuesday said it expects the world economy to suffer its worst year since the Great Depression of the 1930s .
In its forecast , it predicts the global economy to shrink 3 percent this year — far worse than its 0.1 percent dip in the Great Recession year of 2009 — before rebounding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The IMF acknowledged , however , that prospects for a rebound next year are clouded by uncertainty .

The French government has hiked up the expected cost of its measures to support the economy through the coronavirus crisis to 110 billion euros, its finance minister said on Wednesday, with the country's GDP set to suffer its biggest drop in decades.
French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire has twice increased his coronavirus rescue package as the expected costs of the country's coronavirus lockdown escalate.
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"We are going to go from 45 billion euros in a first economic support plan (...) to about 110 billion euros [$120.6 billion]," Bruno Le Maire told RTL radio, announcing a second increase to the rescue package.
He added that the package included 20 billion euros to help big companies and said that support would be offered to Air France KLM in the coming days.
On Tuesday, Le Maire said the French economy would shrink by as much as eight percent due to the shutdown.
The finance minister had forecast a six percent GDP drop last week, but the figure was revised upward following Macron's decision to extend the country's coronavirus lockdown until May 11.
The finance minister said government aid for smaller companies at risk of going under would be raised to as much as €5,000, up from €1,500 previously.
The total amount of this rescue fund would now reach seven billion euros, he said.
Gérald Darmanin, the budget minister, has said the massive relief effort for bars, restaurants, hotels, shops and other businesses closed during the lockdown will push France's budget deficit to a postwar record of 9% this year.
"Each day, each week of confinement (...) is worsening our public finances," Darmanin told France Info radio, adding that France's debt pile would soar to 115 percent of GDP, up from just under 100 percent last year.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday said it expects the world economy to suffer its worst year since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
In its forecast, it predicts the global economy to shrink 3 percent this year — far worse than its 0.1 percent dip in the Great Recession year of 2009 — before rebounding in 2021 with 5.8 percent growth. The IMF acknowledged, however, that prospects for a rebound next year are clouded by uncertainty.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-15--Without Covid-19 vaccine, US may need social distancing until 2022

People wait in a socially distanced line outside a supermarket in New York City on April 14 , 2020 .
The United States may need to endure social distancing measures adopted during the coronavirus outbreak until 2022 , according to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health .
The study comes as more than 2,200 people died in the United States from the outbreak on Tuesday , a record , according to a REUTERS tally , even as the country debated how to reopen its economy .
The overall death toll in the US from the virus stands at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Intermittent distancing may be required into 2022 unless critical care capacity is increased substantially or a treatment or vaccine becomes available '' , the Harvard researchers said in findings published Tuesday in the journal Science .
Giving examples of South Korea and Singapore , the researchers wrote that effective distancing could reduce the strain on healthcare systems and enable contact tracing and quarantine to be feasible .
The study acknowledged that prolonged distancing would most likely have profoundly negative economic , social , and educational consequences .
The study added that even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' , SARS-CoV-2 surveillance should still be maintained , as a resurgence in contagion may be possible as late as 2024 .
The World Health Organization ( WHO ) has warned that infections had `` certainly '' not yet peaked .
Nearly 2 million people globally have been infected and more than 124,000 have died in the most serious pandemic in a century .
The epicenter has shifted from China , where the virus emerged in December , to the United States , which has now recorded the most deaths .

