france24--2020-05-03--Covid-19: In Cameroon, chloroquine therapy hailed by French expert becomes state protocol

The general hospital of Yaoundé , one of the centres of the fight against Covid-19 in Cameroon , on March 6 , 2020 .
While debate rages in France over Professor Didier Raoult 's recommendation of a mixture of chloroquine ( an antimalarial ) and azithromycin ( an antibiotic ) to treat patients with Covid-19 , some African countries have taken it very seriously .
Such is the case in Cameroon , which has embraced the French professor 's method of treatment .
Despite having authorised treatment in a very restricted manner for serious cases , France has shown scepticism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an antimalarial ) , or its derivative hydroxychloroquine , and azithromycin ( an antibiotic used for lung and ENT infections and angina ) to treat patients suffering from Covid-19 .
On April 22 , France 's Health Minister Olivier Véran said the most recent publications from clinical studies were not in favour of the dual therapy .
Six days later , during a speech on France ’ s strategy for lifting its Covid-19 lockdown , Prime Minister Édouard Philippe clearly reaffirmed the government 's position : “ To date , no treatment has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protocol of Dr Didier Raoult , the director of the University Hospital Institute ( IHU ) Méditerranée Infection in the southern city of Marseille , continues to divide the country ’ s medical community .
But while some French professionals consider the treatment too toxic and doubt its effectiveness , many African countries , already accustomed to anti-malarial drugs , have decided in favour of the reseacher and professor .
This is notably the case in Cameroon , which has adopted Raoult 's dual therapy .
Although the country increased its knowledge of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the region , its medical capacities remain limited and a European-style scenario , with a multiplication of serious Covid-19 cases , could lead to a catastrophe .
In mid-March , as the epidemic began to spread across Cameroon and European countries , already hard hit , launched lockdown plans , the first video of Raoult selling the effectiveness of his protocol was widely shared on Cameroonian social networks , raising great hopes .
In a country where part of the population still has major difficulties in accessing healthcare , the prospect of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ familiar drugs appeared to be a blessing .
On March 27 , in a memorandum from Cameroon ’ s Ministry of Health , the country ’ s scientific council proposed the widespread use of chloroquine treatment .
Judged “ promising ” , the treatment could make it possible to reduce viral load and contagiousness , even if the group of scientists acknowledged a “ lack of conclusive data ” .
Finally , the council wished to combine the treatment , as recommended by Raoult , with azithromycin to avoid the risks of secondary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protocol was validated for the management of all types of patients with positive Covid-19 tests , from asymptomatic cases to patients suffering from severe infections .
“ With the arrival of the first cases , the clinicians were tempted to try the protocols themselves , and it was necessary to give clear instructions quickly to organise the response , ” explained Dr Alain Etoundi , director of the fight against disease , epidemics and pandemics at Cameroon ’ s Ministry of Health , to FRANCE 24 .
“ The question of the supposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismissed by the council .
So far , the results that are coming to us seem satisfactory , but the evaluation of the treatment is ongoing , ” he said .
Professor William Ngatchou is a cardiovascular surgeon at the General Hospital in Douala , the economic capital of Cameroon .
When FRANCE 24 asked him if he had heard of Professor Raoult , he responded with amusement : “ Everyone knows Professor Raoult in Cameroon !
Some even consider him like a national hero.
” Like many health professionals in the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dual therapy combining an antimalarial and an antibiotic has been proven : “ It ’ s been almost two months that this protocol has been in use for patients with Covid-19 .
I myself have noticed significant improvements in patients with its use , and the debate about the side effects of chloroquine seems very exaggerated to me.
” Seven weeks after the detection of the first Covid-19 case on Cameroonian soil , there are more than 2,050 confirmed cases in the country .
The progress of the virus seems , as in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slower than indicated by scientific modelling .
Nevertheless , Etoundi asserted that treatment is only one element of a global health policy and it is far too early to claim victory : “ We are in a phase where the disease is on the rise and the peak has not yet been reached .
Anything is still possible.
” Beyond a public health resolution , the choice of dual therapy represents a logistical challenge in Cameroon .
For while chloroquine was massively used in the country at one time , it has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the fight against malaria and was replaced by other , more effective drugs .
“ Stocks were totally exhausted , we had to place large orders abroad and restart national industrial production , '' explained Etoundi .
In Cameroon , public hospitals have been selected to centralise Covid-19 patients .
In theory , stocks of chloroquine and azithromycin are sufficient there , although a source within medical services , contacted by FRANCE 24 , reported occasional shortages .
But the situation is more complex in the pharmaceutical sector .
Private pharmacies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the role of doctor , and they are not authorized to sell chloroquine .
“ As soon as we started talking about the disease in March , a lot of people wanted to buy stocks of chloroquine from us , some aggressively .
Others came to try to sell us some , ” a pharmacist in a working-class neighbourhood in Douala told FRANCE 24 .
“ Here , demand for the Covid treatment is exploding , we quadrupled our sales of azithromycin between March and April .
Since we do n't have chloroquine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drugs like Artequin , which is already out of stock at wholesalers , ” she said .
The black market for drugs , already flourishing in normal times in Cameroon , is on the rise with the Covid-19 crisis .
The authorities have already issued several alerts about the circulation of fake chloroquine within the health network .
Finally , another subject that worries the government is the disappearance of hydroxychloroquine , the chloroquine derivative , also recommended by Professor Raoult .
It was previously sold over the counter in pharmacies and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reserved for the treatment of specific diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus .
“ The shelves have been robbed very quickly , yet patients depend on these drugs .
They now find themselves destitute and we must find solutions to protect them , ” Etoundi said .
This article is a translation of the original in French .

While debate rages in France over Professor Didier Raoult's recommendation of a mixture of chloroquine (an antimalarial) and azithromycin (an antibiotic) to treat patients with Covid-19, some African countries have taken it very seriously. Such is the case in Cameroon, which has embraced the French professor's method of treatment.
The general hospital of Yaoundé, one of the centres of the fight against Covid-19 in Cameroon, on March 6, 2020.
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Despite having authorised treatment in a very restricted manner for serious cases, France has shown scepticism regarding a dual therapy combining chloroquine (an antimalarial), or its derivative hydroxychloroquine, and azithromycin (an antibiotic used for lung and ENT infections and angina) to treat patients suffering from Covid-19. On April 22, France's Health Minister Olivier Véran said the most recent publications from clinical studies were not in favour of the dual therapy. Six days later, during a speech on France’s strategy for lifting its Covid-19 lockdown, Prime Minister Édouard Philippe clearly reaffirmed the government's position: “To date, no treatment has proven effective.”
#Chloroquine : « Les dernières publications ne sont pas en faveur de ce traitement » affirme @olivierveran https://t.co/i8Hpc3RRvl — Public Sénat (@publicsenat) April 22, 2020
The debate surrounding the protocol of Dr Didier Raoult, the director of the University Hospital Institute (IHU) Méditerranée Infection in the southern city of Marseille, continues to divide the country’s medical community. But while some French professionals consider the treatment too toxic and doubt its effectiveness, many African countries, already accustomed to anti-malarial drugs, have decided in favour of the reseacher and professor. This is notably the case in Cameroon, which has adopted Raoult's dual therapy.
Although the country increased its knowledge of epidemics following the appearance of Ebola in the region, its medical capacities remain limited and a European-style scenario, with a multiplication of serious Covid-19 cases, could lead to a catastrophe. In mid-March, as the epidemic began to spread across Cameroon and European countries, already hard hit, launched lockdown plans, the first video of Raoult selling the effectiveness of his protocol was widely shared on Cameroonian social networks, raising great hopes. In a country where part of the population still has major difficulties in accessing healthcare, the prospect of a treatment based on accessible, inexpensive and familiar drugs appeared to be a blessing.
A chloroquine treatment
On March 27, in a memorandum from Cameroon’s Ministry of Health, the country’s scientific council proposed the widespread use of chloroquine treatment. Judged “promising”, the treatment could make it possible to reduce viral load and contagiousness, even if the group of scientists acknowledged a “lack of conclusive data”. Finally, the council wished to combine the treatment, as recommended by Raoult, with azithromycin to avoid the risks of secondary infections. On April 9, the protocol was validated for the management of all types of patients with positive Covid-19 tests, from asymptomatic cases to patients suffering from severe infections.
“With the arrival of the first cases, the clinicians were tempted to try the protocols themselves, and it was necessary to give clear instructions quickly to organise the response,” explained Dr Alain Etoundi, director of the fight against disease, epidemics and pandemics at Cameroon’s Ministry of Health, to FRANCE 24.
“The question of the supposed toxicity of chloroquine has been addressed and dismissed by the council. So far, the results that are coming to us seem satisfactory, but the evaluation of the treatment is ongoing,” he said.
A ‘national hero’
Professor William Ngatchou is a cardiovascular surgeon at the General Hospital in Douala, the economic capital of Cameroon. When FRANCE 24 asked him if he had heard of Professor Raoult, he responded with amusement: “Everyone knows Professor Raoult in Cameroon! Some even consider him like a national hero.” Like many health professionals in the country, Ngatchou thinks that the effectiveness of dual therapy combining an antimalarial and an antibiotic has been proven: “It’s been almost two months that this protocol has been in use for patients with Covid-19. I myself have noticed significant improvements in patients with its use, and the debate about the side effects of chloroquine seems very exaggerated to me.”
Seven weeks after the detection of the first Covid-19 case on Cameroonian soil, there are more than 2,050 confirmed cases in the country. The progress of the virus seems, as in many African countries, to be much slower than indicated by scientific modelling. Nevertheless, Etoundi asserted that treatment is only one element of a global health policy and it is far too early to claim victory: “We are in a phase where the disease is on the rise and the peak has not yet been reached. Anything is still possible.”
Supply problems and a black market explosion
Beyond a public health resolution, the choice of dual therapy represents a logistical challenge in Cameroon. For while chloroquine was massively used in the country at one time, it has been several decades since it lost its effectiveness in the fight against malaria and was replaced by other, more effective drugs. “Stocks were totally exhausted, we had to place large orders abroad and restart national industrial production," explained Etoundi.
In Cameroon, public hospitals have been selected to centralise Covid-19 patients. In theory, stocks of chloroquine and azithromycin are sufficient there, although a source within medical services, contacted by FRANCE 24, reported occasional shortages. But the situation is more complex in the pharmaceutical sector. Private pharmacies, very important in Cameroon, sometimes play the role of doctor, and they are not authorized to sell chloroquine.
“As soon as we started talking about the disease in March, a lot of people wanted to buy stocks of chloroquine from us, some aggressively. Others came to try to sell us some,” a pharmacist in a working-class neighbourhood in Douala told FRANCE 24. “Here, demand for the Covid treatment is exploding, we quadrupled our sales of azithromycin between March and April. Since we don't have chloroquine, customers have switched to similar antimalarial drugs like Artequin, which is already out of stock at wholesalers,” she said.
The black market for drugs, already flourishing in normal times in Cameroon, is on the rise with the Covid-19 crisis. The authorities have already issued several alerts about the circulation of fake chloroquine within the health network.
Finally, another subject that worries the government is the disappearance of hydroxychloroquine, the chloroquine derivative, also recommended by Professor Raoult. It was previously sold over the counter in pharmacies and was very little used, because it was reserved for the treatment of specific diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. “The shelves have been robbed very quickly, yet patients depend on these drugs. They now find themselves destitute and we must find solutions to protect them,” Etoundi said.
A document of the Cameroonian health services warns against fake chloroquine in circulation. © Lanacore
This article is a translation of the original in French.
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france24--2020-05-03--French quarantine rules to spare travellers from Schengen area and Britain

