france24--2020-03-31--Hospital ship docks in New York as US coronavirus death toll nears China's

The USNS Comfort passes the Statue of Liberty as it enters New York Harbor during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) in New York City , on March 30 , 2020 .
A US military hospital ship arrived to help beleaguered New York medical staff on Monday as the US registered 3,000 deaths , nearing China 's toll of 3,300 .
A military hospital ship arrived in New York on Monday as America ’ s coronavirus epicenter gears up for the peak of the pandemic , with emergency restrictions extended as the national death toll passed 3,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ docked at a Manhattan pier as more American states enforced stay-at-home orders after President Donald Trump abandoned his Easter target for life returning to normal in the United States .
The 894 foot-long vessel , which also has space for a dozen operating rooms , was greeted by cheering crowds after departing Norfolk , Virginia on Saturday .
Its arrival came as Virginia , Maryland and the capital Washington , DC , became the latest areas to restrict citizens ' movements , meaning almost three-quarters of Americans are now living , or about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown .
On Sunday , Trump cancelled his plans to re-open much of the United States by Easter – April 12 – and extended social distancing guidelines until the end of April after his top scientists confronted him with data on the rising coronavirus deaths .
He said America 's death rate was likely to increase for two weeks , describing as “ horrible ” a prediction by senior scientist Anthony Fauci that COVID-19 could claim up to 200,000 lives .
Worst-affected New York is ramping up hospital capacity and taking delivery of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against time .
“ We have been playing catch up from day one , ” Governor Andrew Cuomo told reporters .
“ Do n't fight today 's fight .
Plan for two weeks , three weeks , four weeks from now when you 're going to have the apex , and make sure that we 're in a position to win the battle , ” he added .
The Comfort will care for New Yorkers requiring intensive care unrelated to the coronavirus , easing the burden on a hospital network overwhelmed by an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now has the highest number of confirmed cases in the world – more than 163,000 according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University .
The virus has claimed more than 3,000 lives in the country , including more than 1,200 in New York state .
Some 790 deaths have occurred in New York City , the country 's financial capital and the most populous US city .
It is spreading to other areas , notably New Jersey , Louisiana , Illinois and Florida , where Governor Ron DeSantis said Monday he did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zaandam suspected of having the virus “ dumped ” in his state .
New York opened a temporary emergency hospital in the Javits convention centre with 2,900 beds on Monday .
A field hospital in Central Park is due to open Tuesday .
Four other sites have also been approved to house patients discharged from hospitals to make way for residents suffering from the novel coronavirus .
Flights run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency ( FEMA ) began arriving at New York 's JFK Airport as Mayor Bill de Blasio said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end of the week , describing next Sunday as “ D-Day.
” The flights , part of 50 planned under “ Project Airbridge , ” are delivering millions of masks , gowns and thermometers for hospitals .
“ We are all trying to reuse what we can because you never know when it 's going to run out , ” 38-year-old doctor Peter Liang told AFP , referring to supplies at the Manhattan hospital he works in .
Ford Motor Co said on Monday it would produce 50,000 ventilators over the next 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cooperation with General Electric 's healthcare unit , and can then build 30,000 per month as needed to treat patients afflicted with the coronavirus .
Ford said the simplified ventilator design , which is licensed by GE Healthcare from Florida-based Airon Corp and has been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration , can meet the needs of most COVID-19 patients and relies on air pressure without the need for electricity .
Fauci , who leads research into infectious diseases at the National Institutes of Health , said Sunday that between 100,000 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of cases.
” Trump told Fox News on Monday he expected a spike in cases around Easter , before numbers begin to fall .
“ That would be a day of celebration .
And we just want to do it right , ” said Trump , who earlier said he expected the country to `` be well on our way to recovery ” by June 1 .
Fauci said he had no trouble convincing Trump to extend the confinement guidelines .
Trump , who initially downplayed COVID-19 pandemic , has oscillated between stressing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the need to get people back to work quickly .
A staggering 3.3 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits in the third week of March , by far the highest ever recorded .

A US military hospital ship arrived to help beleaguered New York medical staff on Monday as the US registered 3,000 deaths, nearing China's toll of 3,300.
The USNS Comfort passes the Statue of Liberty as it enters New York Harbor during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in New York City, on March 30, 2020.
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A military hospital ship arrived in New York on Monday as America’s coronavirus epicenter gears up for the peak of the pandemic, with emergency restrictions extended as the national death toll passed 3,000.
The navy's 1,000-bed USNS Comfort docked at a Manhattan pier as more American states enforced stay-at-home orders after President Donald Trump abandoned his Easter target for life returning to normal in the United States.
The 894 foot-long vessel, which also has space for a dozen operating rooms, was greeted by cheering crowds after departing Norfolk, Virginia on Saturday.
Its arrival came as Virginia, Maryland and the capital Washington, DC, became the latest areas to restrict citizens' movements, meaning almost three-quarters of Americans are now living, or about to live, under various phases of lockdown.
On Sunday, Trump cancelled his plans to re-open much of the United States by Easter – April 12 – and extended social distancing guidelines until the end of April after his top scientists confronted him with data on the rising coronavirus deaths.
He said America's death rate was likely to increase for two weeks, describing as “horrible” a prediction by senior scientist Anthony Fauci that COVID-19 could claim up to 200,000 lives.
Worst-affected New York is ramping up hospital capacity and taking delivery of desperately needed medical supplies as it races against time.
'Apex'
“We have been playing catch up from day one,” Governor Andrew Cuomo told reporters.
“Don't fight today's fight. Plan for two weeks, three weeks, four weeks from now when you're going to have the apex, and make sure that we're in a position to win the battle,” he added.
The Comfort will care for New Yorkers requiring intensive care unrelated to the coronavirus, easing the burden on a hospital network overwhelmed by an influx of COVID-19 patients.
The US now has the highest number of confirmed cases in the world – more than 163,000 according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University.
The virus has claimed more than 3,000 lives in the country, including more than 1,200 in New York state.
Some 790 deaths have occurred in New York City, the country's financial capital and the most populous US city.
01:04
It is spreading to other areas, notably New Jersey, Louisiana, Illinois and Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis said Monday he did not want passengers from the cruise ship Zaandam suspected of having the virus “dumped” in his state.
New York opened a temporary emergency hospital in the Javits convention centre with 2,900 beds on Monday. A field hospital in Central Park is due to open Tuesday.
Four other sites have also been approved to house patients discharged from hospitals to make way for residents suffering from the novel coronavirus.
'D-Day' for New York
Flights run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) began arriving at New York's JFK Airport as Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city needed 400 more ventilators by the end of the week, describing next Sunday as “D-Day.”
The flights, part of 50 planned under “Project Airbridge,” are delivering millions of masks, gowns and thermometers for hospitals.
“We are all trying to reuse what we can because you never know when it's going to run out,”38-year-old doctor Peter Liang told AFP, referring to supplies at the Manhattan hospital he works in.
Ford Motor Co said on Monday it would produce 50,000 ventilators over the next 100 days at a plant in Michigan in cooperation with General Electric's healthcare unit, and can then build 30,000 per month as needed to treat patients afflicted with the coronavirus.
Ford said the simplified ventilator design, which is licensed by GE Healthcare from Florida-based Airon Corp and has been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, can meet the needs of most COVID-19 patients and relies on air pressure without the need for electricity.
'Millions of cases'
Fauci, who leads research into infectious diseases at the National Institutes of Health, said Sunday that between 100,000 and 200,000 Americans could die from “millions of cases.”
Trump told Fox News on Monday he expected a spike in cases around Easter, before numbers begin to fall.
“That would be a day of celebration. And we just want to do it right,” said Trump, who earlier said he expected the country to "be well on our way to recovery” by June 1.
Fauci said he had no trouble convincing Trump to extend the confinement guidelines.
“It was a pretty clear picture,” Fauci told CNN on Monday.
Trump, who initially downplayed COVID-19 pandemic, has oscillated between stressing the seriousness of the outbreak to talking of the need to get people back to work quickly.
A staggering 3.3 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits in the third week of March, by far the highest ever recorded.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS, AP and AFP)
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france24--2020-03-31--US online retail workers strike over coronavirus safety and wage concerns

