france24--2020-03-23--Oil prices drop as US economic package stumbles in Senate

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) speaks with the media after the motion failed in their attempt to wrap up work on coronavirus economic aid legislation in Washington , U.S. , March 22 , 2020 .
Oil prices fell at the open in Asia on Monday after a trillion-dollar Senate proposal to help the coronavirus-hit American economy was defeated and death tolls soared across Europe and the US .
Brent crude futures fell $ 1.09 , or 4 percent , to $ 25.89 a barrel by 0209 GMT .
West Texas Intermediate ( WTI ) crude futures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent , at $ 22.48 a barrel .
Oil prices have fallen for four straight weeks and have given up about 60 % since the start of the year .
Prices of everything from coal to copper have also been hit by the crisis , while markets in bonds and stocks enter rarely charted territory .
The coronavirus , which has infected more than 325,000 and killed over 14,000 worldwide , has disrupted business , travel and daily life .
Many oil companies have rushed to cut spending and some producers have already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have fallen to multi-year lows in recent weeks as lockdowns and travel restrictions to fight the virus hit demand , and top producers Saudi Arabia and Russia engage in a price war .
The latest drop came after a trillion-dollar Senate proposal to rescue the US economy was defeated after receiving zero support from Democrats , and with five Republicans absent from the chamber because of virus-related quarantines .
The measure faltered after it failed to get the necessary 60 votes in the 100-member chamber to clear a procedural hurdle after days of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favour and 47 opposed .
US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , frustrated over the deadlock on a major coronavirus response bill , late on Sunday announced a procedural vote will be held early on Monday on a bill that senators already rejected .
McConnell , a Republican , said that unless a bipartisan deal is reached before 9.45am Monday ( 1345 GMT ) , he will force a second vote on a bill Democrats opposed .
In the meantime , talks were continuing in the hope of a compromise to what could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the coronavirus outbreak .
The bill is Congress ' third effort to blunt the economic toll of a disease that has killed at least 420 people in the United States and sickened more than 33,000 , leading governors to order nearly a third of the nation 's population to stay at home and putting much business activity on hold .
The bill includes financial aid for regular Americans , small businesses and critically affected industries , including airlines .
Democrats raised objections to the Senate bill throughout the day , with top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` many , many problems '' and would benefit corporate interests at the expense of hospitals , healthcare workers , cities and states .
The failure of the measure to move forward sends Democrats and Republicans back to the bargaining table .
The speaker of the House of Representatives , Nancy Pelosi , said that Democrats in that chamber will begin crafting an alternative bill .
After the vote , Schumer said more money was needed for community health centres , nursing homes , masks , ventilators , personal protective equipment and aid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added that `` changes to the legislation are being made even as we speak '' but there still were `` too many problems in the legislation '' .
He said he thought those problems could be overcome in the next 24 hours .
On the Senate floor , a visibly angry McConnell accused Democrats of obstruction .
`` If we are n't able to act tomorrow , it will be because of our colleagues on the other side continuing to dicker when the country expects us to come together and address this problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mindful that a failure to reach a deal on Sunday could batter already reeling financial markets on Monday .
But Democratic Senator Joe Manchin said that would not rush Democrats into a deal they do n't want .
`` Markets always come back , '' he said .
In a sign of the disease 's spread , Republican Senator Rand Paul on Sunday said he had tested positive .
Republican Senators Mike Lee and Mitt Romney said they would self-quarantine as a result .
At a White House briefing on Sunday , President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a massive aid package could pass Congress swiftly .
`` They are very close to getting a deal done , '' Trump said .
`` So I 'd be surprised if they did n't and if they do n't , I think frankly the American people will be very upset with the Democrats because the Republicans are ready to approve a deal .
The only reason a deal could n't get done is pure politics . ''
Vice President Mike Pence said 254,000 Americans have been tested for the virus and slightly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump said he had activated the National Guard in the three states hardest hit by the outbreak : California , New York and Washington .
The Senate bill 's controversial provisions included those aimed at helping corporations , rather than workers , as well as those allowing the government to delay disclosing what firms , states or municipalities had received aid for up to six months .
Former vice president Joe Biden , the leading Democratic candidate to challenge Trump in the November US presidential election , blasted the president 's handling of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , minimized , and lied about this virus , '' Biden said in a statement .
`` Stop lying and start acting .
Use the full extent of your authorities , now , to ensure that we are producing all essential goods and delivering them . ''
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told `` Fox News Sunday '' the package would include loans for small businesses , direct deposits that could give an average family of four $ 3,000 , and up to $ 4 trillion in liquidity for the US Federal Reserve to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 120 days .
A Republican-drafted bill seen by Reuters gives the US Treasury authority to provide up to $ 500 billion in loans , loan guarantees and other investments in eligible businesses , states and municipalities during the crisis .
Of this , up to $ 50 billion could provide loans and loan guarantees for passenger airlines , $ 8 billion for cargo air carriers and $ 17 billion for businesses critical to national security .
The remaining $ 425 billion would be available for loans , loan guarantees and other investments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help the financial system lend to businesses , states and municipalities .