France said Sunday that it would not quarantine travellers arriving from the EU , the Schengen area or Britain due to the coronavirus pandemic , contradicting an earlier announcement that the quarantine would apply to all travellers .
France is preparing to ease lockdown measures from May 11 , though the government has decided to extend a “ state of health emergency ” until July 24 to combat the spread of Covid-19 .
Announcing the extension on Saturday , the government had said that anyone entering France would have to remain in isolation for two weeks , French nationals included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not apply to `` anyone arriving from the European Union , the Schengen zone or Britain , regardless of their nationality '' , the presidency said on Sunday .
For French and EU citizens arriving in France from other regions outside the EU , the Schengen area and Britain , `` the rules will be announced in the coming days '' , the presidency added .
The French consulate in Britain had made a similar announcement earlier in the day .
`` People entering the French territory from countries in the European area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NOT be affected by the quarantine measure announced in France , the details of which will be specified shortly , '' the consulate said on Twitter .
The number of new deaths from COVID-19 in France has been declining in recent days , with 135 fatalities reported over the past 24 hours on Sunday — the lowest daily tally since March 22 .
The national health service said the increase brought France 's total death toll to 24,895 , the world 's fifth highest figure after the United States , Italy , Britain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifting the coronavirus lockdown from May 11 , when children are to return to school in stages , some businesses will reopen and people will be able to travel within 100 kilometres ( 60 miles ) of their homes without a signed justification for their movement .
But Health Minister Olivier Veran warned Sunday that this would depend on further declines in COVID-19 infections , especially in hard-hit areas like the Paris region and northeast France .
The government has said the number of new coronavirus cases must stabilise at fewer than 3,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ otherwise doctors and nurses could face another wave of patients that have tested hospitals since March .
`` If the number of new cases proves too high , we 'll have to reconsider the date for lifting the lockdown , and decide according to the situation in each department , '' Veran told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper .
He also cautioned against planning summer holidays for now , saying `` it 's unlikely that this virus is going to go on vacation '' .
Officials are scrambling to ramp up testing capacities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 , which health experts say is essential for containing the outbreak .

France said Sunday that it would not quarantine travellers arriving from the EU, the Schengen area or Britain due to the coronavirus pandemic, contradicting an earlier announcement that the quarantine would apply to all travellers.
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France is preparing to ease lockdown measures from May 11, though the government has decided to extend a “state of health emergency” until July 24 to combat the spread of Covid-19.
Announcing the extension on Saturday, the government had said that anyone entering France would have to remain in isolation for two weeks, French nationals included.
However, the quarantine rules will not apply to "anyone arriving from the European Union, the Schengen zone or Britain, regardless of their nationality", the presidency said on Sunday.
For French and EU citizens arriving in France from other regions outside the EU, the Schengen area and Britain, "the rules will be announced in the coming days", the presidency added.
The French consulate in Britain had made a similar announcement earlier in the day.
"People entering the French territory from countries in the European area (EU/Schengen and United Kingdom) will NOT be affected by the quarantine measure announced in France, the details of which will be specified shortly," the consulate said on Twitter.
French Consulate in London has clarified the previous news put out by the French Government, and have confirmed that the 14-day quarantine measures will not apply to those entering #France from the EU/Schengen/UK https://t.co/Bwsbha7vKK — Julien Hoez (@JulienHoez) May 3, 2020
The number of new deaths from COVID-19 in France has been declining in recent days, with 135 fatalities reported over the past 24 hours on Sunday — the lowest daily tally since March 22.
The national health service said the increase brought France's total death toll to 24,895, the world's fifth highest figure after the United States, Italy, Britain and Spain.
France plans to start lifting the coronavirus lockdown from May 11, when children are to return to school in stages, some businesses will reopen and people will be able to travel within 100 kilometres (60 miles) of their homes without a signed justification for their movement.
But Health Minister Olivier Veran warned Sunday that this would depend on further declines in COVID-19 infections, especially in hard-hit areas like the Paris region and northeast France.
The government has said the number of new coronavirus cases must stabilise at fewer than 3,000 per day as it expands testing, otherwise doctors and nurses could face another wave of patients that have tested hospitals since March.
"If the number of new cases proves too high, we'll have to reconsider the date for lifting the lockdown, and decide according to the situation in each department," Veran told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper.
He also cautioned against planning summer holidays for now, saying "it's unlikely that this virus is going to go on vacation".
Officials are scrambling to ramp up testing capacities to 700,000 people each week by May 11, which health experts say is essential for containing the outbreak.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-05-03--Algerian singer Idir, champion of Berber culture, dies at 70

Idir performing at the Mawazine international music festival in Rabat , in May 2011 .
The Algerian singer Idir , a leading cultural ambassador of his native Kabylie and its Berber language , died in Paris on Saturday aged 70 , his family has announced .
Idir , who suffered from pulmonary fibrosis , had been taken to hospital on Friday .
`` We regret to announce the death of our father , Idir , '' a message posted on his official Facebook account said .
Contacted by AFP , his family declined to comment further .
Algeria 's President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Algerian art '' , saying on Twitter , `` With his passing , Algeria has lost one of its monuments . ''
Idir , whose real name was Hamid Cheriet , was born on October 25 , 1949 , in Ait Lahcene , near the Kabylie capital of Tizi Ouzou in northern Algeria .
He studied to be a geologist but in 1973 was tapped as a surprise last-minute replacement for the Kablyie diva Nouara on Radio Algiers to sing `` A Vava Inouva , '' a lullaby set to acoustic guitar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traditions of Berber mountain villages .
The song became a huge success in Algeria and beyond , but Idir had no idea because soon after the recording he was drafted for mandatory military service .
`` I came at the right time , with the right songs , '' he told AFP in a 2013 interview , adding that his songs evoked the rhythms of daily life he had heard since a baby .
Idir travelled to Paris to record his first album , also titled `` A Vava Inouva , '' in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tours and another album , he decided to abandon the music industry until 1991 , when the release of a compilation album relaunched his career .
From his home in France , he became an impassioned advocate of his native Kabylie while also defending multiculturalism and immigration as they became key issues in his adopted country 's 2007 presidential race .
After a 38-year absence he returned to Algeria in January 2018 for a Berber new year concert in the capital .
The next year , he defended the popular uprisings that led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bouteflika .
`` I loved everything about these protests : the intelligence of these youths , their humour , their determination to remain peaceful , '' Idir said in April 2019 .
`` I admit that these moments were like a breath of fresh air , '' he added .
`` And since I have pulmonary fibrosis , I know what I 'm talking about . ''