A protester holds a sign at the Amazon building in the Staten Island borough of New York City on March 30 , 2020 , during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) .
Warehouse , delivery and retail gig workers in the United States went on strike on Monday to call attention to safety and wage concerns for people laboring through the coronavirus crisis .
Among the strikers were some of the roughly 200,000 workers at U.S. online grocery delivery company Instacart , according to strike organiser Gig Workers Collective , founded earlier this year by Instacart worker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amazon.com Inc warehouse in Staten Island , New York , also walked off the job on Monday following reports of COVID-19 among the facility 's staff .
Amazon said later it fired an employee who helped organise the action for alleged violations of his employment , including leaving a paid quarantine to participate in the demonstration .
New York 's attorney general said her office was `` considering all legal options '' in response to the firing , citing the right to organise in the state .
Workers have also protested in other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a facility near Florence , Italy , went on strike on Monday .
French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said last week that pressure on Amazon employees to work despite inadequate protections was `` unacceptable . ''
From delivery drivers to grocery store clerks , shelf stockers and fast-food employees , workers have kept food and essential goods flowing to people who have been told by their governments to stay home to stop the spread of coronavirus .
More than 738,500 people have been infected across the world and about 35,000 have died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amazon , the world 's largest online retailer , said it has taken `` extreme measures '' to clean buildings and obtain safety gear and that `` the vast majority of employees continue to show up and do the heroic work of delivering for customers every day . ''
Less than half a percent of its more than 5,000-person workforce at the Staten Island site protested , it said .
In statements on Monday , Amazon disputed comments from one of the striking Staten Island employees , Christian Smalls , who had accused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a confirmed case of coronavirus .
Amazon said Smalls was on a paid quarantine after having close contact with a diagnosed worker , and had `` received multiple warnings for violating social distancing guidelines , '' leading to his dismissal .
Smalls responded in a statement distributed by Athena , a labour and activist coalition .
`` I ’ m going to keep speaking up .
My colleagues in New York and all around the country are going to keep speaking up .
We won ’ t stop until Amazon provides real protections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
Letitia James , the New York Attorney General , issued a statement calling the firing `` disgraceful '' and also asked the National Labor Relations Board to investigate .
Amazon did not immediately return a request for comment on the attorney general 's statement .
San Francisco-based Instacart – which lets customers place online orders from grocers , retailers like Costco Wholesale Corp and CVS Health Corp 's CVS Pharmacy – said in a statement that the strike of its contractors had `` absolutely no impact to Instacart 's operations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it had 40 % more shoppers on the platform than on the same day last week and sold more groceries in the last 72 hours than ever before .
`` The health and safety of our entire community – shoppers , customers , and employees – is our first priority , '' it said in a statement .
It was not clear how many Instacart workers were participating in the strike , Bain told Reuters .
Bain has created a Facebook group with 15,000 members .
She said hundreds more have reached out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign .
In posts on social media , people who said they were Instacart workers demanded hazard pay to account for the dangers of working while most people stay home to comply with state , local and federal government guidance .
They also asked for the company to provide hand sanitiser , disinfectant wipes and soap to clean their cell phones , cars and shopping carts .
`` We do n't have to have 100 percent participation to ... force Instacart to maneuver on these issues , '' Bain said in a phone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it wanted to hire another 300,000 gig workers because of a surge in demand .
Staff in one supermarket of French retailer Carrefour will receive protective masks after some walked out over health risks , a union said on Monday .
Employees of McDonald 's Corp , as well as people who said they worked at Walmart Inc , supermarket chain Harris Teeter , Waffle House , Family Dollar and Food Lion , boycotted work at North Carolina locations on Friday .

Warehouse, delivery and retail gig workers in the United States went on strike on Monday to call attention to safety and wage concerns for people laboring through the coronavirus crisis.
A protester holds a sign at the Amazon building in the Staten Island borough of New York City on March 30, 2020, during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
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Among the strikers were some of the roughly 200,000 workers at U.S. online grocery delivery company Instacart, according to strike organiser Gig Workers Collective, founded earlier this year by Instacart worker Vanessa Bain.
Fifteen workers at an Amazon.com Inc warehouse in Staten Island, New York, also walked off the job on Monday following reports of COVID-19 among the facility's staff.
Amazon said later it fired an employee who helped organise the action for alleged violations of his employment, including leaving a paid quarantine to participate in the demonstration.
New York's attorney general said her office was "considering all legal options" in response to the firing, citing the right to organise in the state.
Workers have also protested in other countries. Dozens of Amazon workers at a facility near Florence, Italy, went on strike on Monday.
French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said last week that pressure on Amazon employees to work despite inadequate protections was "unacceptable."
From delivery drivers to grocery store clerks, shelf stockers and fast-food employees, workers have kept food and essential goods flowing to people who have been told by their governments to stay home to stop the spread of coronavirus.
More than 738,500 people have been infected across the world and about 35,000 have died, according to a Reuters tally.
Amazon, the world's largest online retailer, said it has taken "extreme measures" to clean buildings and obtain safety gear and that "the vast majority of employees continue to show up and do the heroic work of delivering for customers every day." Less than half a percent of its more than 5,000-person workforce at the Staten Island site protested, it said.
In statements on Monday, Amazon disputed comments from one of the striking Staten Island employees, Christian Smalls, who had accused the company of mishandling warehouse operations after a confirmed case of coronavirus.
Amazon said Smalls was on a paid quarantine after having close contact with a diagnosed worker, and had "received multiple warnings for violating social distancing guidelines," leading to his dismissal.
Smalls responded in a statement distributed by Athena, a labour and activist coalition.
"I’m going to keep speaking up. My colleagues in New York and all around the country are going to keep speaking up. We won’t stop until Amazon provides real protections for our health and safety," he said.
Letitia James, the New York Attorney General, issued a statement calling the firing "disgraceful" and also asked the National Labor Relations Board to investigate. Amazon did not immediately return a request for comment on the attorney general's statement.
Hazard pay, sanitiser
San Francisco-based Instacart – which lets customers place online orders from grocers, retailers like Costco Wholesale Corp and CVS Health Corp's CVS Pharmacy – said in a statement that the strike of its contractors had "absolutely no impact to Instacart's operations."
On Monday, Instacart said it had 40% more shoppers on the platform than on the same day last week and sold more groceries in the last 72 hours than ever before.
"The health and safety of our entire community – shoppers, customers, and employees – is our first priority," it said in a statement.
It was not clear how many Instacart workers were participating in the strike, Bain told Reuters. Bain has created a Facebook group with 15,000 members. She said hundreds more have reached out to her in light of Monday's campaign.
In posts on social media, people who said they were Instacart workers demanded hazard pay to account for the dangers of working while most people stay home to comply with state, local and federal government guidance.
They also asked for the company to provide hand sanitiser, disinfectant wipes and soap to clean their cell phones, cars and shopping carts.
"We don't have to have 100 percent participation to ... force Instacart to maneuver on these issues," Bain said in a phone interview.
Instacart said on March 23 that it wanted to hire another 300,000 gig workers because of a surge in demand.
Staff in one supermarket of French retailer Carrefour will receive protective masks after some walked out over health risks, a union said on Monday.
Employees of McDonald's Corp, as well as people who said they worked at Walmart Inc, supermarket chain Harris Teeter, Waffle House, Family Dollar and Food Lion, boycotted work at North Carolina locations on Friday.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-31--Millions enter lockdown in Nigeria, Zimbabwe, as Africa steps up virus fight

A man carrying bags of rice on his head prepares to leave the Nigerian capital of Abuja as it enters lockdown on Monday , More than 20 million Nigerians on Monday went into lockdown in sub-Saharan Africa 's biggest city Lagos and the capital Abuja , as the continent struggles to curb the spread of coronavirus .
President Muhammadu Buhari ordered a two-week “ cessation of all movements ” in key cities to ward off an explosion of cases in Africa 's most populous country .
Businesses are being closed , non-food shops shut and people required to stay at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible carriers of the disease after reporting 131 confirmed cases and two deaths so far .
Enforcing the restrictions in sprawling Lagos will be a mammoth challenge as millions live crammed into slums and rely on daily earnings to survive .
In the ramshackle outdoor markets of Lagos Island , anxious locals complained they did not have the money to stock up , while at higher-end supermarkets better-off residents queued to buy supplies .
“ Two weeks is too long .
I do n't know how we will cope , ” said student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helped his sister sell foodstuffs from a stall in Jankarra market .
“ People are hungry and they wo n't be able to stock food.
” City officials have pledged to provide basic provisions to 200,000 households but the central government in Africa 's largest oil producing nation is already facing financial strain as the price of crude has collapsed .
The streets of Ghana 's capital Accra were also empty as most people in two regions appeared to be following a presidential order to stay indoors after it went into force .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ranging from night-time curfews to total shutdowns .
Zimbabwe , which is already suffering a recession , began enforcing a three-week lockdown after the disease left one person dead and infected six others .
Police mounted checkpoints on routes leading to Harare 's central business district , stopping cars and turning away pedestrians who had no authorisation to be in the area .
“ We do n't want to see people here on the streets .
We do n't want to see people who have no business in town just loitering , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Everyone to their homes.
” Some people were trying to head for villages .
“ We would rather spend the 21 days at our rural home , where we do n't have to buy everything .
I ca n't afford to feed my family here when I am not working , ” said Most Jawure .
“ We have been waiting here for more than two hours but there are no buses , ” Jawure told AFP while standing with his wife and daughter beside a bulging suitcase .
For many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lockdown means serious hardship .
With the unemployment rate estimated at around 90 percent , most Zimbabweans have informal jobs to eke out a living and few have substantial savings .
As a similar scenario played out in other poor nations , the UN on Monday called for a $ 2.5-trillion aid package to help developing countries weather the pandemic , including debt cancellation and a health recovery “ Marshall Plan '' .
Experts warn that Africa is highly vulnerable to COVID-19 given the weak state of health systems across the continent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind Europe but testing has been limited and the figures are growing rapidly .
Angola and Ivory Coast on Sunday became the latest countries to record their first deaths , bringing the number of African fatalities to around 150 of nearly 4,800 recorded cases .
In Democratic Republic of Congo , two new cases were reported in the volatile South Kivu region and an adviser to the nation 's president announced he had tested positive .
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni ordered a 14-day lockdown in a bid to halt the spread of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in South Sudan , one of a few nations in Africa yet to confirm a case , enforced strict new rules , shutting shops selling non-essential items and limiting passengers in public transport .
Mauritius , which has 128 cases -- the highest in East Africa -- has extended its lockdown to April 15 .
South Africa 's defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula on Monday denounced alleged intimidation by security forces after videos emerged showing some forcing civilians to squat or roll on the ground for allegedly violating restrictions .
In an interview with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said she was aware of two videos “ which have circulated where clearly there ( is ) some abuse ” .
“ I 'm saying I condemn that , we will not allow that to continue , ” she said .