Oil prices fell at the open in Asia on Monday after a trillion-dollar Senate proposal to help the coronavirus-hit American economy was defeated and death tolls soared across Europe and the US.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) speaks with the media after the motion failed in their attempt to wrap up work on coronavirus economic aid legislation in Washington, U.S., March 22, 2020.
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Brent crude futures fell $1.09, or 4 percent, to $25.89 a barrel by 0209 GMT. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures was down 15 cents, or 0.7 percent, at $22.48 a barrel.
Oil prices have fallen for four straight weeks and have given up about 60% since the start of the year. Prices of everything from coal to copper have also been hit by the crisis, while markets in bonds and stocks enter rarely charted territory.
The coronavirus, which has infected more than 325,000 and killed over 14,000 worldwide, has disrupted business, travel and daily life. Many oil companies have rushed to cut spending and some producers have already begun putting employees on furlough.
Prices have fallen to multi-year lows in recent weeks as lockdowns and travel restrictions to fight the virus hit demand, and top producers Saudi Arabia and Russia engage in a price war.
The latest drop came after a trillion-dollar Senate proposal to rescue the US economy was defeated after receiving zero support from Democrats, and with five Republicans absent from the chamber because of virus-related quarantines.
The measure faltered after it failed to get the necessary 60 votes in the 100-member chamber to clear a procedural hurdle after days of negotiations, with 47 senators voting in favour and 47 opposed.
US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, frustrated over the deadlock on a major coronavirus response bill, late on Sunday announced a procedural vote will be held early on Monday on a bill that senators already rejected.
McConnell, a Republican, said that unless a bipartisan deal is reached before 9.45am Monday (1345 GMT), he will force a second vote on a bill Democrats opposed.
In the meantime, talks were continuing in the hope of a compromise to what could be a $1 trillion-plus bill responding to the coronavirus outbreak.
The bill is Congress' third effort to blunt the economic toll of a disease that has killed at least 420 people in the United States and sickened more than 33,000, leading governors to order nearly a third of the nation's population to stay at home and putting much business activity on hold.
The bill includes financial aid for regular Americans, small businesses and critically affected industries, including airlines.
Democrats raised objections to the Senate bill throughout the day, with top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer saying it had "many, many problems" and would benefit corporate interests at the expense of hospitals, healthcare workers, cities and states.
The failure of the measure to move forward sends Democrats and Republicans back to the bargaining table. The speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, said that Democrats in that chamber will begin crafting an alternative bill.
After the vote, Schumer said more money was needed for community health centres, nursing homes, masks, ventilators, personal protective equipment and aid to state and local governments.
Schumer added that "changes to the legislation are being made even as we speak" but there still were "too many problems in the legislation". He said he thought those problems could be overcome in the next 24 hours.
On the Senate floor, a visibly angry McConnell accused Democrats of obstruction.
"If we aren't able to act tomorrow, it will be because of our colleagues on the other side continuing to dicker when the country expects us to come together and address this problem," he said.
Lawmakers were mindful that a failure to reach a deal on Sunday could batter already reeling financial markets on Monday.
But Democratic Senator Joe Manchin said that would not rush Democrats into a deal they don't want.
"Markets always come back," he said.
In a sign of the disease's spread, Republican Senator Rand Paul on Sunday said he had tested positive. Republican Senators Mike Lee and Mitt Romney said they would self-quarantine as a result.
At a White House briefing on Sunday, President Donald Trump said he still had hope that a massive aid package could pass Congress swiftly.
"They are very close to getting a deal done," Trump said. "So I'd be surprised if they didn't and if they don't, I think frankly the American people will be very upset with the Democrats because the Republicans are ready to approve a deal. The only reason a deal couldn't get done is pure politics."
Vice President Mike Pence said 254,000 Americans have been tested for the virus and slightly more than 30,000 have tested positive.
Trump said he had activated the National Guard in the three states hardest hit by the outbreak: California, New York and Washington.
The Senate bill's controversial provisions included those aimed at helping corporations, rather than workers, as well as those allowing the government to delay disclosing what firms, states or municipalities had received aid for up to six months.
Former vice president Joe Biden, the leading Democratic candidate to challenge Trump in the November US presidential election, blasted the president's handling of the crisis.
"President Trump neglected, minimized, and lied about this virus," Biden said in a statement. "Stop lying and start acting. Use the full extent of your authorities, now, to ensure that we are producing all essential goods and delivering them."
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told "Fox News Sunday" the package would include loans for small businesses, direct deposits that could give an average family of four $3,000, and up to $4 trillion in liquidity for the US Federal Reserve to help businesses get through the next 90 to 120 days.
A Republican-drafted bill seen by Reuters gives the US Treasury authority to provide up to $500 billion in loans, loan guarantees and other investments in eligible businesses, states and municipalities during the crisis.
Of this, up to $50 billion could provide loans and loan guarantees for passenger airlines, $8 billion for cargo air carriers and $17 billion for businesses critical to national security.
The remaining $425 billion would be available for loans, loan guarantees and other investments for the Fed to provide liquidity to help the financial system lend to businesses, states and municipalities.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS and AFP)
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france24--2020-03-23--Canada, Australia pull out of Olympics as pressure mounts on Tokyo to postpone 2020 Games