The Algerian singer Idir, a leading cultural ambassador of his native Kabylie and its Berber language, died in Paris on Saturday aged 70, his family has announced.
Idir performing at the Mawazine international music festival in Rabat, in May 2011.
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Idir, who suffered from pulmonary fibrosis, had been taken to hospital on Friday.
"We regret to announce the death of our father, Idir," a message posted on his official Facebook account said. Contacted by AFP, his family declined to comment further.
Algeria's President Abdelmadjid Tebboune called him "an icon of Algerian art", saying on Twitter, "With his passing, Algeria has lost one of its monuments."
He was one of those who proudly brought Amazigh culture to the eyes of the world.
I think .. Everyone of us sung "avava inouva" at least once in his life
😔
Idir is gone ...
إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون 🙏🏻#Idir pic.twitter.com/ZsYtkwL8nM — Asma 🇩🇿 Mak (@13Semsouma) May 3, 2020
Idir, whose real name was Hamid Cheriet, was born on October 25, 1949, in Ait Lahcene, near the Kabylie capital of Tizi Ouzou in northern Algeria.
He studied to be a geologist but in 1973 was tapped as a surprise last-minute replacement for the Kablyie diva Nouara on Radio Algiers to sing "A Vava Inouva," a lullaby set to acoustic guitar and an ode to the rich oral traditions of Berber mountain villages.
The song became a huge success in Algeria and beyond, but Idir had no idea because soon after the recording he was drafted for mandatory military service.
"I came at the right time, with the right songs," he told AFP in a 2013 interview, adding that his songs evoked the rhythms of daily life he had heard since a baby.
Advocate of Kabylie and multiculturalism
Idir travelled to Paris to record his first album, also titled "A Vava Inouva," in 1975. But after a series of tours and another album, he decided to abandon the music industry until 1991, when the release of a compilation album relaunched his career.
From his home in France, he became an impassioned advocate of his native Kabylie while also defending multiculturalism and immigration as they became key issues in his adopted country's 2007 presidential race.
RIP #Idir
"if i know where i come from, i will know much better where i am going. and if it's my goal to live elsewhere, I will follow it. look at the trees the deeper are their roots, the higher they can go in the sky." pic.twitter.com/lTXsEXgAJi — Yunes ifri (@YunesIfri) May 3, 2020
After a 38-year absence he returned to Algeria in January 2018 for a Berber new year concert in the capital. The next year, he defended the popular uprisings that led to the resignation of longtime leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
"I loved everything about these protests: the intelligence of these youths, their humour, their determination to remain peaceful," Idir said in April 2019.
"I admit that these moments were like a breath of fresh air," he added. "And since I have pulmonary fibrosis, I know what I'm talking about."
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-05-03--Italy's daily Covid-19 death toll hits seven-week low ahead of lockdown easing

Italians will be free to stroll and visit relatives for the first time in eight weeks on May 4 as Europe 's hardest-hit country eases back the world 's longest coronavirus lockdown .
Deaths from the Covid-19 epidemic in Italy climbed by 174 on Sunday , the Civil Protection Agency said , posting the smallest daily toll of fatalities since March 10 .
The daily number of new cases declined sharply to 1,389 from 1,900 on Saturday .
In recent weeks of the epidemic that emerged in Italy on Feb 21 , the daily death count has tended to fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following day .
Nonetheless the latest data still offers encouragement to the country as it prepares to gradually ease its eight-week-old lockdown — the longest in Europe — from Monday .
Saturday 's daily death tally of 474 , which bucked a gradual declining trend , was due to the addition of hundreds of deaths in the northern Lombardy region in April , which had not previously been recorded .
> > Spectre of second wave haunts Italy as government mulls path out of lockdown Italy 's total death toll since the outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stands at 28,884 , the Civil Protection Agency said , the second highest in the world after that of the United States .
The number of confirmed cases amounts to 210,717 , the third highest global tally behind those of the United States and Spain .
People registered as currently carrying the illness fell to 100,179 from 100,704 on Saturday .
> > Faced with the Covid-19 crisis , the Italian mafia sees business opportunities There were 1,501 people in intensive care on Sunday , down from 1,539 the day before , maintaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected , 81,654 were declared recovered against 79,914 on Saturday .
The agency said 1.457 million people had been tested for the virus against 1.430 million the day before , out of a population of around 60 million .

Deaths from the Covid-19 virus in Italy climbed by 174 on Sunday, the Civil Protection Agency said, posting the smallest daily toll of fatalities since March 10.
Italians will be free to stroll and visit relatives for the first time in eight weeks on May 4 as Europe's hardest-hit country eases back the world's longest coronavirus lockdown.
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The daily number of new cases declined sharply to 1,389 from 1,900 on Saturday.
In recent weeks of the epidemic that emerged in Italy on Feb 21, the daily death count has tended to fall on Sundays only to rise again the following day.
Nonetheless the latest data still offers encouragement to the country as it prepares to gradually ease its eight-week-old lockdown — the longest in Europe — from Monday.
Saturday's daily death tally of 474, which bucked a gradual declining trend, was due to the addition of hundreds of deaths in the northern Lombardy region in April, which had not previously been recorded.
>> Spectre of second wave haunts Italy as government mulls path out of lockdown
Italy's total death toll since the outbreak came to light on Feb. 21 now stands at 28,884, the Civil Protection Agency said, the second highest in the world after that of the United States.
The number of confirmed cases amounts to 210,717, the third highest global tally behind those of the United States and Spain.
People registered as currently carrying the illness fell to 100,179 from 100,704 on Saturday.
>> Faced with the Covid-19 crisis, the Italian mafia sees business opportunities
There were 1,501 people in intensive care on Sunday, down from 1,539 the day before, maintaining a long-running decline. Of those originally infected, 81,654 were declared recovered against 79,914 on Saturday.
The agency said 1.457 million people had been tested for the virus against 1.430 million the day before, out of a population of around 60 million.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-03--Moscow hospitals struggle with late surge in coronavirus cases

Covid-19 took hold relatively late in Russia but is now spreading fast , with the country recording a record surge @ @ @ @ @ ’ s hospitals , unreliable testing is compounded by problems isolating the sick .
Dozens @ @ @ @ @ to take in Covid-19 patients , but they were not designed for treating infectious diseases @ @ @ @ @ , the city authorities are building a new 800-bed hospital with high-tech equipment , part @ @ @ @ @ service .
FRANCE 24 ’ s Elena Volochine , Nigina Beroeva and Pavel Sergueev report @

Moscow hospitals struggle with late surge in coronavirus cases
01:50
Video by: Elena VOLOCHINE
Covid-19 took hold relatively late in Russia but is now spreading fast, with the country recording a record surge in cases. At Moscow’s hospitals, unreliable testing is compounded by problems isolating the sick. Dozens of hospitals have been requisitioned to take in Covid-19 patients, but they were not designed for treating infectious diseases. Faced with the emergency, the city authorities are building a new 800-bed hospital with high-tech equipment, part of which is already in service. FRANCE 24’s Elena Volochine, Nigina Beroeva and Pavel Sergueev report.


france24--2020-05-03--Pompeo says 'enormous evidence' coronavirus originated in Wuhan lab

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is the latest high-ranking US official to claim the coronavirus pandemic originated in a Chinese lab .
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday there was `` enormous evidence '' that the coronavirus pandemic originated in a laboratory in Wuhan , China , echoing a claim made by President Donald Trump earlier this week .
`` There is enormous evidence that this is where it began , '' the US secretary of state said on ABC 's `` This Week . ''
`` These are not the first times that we 've had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of failures in a Chinese lab , '' Pompeo added , pointing at China 's `` history of running substandard laboratories . ''
Though highly critical of China 's handling of the matter , Pompeo declined to say whether he thought the virus had been intentionally released .
Speaking at the White House on Thursday , Trump also claimed he had seen evidence that the virus originated in a Chinese lab , ratcheting up tensions with Beijing over the origins of the deadly outbreak .
`` Yes , yes I have , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen evidence that gave him a `` high degree of confidence '' the virus came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology .
The US president declined to give specifics , adding : `` I ca n't tell you that .
I 'm not allowed to tell you that . ''
The Chinese state-backed Wuhan Institute of Virology has dismissed the allegations , and other US officials have downplayed their likelihood .
Most experts believe the virus originated in a market selling wildlife in Wuhan and jumped from animals to people .
Pompeo himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's claims , stating on Thursday that it was not known whether the virus came from the lab .
`` We don ’ t know if it came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology .
We don ’ t know if it emanated from the wet market or yet some other place .
We don ’ t know those answers , '' Pompeo said in an interview with Newsradio 1040 .
The spread of the coronavirus , which causes the respiratory disease Covid-19 , has contributed to a deepening rift between the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US military might have brought the virus to China and Trump has said China failed to alert the world to the risks in a timely and transparent fashion .
Trump also said on Thursday it was possible that China either could not stop the spread of the coronavirus or allowed it to spread .