More than 20 million Nigerians on Monday went into lockdown in sub-Saharan Africa's biggest city Lagos and the capital Abuja, as the continent struggles to curb the spread of coronavirus.
A man carrying bags of rice on his head prepares to leave the Nigerian capital of Abuja as it enters lockdown on Monday,
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President Muhammadu Buhari ordered a two-week “cessation of all movements” in key cities to ward off an explosion of cases in Africa's most populous country.
Businesses are being closed, non-food shops shut and people required to stay at home as officials look to track down possible carriers of the disease after reporting 131 confirmed cases and two deaths so far.
Enforcing the restrictions in sprawling Lagos will be a mammoth challenge as millions live crammed into slums and rely on daily earnings to survive.
🇳🇬🔊🇳🇬 As more than 20 million Nigerians go into lockdown our correspondent tells me many living in Lagos's slums have not even really heard of coronavirus. Deep fears then of its potential effects amid first 2 deaths. #Nigeria #coronavirus #lagoslockdown #Lagos #F24 pic.twitter.com/dIBh37u8Q6 — Stuart Norval (@StuartNorval) March 31, 2020
In the ramshackle outdoor markets of Lagos Island, anxious locals complained they did not have the money to stock up, while at higher-end supermarkets better-off residents queued to buy supplies.
“Two weeks is too long. I don't know how we will cope,” said student Abdul Rahim, 25, as he helped his sister sell foodstuffs from a stall in Jankarra market.
“People are hungry and they won't be able to stock food.”
City officials have pledged to provide basic provisions to 200,000 households but the central government in Africa's largest oil producing nation is already facing financial strain as the price of crude has collapsed.
The streets of Ghana's capital Accra were also empty as most people in two regions appeared to be following a presidential order to stay indoors after it went into force.
01:13
Zimbabwe locks down
Dozens of African nations have imposed restrictions ranging from night-time curfews to total shutdowns.
Zimbabwe, which is already suffering a recession, began enforcing a three-week lockdown after the disease left one person dead and infected six others.
Police mounted checkpoints on routes leading to Harare's central business district, stopping cars and turning away pedestrians who had no authorisation to be in the area.
“We don't want to see people here on the streets. We don't want to see people who have no business in town just loitering,” a policewoman said through a loud hailer. “Everyone to their homes.”
Some people were trying to head for villages.
“We would rather spend the 21 days at our rural home, where we don't have to buy everything. I can't afford to feed my family here when I am not working,” said Most Jawure.
“We have been waiting here for more than two hours but there are no buses,” Jawure told AFP while standing with his wife and daughter beside a bulging suitcase.
For many of Zimbabwe's 16 million people, the lockdown means serious hardship.
With the unemployment rate estimated at around 90 percent, most Zimbabweans have informal jobs to eke out a living and few have substantial savings.
As a similar scenario played out in other poor nations, the UN on Monday called for a $2.5-trillion aid package to help developing countries weather the pandemic, including debt cancellation and a health recovery “Marshall Plan".
‘A matter of time’
Experts warn that Africa is highly vulnerable to COVID-19 given the weak state of health systems across the continent.
The number of infections lags far behind Europe but testing has been limited and the figures are growing rapidly.
Angola and Ivory Coast on Sunday became the latest countries to record their first deaths, bringing the number of African fatalities to around 150 of nearly 4,800 recorded cases.
In Democratic Republic of Congo, two new cases were reported in the volatile South Kivu region and an adviser to the nation's president announced he had tested positive.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni ordered a 14-day lockdown in a bid to halt the spread of the disease after reporting 33 infections.
Police in South Sudan, one of a few nations in Africa yet to confirm a case, enforced strict new rules, shutting shops selling non-essential items and limiting passengers in public transport.
Mauritius, which has 128 cases -- the highest in East Africa -- has extended its lockdown to April 15.
South Africa's defence minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula on Monday denounced alleged intimidation by security forces after videos emerged showing some forcing civilians to squat or roll on the ground for allegedly violating restrictions.
In an interview with local Newzroom Afrika television channel, she said she was aware of two videos “which have circulated where clearly there (is) some abuse”.
“I'm saying I condemn that, we will not allow that to continue,” she said.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-03-31--Coronavirus outbreak taking huge toll on China’s economy, World Bank warns

Employees wearing face masks work on a car seat assembly line at Yanfeng Adient factory in Shanghai , China , on February 24 , 2020 .
The country was the first to be hit by an outbreak of the new coronavirus .
The coronavirus pandemic 's economic fallout could cause China 's growth to come to a standstill while driving 11 million more people in East Asia into poverty , the World Bank warned Monday .
The pandemic is causing `` an unprecedented global shock , which could bring growth to a halt and could increase poverty across the region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bank chief economist for East Asia and the Pacific .
Even in the best-case scenario , the region will see a sharp drop in growth , with China 's expansion slowing to 2.3 percent from 6.1 percent in 2019 , according to a report on the pandemic 's impact on the region .
With two-fifths of the world 's population under some form of lockdown that 's caused the shuttering of businesses and a slowdown in transportation to try to contain the virus , the country where the outbreak originated may escape a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slowdown .
Just two months ago , the World Bank 's economists forecast China would grow by 5.9 percent this year , which would have been its worst performance since 1990 .
Now the world 's second-largest economy faces a more dire outlook , reflected in the record contraction in manufacturing activity in February and industrial production that fell for the first time in 30 years .
The East Asia and Pacific region , excluding China , could see growth slow to 1.3 percent in the baseline or contract 2.8 percent in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent last year , the report said .
`` The pandemic is profoundly affecting the region 's economies , but the depth and duration of the shock are unusually uncertain , '' the report said , noting the region already was unsettled by trade conflict with the United States .
`` Containment of the pandemic would allow recovery , but the risk of durable financial stress is high even beyond 2020 , '' the World Bank warned .
`` Most vulnerable are countries that rely heavily on trade , tourism , and commodities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that rely on volatile financial flows . ''
Even in the best case , marked by a sharp slowdown followed by a strong recovery , 24 million fewer people in the region will escape poverty , the report said .
But an additional 11 million people could descend into poverty under the more negative outlook , where there is a severe economic contraction followed by a sluggish recovery .
Mattoo said the 17 countries in the region key to global value chains and accounting for 70 percent of world trade `` have all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the world 's highest numbers of COVID-19 cases .
`` In this interdependent world where our economic destinies are intertwined , there 's going to be mutual amplification , because the shock is simultaneously affecting all these important countries , '' he told reporters .
`` That makes it particularly costly in economic terms . ''
The World Bank called for strong action , with the priority first on containment but also on measures to cushion the shock to households of lost wages .
Mattoo said it is not too late to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing and containment so that economies can begin to return to normal more quickly .
`` This is not rocket science .
With help even poorer countries can do it . ''

The coronavirus pandemic's economic fallout could cause China's growth to come to a standstill while driving 11 million more people in East Asia into poverty, the World Bank warned Monday.
Employees wearing face masks work on a car seat assembly line at Yanfeng Adient factory in Shanghai, China, on February 24, 2020. The country was the first to be hit by an outbreak of the new coronavirus.
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The pandemic is causing "an unprecedented global shock, which could bring growth to a halt and could increase poverty across the region," said Aaditya Mattoo, World Bank chief economist for East Asia and the Pacific.
Even in the best-case scenario, the region will see a sharp drop in growth, with China's expansion slowing to 2.3 percent from 6.1 percent in 2019, according to a report on the pandemic's impact on the region.
With two-fifths of the world's population under some form of lockdown that's caused the shuttering of businesses and a slowdown in transportation to try to contain the virus, the country where the outbreak originated may escape a recession but will nonetheless suffer a sharp slowdown.
Just two months ago, the World Bank's economists forecast China would grow by 5.9 percent this year, which would have been its worst performance since 1990.
Now the world's second-largest economy faces a more dire outlook, reflected in the record contraction in manufacturing activity in February and industrial production that fell for the first time in 30 years.
The East Asia and Pacific region, excluding China, could see growth slow to 1.3 percent in the baseline or contract 2.8 percent in the more pessimistic scenario as compared to 5.8 percent last year, the report said.
"The pandemic is profoundly affecting the region's economies, but the depth and duration of the shock are unusually uncertain," the report said, noting the region already was unsettled by trade conflict with the United States.
"Containment of the pandemic would allow recovery, but the risk of durable financial stress is high even beyond 2020," the World Bank warned. "Most vulnerable are countries that rely heavily on trade, tourism, and commodities; that are heavily indebted; and that rely on volatile financial flows."
Worsening poverty
Even in the best case, marked by a sharp slowdown followed by a strong recovery, 24 million fewer people in the region will escape poverty, the report said.
But an additional 11 million people could descend into poverty under the more negative outlook, where there is a severe economic contraction followed by a sluggish recovery.
Mattoo said the 17 countries in the region key to global value chains and accounting for 70 percent of world trade "have all been affected" and now have some of the world's highest numbers of COVID-19 cases.
"In this interdependent world where our economic destinies are intertwined, there's going to be mutual amplification, because the shock is simultaneously affecting all these important countries," he told reporters.
"That makes it particularly costly in economic terms."
The World Bank called for strong action, with the priority first on containment but also on measures to cushion the shock to households of lost wages.
Mattoo said it is not too late to follow Korea's example to ramp up testing and containment so that economies can begin to return to normal more quickly.
"This is not rocket science. With help even poorer countries can do it."
(AFP)
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france24--2020-03-31--Mexico declares health emergency as confirmed coronavirus cases top 1,000

A driver is asked to fill out a questionnaire before undergoing a COVID-19 test at the Biomedica Lab in Mexico City on March 30 , 2020 .
Mexico declared a health emergency on Monday and issued stricter rules aimed at containing the fast-spreading coronavirus after its number of cases surged past 1,000 and the death toll rose sharply .
Health officials reported a total of 1,094 cases of coronavirus , up from 993 a day earlier , and eight more deaths , taking the total to 28 .
They reiterated warnings that Mexico 's health system could be overwhelmed if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new measures to fight the virus include a reduction of the number of people who can gather to 50 and an extension of a previously announced suspension of non-essential activities .
`` This applies – strictly – to people older than 60 years , those who have hypertension , diabetes or are pregnant , regardless whether their jobs are considered essential , '' said Deputy Health Minister Hugo Lopez-Gatell .
Mexico has one of the world 's highest rates of both obesity and diabetes , and experts have recently sounded the alarm that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than its relatively young average age might suggest .
Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard , who announced the health emergency , said that people or companies who ignored the rules would face administrative or penal actions .
The emergency would be in force until April 30 , he said .
Unlike most regional peers , President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has not ordered a lockdown or other drastic measures to control spread of the coronavirus due to concerns Mexico 's already slumping economy would take an even bigger hit .