A woman wearing a protective face mask , following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) , walks past the Olympic rings in front of the Japan Olympics Museum in Tokyo , Japan March 13 , 2020 .
The Australian Olympic Committee ( AOC ) said on Monday it could not assemble a team for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to the coronavirus outbreak and that its athletes should prepare for the Games to be postponed to 2021 .
AOC Chief Executive Matt Carroll said the AOC 's executive board had made its decision without waiting for advice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changing circumstances with the pandemic in recent days .
Carroll 's comments came after Canada announced it would not send its team to the Olympics and Paralympics in the summer of 2020 .
`` We 've had to make a call now because of the situation here in Australia and other parts of the world , '' Carroll told reporters in Sydney on Monday .
`` But the IOC is still working through their final decision-making . ''
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said for the first time on Monday that the Tokyo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if the event can not be held in its `` complete form '' due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The IOC said on Sunday after an emergency meeting that it is stepping up its `` scenario planning '' for the 2020 Games due to start on July 24 , including a possible postponement .
Carroll said Australia 's decision would give its athletes `` certainty '' and pushed for the Games to be held off until 2021 .
`` ... 2021 , it 's 12 months , it has to be a summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of time but again that 's a decision for the International Olympic Committee . ''
The AOC said in a statement earlier on Monday that it 's decision reflected the IOC 's `` key principles of putting athlete health first and ensuring it acted in their best interests and the interests of sport '' .
Opposition to holding the Games in July has risen sharply in the past 48 hours , with several major stakeholders such as U.S. Track and Field and UK Athletics , along with several national Olympic committees , calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) said on Monday it could not assemble a team for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to the coronavirus outbreak and that its athletes should prepare for the Games to be postponed to 2021.
A woman wearing a protective face mask, following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), walks past the Olympic rings in front of the Japan Olympics Museum in Tokyo, Japan March 13, 2020.
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AOC Chief Executive Matt Carroll said the AOC's executive board had made its decision without waiting for advice from the International Olympic Committee due to changing circumstances with the pandemic in recent days.
Carroll's comments came after Canada announced it would not send its team to the Olympics and Paralympics in the summer of 2020.
"We've had to make a call now because of the situation here in Australia and other parts of the world," Carroll told reporters in Sydney on Monday.
"But the IOC is still working through their final decision-making."
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said for the first time on Monday that the Tokyo Olympic Games may need to be postponed if the event cannot be held in its "complete form" due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The IOC said on Sunday after an emergency meeting that it is stepping up its "scenario planning" for the 2020 Games due to start on July 24, including a possible postponement.
Carroll said Australia's decision would give its athletes "certainty" and pushed for the Games to be held off until 2021.
"... 2021, it's 12 months, it has to be a summer Games, it's an appropriate amount of time but again that's a decision for the International Olympic Committee."
The AOC said in a statement earlier on Monday that it's decision reflected the IOC's "key principles of putting athlete health first and ensuring it acted in their best interests and the interests of sport".
Opposition to holding the Games in July has risen sharply in the past 48 hours, with several major stakeholders such as U.S. Track and Field and UK Athletics, along with several national Olympic committees, calling for a delay because of the pandemic.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-23--Spike in Australian coronavirus cases, cruise with sick passengers denied entry

Australia went into lockdown on March 23 , with the forced closure of pubs , casinos , churches and gyms .
Australians began living under strict new lockdown rules on Monday as coronavirus cases topped 1,600 and authorities denied entry to a cruise ship carrying hundreds on board complaining of respiratory illnesses .
As new restrictions closing non-essential services came into effect , there were clear signs of economic and social stress with long queues forming outside offices of the main welfare agency across the country .
After reporting only a gradual spread in January , the number of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tracking much sharper increases seen elsewhere , with the most populous states of New South Wales and Victoria recording the fastest rises .
Most states have now closed their borders to travellers from other parts of the country and effected their own lockdown laws , in addition to the national curbs announced on Sunday .
Western Australia on Monday banned passengers on board the Swiss-owned MSC Magnifica cruise ship from disembarking .
Of 1,700 passengers on board the ship , more than 250 have complained of respiratory illnesses .
It was due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday evening .
That decision comes days after 2,700 passengers disembarked from the Ruby Princess cruise ship in Sydney harbour , with 48 on board subsequently testing positive for the virus .
`` I will not allow what happened in Sydney to happen here , '' West Australian Premier Mark McGowan said .
`` We will not allow passengers or crew to wander the streets . ''
A spokesman for MSC Cruises did not immediately respond to requests for comment .
New measures designed to minimise the spread of the virus mean many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , cinemas , gyms and houses of worship , were closed on Monday .
`` There will be no more going to the pub after work , no more going to the gym in the morning , and no more sitting down for brunch at a cafe , '' Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told parliament on Monday .
Morrison said the immense health and economic challenges of the global pandemic would be the `` toughest year of our lives '' and warned Australians to prepare for shutdowns that could last six months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , thousands flocked to Sydney 's Bondi Beach and frequented bars and restaurants over the weekend .
Morrison said the new measures were needed to enforce social distancing , and more draconian measures could be enacted down the line .
Supermarkets , pharmacies , freight and retail will continue to trade , while cafes and restaurants will only be able to offer takeaway and delivery services .
The economic fallout of the crisis was visible on the streets on Monday with hundreds of Australians lining up outside government offices in Sydney and Melbourne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many tried to practice social distancing as lines stretched around the block .
The website for government welfare services crashed on Monday , overwhelmed by an `` unprecedented '' number of online queries .
The benchmark index fell more than 4 % on Monday , a day after the government pledged an extra A $ 66.4 billion ( $ 38.06 billion ) to combat the impact of the disease .
The economic stimulus package was passed by Australia 's lower house of parliament on Monday .
It now just requires the approval of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patrick , an independent senator , said he has been diagnosed with coronavirus , becoming the fourth federal lawmaker to become infected .
Several states have implemented strict measures to combat the outbreak , with Queensland , Tasmania , South Australia and Western Australia tightening domestic border controls , while the school term was cut short in Victoria .
In New Zealand , Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said measures to contain the virus would be intensified , with all schools closed from Tuesday and non-essential services shut in the next 48 hours .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ unique window '' to `` break the chain of community transmission '' .
In the neighbouring Pacific islands , where experts fear under-developed healthcare facilities could easily be overwhelmed , a state of emergency was declared in Papua New Guinea after the country recorded its first case of the virus .
On Monday , the tiny island of Guam , a U.S. territory in Micronesia , recorded the region 's first coronavirus fatality .