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday there was "enormous evidence" that the coronavirus pandemic originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China, echoing a claim made by President Donald Trump earlier this week.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is the latest high-ranking US official to claim the coronavirus pandemic originated in a Chinese lab.
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"There is enormous evidence that this is where it began," the US secretary of state said on ABC's "This Week."
"These are not the first times that we've had a world exposed to viruses as a result of failures in a Chinese lab," Pompeo added, pointing at China's "history of running substandard laboratories."
Though highly critical of China's handling of the matter, Pompeo declined to say whether he thought the virus had been intentionally released.
Speaking at the White House on Thursday, Trump also claimed he had seen evidence that the virus originated in a Chinese lab, ratcheting up tensions with Beijing over the origins of the deadly outbreak.
"Yes, yes I have," Trump said when asked if he had seen evidence that gave him a "high degree of confidence" the virus came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
The US president declined to give specifics, adding: "I can't tell you that. I'm not allowed to tell you that."
The Chinese state-backed Wuhan Institute of Virology has dismissed the allegations, and other US officials have downplayed their likelihood. Most experts believe the virus originated in a market selling wildlife in Wuhan and jumped from animals to people.
Pompeo himself had appeared to cast doubt on Trump's claims, stating on Thursday that it was not known whether the virus came from the lab.
"We don’t know if it came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. We don’t know if it emanated from the wet market or yet some other place. We don’t know those answers," Pompeo said in an interview with Newsradio 1040.
The spread of the coronavirus, which causes the respiratory disease Covid-19, has contributed to a deepening rift between the Trump administration and China.
Beijing has suggested the US military might have brought the virus to China and Trump has said China failed to alert the world to the risks in a timely and transparent fashion.
Trump also said on Thursday it was possible that China either could not stop the spread of the coronavirus or allowed it to spread.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-04--Paris-area mayors call on Macron to delay reopening of schools beyond May 11

French mayors representing the Ile-de-France region , which includes the city of Paris , have called on President Emmanuel Macron to delay the reopening of schools until after May 11 , denouncing the plan as a “ forced march ” out of the country 's coronavirus lockdown .
In an open letter to President Macron published on the La Tribune website on Sunday , the group of greater Paris area mayors , including the French capital 's Anne Hidalgo , asked that the reopening of nurseries and schools be delayed until after May 11 arguing the deadline is “ untenable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the letter say that they want more consultation and more time “ to allow for the strict application of an equally stringent health protocol ” by May 11 , when France begins phasing out a nationwide lockdown .
The mayors likened the calendar preparing the lockdown 's end to a `` forced march '' carried through `` even as we do not yet have all the information to ready the population , and the directives keep shifting , '' the mayors said .
The government is also criticised for failing to consult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reintegrate students and teachers back into schools .
`` Many people still do n't have any information about the teachers who would be available for our schools , the number of extra-curricular activity animators who could be available , or even the number of pupils to be accommodated , '' said the mayors .
They called on the government to `` clearly prioritise the children who will be able/should be able to return to school taking into account the family context of each child '' .
Opposition lawmakers and some experts have also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the greater Paris area , which has been especially hard hit by the coronavirus .
French MPs are considering initiatives to provide better legal protection for mayors who say they are unfairly having to shoulder “ the legal , political and moral responsibility ” for reopening schools .
Concerns parents could lodge a legal complaint against the mayor of their town should their child contract Covid-19 at school were also flagged by the mayors .
Several education unions have in recent days denounced the May 11 date for the reopening of schools as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lamenting that it had not been approved by a medical authority .

French mayors representing the Ile-de-France region, which includes the city of Paris, have called on President Emmanuel Macron to delay the reopening of schools until after May 11, denouncing the plan as a “forced march” out of the country's coronavirus lockdown.
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In an open letter to President Macron published on the La Tribune website over the weekend, the group of greater Paris area mayors, including the French capital's Anne Hidalgo, asked that the reopening of nurseries and schools be delayed until after May 11 arguing the deadline is “untenable and unrealistic”.
The 329 signatories to the letter say that they want more consultation and more time “to allow for the strict application of an equally stringent health protocol” by May 11, when France begins phasing out a nationwide lockdown.
The mayors likened the calendar preparing the lockdown's end to a "forced march" carried through "even as we do not yet have all the information to ready the population, and the directives keep shifting," the mayors said.
‘Catastrophe’ for vulnerable schoolchildren
Pushing back against calls for a delay in school re-openings, French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe on Monday said the closure of schools was "a catastrophe” for the country’s most vulnerable children and adolescents.
Addressing the Senate, where he was presenting a bill to extend France’s health emergency to June 24, Philippe insisted that for “tens of thousands of young people,” extending the primary school lockdown until the end of the term “is probably a time bomb".
The prime minister reiterated that the lockdown easing plan entailed "very gradually reopening kindergartens and elementary schools from May 11, everywhere in the territory and on a voluntary basis". Secondary school would start re-opening from May 18 in the country’s “green zones” where infections have been low, said Philippe.
Calls to prioritise
Philippe’s government has been criticised for failing to consult with the mayors on how to best reintegrate students and teachers back into schools.
"Many people still don't have any information about the teachers who would be available for our schools, the number of extra-curricular activity staff who could be available, or even the number of pupils to be accommodated," said the mayors.
They called on the government to "clearly prioritise the children who will be able/should be able to return to school taking into account the family context of each child".
Issue of legal liability
Opposition lawmakers and some experts have also questioned the practicalities of schools reopening in the greater Paris area, which has been especially hard hit by the coronavirus.
French MPs are considering initiatives to provide better legal protection for mayors who say they are unfairly having to shoulder “the legal, political and moral responsibility” for reopening schools.
Concerns parents could lodge a legal complaint against the mayor of their town should their child contract Covid-19 at school were also flagged by the mayors.
Several education unions have in recent days denounced the May 11 date for the reopening of schools as arbitrary, with the main SNUipp-FSU union lamenting that it had not been approved by a medical authority.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-05-04--UK's Johnson prepares post-lockdown plan with new workplace rules

Britain 's Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrives at Downing Street , in London on May 4 , 2020 .
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will set out his plan to ease a nationwide coronavirus lockdown next Sunday , media reports said , as new guidance emerged on how to maintain social distancing in workplaces .
Stay-at-home orders imposed in late March are up for review on Thursday in Britain , one of the worst hit countries in the COVID-19 pandemic , but the government has already said the measures will be eased only gradually .
New guidance drawn up with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the BBC and the Financial Times , suggests office workers will be encouraged to stay at home for months to avoid overwhelming the transport system .
But where staff must come in , companies are being urged to stagger shifts , stop people sharing desks or stationery , step up hygiene measures , keep staff canteens shut and restrict the number of people in lifts .
Shop or bank branch workers dealing with customers must be protected by plastic screens , according to the recommendations -- although there is no detail on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might require .
Britons are currently being told to stay at home unless they need to work , buy essentials or take daily exercise , but they must stay at least two metres away from other people .
Maintaining this social distancing while restarting the economy brings huge problems .
`` It wo n't work in aviation or any other form of public transport , and the problem is not the plane , it is the lack of space in the airport , '' said the chief executive of London 's Heathrow airport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jumbo jet would require a queue a kilometre long , '' he wrote in the Daily Telegraph .
A total of 28,446 people have now died after testing positive for COVID-19 in Britain , almost on a par with Italy , Europe 's worst affected country .

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will set out his plan to ease a nationwide coronavirus lockdown next Sunday, media reports said, as new guidance emerged on how to maintain social distancing in workplaces.
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Stay-at-home orders imposed in late March are up for review on Thursday in Britain, one of the worst hit countries in the COVID-19 pandemic, but the government has already said the measures will be eased only gradually.
New guidance drawn up with company bosses and trade unions, seen by the BBC and the Financial Times, suggests office workers will be encouraged to stay at home for months to avoid overwhelming the transport system.
But where staff must come in, companies are being urged to stagger shifts, stop people sharing desks or stationery, step up hygiene measures, keep staff canteens shut and restrict the number of people in lifts.
The time to move onto the second phase will be once we have met the 5 tests.
Here’s a reminder from Prime Minister @BorisJohnson on what they are and why they matter ⬇ pic.twitter.com/ZyHAfXjm1y — UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) May 4, 2020
Shop or bank branch workers dealing with customers must be protected by plastic screens, according to the recommendations -- although there is no detail on what kind of protective equipment other employees might require.
Britons are currently being told to stay at home unless they need to work, buy essentials or take daily exercise, but they must stay at least two metres away from other people.
Maintaining this social distancing while restarting the economy brings huge problems.
"It won't work in aviation or any other form of public transport, and the problem is not the plane, it is the lack of space in the airport," said the chief executive of London's Heathrow airport, John Holland-Kaye.
"Just one jumbo jet would require a queue a kilometre long," he wrote in the Daily Telegraph.
A total of 28,446 people have now died after testing positive for COVID-19 in Britain, almost on a par with Italy, Europe's worst affected country.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-04--European leaders push €7.5-billion vaccine financing drive to fight Covid-19