Mexico declared a health emergency on Monday and issued stricter rules aimed at containing the fast-spreading coronavirus after its number of cases surged past 1,000 and the death toll rose sharply.
A driver is asked to fill out a questionnaire before undergoing a COVID-19 test at the Biomedica Lab in Mexico City on March 30, 2020.
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Health officials reported a total of 1,094 cases of coronavirus, up from 993 a day earlier, and eight more deaths, taking the total to 28. They reiterated warnings that Mexico's health system could be overwhelmed if the coronavirus is not contained.
The new measures to fight the virus include a reduction of the number of people who can gather to 50 and an extension of a previously announced suspension of non-essential activities.
"This applies – strictly – to people older than 60 years, those who have hypertension, diabetes or are pregnant, regardless whether their jobs are considered essential," said Deputy Health Minister Hugo Lopez-Gatell.
Mexico has one of the world's highest rates of both obesity and diabetes, and experts have recently sounded the alarm that its population could therefore be more vulnerable than its relatively young average age might suggest.
Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, who announced the health emergency, said that people or companies who ignored the rules would face administrative or penal actions. The emergency would be in force until April 30, he said.
Unlike most regional peers, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has not ordered a lockdown or other drastic measures to control spread of the coronavirus due to concerns Mexico's already slumping economy would take an even bigger hit.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-30--Coronavirus: France reports record 418 fatalities in a day as death toll tops 3,000

An ambulance transporting a COVID-19 patient arrives at the Cote Basque Hospital in Bayonne , France , on March 29 , 2020 .
French health authorities reported 418 new deaths from coronavirus on Monday , taking the total to 3,024 or an increase of 16 percent , making France the fourth country to cross the 3,000 fatalities threshold after China , Italy and Spain .
The daily government tally only accounts for those dying in hospital but authorities say they will very soon be able to compile data on deaths in retirement homes , which is likely to result in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health agency director Jérôme Salomon told a news conference that the number of cases had risen to 44,550 , a rise of 11 percent in 24 hours .
However , the actual number could be much higher as only those deemed at high risk are currently being tested .
According to Salomon , the most reliable indicator of the virus 's spread is the daily admissions to hospital and intensive care .
`` From the end of this week , we should have less people who are arriving at hospital and going into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Salomon said 5,107 people were in a serious condition needing life support , up 10 percent compared to Monday , an increase speeding up again after slowing for two days .
France has been in lockdown since March 17 in a bid to slow the spread of the epidemic and officials have repeatedly warned it will take time for the measures to bear fruit .

French health authorities reported 418 new deaths from coronavirus on Monday, taking the total to 3,024 or an increase of 16 percent, making France the fourth country to cross the 3,000 fatalities threshold after China, Italy and Spain.
An ambulance transporting a COVID-19 patient arrives at the Cote Basque Hospital in Bayonne, France, on March 29, 2020.
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The daily government tally only accounts for those dying in hospital but authorities say they will very soon be able to compile data on deaths in retirement homes, which is likely to result in a big increase in registered fatalities.
Health agency director Jérôme Salomon told a news conference that the number of cases had risen to 44,550, a rise of 11 percent in 24 hours.
However, the actual number could be much higher as only those deemed at high risk are currently being tested.
According to Salomon, the most reliable indicator of the virus's spread is the daily admissions to hospital and intensive care.
"From the end of this week, we should have less people who are arriving at hospital and going into intensive care," he said.
Salomon said 5,107 people were in a serious condition needing life support, up 10 percent compared to Monday, an increase speeding up again after slowing for two days.
France has been in lockdown since March 17 in a bid to slow the spread of the epidemic and officials have repeatedly warned it will take time for the measures to bear fruit.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-30--Italy extends coronavirus confinement ‘at least’ until Easter

People listen from their homes to priests celebrating the Sunday Holy Mass from the roof of the church San Gabriele dell'Addolorata in Rome on March 29 , 2020 , during the COVID-19 ( new coronavirus ) pandemic .
Italy on Monday extended an economically crippling lockdown until `` at least '' mid-April to stem coronavirus infections that have claimed a world-leading 11,591 lives .
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said any easing of containment measures would be done incrementally to ensure Italy does not give up gains it has made against the extraordinary disease .
The near three-week shutdown `` had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told Spain 's El Pais newspaper .
`` It can not last very long , '' he said .
`` We can study ways ( of lifting restrictions ) .
But it will have to be done gradually . ''
Health Minister Roberto Speranza later announced that `` all containment measures would be extended at least until Easter '' on April 12. Business closures and a ban on public gatherings were to have expired on Friday .
Italy was the first Western nation to impose sweeping restrictions to stem a pandemic that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Its own toll grew by 812 on Monday and the number of infections reported by the civil protection service surpassed 100,000 .
But fresh evidence also suggested that COVID-19 was spreading more slowly than when the first victim died in Italy on February 21 .
The daily rate of new infections dropped to 4.1 percent – a fraction of the 62 percent level registered a month ago .
The number of people suffering from the illness at its epicentre in the northern Lombardy region also dropped for the first time .
And the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 across the nation of 60 million people hit a new high .
`` We saw 1,590 people recover in the past 24 hours , '' civil protection service chief Angelo Borrelli told reporters .
`` This is the highest number of recoveries recorded since the start of the pandemic . ''
Deputy Health Minister Pierpaolo Sileri said the latest data showed that Italy might see `` a drop in the number of people infected within seven to 10 days '' .
Italy 's ISS public health institute chief Silvio Brusaferro also felt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We are witnessing a flattening of the curve , '' Brusaferro told the La Repubblica daily .
`` There are no signs of a descent yet , but things are improving . ''
Health officials said one of the most encouraging figures was a drop from 25,392 on Sunday to 25,006 on Monday in the number of people in Lombardy testing positive for COVID-19 .
The figure had grown continuously for more than a month .
`` The picture has improved a lot over the past four days , '' Lombardy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The latest data was released nearly three weeks into a national lockdown that has emptied cities and paralysed most business activity .
Store and restaurant closures were reinforced last week by a shutdown of `` non-essential '' factories .
Forecasts by several global banks and analysts point to Italian economic output shrinking by seven percent this year .

Italy on Monday extended an economically crippling lockdown until "at least" mid-April to stem coronavirus infections that have claimed a world-leading 11,591 lives.
People listen from their homes to priests celebrating the Sunday Holy Mass from the roof of the church San Gabriele dell'Addolorata in Rome on March 29, 2020, during the COVID-19 (new coronavirus) pandemic.
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Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said any easing of containment measures would be done incrementally to ensure Italy does not give up gains it has made against the extraordinary disease.
The near three-week shutdown "had been very tough economically," Conte told Spain's El Pais newspaper.
"It cannot last very long," he said. "We can study ways (of lifting restrictions). But it will have to be done gradually."
Health Minister Roberto Speranza later announced that "all containment measures would be extended at least until Easter" on April 12.
Business closures and a ban on public gatherings were to have expired on Friday.
'Flattening of the curve'
Italy was the first Western nation to impose sweeping restrictions to stem a pandemic that has claimed more than 36,000 lives worldwide.
Its own toll grew by 812 on Monday and the number of infections reported by the civil protection service surpassed 100,000.
But fresh evidence also suggested that COVID-19 was spreading more slowly than when the first victim died in Italy on February 21.
The daily rate of new infections dropped to 4.1 percent – a fraction of the 62 percent level registered a month ago.
The number of people suffering from the illness at its epicentre in the northern Lombardy region also dropped for the first time.
And the number of people who have recovered from COVID-19 across the nation of 60 million people hit a new high.
"We saw 1,590 people recover in the past 24 hours," civil protection service chief Angelo Borrelli told reporters.
"This is the highest number of recoveries recorded since the start of the pandemic."
Deputy Health Minister Pierpaolo Sileri said the latest data showed that Italy might see "a drop in the number of people infected within seven to 10 days".
Italy's ISS public health institute chief Silvio Brusaferro also felt the infection rate was approaching its peak.
"We are witnessing a flattening of the curve," Brusaferro told the La Repubblica daily.
"There are no signs of a descent yet, but things are improving."
'Picture has improved a lot'
Health officials said one of the most encouraging figures was a drop from 25,392 on Sunday to 25,006 on Monday in the number of people in Lombardy testing positive for COVID-19.
The figure had grown continuously for more than a month.
"The picture has improved a lot over the past four days," Lombardy's chief medical officer Giulio Gallera said.
The latest data was released nearly three weeks into a national lockdown that has emptied cities and paralysed most business activity.
Store and restaurant closures were reinforced last week by a shutdown of "non-essential" factories.
Forecasts by several global banks and analysts point to Italian economic output shrinking by seven percent this year.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-03-31--Coronavirus: Why do more men die of Covid-19 than women?