Australians began living under strict new lockdown rules on Monday as coronavirus cases topped 1,600 and authorities denied entry to a cruise ship carrying hundreds on board complaining of respiratory illnesses.
Australia went into lockdown on March 23, with the forced closure of pubs, casinos, churches and gyms.
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As new restrictions closing non-essential services came into effect, there were clear signs of economic and social stress with long queues forming outside offices of the main welfare agency across the country.
After reporting only a gradual spread in January, the number of COVID-19 cases in Australia now appears to be tracking much sharper increases seen elsewhere, with the most populous states of New South Wales and Victoria recording the fastest rises.
Most states have now closed their borders to travellers from other parts of the country and effected their own lockdown laws, in addition to the national curbs announced on Sunday.
Western Australia on Monday banned passengers on board the Swiss-owned MSC Magnifica cruise ship from disembarking.
Of 1,700 passengers on board the ship, more than 250 have complained of respiratory illnesses. It was due to dock at Fremantle port as early as Monday evening.
That decision comes days after 2,700 passengers disembarked from the Ruby Princess cruise ship in Sydney harbour, with 48 on board subsequently testing positive for the virus.
"I will not allow what happened in Sydney to happen here," West Australian Premier Mark McGowan said. "We will not allow passengers or crew to wander the streets."
A spokesman for MSC Cruises did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
'Toughest year of our lives'
New measures designed to minimise the spread of the virus mean many non-essential services, including pubs, clubs, cinemas, gyms and houses of worship, were closed on Monday.
"There will be no more going to the pub after work, no more going to the gym in the morning, and no more sitting down for brunch at a cafe," Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told parliament on Monday.
Morrison said the immense health and economic challenges of the global pandemic would be the "toughest year of our lives" and warned Australians to prepare for shutdowns that could last six months.
Despite warnings to practice social distancing, thousands flocked to Sydney's Bondi Beach and frequented bars and restaurants over the weekend.
Morrison said the new measures were needed to enforce social distancing, and more draconian measures could be enacted down the line.
Supermarkets, pharmacies, freight and retail will continue to trade, while cafes and restaurants will only be able to offer takeaway and delivery services.
The economic fallout of the crisis was visible on the streets on Monday with hundreds of Australians lining up outside government offices in Sydney and Melbourne to register for social security payments. Many tried to practice social distancing as lines stretched around the block.
The website for government welfare services crashed on Monday, overwhelmed by an "unprecedented" number of online queries.
The benchmark index fell more than 4% on Monday, a day after the government pledged an extra A$66.4 billion ($38.06 billion) to combat the impact of the disease.
The economic stimulus package was passed by Australia's lower house of parliament on Monday. It now just requires the approval of Australia's senate.
Meanwhile, Rex Patrick, an independent senator, said he has been diagnosed with coronavirus, becoming the fourth federal lawmaker to become infected.
Several states have implemented strict measures to combat the outbreak, with Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia tightening domestic border controls, while the school term was cut short in Victoria.
In New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said measures to contain the virus would be intensified, with all schools closed from Tuesday and non-essential services shut in the next 48 hours.
Ardern said the country had a "unique window" to "break the chain of community transmission".
In the neighbouring Pacific islands, where experts fear under-developed healthcare facilities could easily be overwhelmed, a state of emergency was declared in Papua New Guinea after the country recorded its first case of the virus.
On Monday, the tiny island of Guam, a U.S. territory in Micronesia, recorded the region's first coronavirus fatality.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-23--US Secretary of State Pompeo arrives in Afghanistan

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a news conference at the State Department in Washington , on March 17 , 2020 .
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in the Afghan capital Kabul on Monday , a pool report said , amid an ongoing political crisis , a raging Taliban insurgency and rising coronavirus cases .
Pompeo was set to meet with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani along with his archrival Abdullah Abdullah , who also claims the presidency , following a contested election last year .
The visit comes just a day after the Afghan government and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prisoner exchanges -- a key step in a broader push for peace following a withdrawal deal signed between Washington and the militants last month .
The agreement established a framework for bringing to an end America 's longest war following the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 .
American envoy Zalmay Khalilzad , the lead negotiator in the Taliban talks , tweeted Sunday it was `` urgent '' to quickly conclude plans for the prisoner swap -- as called for in the US pact with the Taliban -- with the coronavirus pandemic complicating diplomatic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ release of up to 5,000 Taliban fighters held by Kabul , and up to 1,000 members of the Afghan government forces in insurgent hands .
That was meant to take place before the start of peace talks between the government -- which was not a party to the negotiations that produced the Doha deal -- and the Taliban , originally set for March 10 .