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen holds a press conference on the EU response to the COVID-19 crisis at the EU headquarters in Brussels on April 15 , 2020 .
European leaders are backing an initiative from Brussels to raise 7.5 billion euros ( £6.6 billion , $ 8.3 billion ) to find a vaccine to curb the global coronavirus pandemic .
The president of the European Commission , Ursula von der Leyen , outlined the fundraising plan for the scientific fight-back against COVID-19 on Friday .
An online pledging conference will take place on Monday to plug gaps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte , French President Emmanuel Macron , and Germany 's Chancellor Angela Merkel gave their support in an open letter published in weekend newspapers .
The president of the European Council , Charles Michel , and Norway 's Prime Minister , Erna Solberg , also signed and all gave their backing to the World Health Organization in the face of US criticism about its handling of the crisis .
The funds raised will `` kickstart an unprecedented global cooperation between scientists and regulators , industry and governments , international organisations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the leaders said .
But they warned that more money would still be needed to manufacture and deliver `` available , accessible and affordable '' medicines across the world .
`` If we can develop a vaccine that is produced by the world , for the whole world , this will be a unique global public good of the 21st century , '' they added .
Britain , Canada , France , Germany , Italy , Japan , Norway , Saudi Arabia and the European Commission , are co-hosting the conference , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drive before the Global Vaccine Summit on June 4 .
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson , who spent three nights in intensive care with COVID-19 , said finding a treatment was `` the most urgent shared endeavour of our lifetimes '' .
He will confirm Britain 's pledge of £388 million for vaccine research , tests and treatments , which is part of a wider £744 million to the global effort against the virus .
`` To win this battle , we must work together to build an impregnable shield around all our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ achieved by developing and mass producing a vaccine , '' he will tell delegates , according to his office .
`` The more we pull together and share our expertise , the faster our scientists will succeed . ''
Dozens of research projects are under way around the world to find a vaccine , which the United Nations has said is the only way for a return to normal life .
On Thursday , British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca announced a partnership with Oxford University for the large-scale manufacture and potential distribution of a @ @ @ @ @

Celebrities, world leaders and philanthropists pledged some 7.4 billion euros ($8.1 billion) on Monday for research into coronavirus vaccines, treatments and testing during an EU-led videoconference that was snubbed by the United States.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen holds a press conference on the EU response to the COVID-19 crisis at the EU headquarters in Brussels on April 15, 2020.
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European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who hosted the conference, said a vaccine was the best chance of beating the COVID-19 disease, which has so far killed nearly a quarter of a million people around the world -- 140,000 of them in Europe.
▶ 'We can only defeat Covid-19 with a vaccine', EU's Ursula von der Leyen tells FRANCE 24 https://t.co/NbZ4gjzs9A pic.twitter.com/Nik0Q7Gfmf — FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) May 1, 2020
Major European powers, along with Japan and Canada, made the biggest pledges but the lack of US representation raised the prospect of an uncoordinated competition to develop and produce a vaccine.
Some wealthy American individuals did take part, and pop star Madonna's million-dollar contribution was feted by EU officials.
'A down payment'
The conference narrowly missed its target of 7.5 billion euros -- although a handful of contributors did not put a sum on their pledges -- but UN chief Antonio Guterres warned that much more would be needed, putting the final sum required near 38 billion euros.
"These funds are a kind of down payment for the development of new tools at the speed needed," Guterres told the conference. "But to reach everyone everywhere we likely need five times that amount."
Nonetheless, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed the fundraising as a powerful show of "global solidarity".
The donations came from around 40 countries, the UN, research institutes and philanthropic bodies including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
But the initiative was undermined by the absence of the United States, with President Donald Trump at loggerheads with the WHO over its handling of the pandemic.
Trump -- fighting for reelection in November -- said on Sunday the United States would have a coronavirus vaccine ready by the end of the year.
His prediction was met with scepticism in some quarters, with Germany's Health Minister Jens Spahn warning it could take years for anyone to develop a vaccine.
US 'isolating themselves'
While putting an upbeat gloss on the event in public, privately EU officials were disappointed the US did not take part.
"The EU responded favourably to a call for global action, the US refused. They are the ones who are isolating themselves," one official said.
"We're only at the start of the process. We hope the American government will join the common effort."
A senior US official said Washington welcomed the telethon effort but insisted many of the organisations making pledges had already received substantial American support.
Pressed on why the United States was staying away, the official called the EU event "one of many" and said Washington was "at the forefront of those international efforts".
But other leaders are concerned that Trump's "America First" approach could lead to a counterproductive transatlantic race to find a vaccine and called instead for a collaborative approach.
While British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the world "must work together to build an impregnable shield around all our people", his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe urged the international community to "unite to overcome the crisis".
French President Emmanuel Macron said it was vital that once a vaccine has been developed, it is treated as "global public property" with access available for "the whole of the planet".
'Vaccine war'
In March, Germany was forced to insist that the rights to coronavirus vaccine research were not for sale after reports Trump wanted the US to buy exclusive access to one being developed by a German biotech firm.
In recent days the Trump administration has stepped up pressure on China, where the outbreak began, claiming it originated in a laboratory in the city of Wuhan.
Without mentioning Washington, China implicitly hit back at the donor conference, where it was represented by its ambassador to the EU.
"Multilateral cooperation in fighting the virus, confidence and solidarity are much more valuable than gold," ambassador Zhang Ming said. "Panic and blame game are not useful at all."
Isabelle Marchais of the Delors Institute thinktank said the US was ready to "put all its forces into the battle" to win a "vaccine war".
In an analysis published Monday, she said more than 100 vaccine research projects were going on, including eight clinical trials in the US, China and Europe.
"Given the stakes in the current pandemic, some companies -- particularly American and Chinese ones -- are ready to start production before the end of clinical trials in order to be the first ones to get the vaccine to market," she wrote.
Of the 7.5 billion euros, four billion will go on vaccine development, two billion on the search for a treatment and 1.5 billion for producing tests, the EU said.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-04--Italy starts to emerge from world's longest nationwide Covid-19 lockdown

Italy became the first Western democracy to shut down virtually everything in the face of COVID-19 Stir-crazy Italians will be free to stroll and visit relatives for the first time in nine weeks on Monday as Europe 's hardest-hit country eases back the world 's longest nationwide coronavirus lockdown .
Four million people -- an estimated 72 percent of them men -- will return to their construction sites and factories as the economically and emotionally shattered country tries to get back to work .
Restaurants that have managed to survive Italy 's most disastrous crisis in generations will reopen for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ice cream parlours will remain shut .
The use of public transport will be discouraged and everyone will have to wear masks in indoor public spaces .
`` We are feeling a mix of joy and fear , '' 40-year-old Stefano Milano said in Rome .
`` There will be great happiness in being able to go running again carefree , in my son being allowed to have his little cousin over to blow out his birthday candles , to see our parents , '' the father-of-three said .
`` But we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my father-in-law has cancer so is high risk '' .
Wuhan , the Chinese city where the virus emerged in December , led the world with an unprecedented lockdown on January 23 that lasted 76 days .
Weeks later Italy followed suit , becoming the first Western democracy to shut down virtually everything in the face of an illness that has now officially killed 28,884 -- the most in Europe -- and some fear thousands more .
The lives of Italians began closing in around them as it became increasingly apparent that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Milan were spiralling out of control .
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte began by putting a quarter of the population in the northern industrial heartland on lockdown on March 8 .
The sudden measure frightened many -- fearful of being locked in together with the gathering threat -- into fleeing to less affected regions further south .
The danger of the virus spreading with them and incapacitating the south 's less developed health care system forced Conte to announce a nationwide lockdown on March 9 .
`` Today is our moment of responsibility , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We can not let our guard down . ''
The official death toll was then 724 .
More waves of restrictions followed as hundreds began dying each day .
Almost everything except for pharmacies and grocery stores was shuttered across the Mediterranean country of 60 million on March 12 .
Conte 's final roll of the dice involved closing all non-essential factories on March 22 .
Italy 's highest single toll -- 969 -- was reported five days later .
The economic toll of all those shutdowns has been historic .
Italy 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year -- is expected to shrink more than in any year since the global depression of the 1930s .
Half of the workforce is receiving state support and the same number told a top pollster that they were afraid of becoming unemployed .
And some of those who are out of a job already say they do not entirely trust in Conte 's ability to safely navigate the nation out of peril .
`` I am worried about the reopening .
The authorities seem very undecided about how to proceed , '' 37-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ popularity has jumped along with that of most of other world leaders grappling with the pandemic thanks to a rally around the flag effect .
But a Demos poll conducted at the end of April found some of Conte 's lustre fading .
Confidence in his government has slipped by eight percentage points to a still-strong 63 percent since March .
Italy 's staggered reopening is complicated by a highly decentralised system that allows the country 's 20 regions to layer on their own rules .
Venice 's Veneto and the southern Calabria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drink at bars and restaurants with outdoor seating since last week .
The area around Genoa is thinking of allowing small groups of people to go sailing and reopening its beaches .
Neighbouring Emilia-Romagna is keeping them closed -- even to those who live by the sea .
All this uncertainty appears to be weighing on the nation 's psyche .
A poll by the Piepoli Institute showed 62 percent of Italians think they will need psychological support with coming to grips with the post-lockdown world .
`` The night of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in La Repubblica daily .
`` And you can hardly see the light on the horizon .
If anything , we 're getting used to moving in the dark . ''