A health worker takes a blood sample from a resident at a makeshift rapid testing centre near Bach Mai hospital in Hanoi on March 31 , 2020 .
As the world faces the most serious public health crisis in a century , scientists and medical professionals are scrambling to understand who is most vulnerable to Covid-19 and why .
But one clear trend is emerging : Men are much more likely to die from the disease than women .
It is a pattern occurring in almost every country as researchers frantically begin to collate data from national health authorities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that provides us with sex-disaggregated data that men are more likely to die from the virus , anything from 10 percent to more than twice as likely , '' said professor Sarah Hawkes , the director of the UCL Centre for Gender and Global Health in the UK .
The centre is home to the independent Global Health 50/50 initiative , which has embarked on a project to collate data on gender and Covid-19 – the disease caused by the novel coronavirus – from across the globe .
While much emphasis was initially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have pre-existing health conditions as being at risk of dying from the virus , it is now becoming clear that being male is also a factor .
Data from China first revealed a gender gap in deaths , with 64 percent of male sufferers dying compared to 36 percent of women , according to the Global Health 50/50 initiative .
Figures from France , Germany , Italy , South Korea and Spain have confirmed the pattern .
In the two hardest-hit European nations , 71 percent of the Covid-19 deaths in Italy were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many men as women have died .
`` Undoubtedly , a part of this is biology but a large part of this difference is also driven by gender behaviour , such as far higher levels of smoking and drinking among men compared to women , '' professor Hawkes told FRANCE 24 .
Here in France , figures from the Public Health institute show that , from March 1 to March 22 , 57 percent of Covid-19 deaths were men with the average age being 81 years old .
But Hawkes said that when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the gender gap is far more less noticeable – women are at just as much risk as men of being infected .
While it is still too early to determine why the gender gap is emerging , researchers point to several possible factors .
Data has already shown that other coronaviruses , such as SARS ( Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ) and MERS ( Middle East respiratory syndrome ) , tend to affect men disproportionately .
Lifestyle choices and behaviours also play a part , with men less likely to seek medical help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to follow public heath advice .
Studies show that men are also less likely to wash their hands or use soap .
They are also more likely to indulge in risky lifestyle behaviours such as drinking and smoking , which means men have a higher incidence of both pulmonary and cardiovascular disease .
Then there are the biological factors , with hormones , particularly oestrogen , playing a role in increasing women ’ s antiviral response .
Genetic structure is another important factor , with a significant number of genes that regulate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , of which women have two while men only have one .
`` We know that women ’ s immune systems function differently to men ’ s – after all , women ’ s bodies are designed to host a foetus for nine months at a time without it being rejected as a foreign body , '' professor Hawkes said .
Dr Sabra Klein , an immunologist and a specialist in gender and infectious diseases at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Heath , spoke to FRANCE 24 ’ s The 51 Percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reasons for men being at more risk of dying from Covid-19 .
`` Generally speaking , women mount greater immune responses to a variety of viruses as well as other infectious agents than do men , '' Dr Klein said .
`` There are biological differences in the immune systems between men and women which impact our ability to fight an infection , '' she said , pointing to blood samples from China collected from Covid-19 patients .
`` [ Those samples ] suggest our blood chemistry and immune cell counts do , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women , which could be contributing to some of the gender differences that we ’ re observing in the severity of the disease . ''
In the meantime , researchers are pleading with countries to provide specific data on gender and age differences when it comes to recording deaths , especially in the US and Britain .
`` The Covid-19 crisis reveals , in stark terms , that in most countries , the data-for-decision-making process is broken , '' said Dr Kent Bush , the co-director of Global Heath 50/50 .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we fail to analyse it and we fail to act on it .
While it ’ s great to see some countries stepping up , too many still don ’ t , including those with the wherewithal to do better , such as the [ United ] States and the UK.
” > > Watch our interview with Dr Sabra Klein on The 51 Percent by clicking here .
Such data should be used to shape public heath messaging , said Dr Klein .
`` This pandemic may end up being the defining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way we view infectious diseases , '' she said .
`` I am disappointed that many of the public health officials around the world are not speaking out that being male is indeed a risk factor for a more severe outcome and , in particular , being an older male .
I do think that there could be public heath messaging [ that ] could occur in that context . ''
She later told FRANCE 24 that such public health advice is critical when there is no drug to prevent or vaccine to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if more older-aged men knew this , or their spouses knew this , it may mean they would be more vigilant , and also taking advantage of healthcare while also practising good hygiene .
”

As the world faces the most serious public health crisis in a century, scientists and medical professionals are scrambling to understand who is most vulnerable to Covid-19 and why. But one clear trend is emerging: Men are much more likely to die from the disease than women.
A health worker takes a blood sample from a resident at a makeshift rapid testing centre near Bach Mai hospital in Hanoi on March 31, 2020.
Advertising Read more
It is a pattern occurring in almost every country as researchers frantically begin to collate data from national health authorities.
"We are seeing with every country that provides us with sex-disaggregated data that men are more likely to die from the virus, anything from 10 percent to more than twice as likely," said professor Sarah Hawkes, the director of the UCL Centre for Gender and Global Health in the UK.
The centre is home to the independent Global Health 50/50 initiative, which has embarked on a project to collate data on gender and Covid-19 – the disease caused by the novel coronavirus – from across the globe.
While much emphasis was initially placed on the elderly or those who have pre-existing health conditions as being at risk of dying from the virus, it is now becoming clear that being male is also a factor.
Data from China first revealed a gender gap in deaths, with 64 percent of male sufferers dying compared to 36 percent of women, according to the Global Health 50/50 initiative.
Figures from France, Germany, Italy, South Korea and Spain have confirmed the pattern.
In the two hardest-hit European nations, 71 percent of the Covid-19 deaths in Italy were male while in Spain almost twice as many men as women have died.
"Undoubtedly, a part of this is biology but a large part of this difference is also driven by gender behaviour, such as far higher levels of smoking and drinking among men compared to women," professor Hawkes told FRANCE 24.
Here in France, figures from the Public Health institute show that, from March 1 to March 22, 57 percent of Covid-19 deaths were men with the average age being 81 years old.
But Hawkes said that when it comes to contracting the virus, the gender gap is far more less noticeable – women are at just as much risk as men of being infected.
While it is still too early to determine why the gender gap is emerging, researchers point to several possible factors.
Data has already shown that other coronaviruses, such as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome), tend to affect men disproportionately.
Lifestyle choices and behaviours also play a part, with men less likely to seek medical help at the first signs of disease or to follow public heath advice. Studies show that men are also less likely to wash their hands or use soap.
They are also more likely to indulge in risky lifestyle behaviours such as drinking and smoking, which means men have a higher incidence of both pulmonary and cardiovascular disease.
Then there are the biological factors, with hormones, particularly oestrogen, playing a role in increasing women’s antiviral response. Genetic structure is another important factor, with a significant number of genes that regulate the immune response encoded on the X chromosome, of which women have two while men only have one.
"We know that women’s immune systems function differently to men’s – after all, women’s bodies are designed to host a foetus for nine months at a time without it being rejected as a foreign body," professor Hawkes said.
Dr Sabra Klein, an immunologist and a specialist in gender and infectious diseases at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Heath, spoke to FRANCE 24’s The 51 Percent show earlier in March about the possible reasons for men being at more risk of dying from Covid-19.
"Generally speaking, women mount greater immune responses to a variety of viruses as well as other infectious agents than do men," Dr Klein said.
"There are biological differences in the immune systems between men and women which impact our ability to fight an infection," she said, pointing to blood samples from China collected from Covid-19 patients.
"[Those samples] suggest our blood chemistry and immune cell counts do, in fact, differ between men and women, which could be contributing to some of the gender differences that we’re observing in the severity of the disease."
In the meantime, researchers are pleading with countries to provide specific data on gender and age differences when it comes to recording deaths, especially in the US and Britain.
"The Covid-19 crisis reveals, in stark terms, that in most countries, the data-for-decision-making process is broken," said Dr Kent Bush, the co-director of Global Heath 50/50.
"We have the data, but too often we fail to analyse it and we fail to act on it. While it’s great to see some countries stepping up, too many still don’t, including those with the wherewithal to do better, such as the [United] States and the UK.”
>> Watch our interview with Dr Sabra Klein on The 51 Percent by clicking here.
Such data should be used to shape public heath messaging, said Dr Klein.
"This pandemic may end up being the defining moment for sex and gender in the way we view infectious diseases," she said.
"I am disappointed that many of the public health officials around the world are not speaking out that being male is indeed a risk factor for a more severe outcome and, in particular, being an older male. I do think that there could be public heath messaging [that] could occur in that context."
She later told FRANCE 24 that such public health advice is critical when there is no vaccine to prevent or drug to help cure the virus.
“So if more older-aged men knew this, or their spouses knew this, it may mean they would be more vigilant, and also [take] advantage of healthcare while also practising good hygiene.”
Daily newsletterReceive essential international news every morning Subscribe


france24--2020-03-31--Coronavirus: France reports record 499 deaths in a day, total death toll of 3,523

A sick patient is secured by firefighters ambulance crew members of the Departmental Fire and Rescue Service ( SDIS 67 ) during a rescue operation in Strasbourg as the spread of the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) continues in France , March 28 , 2020 .
Picture taken March 28 , 2020 .
French health authorities reported a record 499 new deaths from coronavirus on Tuesday , taking the total to 3,523 , an increase of 17 percent in the past 24 hours .
It was the third consecutive day that the rate of deaths accelerated in France , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown to try to slow the spread of the virus .
The daily government tally only accounts for those dying in hospital but authorities say they will very soon be able to compile data on deaths in retirement homes , which is likely to result in a big increase in registered fatalities .
State health agency director Jérôme Salomon told a news conference that the number of cases had risen to 52,128 , a rise of 17 percent in 24 hours , probably due to the fact that France has been ramping up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a serious condition needing life support , up 9 percent compared to Monday , a rate of increase slightly slower compared to previous days .
The health system is struggling to cope with the pace of the outbreak .
France has increased the number of beds in intensive care units from 5,000 to about 10,000 since the start of the crisis and it is scrambling to reach 14,500 .