The United States may need to endure social distancing measures adopted during the coronavirus outbreak until 2022, according to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health.
People wait in a socially distanced line outside a supermarket in New York City on April 14, 2020.
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The study comes as more than 2,200 people died in the United States from the outbreak on Tuesday, a record, according to a REUTERS tally, even as the country debated how to reopen its economy. The overall death toll in the US from the virus stands at more than 28,300 as of Tuesday.
"Intermittent distancing may be required into 2022 unless critical care capacity is increased substantially or a treatment or vaccine becomes available", the Harvard researchers said in findings published Tuesday in the journal Science.
Giving examples of South Korea and Singapore, the researchers wrote that effective distancing could reduce the strain on healthcare systems and enable contact tracing and quarantine to be feasible.
Harvard researchers: "Under current critical care capacities, however, the overall duration of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic could last into 2022, requiring social distancing measures to be in place between 25% and 75% of that time."
Full report: https://t.co/nr48lNwQ3x — Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) April 14, 2020
The study acknowledged that prolonged distancing would most likely have profoundly negative economic, social, and educational consequences.
The study added that even in the case of "apparent elimination", SARS-CoV-2 surveillance should still be maintained, as a resurgence in contagion may be possible as late as 2024.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that infections had "certainly" not yet peaked. Nearly 2 million people globally have been infected and more than 124,000 have died in the most serious pandemic in a century.
The epicenter has shifted from China, where the virus emerged in December, to the United States, which has now recorded the most deaths.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-15--Dozens killed in suspected militia attacks in DR Congo's restive east

Soldiers from the UN 's Monusco mission pictured on March 13 , 2020 in the violence-torn Djugu territory of Ituri province , in eastern DR Congo .
More than two dozen people have been killed in two separate attacks in eastern DR Congo , a region in the grip of militia violence , officials said Wednesday .
`` CODECO assailants attacked the people of the village of Koli while they were asleep , killing 22 civilians , '' said Adel Alingi , head of the Djugu administrative region in Ituri province , referring to an armed group targeting the Hema @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dead ) were from the Hema community , '' Alingi told AFP , adding that the motive for the attack remained unclear .
`` The people of the village have fled for their lives , '' he said .
In the second attack on Tuesday , two soldiers , a civilian and five members of the Allied Democratic Forces ( ADF ) militia were killed in Beni , in neighbouring North Kivu province , the army 's regional spokesman , Anthony Mualushayi , told AFP .
CODECO - whose official name is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an armed political-religious sect in Ituri drawn from the Lendu ethnic group .
Conflict between the Lendu , mainly farmers , and the Hema , herders and traders , has a long history in the gold- and oil-rich province .
Tens of thousands were killed between 1999 and 2003 .
According to the UN , most victims were targeted because they were Hema .
The conflict has reignited in recent years .
More than than 700 people have been killed in Ituri since late 2017 , a UN report said in January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constitute a `` crime against humanity . ''
The ADF began as an Islamist-rooted rebel group in Uganda that opposed President Yoweri Museveni .
It then fell back to North Kivu , DR Congo 's border province with Uganda , during the Congo Wars of the 1990s .
Since October 2014 , the group has been accused of killing more than 1,000 civilians .
Hundreds died in bloodletting that began last October , in apparent reprisal for an army offensive against the ADF .
The army has claimed a string of successes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ADF strongholds '' in the forest and jungle around Beni , and killed five of six known rebel leaders .

More than two dozen people have been killed in two separate attacks in eastern DR Congo, a region in the grip of militia violence, officials said Wednesday.
Soldiers from the UN's Monusco mission pictured on March 13, 2020 in the violence-torn Djugu territory of Ituri province, in eastern DR Congo.
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"CODECO assailants attacked the people of the village of Koli while they were asleep, killing 22 civilians," said Adel Alingi, head of the Djugu administrative region in Ituri province, referring to an armed group targeting the Hema ethnic community.
The raid took place overnight Saturday-Sunday.
"All (of the dead) were from the Hema community," Alingi told AFP, adding that the motive for the attack remained unclear.
"The people of the village have fled for their lives," he said.
In the second attack on Tuesday, two soldiers, a civilian and five members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militia were killed in Beni, in neighbouring North Kivu province, the army's regional spokesman, Anthony Mualushayi, told AFP.
CODECO - whose official name is Cooperative for the Development of Congo - is an armed political-religious sect in Ituri drawn from the Lendu ethnic group.
Conflict between the Lendu, mainly farmers, and the Hema, herders and traders, has a long history in the gold- and oil-rich province.
Tens of thousands were killed between 1999 and 2003. According to the UN, most victims were targeted because they were Hema.
The conflict has reignited in recent years.
More than than 700 people have been killed in Ituri since late 2017, a UN report said in January, adding that some of deaths might constitute a "crime against humanity."
The ADF began as an Islamist-rooted rebel group in Uganda that opposed President Yoweri Museveni.
It then fell back to North Kivu, DR Congo's border province with Uganda, during the Congo Wars of the 1990s.
Since October 2014, the group has been accused of killing more than 1,000 civilians.
Hundreds died in bloodletting that began last October, in apparent reprisal for an army offensive against the ADF.
The army has claimed a string of successes, saying it has "destroyed all the ADF strongholds" in the forest and jungle around Beni, and killed five of six known rebel leaders.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-04-15--Egyptian policeman among those killed in Cairo shootout with suspected militants