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in the Afghan capital Kabul on Monday, a pool report said, amid an ongoing political crisis, a raging Taliban insurgency and rising coronavirus cases.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a news conference at the State Department in Washington, on March 17, 2020.
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Pompeo was set to meet with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani along with his archrival Abdullah Abdullah, who also claims the presidency, following a contested election last year.
The visit comes just a day after the Afghan government and the Taliban held their first discussion on arranging prisoner exchanges -- a key step in a broader push for peace following a withdrawal deal signed between Washington and the militants last month.
The agreement established a framework for bringing to an end America's longest war following the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.
American envoy Zalmay Khalilzad, the lead negotiator in the Taliban talks, tweeted Sunday it was "urgent" to quickly conclude plans for the prisoner swap -- as called for in the US pact with the Taliban -- with the coronavirus pandemic complicating diplomatic contacts.
The deal called for the release of up to 5,000 Taliban fighters held by Kabul, and up to 1,000 members of the Afghan government forces in insurgent hands.
That was meant to take place before the start of peace talks between the government -- which was not a party to the negotiations that produced the Doha deal -- and the Taliban, originally set for March 10.
(AFP)
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france24--2020-03-23--At least 23 inmates killed in prison riot over coronavirus in Colombia

Relatives of inmates react outside La Modelo prison after a riot by prisoners demanding the government to take healthcare measures against the spread of the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) , in Bogota , Colombia March 22 , 2020 .
A prison riot in Colombia 's capital Bogota late on Saturday left 23 prisoners dead and 83 injured , the justice minister said on Sunday , as detainees protested sanitary conditions amid the global outbreak of coronavirus .
Thirty-two injured prisoners are hospitalised , Justice Minister Margarita Cabello said in a video , while seven prison guards were also injured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Andean country will enter a nationwide lockdown meant to stem infections from Tuesday night .
So far 231 people have been confirmed infected with the disease and two have died .
`` Today is a very sad and painful day , '' Cabello said .
`` Last night there was a mass criminal escape attempt at the El Modelo prison and riots in various detention centers around the country . ''
Graphic cell phones videos were posted to social media late on Saturday showing what appeared to be the inside of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , others injured prisoners and guards .
In one video , a man says the incarcerated have been `` abandoned like dogs '' amid the virus outbreak .
Reuters could not independently verify the origin or authenticity of the videos .
No prisoners escaped during the riots , Cabello said .
`` There is not any sanitary problem that would have caused this plan and these riots .
There is not one infection nor any prisoner or custodial or administrative staffer who has coronavirus . ''
The office of the human rights ombudsman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison emergency which could allow early release for older prisoners .
`` This way there could be exceptional circumstances that would facilitate releases and temporary rules for those over 60 and with sentences of up to eight years , '' the office said on Twitter .
Colombia 's 132 prisons have an 81,000-inmate capacity but house more than 121,000 prisoners , according to figures from the Justice Ministry .
The second Colombian to die from coronavirus was a 70-year-old woman in the city of Cali , the health ministry said on Sunday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where she had been in contact with a person from the United States who is positive for the virus .
The daughter currently has a cough , the ministry said in a statement , while the victim 's 74-year-old husband is hospitalised and positive for the virus .

A prison riot in Colombia's capital Bogota late on Saturday left 23 prisoners dead and 83 injured, the justice minister said on Sunday, as detainees protested sanitary conditions amid the global outbreak of coronavirus.
Relatives of inmates react outside La Modelo prison after a riot by prisoners demanding the government to take healthcare measures against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Bogota, Colombia March 22, 2020.
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Thirty-two injured prisoners are hospitalised, Justice Minister Margarita Cabello said in a video, while seven prison guards were also injured. Two guards are in critical condition.
The Andean country will enter a nationwide lockdown meant to stem infections from Tuesday night. So far 231 people have been confirmed infected with the disease and two have died.
"Today is a very sad and painful day," Cabello said. "Last night there was a mass criminal escape attempt at the El Modelo prison and riots in various detention centers around the country."
Graphic cell phones videos were posted to social media late on Saturday showing what appeared to be the inside of the prisons. Some showed small fires, others injured prisoners and guards.
In one video, a man says the incarcerated have been "abandoned like dogs" amid the virus outbreak.
Reuters could not independently verify the origin or authenticity of the videos.
No prisoners escaped during the riots, Cabello said.
"There is not any sanitary problem that would have caused this plan and these riots. There is not one infection nor any prisoner or custodial or administrative staffer who has coronavirus."
The office of the human rights ombudsman called on the government to declare a prison emergency which could allow early release for older prisoners.
"This way there could be exceptional circumstances that would facilitate releases and temporary rules for those over 60 and with sentences of up to eight years," the office said on Twitter.
Colombia's 132 prisons have an 81,000-inmate capacity but house more than 121,000 prisoners, according to figures from the Justice Ministry.
The second Colombian to die from coronavirus was a 70-year-old woman in the city of Cali, the health ministry said on Sunday. Her daughter arrived in Colombia from Cuba, where she had been in contact with a person from the United States who is positive for the virus.
The daughter currently has a cough, the ministry said in a statement, while the victim's 74-year-old husband is hospitalised and positive for the virus.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-23--Harvey Weinstein 'tests positive for coronavirus in prison'