French health authorities reported a record 499 new deaths from coronavirus on Tuesday, taking the total to 3,523, an increase of 17 percent in the past 24 hours.
A sick patient is secured by firefighters ambulance crew members of the Departmental Fire and Rescue Service (SDIS 67) during a rescue operation in Strasbourg as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in France, March 28, 2020. Picture taken March 28, 2020.
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It was the third consecutive day that the rate of deaths accelerated in France, which is now in its third week of lockdown to try to slow the spread of the virus.
The daily government tally only accounts for those dying in hospital but authorities say they will very soon be able to compile data on deaths in retirement homes, which is likely to result in a big increase in registered fatalities.
State health agency director Jérôme Salomon told a news conference that the number of cases had risen to 52,128, a rise of 17 percent in 24 hours, probably due to the fact that France has been ramping up testing
Salomon said 5,565 people were in a serious condition needing life support, up 9 percent compared to Monday, a rate of increase slightly slower compared to previous days. The health system is struggling to cope with the pace of the outbreak.
France has increased the number of beds in intensive care units from 5,000 to about 10,000 since the start of the crisis and it is scrambling to reach 14,500.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-31--UK coronavirus deaths rise by 381 in 24 hours as 13-year-old boy dies

A poster in the window of a pharmacy is pictured in Royal Wharf as the spread of the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) continues , in London , Britain , March 31 , 2020 .
The number of deaths from coronavirus in the United Kingdom rose by 27 % in the space of a day , according to new figures on Tuesday that a senior cabinet minister described as shocking and disturbing .
The government said 1,789 people have died in hospitals from coronavirus as of 1600 GMT on Monday , an increase of 381 from Sunday , the largest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The increase in the number of deaths is deeply shocking , disturbing ( and ) moving , '' Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said at a news conference , adding that it was not possible to predict when fatalities would peak .
`` It depends on the actions of all of us , '' he added .
`` We can delay that peak , we can flatten the curve through our own particular actions . ''
Later on Tuesday , a London hospital announced that a 13-year-old boy had died after contracting coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
Britain initially took a gradual approach to containing the virus compared with European countries such as Italy .
But Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed stringent controls after projections showed a quarter of a million people could die .
Johnson has since become the first leader of a major power to announce a positive test result for coronavirus .
Britain lags Italy , Spain and France in terms of the number of deaths , but they are still doubling around every 3.5 days .
While that is similar to the trajectory of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - when it was reporting similar numbers of deaths just over two weeks ago , British officials said on Tuesday they saw tentative reasons for optimism .
Official figures showed confirmed cases rose 14 % between Monday and Tuesday to 25,150 as of Tuesday at 0800 GMT , the third day of increases around that rate - slowing from around 22-24 % last Thursday and Friday .
`` We 're not out of the woods , we 're very much in the woods , and it 's really important that we keep complying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Powis , director of the National Health Service in England .
`` But as you can see , the number of infections is not rising as rapidly as it was .
So , green shoots , but only green shoots , and we must not be complacent and we must not take our foot off the pedal . ''
The government also announced the first medical ventilators which Britain has recently ordered from businesses will be ready this weekend and available to the health service next week .
The Daily Mail reported that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The number of deaths from coronavirus in the United Kingdom rose by 27% in the space of a day, according to new figures on Tuesday that a senior cabinet minister described as shocking and disturbing.
A poster in the window of a pharmacy is pictured in Royal Wharf as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in London, Britain, March 31, 2020.
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The government said 1,789 people have died in hospitals from coronavirus as of 1600 GMT on Monday, an increase of 381 from Sunday, the largest rise in absolute terms yet.
"The increase in the number of deaths is deeply shocking, disturbing (and) moving," Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said at a news conference, adding that it was not possible to predict when fatalities would peak.
"It depends on the actions of all of us," he added. "We can delay that peak, we can flatten the curve through our own particular actions."
Later on Tuesday, a London hospital announced that a 13-year-old boy had died after contracting coronavirus, Britain's youngest fatality from the pandemic.
Britain initially took a gradual approach to containing the virus compared with European countries such as Italy.
But Prime Minister Boris Johnson imposed stringent controls after projections showed a quarter of a million people could die. Johnson has since become the first leader of a major power to announce a positive test result for coronavirus.
Deaths doubling every 3.5 days
Britain lags Italy, Spain and France in terms of the number of deaths, but they are still doubling around every 3.5 days.
While that is similar to the trajectory of Italy - the world's worst-hit country - when it was reporting similar numbers of deaths just over two weeks ago, British officials said on Tuesday they saw tentative reasons for optimism.
Official figures showed confirmed cases rose 14% between Monday and Tuesday to 25,150 as of Tuesday at 0800 GMT, the third day of increases around that rate - slowing from around 22-24% last Thursday and Friday.
"We're not out of the woods, we're very much in the woods, and it's really important that we keep complying with those instructions," said Stephen Powis, director of the National Health Service in England.
"But as you can see, the number of infections is not rising as rapidly as it was. So, green shoots, but only green shoots, and we must not be complacent and we must not take our foot off the pedal."
The government also announced the first medical ventilators which Britain has recently ordered from businesses will be ready this weekend and available to the health service next week.
The Daily Mail reported that the first batch would be 30 units.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-31--'If we stop, our efforts will be wasted': Coronavirus social distancing could last six months or mor

'If we stop, our efforts will be wasted': Coronavirus social distancing could last six months or more

A woman wearing a face mask walks on a street in Brighton , in the British county of Sussex on March 24 , 2020 , as the spread of the coronavirus and the lockdown measures aimed at suppressing it continue .
After England ’ s deputy chief medical officer warned on Sunday that the UK ’ s coronavirus lockdown could last for “ six months or more ” , experts say that prolonged social distancing measures – if not full-blown confinements – may well be necessary and that some permanent changes to behaviour are likely .
As the UK braced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prime Minister Boris Johnson ’ s March 23 announcement of unprecedented curbs on peacetime public life , England ’ s Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Harries set out a medium-term timeline for how the British government might renew restrictions aimed at supressing the coronavirus .
Containment measures must stay in place at the end of the original three-week lockdown period , she said at the British government ’ s daily coronavirus briefing on March 29 : “ We must not then suddenly revert to our normal way of living ; that would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then all of our efforts will be wasted and we could potentially see a second peak.
” “ So I think three weeks for review , ” Harries continued .
“ Two or three months to see whether we ’ ve really squashed it , with about three to six months ideally , and lots of uncertainty in that , but then to see at which point we can actually get back to normal .
It is plausible that it could go further than that.
” Britain is not the only country whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be extended beyond their initial period .
Europe ’ s worst-affected country and the first on the continent to impose a lockdown , Italy has said that its confinement measures could be extended to July 31 despite their crippling economic effects .
Germany ’ s disease control and prevention agency , the Robert Koch Institute , declared earlier in March that – in an “ extreme situation ” – restrictions on public life to combat the coronavirus could stay in place for as long as two years until a vaccine is ready @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing will likely be necessary for at least six months , ” William Hanage , an assistant professor of epidemiology at Harvard University , told FRANCE 24 .
“ The distancing measures already in place are stopping the establishment of new cases .
Those already infected should be resolved for better or worse in two months , after which the goal will be to prevent the surge we have seen in the first wave happening again.
” The German health institute ’ s idea that two years of restrictions could be necessary to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fairly likely ” scenario , Hanage said , adding that it “ depends on what is meant by restrictions ; two years of the current state is unlikely , but two years without large gatherings is another thing ” .
Of course , completely stopping the transition of the disease would make lockdowns and social distancing unnecessary .
This could be achieved one of three ways , explained Greg Gray , a professor and medical epidemiologist at Duke University School of Medicine , in an interview with FRANCE 24 .
First , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and effective vaccine programme ” .
Second , through the “ massive employment of some other effective prophylaxis against transmission ” , such as effective lockdowns , “ combined with intense contact tracing to stop transmission networks ” .
Or third , “ when a large proportion of the human population becomes immune due to infection ( known as herd immunity ) and the epidemic burns out ” .
Until then , he said , “ the virus will likely continue to circulate wherever it finds new susceptible people to infect ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tracing transmission networks – appears to be feasible in the short term .
Paradoxically , lifting restrictive measures earlier may be most suitable in relatively hard-hit nations , Gray said .
“ As the virus has hit the UK and Italy very hard , these countries may see [ herd immunity ] sooner than most other countries.
” As a result , “ six months ( of restricted movement ) may be reasonable for the UK ” while “ two years may be reasonable for Germany if transmission remains low ” .
Coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ By minimising the number of people who contract the coronavirus , lockdowns protect the most vulnerable .
However , they do not make people immune .
Consequently , scientists expect the virus to resurge when restrictions are lifted .
For example , the Imperial College London study – famous for having persuaded Johnson and US President Donald Trump to adopt tougher approaches against the coronavirus – predicted that if confinement measures end after five months , a second wave of infections would emerge in late autumn .
In light of that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social distancing is relaxed , it needs to be accompanied by widespread testing and isolation of infected persons for 14 days ” , Charles Horsburgh , a professor of epidemiology at Boston University , told FRANCE 24 .
While governments will need to deploy mass testing and contact tracing , experts say that people will also need to modify their behaviour to prevent fresh outbreaks .
“ This virus has and will continue to change our way of life , our traditions and our human-to-human interactions , ” Gray said .
Some changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already common in Asia , can now also be seen in Western cities ; and in France , the traditional bise – a kiss on each cheek to greet family , friends and colleagues – has become taboo .
Permanent change is on the cards , Lynn Goldman , dean of the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University , told FRANCE 24 .
“ It could well be that there are fewer people shaking hands and kissing ; elbow bumps could become the norm as a form of greeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more normal too .
”