Stir-crazy Italians will be free to stroll and visit relatives for the first time in nine weeks on Monday as Europe's hardest-hit country eases back the world's longest nationwide coronavirus lockdown.
Italy became the first Western democracy to shut down virtually everything in the face of COVID-19
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Four million people -- an estimated 72 percent of them men -- will return to their construction sites and factories as the economically and emotionally shattered country tries to get back to work.
Restaurants that have managed to survive Italy's most disastrous crisis in generations will reopen for takeaway service.
But bars and even ice cream parlours will remain shut. The use of public transport will be discouraged and everyone will have to wear masks in indoor public spaces.
03:23
"We are feeling a mix of joy and fear," 40-year-old Stefano Milano said in Rome.
"There will be great happiness in being able to go running again carefree, in my son being allowed to have his little cousin over to blow out his birthday candles, to see our parents," the father-of-three said.
"But we are also apprehensive because they are old and my father-in-law has cancer so is high risk".
'Moment of responsibility'
Wuhan, the Chinese city where the virus emerged in December, led the world with an unprecedented lockdown on January 23 that lasted 76 days.
Weeks later Italy followed suit, becoming the first Western democracy to shut down virtually everything in the face of an illness that has now officially killed 28,884 -- the most in Europe -- and some fear thousands more.
The lives of Italians began closing in around them as it became increasingly apparent that the first batch of infections in provinces around Milan were spiralling out of control.
Italy’s lockdown ends today. The changes are fairly modest: restaurants can open for takeaway. Factories are restarting. About one-fifth of Italy’s labor force is returning to work. Also, outdoor exercise! pic.twitter.com/J7iziL7DCW — Chico Harlan (@chicoharlan) May 4, 2020
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte began by putting a quarter of the population in the northern industrial heartland on lockdown on March 8.
The sudden measure frightened many -- fearful of being locked in together with the gathering threat -- into fleeing to less affected regions further south.
The danger of the virus spreading with them and incapacitating the south's less developed health care system forced Conte to announce a nationwide lockdown on March 9.
"Today is our moment of responsibility," Conte told the nation. "We cannot let our guard down."
The official death toll was then 724.
More waves of restrictions followed as hundreds began dying each day.
Almost everything except for pharmacies and grocery stores was shuttered across the Mediterranean country of 60 million on March 12.
Conte's final roll of the dice involved closing all non-essential factories on March 22.
Italy's highest single toll -- 969 -- was reported five days later.
'Worried about reopening'
The economic toll of all those shutdowns has been historic.
Italy's economy -- the eurozone's third-largest last year -- is expected to shrink more than in any year since the global depression of the 1930s.
Half of the workforce is receiving state support and the same number told a top pollster that they were afraid of becoming unemployed.
And some of those who are out of a job already say they do not entirely trust in Conte's ability to safely navigate the nation out of peril.
"I am worried about the reopening. The authorities seem very undecided about how to proceed," 37-year-old Davide Napoleoni told AFP.
Conte's popularity has jumped along with that of most of other world leaders grappling with the pandemic thanks to a rally around the flag effect.
But a Demos poll conducted at the end of April found some of Conte's lustre fading.
Confidence in his government has slipped by eight percentage points to a still-strong 63 percent since March.
Psychological toll
Italy's staggered reopening is complicated by a highly decentralised system that allows the country's 20 regions to layer on their own rules.
Venice's Veneto and the southern Calabria regions have thus been serving food and drink at bars and restaurants with outdoor seating since last week.
The area around Genoa is thinking of allowing small groups of people to go sailing and reopening its beaches.
Neighbouring Emilia-Romagna is keeping them closed -- even to those who live by the sea.
All this uncertainty appears to be weighing on the nation's psyche.
A poll by the Piepoli Institute showed 62 percent of Italians think they will need psychological support with coming to grips with the post-lockdown world.
"The night of the virus continues," sociologist Ilvo Diamanti wrote in La Repubblica daily.
"And you can hardly see the light on the horizon. If anything, we're getting used to moving in the dark."
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-04--Japan extends state of emergency until May 31

Japan 's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday he had decided to extend the country 's national state of emergency to May 31 .
Abe will consider lifting the state of emergency without waiting for its May 31 expiration if expert advisors decide that is possible based on detailed analysis of regional infection trends , he said at a meeting of the government 's coronavirus task force .
He said his advisors said that Japan had not seen the explosive surge in infections seen in some countries overseas , but the number of new infection cases had not fallen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical system was facing strains .
`` Based on that view , I will extend the state of emergency that was announced on April 7 until May 31 , '' Abe said , adding that it would remain nationwide .
For the 13 prefectures including Tokyo and Osaka that have been hardest hit , a target of reducing person-to-person contacts by 80 % would remain in place , Abe said .
Japan will move gradually to a framework that will combine prevention of the spread of infections with maintaining social and economic activities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not seen a huge outbreak compared with some global hotspots , the coronavirus has infected 15,913 people and killed 542 in the country , according to public broadcaster NHK .

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday he had decided to extend the country's national state of emergency to May 31.
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Abe will consider lifting the state of emergency without waiting for its May 31 expiration if expert advisors decide that is possible based on detailed analysis of regional infection trends, he said at a meeting of the government's coronavirus task force.
He said his advisors said that Japan had not seen the explosive surge in infections seen in some countries overseas, but the number of new infection cases had not fallen enough and there were regions where the medical system was facing strains.
"Based on that view, I will extend the state of emergency that was announced on April 7 until May 31," Abe said, adding that it would remain nationwide.
For the 13 prefectures including Tokyo and Osaka that have been hardest hit, a target of reducing person-to-person contacts by 80% would remain in place, Abe said.
Japan will move gradually to a framework that will combine prevention of the spread of infections with maintaining social and economic activities, he added.
Even though Japan has not seen a huge outbreak compared with some global hotspots, the coronavirus has infected 15,913 people and killed 542 in the country, according to public broadcaster NHK.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-04--Trump promises Covid-19 vaccine by end of the year

U.S. President Donald Trump participates in a live Fox News Channel virtual town hall called `` America Together : Returning to Work '' about response to the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) pandemic being broadcast from inside the Lincoln Memorial in Washington , U.S. May 3 , 2020 .
President Donald Trump relaunched his election campaign Sunday with a live television event inside the iconic Lincoln Memorial , promising an early coronavirus vaccine and urging Americans to put the pandemic behind them to embrace an `` incredible '' future .
With the two-hour long Fox News `` town hall , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mantle of America 's arguably greatest president -- and to persuade a nation battered by death and mass unemployment to look ahead .
`` We ca n't stay closed as a country , we 're not going to have a country left , '' he said on the show , where two moderators , as well as ordinary citizens via video , put questions to him in front of the monument .
`` We 're going to have an incredible following year , '' he said .
To a woman who called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eviction , Trump said her job would come back .
`` You get a job where you make more money , '' he said .
Saying Americans should start going back to beaches this summer and recommending that shuttered schools need to reopen in September , Trump forecast good news on the hunt for a vaccine .
`` We are very confident that we 're going to have a vaccine ... by the end of the year , '' he said , admitting he was getting ahead of his own advisors with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think , '' he said .
The businessman Republican is doing poorly in most polls ahead of the November presidential contest against Democratic challenger Joe Biden , who remains shuttered in his Delaware home .
Trump faces criticism for his bruising , divisive style during a time of national calamity .
He is also accused by some of botching the early response to the COVID-19 virus .
Worse , the previously booming US economy , which was seen as a golden ticket to his second term , is now in dire straits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials saying the viral spread has begun to taper , Trump is itching to return to the campaign trail .
However he faces new criticism that he is trying to declare premature victory , even as the illness continues to kill thousands of Americans every week .
Having repeatedly minimized the death toll , claiming it will end at around 60,000 , Trump conceded that now `` I 'm saying 80 or 90 and it goes up . ''
His emphasis , however , was not on the dead , but on resurrecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can end the skyrocketing unemployment caused by the lockdown .
That audacious shift began Sunday at possibly the most hallowed monument in the country -- the statue of Abraham Lincoln , who led the country through civil war , urged reconciliation , and was assassinated in his moment of triumph .
Trump , who calls himself a `` wartime president '' denied that the election will turn into a referendum on his handling of the crisis .
But he added : `` I hope it does because we 've done a great job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump will follow up by breaking months of self-quarantine with long-distance trips to the key electoral states of Arizona and Ohio .
It 's a play that will emphasise Trump 's massive visibility advantage over Biden and , the White House hopes , rewrite the public relations script after gaffes including the president 's suggestion that coronavirus patients ingest disinfectant .
Lincoln gambled in 1861 that only war could preserve the United States by ending slavery and restoring the nation 's ideals of freedom .
He won , becoming a national hero @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for reaching out to former foes -- something Trump did not seek to emulate as he spoke at the foot of the iconic statue .
Previous presidents , he said , were `` stupid '' to allow reliance on foreign manufacturers for US medicines .
The Democrats , he said , are `` radical , '' claiming they would prefer to see people get sick than see him succeed .
Trump pronounced that he had `` done more than any president in the history our our country in the first three years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ many Americans .
Trump even got in an online tussle with former president George W. Bush earlier Sunday , after the fellow Republican posted a video filled with the kind of empathy and solidarity that many accuse the current White House occupant of failing to show .
Trump responded by complaining that Bush was `` nowhere to be found '' when he was battling off an impeachment attempt in Congress last year .