Film producer Harvey Weinstein departs Criminal Court on the first day of a sexual assault trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City , New York , U.S. , January 6 , 2020 .
Former movie producer Harvey Weinstein , who is serving a prison sentence for sexual assault and rape , has tested positive for the coronavirus , according to the head of the state corrections officers union .
Weinstein , 68 , has been placed in isolation at Wende Correctional Facility , said Michael Powers , president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the test came back positive on Sunday morning and is concerned about the corrections officers , who he said lack proper protective equipment .
Several staff have been quarantined , Powers said .
Weinstein arrived at Wende Correctional Facility , a maximum security prison east of Buffalo , New York , on Wednesday after being housed at New York City 's Rikers Island jail .
He was sentenced to 23 years in prison on March 11 for sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi and raping Jessica Mann , a onetime aspiring actress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan for heart problems , according to his spokesman , Juda Engelmayer .
He also has other medical issues , including diabetes and high blood pressure .
A lawyer for Weinstein said on Sunday night that his legal team had not been notified of the coronavirus diagnosis .
`` Given Mr. Weinstein 's state of health , we are of course concerned , if this is the case , and we are vigilantly monitoring the situation , '' said lawyer Imran Ansari , who is based in New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local newspaper in upstate New York , reported that Weinstein had tested positive for the highly contagious virus earlier Sunday , citing anonymous officials .
Two prisoners at the Wende Facility have confirmed cases of COVID-19 , a state prison official told Reuters .
The official said he could not comment on any individual prisoner 's medical record .
The official told Reuters that , with each confirmed case , the Department of Corrections works with the Department of Health to identify potentially exposed people .
Mark David Chapman , who murdered Beatle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his time at Wende Correctional Facility , as did Robert Chambers , dubbed the `` Preppie killer , '' who strangled 18-year-old Jennifer Levin in New York City ’ s Central Park in 1986 .
Weinstein 's conviction was hailed as a victory for the # MeToo movement against sexual misconduct by powerful men .
More than 100 women , including famous actresses , have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct stretching back decades .
He has denied the allegations , saying any sex was consensual .
Weinstein won an Academy Award for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was responsible for other acclaimed films including `` Pulp Fiction , '' `` The English Patient '' and `` Gangs of New York . ''

Former movie producer Harvey Weinstein, who is serving a prison sentence for sexual assault and rape, has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the head of the state corrections officers union.
Film producer Harvey Weinstein departs Criminal Court on the first day of a sexual assault trial in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., January 6, 2020.
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Weinstein, 68, has been placed in isolation at Wende Correctional Facility, said Michael Powers, president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association.
Powers said he learned that the test came back positive on Sunday morning and is concerned about the corrections officers, who he said lack proper protective equipment. Several staff have been quarantined, Powers said.
Weinstein arrived at Wende Correctional Facility, a maximum security prison east of Buffalo, New York, on Wednesday after being housed at New York City's Rikers Island jail.
He was sentenced to 23 years in prison on March 11 for sexually assaulting former production assistant Mimi Haleyi and raping Jessica Mann, a onetime aspiring actress.
Following the sentencing, Weinstein spent time at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan for heart problems, according to his spokesman, Juda Engelmayer. He also has other medical issues, including diabetes and high blood pressure.
A lawyer for Weinstein said on Sunday night that his legal team had not been notified of the coronavirus diagnosis. "Given Mr. Weinstein's state of health, we are of course concerned, if this is the case, and we are vigilantly monitoring the situation," said lawyer Imran Ansari, who is based in New York.
The Niagara Gazette, a local newspaper in upstate New York, reported that Weinstein had tested positive for the highly contagious virus earlier Sunday, citing anonymous officials.
Two prisoners at the Wende Facility have confirmed cases of COVID-19, a state prison official told Reuters. The official said he could not comment on any individual prisoner's medical record.
The official told Reuters that, with each confirmed case, the Department of Corrections works with the Department of Health to identify potentially exposed people.
Mark David Chapman, who murdered Beatle John Lennon in 1980, served some of his time at Wende Correctional Facility, as did Robert Chambers, dubbed the "Preppie killer," who strangled 18-year-old Jennifer Levin in New York City’s Central Park in 1986.
Weinstein's conviction was hailed as a victory for the #MeToo movement against sexual misconduct by powerful men.
More than 100 women, including famous actresses, have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct stretching back decades. He has denied the allegations, saying any sex was consensual.
Weinstein also faces separate sexual assault charges in Los Angeles.
Weinstein won an Academy Award for producing "Shakespeare in Love" and was responsible for other acclaimed films including "Pulp Fiction," "The English Patient" and "Gangs of New York."
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-23--France’s coronavirus death toll rises by 186 in a day, lockdown measures to tighten, says PM Philipp

France’s coronavirus death toll rises by 186 in a day, lockdown measures to tighten, says PM Philippe