After England’s deputy chief medical officer warned on Sunday that the UK’s coronavirus lockdown could last for “six months or more”, experts say that prolonged social distancing measures – if not full-blown confinements – may well be necessary and that some permanent changes to behaviour are likely.
A woman wearing a face mask walks on a street in Brighton, in the British county of Sussex on March 24, 2020, as the spread of the coronavirus and the lockdown measures aimed at suppressing it continue.
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As the UK braced for its second week under lockdown following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s March 23 announcement of unprecedented curbs on peacetime public life, England’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Harries set out a medium-term timeline for how the British government might renew restrictions aimed at supressing the coronavirus.
Containment measures must stay in place at the end of the original three-week lockdown period, she said at the British government’s daily coronavirus briefing on March 29: “We must not then suddenly revert to our normal way of living; that would be quite dangerous. If we stop, then all of our efforts will be wasted and we could potentially see a second peak.”
“So I think three weeks for review,” Harries continued. “Two or three months to see whether we’ve really squashed it, with about three to six months ideally, and lots of uncertainty in that, but then to see at which point we can actually get back to normal. It is plausible that it could go further than that.”
Two years of restrictions?
Britain is not the only country whose government has warned that coronavirus containment measures will be extended beyond their initial period. Europe’s worst-affected country and the first on the continent to impose a lockdown, Italy has said that its confinement measures could be extended to July 31 despite their crippling economic effects.
Germany’s disease control and prevention agency, the Robert Koch Institute, declared earlier in March that – in an “extreme situation” – restrictions on public life to combat the coronavirus could stay in place for as long as two years until a vaccine is ready for use.
“Some kind of distancing will likely be necessary for at least six months,” William Hanage, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Harvard University, told FRANCE 24. “The distancing measures already in place are stopping the establishment of new cases. Those already infected should be resolved for better or worse in two months, after which the goal will be to prevent the surge we have seen in the first wave happening again.”
The German health institute’s idea that two years of restrictions could be necessary to deal with the coronavirus presents a “fairly likely” scenario, Hanage said, adding that it “depends on what is meant by restrictions; two years of the current state is unlikely, but two years without large gatherings is another thing”.
Of course, completely stopping the transition of the disease would make lockdowns and social distancing unnecessary. This could be achieved one of three ways, explained Greg Gray, a professor and medical epidemiologist at Duke University School of Medicine, in an interview with FRANCE 24.
First, “through a massive, worldwide, safe and effective vaccine programme”. Second, through the “massive employment of some other effective prophylaxis against transmission”, such as effective lockdowns, “combined with intense contact tracing to stop transmission networks”. Or third, “when a large proportion of the human population becomes immune due to infection (known as herd immunity) and the epidemic burns out”. Until then, he said, “the virus will likely continue to circulate wherever it finds new susceptible people to infect”.
Only the second option – lockdowns and tracing transmission networks – appears to be feasible in the short term.
Paradoxically, lifting restrictive measures earlier may be most suitable in relatively hard-hit nations, Gray said.
“As the virus has hit the UK and Italy very hard, these countries may see [herd immunity] sooner than most other countries.”
As a result, “six months (of restricted movement) may be reasonable for the UK” while “two years may be reasonable for Germany if transmission remains low”.
Coronavirus will ‘change our way of life’
By minimising the number of people who contract the coronavirus, lockdowns protect the most vulnerable. However, they do not make people immune. Consequently, scientists expect the virus to resurge when restrictions are lifted. For example, the Imperial College London study – famous for having persuaded Johnson and US President Donald Trump to adopt tougher approaches against the coronavirus – predicted that if confinement measures end after five months, a second wave of infections would emerge in late autumn.
In light of that, “most epidemiologists believe that once the social distancing is relaxed, it needs to be accompanied by widespread testing and isolation of infected persons for 14 days”, Charles Horsburgh, a professor of epidemiology at Boston University, told FRANCE 24.
While governments will need to deploy mass testing and contact tracing, experts say that people will also need to modify their behaviour to prevent fresh outbreaks.
“This virus has and will continue to change our way of life, our traditions and our human-to-human interactions,” Gray said.
Some changes are already palpable. Face masks, already common in Asia, can now also be seen in Western cities; and in France, the traditional bise – a kiss on each cheek to greet family, friends and colleagues – has become taboo.
Permanent change is on the cards, Lynn Goldman, dean of the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University, told FRANCE 24. “It could well be that there are fewer people shaking hands and kissing; elbow bumps could become the norm as a form of greeting and I think face masks might become more normal too.”
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france24--2020-03-31--Coronavirus: US deaths reach 3,393, exceeding death toll in China

An ambulance worker sprays disinfectant inside an ambulance outside The Brooklyn Hospital Center during the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) outbreak in the Brooklyn borough of New York City , New York , U.S. , March 31 , 2020 .
US coronavirus-related deaths reached 3,393 on Tuesday , exceeding the total number of deaths reported in China and reaching the third highest in the world behind Italy and Spain , according to a Reuters tally .
Health officials urged Americans to follow stay-at-home orders and other measures to contain the spread of the virus , which originated in China in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York who have tested positive for the coronavirus increased by more than 9,000 from a day earlier to 75,795 , with deaths rising by 27 percent to 1,550 , Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Tuesday .
`` The virus is more powerful , more dangerous than we expected , '' Cuomo told a daily news briefing .
`` We 're still going up the mountain , the main battle is on top of the mountain . ''
Globally , there are now over 800,000 cases of the highly contagious illness caused by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported .
Italy has 11,591 reported deaths followed by Spain at 8,189 .

US coronavirus-related deaths reached 3,393 on Tuesday, exceeding the total number of deaths reported in China and reaching the third highest in the world behind Italy and Spain, according to a Reuters tally.
An ambulance worker sprays disinfectant inside an ambulance outside The Brooklyn Hospital Center during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, New York, U.S., March 31, 2020.
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Health officials urged Americans to follow stay-at-home orders and other measures to contain the spread of the virus, which originated in China in December.
The number of people in New York who have tested positive for the coronavirus increased by more than 9,000 from a day earlier to 75,795, with deaths rising by 27 percent to 1,550, Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Tuesday.
00:24
"The virus is more powerful, more dangerous than we expected," Cuomo told a daily news briefing. "We're still going up the mountain, the main battle is on top of the mountain."
Globally, there are now over 800,000 cases of the highly contagious illness caused by the virus and more than 39,000 deaths reported.
Italy has 11,591 reported deaths followed by Spain at 8,189.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-31--Special programme: The impact of coronavirus on the Middle East

This week , we 're bringing you a special edition of Middle East Matters , focusing on the impact of Covid-19 on the region .
We bring you reports from our correspondents in Israel and Turkey , and hear from an NGO about the situation on the ground in Yemen .
Israel , which has reported more than 4,800 coronavirus cases and at least 17 fatalities , has taken a plethora of draconian steps to tackle the spread of Covid-19 .
These include requiring a 14-day quarantine for anyone entering the country , and even monitoring the mobile phones of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for their part , have stepped up to offer support to the more vulnerable communities .
Our Jerusalem correspondents Irris Makler , Cécile Galluccio and Antoine Mariotti report .
We also focus on Yemen , which is bracing for the coronavirus pandemic .
After five years of war , the impoverished country is already facing one of the worst humanitarian crises of our time .
Some 16 million people there are in dire need of clean water , sanitation and hygiene .
We speak to Tamuna Sabadze , Yemen Country Director at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country is now facing a `` nightmare scenario '' .
We end in Turkey , which has counted at least 10,800 Covid-19 infections and 168 deaths .
People there are using cologne , with its high alcohol content , to keep the virus at bay .
As our correspondents Ludovic de Foucaud , Shona Bhattacharyya and Hussein Assad report , even the Turkish government recommends this method .
But health professionals are warning that cologne does not offer full protection against the coronavirus .