A police car is seen in front of Imbaba Fevers Hospital amid concerns over the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) in Cairo , Egypt March 31 , 2020 .
An Egyptian policeman and seven suspected militants were killed on Tuesday in an exchange of gunfire , the ministry of interior said in a statement late on Tuesday .
It said three other policemen had also been wounded .
The exchange took place in the al-Amiyira district , the public prosecutor said in a statement .
The ministry received information `` that there is a terrorist cell , whose elements embrace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a shelter in eastern and southern Cairo as a starting point to carry out terrorist operations , '' the statement said .
Egypt uses the term takfiri to refer to Islamist militants who often accuse their victims of being infidels .
Two private television stations broadcast what they called footage of the shooting , which Reuters was not immediately able to verify , and asked residents to stay indoors .
Weapons and ammunition were found with the suspects , the ministry said .
The public prosecutor said a team of investigators has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Egypt has been fighting an Islamist insurgency in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula since the ouster of Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013 following mass protests against his rule .
The military and police launched a major campaign against militant groups in 2018 , focusing on the Sinai Peninsula as well as southern areas and the border with Libya .
The last major attack was in November 2017 when militants killed more than 300 people in an attack on a mosque in north Sinai , the deadliest such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most populous country .

An Egyptian policeman and seven suspected militants were killed on Tuesday in an exchange of gunfire, the ministry of interior said in a statement late on Tuesday.
A police car is seen in front of Imbaba Fevers Hospital amid concerns over the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Cairo, Egypt March 31, 2020.
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It said three other policemen had also been wounded.
The exchange took place in the al-Amiyira district, the public prosecutor said in a statement.
The ministry received information "that there is a terrorist cell, whose elements embrace Takfiri ideology, using several areas as a shelter in eastern and southern Cairo as a starting point to carry out terrorist operations," the statement said.
Egypt uses the term takfiri to refer to Islamist militants who often accuse their victims of being infidels.
Two private television stations broadcast what they called footage of the shooting, which Reuters was not immediately able to verify, and asked residents to stay indoors.
Weapons and ammunition were found with the suspects, the ministry said.
The public prosecutor said a team of investigators has been despatched to the scene of the attack.
Egypt has been fighting an Islamist insurgency in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula since the ouster of Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013 following mass protests against his rule.
The military and police launched a major campaign against militant groups in 2018, focusing on the Sinai Peninsula as well as southern areas and the border with Libya.
The last major attack was in November 2017 when militants killed more than 300 people in an attack on a mosque in north Sinai, the deadliest such incident in the Arab world’s most populous country.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-04-15--South Korea holds parliamentary election amid Covid-19 pandemic