French rescue team wearing protective suits carry a patient on a stretcher from Mulhouse hospital before being loaded into a helicopter on March 23 , 2020 .
French health authorities reported 186 new deaths from coronavirus on Monday , taking the total to 860 in a sharp 28 percent toll rise as Prime Minister Édouard Philippe warned the country ’ s strict lockdown measures could tighten and last weeks .
As France entered the second week of a nationwide lockdown , the toal number of confirmed coronavirus cases also increased Monday to 19,856 , or a rise of about 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press conference Monday , Health Minister Olivier Véran said 2,082 people were in a serious condition needing life support , up 19 percent compared to Sunday , in another increase compared to the last three official tallies .
The latest victims included a general practitioner and a gynaecologist , bringing the number of health workers who have died from the contagion to five , Véran confirmed .
The rise in coronavirus tolls came as French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe said the country ’ s tight lockdown , originally believed to last around 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more weeks and that his government was tightening restrictions even further .
From Tuesday , the public will only be able to exercise alone or with their children once a day , for no more than an hour , and within a kilometre of their home , said Philippe .
Open-air markets would also close , he added .
`` A lot of citizens want normalcy to return , but it 's not happening soon , '' said Philippe .
`` We feel the lockdown measures we have taken , and which we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ several weeks . ''
Philippe refused to rule out localised curfews but said the decision for those lay with local authorities .
Several are already in place , including in the southern city of Nice on the Mediterranean coast .
`` We do not want to put a national curfew in place .
But we told prefects to get in touch with mayors who deem ( a curfew ) necessary .
And we will not hesitate , where necessary , to take tougher measures , meaning curfew measures , '' the prime minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for coronavirus treatment Philippe also echoed Health Minister Véran statement that the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine would not be put on the market for mass use against coronavirus until more testing had been done .
Earlier Monday , Véran noted that in the absence of any conclusive data , he will be issuing an order to “ regulate the use of hydroxychloroquine outside the traditional marketing authorisations , which will therefore be accessible to hospital medical teams who wish to use it '' .
There are as yet no vaccines or treatments approved but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States and Europe to see whether hydroxychloroquine can prevent , or reduce the severity of , the illness .
French hospitals began testing the anti-malarial and three other drugs on Sunday , research institute Inserm said , as part of a European programme involving 3,200 COVID-19 patients .

French health authorities reported 186 new deaths from coronavirus on Monday, taking the total to 860 in a sharp 28 percent toll rise as Prime Minister Édouard Philippe announced further lockdown measures on outdoor exercise and open-air markets.
French rescue team wearing protective suits carry a patient on a stretcher from Mulhouse hospital before being loaded into a helicopter on March 23, 2020.
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As France entered the second week of a nationwide lockdown, the toal number of confirmed coronavirus cases also increased Monday to 19,856, or a rise of about 20 percent in 24 hours.
At a press conference Monday, Health Minister Olivier Véran said 2,082 people were in a serious condition needing life support, up 19 percent compared to Sunday, in another increase compared to the last three official tallies.
The latest victims included a general practitioner and a gynaecologist, bringing the number of health workers who have died from the contagion to five, Véran confirmed.
01:20
Lockdown tightens, could last weeks
The rise in coronavirus tolls came as French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe said the country’s tight lockdown, originally believed to last around 15 days, could be extended by several more weeks and that his government was tightening restrictions even further.
From Tuesday, the public will only be able to exercise alone or with their children once a day, for no more than an hour, and within a kilometre of their home, said Philippe. Open-air markets would also be closed, he added.
"A lot of citizens want normalcy to return, but it's not happening soon," said Philippe. "We feel the lockdown measures we have taken, and which we will toughen yet again... could last several weeks."
Philippe refused to rule out localised curfews but said the decision for those lay with local authorities. Several are already in place, including in the southern city of Nice on the Mediterranean coast.
"We do not want to put a national curfew in place. But we told prefects to get in touch with mayors who deem (a curfew) necessary. And we will not hesitate, where necessary, to take tougher measures, meaning curfew measures," the prime minister said.
Anti-malaria drug not on market for coronavirus treatment
Philippe also echoed Health Minister Véran's statement that the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine would not be put on the market for mass use against coronavirus until more testing had been done.
Earlier Monday, Véran noted that in the absence of any conclusive data, he will be issuing an order to “regulate the use of hydroxychloroquine outside the traditional marketing authorisations, which will therefore be accessible to hospital medical teams who wish to use it".
There are as yet no vaccines or treatments approved against coronavirus but trials are under way in the United States and Europe to see whether hydroxychloroquine can prevent, or reduce the severity of, the illness.
French hospitals began testing the anti-malarial and three other drugs on Sunday, research institute Inserm said, as part of a European programme involving 3,200 COVID-19 patients.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-23--‘You must stay at home,’ says Johnson as UK adopts coronavirus lockdown