This week, we're bringing you a special edition of Middle East Matters, focusing on the impact of Covid-19 on the region. We bring you reports from our correspondents in Israel and Turkey, and hear from an NGO about the situation on the ground in Yemen.
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Israel, which has reported more than 4,800 coronavirus cases and at least 17 fatalities, has taken a plethora of draconian steps to tackle the spread of Covid-19. These include requiring a 14-day quarantine for anyone entering the country, and even monitoring the mobile phones of people with suspected coronavirus. NGOs, for their part, have stepped up to offer support to the more vulnerable communities. Our Jerusalem correspondents Irris Makler, Cécile Galluccio and Antoine Mariotti report.
>> Israel's Netanyahu tests negative for coronavirus, remains in isolation
We also focus on Yemen, which is bracing for the coronavirus pandemic. After five years of war, the impoverished country is already facing one of the worst humanitarian crises of our time. Some 16 million people there are in dire need of clean water, sanitation and hygiene. We speak to Tamuna Sabadze, Yemen Country Director at the International Rescue Committee, who tells us the country is now facing a "nightmare scenario".
We end in Turkey, which has counted at least 10,800 Covid-19 infections and 168 deaths. People there are using cologne, with its high alcohol content, to keep the virus at bay. As our correspondents Ludovic de Foucaud, Shona Bhattacharyya and Hussein Assad report, even the Turkish government recommends this method. But health professionals are warning that cologne does not offer full protection against the coronavirus.
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france24--2020-03-31--Venezuela state prosecutors summon opposition leader Guaido for 'attempted coup'

Venezuela 's National Assembly President and opposition leader Juan Guaido , who many nations have recognised as the country 's rightful interim ruler , takes part in a demonstration in Caracas , Venezuela March 10 , 2020 .
State prosecutors in Venezuela have summoned opposition leader Juan Guaido for an alleged `` attempted coup d'etat '' and attempted assassination , Attorney General Tarek William Saab announced Tuesday .
In a statement broadcast on state television , Saab said Guaido had been summoned to appear before prosecutors next Thursday following an investigation last week into the seizure of a weapons cache @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be smuggled into Venezuela .
The subpoena was delivered to his head of security on Monday night , Saab said .
The opposition leader is recognized as interim president by more than 50 countries , including the United States , that refuse to recognize socialist President Nicolas Maduro after his disputed 2018 re-election .
Colombian forces last week seized a cache of weapons linked to a retired Venezuelan general wanted on drug trafficking charges in the United States .
The shaven-headed general , Cliver Alcala , surrendered in Colombia and was handed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alcala claimed ownership of the weapons discovered by police in Puerto Viejo in Colombia 's Magdalena department on March 23 .
He said in social media messages the intention was to deliver them to Venezuela to `` begin the liberation . ''
In his announcement Tuesday , Saab said Alacala -- who was once close to late president Hugo Chavez but retired when Maduro took power in 2013 -- had been operating under `` direct instructions from Mr Juan Guaido . ''
Guaido has been repeatedly targeted by the government in a number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amid warnings by the United States that it would be Maduro 's `` last mistake . ''
Guaido called on Sunday for the formation of an emergency coalition government that would be able to convince multilateral agencies to provide badly needed funding for its crumbling health system to fight the coronavirus pandemic .
The International Monetary Fund last week rejected Maduro 's request for a $ 5 billion loan , on the grounds that there was `` no clarity '' on international recognition of his government .

State prosecutors in Venezuela have summoned opposition leader Juan Guaido for an alleged "attempted coup d'etat" and attempted assassination, Attorney General Tarek William Saab announced Tuesday.
Venezuela's National Assembly President and opposition leader Juan Guaido, who many nations have recognised as the country's rightful interim ruler, takes part in a demonstration in Caracas, Venezuela March 10, 2020.
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In a statement broadcast on state television, Saab said Guaido had been summoned to appear before prosecutors next Thursday following an investigation last week into the seizure of a weapons cache in neighboring Colombia that he said was to be smuggled into Venezuela.
The subpoena was delivered to his head of security on Monday night, Saab said.
The opposition leader is recognized as interim president by more than 50 countries, including the United States, that refuse to recognize socialist President Nicolas Maduro after his disputed 2018 re-election.
Colombian forces last week seized a cache of weapons linked to a retired Venezuelan general wanted on drug trafficking charges in the United States. The shaven-headed general, Cliver Alcala, surrendered in Colombia and was handed over to US authorities last week.
Alcala claimed ownership of the weapons discovered by police in Puerto Viejo in Colombia's Magdalena department on March 23. He said in social media messages the intention was to deliver them to Venezuela to "begin the liberation."
Maduro's 'last mistake'
In his announcement Tuesday, Saab said Alacala -- who was once close to late president Hugo Chavez but retired when Maduro took power in 2013 -- had been operating under "direct instructions from Mr Juan Guaido."
Guaido has been repeatedly targeted by the government in a number of legal cases but never arrested, amid warnings by the United States that it would be Maduro's "last mistake."
Guaido called on Sunday for the formation of an emergency coalition government that would be able to convince multilateral agencies to provide badly needed funding for its crumbling health system to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
The International Monetary Fund last week rejected Maduro's request for a $5 billion loan, on the grounds that there was "no clarity" on international recognition of his government.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-03-31--Ethiopia postpones landmark August election due to coronavirus

An Ethiopian health worker sprays disinfectant as part of measures to prevent the potential spread of coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) , in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia March 29 , 2020 .
Ethiopia has postponed its parliamentary election scheduled for August due to the coronavirus outbreak , the electoral board said on Tuesday , a move endorsed by some key opposition parties .
The August vote had been regarded as an important test of the reformist agenda of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in what was once one of the continent 's most repressive nations .
`` Due to the pandemic we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said an Amharic-language statement from the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia .
The board will announce a new timeline once the pandemic has subsided , it said .
The Horn of Africa nation has 25 confirmed cases of coronavirus and the government has closed schools and restricted gatherings to curb the spread of the highly infectious illness .
Ethiopia is Africa 's second-most populous nation with 105 million citizens .
Abiy promised to liberalise the state-run economy and oversaw reforms that saw thousands of political prisoners , journalists and opposition activists released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parliamentary democracy , have been marred by allegations of rigging and intimidation of the opposition .
Abiy had promised to hold free and fair elections in August and has been positioning himself as a unity candidate whose reforms could replace state repression as the glue to hold together Ethiopia 's often fractious federal regions .
But his party would have faced a stiff challenge from many newly resurgent regional , ethnically-based parties .
Representatives of some of the regional parties - the Oromo Liberation Front ( OLF ) and the National Movement of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the electoral board 's decision , defusing the possibility of protests .
`` For now , our priority is how to overcome the pandemic , '' said Yesuf Ebrahim , NAMA 's spokesman .
Opposition parties and the government need to discuss what will happen when parliament 's term ends in September , Yesuf said .
Dawud Ibsa , OLF 's chairman , told Reuters that his party was ready for further discussions .
William Davison , the International Crisis Group think tank 's senior analyst for Ethiopia , said the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ethiopia 's democratic process .
`` A start would be the ruling party discussing with opponents critical topics such as the conditions for a fair election , transitional justice and reconciliation , and the federation ’ s major political fault lines , '' he said .
The openness fostered by Abiy when he became premier in 2018 won him plaudits at home and abroad .
But it also fanned the embers of long-repressed rivalries between ethnic groups as regional strongmen sought to mobilise local voting blocs .
Political and ethnic clashes , along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two million people to flee their homes , according to the United Nations , although some have now returned .
Hundreds of people have also been killed .

Ethiopia has postponed its parliamentary election scheduled for August due to the coronavirus outbreak, the electoral board said on Tuesday, a move endorsed by some key opposition parties.
An Ethiopian health worker sprays disinfectant as part of measures to prevent the potential spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia March 29, 2020.
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The August vote had been regarded as an important test of the reformist agenda of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in what was once one of the continent's most repressive nations.
"Due to the pandemic we were forced to suspend our activities," said an Amharic-language statement from the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia. The board will announce a new timeline once the pandemic has subsided, it said.
The Horn of Africa nation has 25 confirmed cases of coronavirus and the government has closed schools and restricted gatherings to curb the spread of the highly infectious illness.
Ethiopia is Africa's second-most populous nation with 105 million citizens. Abiy promised to liberalise the state-run economy and oversaw reforms that saw thousands of political prisoners, journalists and opposition activists released.
Previous elections in Ethiopia, a parliamentary democracy, have been marred by allegations of rigging and intimidation of the opposition.
Abiy had promised to hold free and fair elections in August and has been positioning himself as a unity candidate whose reforms could replace state repression as the glue to hold together Ethiopia's often fractious federal regions.
But his party would have faced a stiff challenge from many newly resurgent regional, ethnically-based parties.
Long-repressed rivalries
Representatives of some of the regional parties - the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and the National Movement of Amhara (NAMA) - voiced approval of the electoral board's decision, defusing the possibility of protests.
"For now, our priority is how to overcome the pandemic," said Yesuf Ebrahim, NAMA's spokesman. Opposition parties and the government need to discuss what will happen when parliament's term ends in September, Yesuf said.
Dawud Ibsa, OLF's chairman, told Reuters that his party was ready for further discussions.
William Davison, the International Crisis Group think tank's senior analyst for Ethiopia, said the election postponement could be an opportunity to strengthen Ethiopia's democratic process.
"A start would be the ruling party discussing with opponents critical topics such as the conditions for a fair election, transitional justice and reconciliation, and the federation’s major political fault lines," he said.
The openness fostered by Abiy when he became premier in 2018 won him plaudits at home and abroad. But it also fanned the embers of long-repressed rivalries between ethnic groups as regional strongmen sought to mobilise local voting blocs.
Political and ethnic clashes, along with natural disasters, forced more than two million people to flee their homes, according to the United Nations, although some have now returned. Hundreds of people have also been killed.
(REUTERS)
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