South Koreans voted on Wednesday to elect members of parliament while wearing masks and plastic gloves as part of strict safety measures in one of the first national elections held amid the coronavirus pandemic .
About 14,000 polling stations were open at 6 a.m. ( 0900 GMT ) around the country after disinfection , and voters were required to wear a mask and have a temperature check upon arrival .
Anyone whose temperature was higher than 37.5 Celsius ( 99.5 Fahrenheit ) was led to a special booth .
All voters were required to use hand sanitizer and plastic gloves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 40 inches ) distance between each other .
The election is set to decide control of parliament and shape President Moon Jae-in 's ability to push through his agenda in the final two years of his administration , including looser fiscal policy aimed at creating jobs , raising the minimum wage , and continued re-engagement with North Korea .
Globally , South Korea was one of the first countries to hold a national election since the coronavirus epidemic began , while many others postponed votes .
`` I had worries as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come here and seen for myself , I felt it 's good we did vote as planned , and people are taking greater caution about distancing and restraining themselves even more , '' Choi Sun-hwa , 56 , told Reuters outside a polling station in Hongje-dong , central Seoul .
Once grappling with the first large outbreak outside China , South Korea has largely managed to bring its cases under control without major disruptions thanks to a massive testing campaign and intensive contact tracing .
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , bringing the total infections to 10,564 .
The daily tally has hovered around 30 over the past week , most of them from overseas travellers .
But authorities have warned that infections could resurge at any times , calling for special caution on Election Day .
As of 9 a.m. ( 1200 GMT ) , voter turnout was 8 % , about 0.9 % points higher than in the last parliamentary election in 2016 , according to the National Election Commission .
That excludes nearly 27 % of the 44 million registered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last weekend .
Among them were about 2,800 coronavirus patients , for whom the NEC allowed voting by mail and set up special polling stations for early voting .
More than 13,000 in self-quarantine have signed up to vote and will be allowed to do so after other voters leave at 6 p.m. ( 2100 GMT ) The election campaign has taken on a different look , with candidates wearing masks and bumping fists instead of pressing the flesh and mass rallies .

South Koreans voted on Wednesday to elect members of parliament while wearing masks and plastic gloves as part of strict safety measures in one of the first national elections held amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Advertising Read more
About 14,000 polling stations were open at 6 a.m. (0900 GMT) around the country after disinfection, and voters were required to wear a mask and have a temperature check upon arrival. Anyone whose temperature was higher than 37.5 Celsius (99.5 Fahrenheit) was led to a special booth.
All voters were required to use hand sanitizer and plastic gloves when casting ballots and maintain 1 metre (40 inches) distance between each other.
The election is set to decide control of parliament and shape President Moon Jae-in's ability to push through his agenda in the final two years of his administration, including looser fiscal policy aimed at creating jobs, raising the minimum wage, and continued re-engagement with North Korea.
Globally, South Korea was one of the first countries to hold a national election since the coronavirus epidemic began, while many others postponed votes.
"I had worries as the election was not delayed, but having come here and seen for myself, I felt it's good we did vote as planned, and people are taking greater caution about distancing and restraining themselves even more," Choi Sun-hwa, 56, told Reuters outside a polling station in Hongje-dong, central Seoul.
Once grappling with the first large outbreak outside China, South Korea has largely managed to bring its cases under control without major disruptions thanks to a massive testing campaign and intensive contact tracing.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 27 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, bringing the total infections to 10,564. The daily tally has hovered around 30 over the past week, most of them from overseas travellers.
But authorities have warned that infections could resurge at any times, calling for special caution on Election Day.
As of 9 a.m. (1200 GMT), voter turnout was 8%, about 0.9% points higher than in the last parliamentary election in 2016, according to the National Election Commission. That excludes nearly 27% of the 44 million registered voters who took part in early voting last weekend.
Among them were about 2,800 coronavirus patients, for whom the NEC allowed voting by mail and set up special polling stations for early voting.
More than 13,000 in self-quarantine have signed up to vote and will be allowed to do so after other voters leave at 6 p.m. (2100 GMT)
The election campaign has taken on a different look, with candidates wearing masks and bumping fists instead of pressing the flesh and mass rallies.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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