President Donald Trump relaunched his election campaign Sunday with a live television event inside the iconic Lincoln Memorial, promising an early coronavirus vaccine and urging Americans to put the pandemic behind them to embrace an "incredible" future.
U.S. President Donald Trump participates in a live Fox News Channel virtual town hall called "America Together: Returning to Work" about response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic being broadcast from inside the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, U.S. May 3, 2020.
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With the two-hour long Fox News "town hall," Trump sought to wrap himself in the mantle of America's arguably greatest president -- and to persuade a nation battered by death and mass unemployment to look ahead.
"We can't stay closed as a country, we're not going to have a country left," he said on the show, where two moderators, as well as ordinary citizens via video, put questions to him in front of the monument.
"We're going to have an incredible following year," he said.
To a woman who called in expressing fear of financial ruin and eviction, Trump said her job would come back.
"You get a job where you make more money," he said.
Saying Americans should start going back to beaches this summer and recommending that shuttered schools need to reopen in September, Trump forecast good news on the hunt for a vaccine.
"We are very confident that we're going to have a vaccine... by the end of the year," he said, admitting he was getting ahead of his own advisors with the prediction. "I'll say what I think," he said.
Saving his reelection
The businessman Republican is doing poorly in most polls ahead of the November presidential contest against Democratic challenger Joe Biden, who remains shuttered in his Delaware home.
Trump faces criticism for his bruising, divisive style during a time of national calamity. He is also accused by some of botching the early response to the COVID-19 virus.
Worse, the previously booming US economy, which was seen as a golden ticket to his second term, is now in dire straits due to the nationwide lockdown.
With officials saying the viral spread has begun to taper, Trump is itching to return to the campaign trail.
However he faces new criticism that he is trying to declare premature victory, even as the illness continues to kill thousands of Americans every week.
Having repeatedly minimized the death toll, claiming it will end at around 60,000, Trump conceded that now "I'm saying 80 or 90 and it goes up."
His emphasis, however, was not on the dead, but on resurrecting his image as a can-do leader who can end the skyrocketing unemployment caused by the lockdown.
That audacious shift began Sunday at possibly the most hallowed monument in the country -- the statue of Abraham Lincoln, who led the country through civil war, urged reconciliation, and was assassinated in his moment of triumph.
Trump, who calls himself a "wartime president" denied that the election will turn into a referendum on his handling of the crisis.
But he added: "I hope it does because we've done a great job."
In the next few days, Trump will follow up by breaking months of self-quarantine with long-distance trips to the key electoral states of Arizona and Ohio.
It's a play that will emphasise Trump's massive visibility advantage over Biden and, the White House hopes, rewrite the public relations script after gaffes including the president's suggestion that coronavirus patients ingest disinfectant.
Greater than Lincoln?
Lincoln gambled in 1861 that only war could preserve the United States by ending slavery and restoring the nation's ideals of freedom. He won, becoming a national hero.
But Lincoln is remembered as much for reaching out to former foes -- something Trump did not seek to emulate as he spoke at the foot of the iconic statue.
Previous presidents, he said, were "stupid" to allow reliance on foreign manufacturers for US medicines.
The Democrats, he said, are "radical," claiming they would prefer to see people get sick than see him succeed.
Trump pronounced that he had "done more than any president in the history our our country in the first three years."
His self-declared greatness is questioned by many Americans.
FiveThirtyEight's latest tracking poll showing only 43.4 percent approving Trump's performance and 50.7 percent disapproving.
Trump even got in an online tussle with former president George W. Bush earlier Sunday, after the fellow Republican posted a video filled with the kind of empathy and solidarity that many accuse the current White House occupant of failing to show.
Trump responded by complaining that Bush was "nowhere to be found" when he was battling off an impeachment attempt in Congress last year.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-05-04--Bolsonaro rallies the right as Brazil coronavirus cases surpass 100,000

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his daughter Laura ( C ) pose for a selfie with supporters outside his residence in Brasilia on Sunday .
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro attacked Congress and the courts in a speech to hundreds of supporters on Sunday as the number of coronavirus cases blew past 100,000 in Brazil , underlining the former army captain 's increasing isolation as he downplays the impacts of the pandemic .
The right-wing Bolsonaro has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum for dismissing the threat of the virus in Brazil , which has registered 101,147 confirmed cases and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent data from the Health Ministry .
On Sunday , dozens of public figures signed an open letter to the Brazilian government calling on officials to protect the nation 's indigenous people , who often live in remote locations with limited access to healthcare .
At the same time , Bolsonaro faces the most serious political crisis of his mandate , after his justice minister , Sergio Moro , quit last week and accused the president of firing the federal police chief in a bid to appoint a personal ally to the post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Supreme Court blocked Bolsonaro 's pick for a new chief on Wednesday , enraging the president .
On Saturday , Moro , among Brazil 's most popular public figures due to his tough stance on corruption , presented testimony regarding possible obstruction of justice by Bolsonaro .
Hours before , the president called Moro `` Judas '' on Twitter , referring to the apostle who betrayed Jesus .
As Bolsonaro 's relationship with legislators and the courts has cooled , he has become increasingly dependent on a cadre of advisers in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As in an April rally also attended by Bolsonaro , demonstrators called on Sunday for the closing of the Supreme Court and Congress , and a return to authoritarian measures used during Brazil 's 1964-1985 military government .
`` We have the armed forces at the people 's side : the side of order , democracy , liberty , '' Bolsonaro said in a speech transmitted live on Facebook .
`` Enough interference .
We 're not allowing any more interference .
Our patience is over . ''
Bolsonaro did not call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Brasilia , and such an occurrence is widely considered unlikely in Brazil , where Congress , the courts , the press and civil society wield significant power .
But political leaders have called Bolsonaro 's participation in anti-democratic rallies irresponsible , especially as he has spoken approvingly of the nation 's former military dictatorship , which was responsible for hundreds of extrajudicial executions .
Bolsonaro 's attendance also drew criticism as the nation is a major coronavirus hot spot .
Bolsonaro , who did not wear a mask on Sunday , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flu , '' saying the economic fallout of quarantining measures would be deadlier than the virus itself .
The open letter on Sunday , which warned that loggers and ranchers could introduce the virus to indigenous communities in a development tantamount to `` genocide , '' was signed by celebrities ranging from U.S. television personality Oprah Winfrey to Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen .
The government has banned people from entering indigenous reserves during the pandemic .
It has also cut down , however , on law enforcement against illegal loggers and miners in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the Sunday rally , at least three photographers were attacked by demonstrators , according to a Reuters witness - an increasingly routine occurrence in Brazil , where Bolsonaro routinely calls the work of major newspapers `` fake news . ''
The Reuters witness saw one photographer from Sao Paulo newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo pulled off a ladder and repeatedly kicked in the ribs .

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro attacked Congress and the courts in a speech to hundreds of supporters on Sunday as the number of coronavirus cases blew past 100,000 in Brazil, underlining the former army captain's increasing isolation as he downplays the impacts of the pandemic.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his daughter Laura (C) pose for a selfie with supporters outside his residence in Brasilia on Sunday.
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The right-wing Bolsonaro has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum for dismissing the threat of the virus in Brazil, which has registered 101,147 confirmed cases and 7,025 deaths, according to the most recent data from the Health Ministry.
On Sunday, dozens of public figures signed an open letter to the Brazilian government calling on officials to protect the nation's indigenous people, who often live in remote locations with limited access to healthcare.
At the same time, Bolsonaro faces the most serious political crisis of his mandate, after his justice minister, Sergio Moro, quit last week and accused the president of firing the federal police chief in a bid to appoint a personal ally to the post and meddle in sensitive investigations.
Brazil's Supreme Court blocked Bolsonaro's pick for a new chief on Wednesday, enraging the president.
On Saturday, Moro, among Brazil's most popular public figures due to his tough stance on corruption, presented testimony regarding possible obstruction of justice by Bolsonaro. Hours before, the president called Moro "Judas" on Twitter, referring to the apostle who betrayed Jesus.
As Bolsonaro's relationship with legislators and the courts has cooled, he has become increasingly dependent on a cadre of advisers in his government who are active or former military.
Sunday 3 May 2020. 7,025 dead Brazilians. pic.twitter.com/vwmicLtWjk — Tom Phillips (@tomphillipsin) May 3, 2020
As in an April rally also attended by Bolsonaro, demonstrators called on Sunday for the closing of the Supreme Court and Congress, and a return to authoritarian measures used during Brazil's 1964-1985 military government.
"We have the armed forces at the people's side: the side of order, democracy, liberty," Bolsonaro said in a speech transmitted live on Facebook.
"Enough interference. We're not allowing any more interference. Our patience is over."
Coronavirus hot spot
Bolsonaro did not call for a military takeover at the rally in Brasilia, and such an occurrence is widely considered unlikely in Brazil, where Congress, the courts, the press and civil society wield significant power.
But political leaders have called Bolsonaro's participation in anti-democratic rallies irresponsible, especially as he has spoken approvingly of the nation's former military dictatorship, which was responsible for hundreds of extrajudicial executions.
Bolsonaro's attendance also drew criticism as the nation is a major coronavirus hot spot.
Bolsonaro, who did not wear a mask on Sunday, has dismissed the coronavirus as a "little flu," saying the economic fallout of quarantining measures would be deadlier than the virus itself.
Eles são poucos. Isso precisa ficar cada vez mais claro. pic.twitter.com/p9L00ZXKy5 — Guilherme Pereira (@gui_pereirap) May 3, 2020
The open letter on Sunday, which warned that loggers and ranchers could introduce the virus to indigenous communities in a development tantamount to "genocide," was signed by celebrities ranging from U.S. television personality Oprah Winfrey to Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen.
The government has banned people from entering indigenous reserves during the pandemic. It has also cut down, however, on law enforcement against illegal loggers and miners in remote regions as a safety measure.
At the Sunday rally, at least three photographers were attacked by demonstrators, according to a Reuters witness - an increasingly routine occurrence in Brazil, where Bolsonaro routinely calls the work of major newspapers "fake news."
The Reuters witness saw one photographer from Sao Paulo newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo pulled off a ladder and repeatedly kicked in the ribs.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-04--New Zealand reports no new coronavirus cases

People enjoy Muriwai Beach in the wake of New Zealand easing strict regulations implemented to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) near Auckland , New Zealand , April 28 , 2020 .
New Zealand on Monday recorded no new cases of the coronavirus for the first time since March 16 and less than a week after the Pacific nation ended a strict lockdown that appears to have contained the outbreak .
Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield told a news conference the result was cause for celebration , noting the death toll remained at 20 with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is symbolic of the effort everyone has put in , '' Bloomfield told reporters .
`` This is the first day that we had no new cases and we want to keep it that way . ''
Last Tuesday New Zealand ended a strict lockdown which shut offices , schools , malls , restaurants , playgrounds and all other public areas for over a month .
However , several social restrictions remain in place with millions of New Zealanders still working and studying from home , although some economic activity was allowed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue social distancing measures to ensure COVID-19 does not return .
`` Clearly these are encouraging figures today , but it is just one moment in time , '' Bloomfield said .
`` The real test is later this week when we factor in the incubation period for the virus and the time it takes for people to display symptoms which is generally five to six days after exposure . ''
The total number of confirmed cases in the country is 1,137 , he said .
Foreign Minister Winston Peters on Monday backed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that would allow movement of people between New Zealand and Australia , saying such an arrangement could work `` seriously well '' .
Australia has so far escaped the high numbers of casualties seen in other countries , with about 6,800 infections and 95 deaths .
The country had 26 new cases of the coronavirus on Monday , including a seven-year-old boy , across three states in the biggest daily jump in two weeks .
A New Zealand rugby team was given the green light to fly to Australia and start training for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantine .
`` Officials in both countries are considering all aspects of the trans-Tasman concept , and planning how this could happen more broadly , '' Peters said .

New Zealand on Monday recorded no new cases of the coronavirus for the first time since March 16 and less than a week after the Pacific nation ended a strict lockdown that appears to have contained the outbreak.
People enjoy Muriwai Beach in the wake of New Zealand easing strict regulations implemented to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) near Auckland, New Zealand, April 28, 2020.
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Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield told a news conference the result was cause for celebration, noting the death toll remained at 20 with no additional virus-related fatalities.
"It is symbolic of the effort everyone has put in," Bloomfield told reporters.
"This is the first day that we had no new cases and we want to keep it that way."
Last Tuesday New Zealand ended a strict lockdown which shut offices, schools, malls, restaurants, playgrounds and all other public areas for over a month.
However, several social restrictions remain in place with millions of New Zealanders still working and studying from home, although some economic activity was allowed to resume.
Bloomfield cautioned that people must continue social distancing measures to ensure COVID-19 does not return.
"Clearly these are encouraging figures today, but it is just one moment in time," Bloomfield said.
"The real test is later this week when we factor in the incubation period for the virus and the time it takes for people to display symptoms which is generally five to six days after exposure."
The total number of confirmed cases in the country is 1,137, he said.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters on Monday backed calls for a so called trans-Tasman bubble that would allow movement of people between New Zealand and Australia, saying such an arrangement could work "seriously well".
Australia has so far escaped the high numbers of casualties seen in other countries, with about 6,800 infections and 95 deaths.
The country had 26 new cases of the coronavirus on Monday, including a seven-year-old boy, across three states in the biggest daily jump in two weeks.
A New Zealand rugby team was given the green light to fly to Australia and start training for a tournament while undergoing 14 days of quarantine.
"Officials in both countries are considering all aspects of the trans-Tasman concept, and planning how this could happen more broadly," Peters said.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-05-04--Venezuela says it foiled attempt to overthrow Maduro backed by US, Colombia

Venezuelan security forces boats are seen , after Venezuela 's government announced a failed `` mercenary '' incursion , in Macuto , Venezuela , May 3 , 2020 .
Venezuela 's government said it foiled a marine incursion on Sunday by `` terrorist mercenaries '' who attempted to enter the country on speedboats from neighbouring Colombia , which opposition leaders dismissed as a staged incident .
President Nicolas Maduro frequently accuses political adversaries of attempting to overthrow him with the backing of Washington , which has vowed to force him from office through sanctions that have crippled the OPEC nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruling Socialist Party often dismiss such accusations as stunts used as an excuse to detain opponents of the government .
The group landed early on Sunday on the coast of La Guaira , about 20 miles ( 32 km ) from the capital Caracas , Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said in a televised address .
`` They tried to carry out an invasion by sea , a group of terrorist mercenaries from Colombia , in order to commit terrorist acts in the country , murdering leaders of the revolutionary government , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government was seeking to distract from recent violent events including a deadly prison riot on Friday and bloody Caracas gang battle on Saturday night .
`` The regime is seeking to divert attention with a supposed incident ( in La Guaira ) plagued with inconsistencies , doubts and contradictions , '' the press team for Guaido said in a statement .
Guaido , who is the head of the opposition-run congress , is recognized by the United States and more than 50 other countries as Venezuela 's legitimate leader .
The State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official version of events and said it continues to support Guaido .
`` The Maduro regime has been consistent in its use of misinformation in order to shift focus from its mismanagement of Venezuela , '' said a State Department spokesman .
`` We fully support Interim President Juan Guaido , the National Assembly , and the people of Venezuela in their quest for a peaceful democratic transition . ''
Colombia 's foreign ministry said the assertions of Colombian involvement were `` unfounded '' and were meant to distract from `` the true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Socialist Party leader Diosdado Cabello said eight people were killed and two detained .
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said one of the speedboats had sunk , and that military vessels were searching the coast for survivors .
Maduro has overseen a six-year economic crisis that has left many citizens unable to obtain basic food and medicine and forced nearly five million people to emigrate .
But he retains the backing of the country 's armed forces as well as countries including China and Russia , which have harshly criticised the U.S. @ @

Venezuela's government said it foiled a marine incursion on Sunday by "terrorist mercenaries" who attempted to enter the country on speedboats from neighbouring Colombia, which opposition leaders dismissed as a staged incident.
Venezuelan security forces boats are seen, after Venezuela's government announced a failed "mercenary" incursion, in Macuto, Venezuela, May 3, 2020.
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President Nicolas Maduro frequently accuses political adversaries of attempting to overthrow him with the backing of Washington, which has vowed to force him from office through sanctions that have crippled the OPEC nation's oil exports.
Critics of the ruling Socialist Party often dismiss such accusations as stunts used as an excuse to detain opponents of the government.
The group landed early on Sunday on the coast of La Guaira, about 20 miles (32 km) from the capital Caracas, Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said in a televised address.
"They tried to carry out an invasion by sea, a group of terrorist mercenaries from Colombia, in order to commit terrorist acts in the country, murdering leaders of the revolutionary government," he said.
Opposition leader Juan Guaido said the government was seeking to distract from recent violent events including a deadly prison riot on Friday and bloody Caracas gang battle on Saturday night.
"The regime is seeking to divert attention with a supposed incident (in La Guaira) plagued with inconsistencies, doubts and contradictions," the press team for Guaido said in a statement.
Guaido, who is the head of the opposition-run congress, is recognized by the United States and more than 50 other countries as Venezuela's legitimate leader.
The State Department on Sunday cast doubt on the official version of events and said it continues to support Guaido.
"The Maduro regime has been consistent in its use of misinformation in order to shift focus from its mismanagement of Venezuela," said a State Department spokesman.
"We fully support Interim President Juan Guaido, the National Assembly, and the people of Venezuela in their quest for a peaceful democratic transition."
Colombia's foreign ministry said the assertions of Colombian involvement were "unfounded" and were meant to distract from "the true problems that the Venezuelan people are living."
Socialist Party leader Diosdado Cabello said eight people were killed and two detained.
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said one of the speedboats had sunk, and that military vessels were searching the coast for survivors.
Maduro has overseen a six-year economic crisis that has left many citizens unable to obtain basic food and medicine and forced nearly five million people to emigrate.
But he retains the backing of the country's armed forces as well as countries including China and Russia, which have harshly criticised the U.S. sanctions.
(REUTERS)
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