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on March 23 , 2020 announced strict restrictions to control the spread of the coronavirus outbreak .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered Britons to stay at home to halt the spread of coronavirus , imposing curbs on everyday life without precedent in peacetime .
All but essential shops will close and people should no longer meet family or friends or risk being fined , Johnson said on Monday in a televised address to the nation .
Johnson had resisted pressure to impose a full lockdown even as other European countries had done so , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed the health system could become overwhelmed .
Deaths from the virus in Britain jumped 54 to 335 on Monday as the government said the military would help ship millions of items of personal protective equipment ( PPE ) including masks to healthcare workers who have complained of shortages .
`` From this evening I must give the British people a very simple instruction - you must stay at home , '' Johnson said in a televised address , replacing his daily news conference .
They would only be allowed to leave their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exercise , for a medical need , to provide care or travelling to and from work where absolutely necessary .
`` That ’ s all - these are the only reasons you should leave your home , '' he said , adding that people should not meet friends or family members who do not live in their home .
`` If you don ’ t follow the rules , the police will have the powers to enforce them , including through fines and dispersing gatherings , '' he warned .
The new measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and relaxed if possible .
The British Retail Consortium said shop owners understood the gravity of the situation , while former health secretary Jeremy Hunt said Johnson 's decisions were `` absolutely right '' .
The government will close all shops selling non-essential goods , Johnson said , including clothing stores , as well as other premises including libraries , playgrounds and outdoor gyms , and places of worship .
The tougher tone followed evidence at the weekend that many were ignoring official guidelines about social distancing as they flocked to parks and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the government will stop all gatherings of more than two people in public who do not live together , and stop all social events , including weddings and baptisms but not funerals .
Parks would remain open for exercise but gatherings would be dispersed , Johnson said .
`` Without a huge national effort to halt the growth of this virus , there will come a moment when no health service in the world could possibly cope ; because there won ’ t be enough ventilators , enough intensive care beds , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in his address .
Earlier , in a letter pleading with him to increase PPE supplies , more than 6,000 frontline doctors warned they felt like `` cannon fodder '' and were being asked to put their lives at risk with out-of-date masks , and low stocks of equipment .
Health Secretary Matt Hancock admitted there had been issues but promised action was being taken .
He said the army would drive trucks throughout the day and night to get supplies to medical staff .
`` It 's like a war effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus and so the army have been incredibly helpful in getting those logistics so we can get the supplies to protect people on the front line , '' he told the BBC , saying the health service now had 12,000 ventilators , 7,000 more than at the start of the crisis .

Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered Britons to stay at home to halt the spread of coronavirus, imposing curbs on everyday life without precedent in peacetime.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on March 23, 2020 announced strict restrictions to control the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.
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All but essential shops will close and people should no longer meet family or friends or risk being fined, Johnson said on Monday in a televised address to the nation.
Johnson had resisted pressure to impose a full lockdown even as other European countries had done so, but was forced to change tack as projections showed the health system could become overwhelmed.
Deaths from the virus in Britain jumped 54 to 335 on Monday as the government said the military would help ship millions of items of personal protective equipment (PPE) including masks to healthcare workers who have complained of shortages.
"From this evening I must give the British people a very simple instruction - you must stay at home," Johnson said in a televised address, replacing his daily news conference.
00:32
They would only be allowed to leave their homes to shop for basic necessities, exercise, for a medical need, to provide care or travelling to and from work where absolutely necessary.
"That’s all - these are the only reasons you should leave your home," he said, adding that people should not meet friends or family members who do not live in their home.
"If you don’t follow the rules, the police will have the powers to enforce them, including through fines and dispersing gatherings," he warned.
The new measures would be reviewed in three weeks, and relaxed if possible.
The British Retail Consortium said shop owners understood the gravity of the situation, while former health secretary Jeremy Hunt said Johnson's decisions were "absolutely right".
The government will close all shops selling non-essential goods, Johnson said, including clothing stores, as well as other premises including libraries, playgrounds and outdoor gyms, and places of worship.
The tougher tone followed evidence at the weekend that many were ignoring official guidelines about social distancing as they flocked to parks and beauty spots.
Under the new measures, the government will stop all gatherings of more than two people in public who do not live together, and stop all social events, including weddings and baptisms but not funerals.
Parks would remain open for exercise but gatherings would be dispersed, Johnson said.
"Without a huge national effort to halt the growth of this virus, there will come a moment when no health service in the world could possibly cope; because there won’t be enough ventilators, enough intensive care beds, enough doctors and nurses," Johnson said in his address.
Earlier, in a letter pleading with him to increase PPE supplies, more than 6,000 frontline doctors warned they felt like "cannon fodder" and were being asked to put their lives at risk with out-of-date masks, and low stocks of equipment.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock admitted there had been issues but promised action was being taken. He said the army would drive trucks throughout the day and night to get supplies to medical staff.
"It's like a war effort - it is a war against this virus and so the army have been incredibly helpful in getting those logistics so we can get the supplies to protect people on the front line," he told the BBC, saying the health service now had 12,000 ventilators, 7,000 more than at the start of the crisis.
(REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-23--Post-traumatic stress, confusion and anger: How quarantine affects your mental health

“ Quarantine is often an unpleasant experience for those who undergo it , ” the researchers said in their paper which was published in The Lancet last month .
Life in quarantine can negatively affect your mental health , causing post-traumatic stress , confusion and even anger , a new study from King ’ s College London shows .
But by getting uncensored access to up-to-date information , staying in touch with loved ones and keeping active on social media , researchers believe these negative effects can be staved off .
The study , “ The psychological impact of quarantine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review of the evidence ” , was published in The Lancet medical journal in February .
It comes as country after country – including badly-hit China , Italy , France and Spain – have ordered its populations into lockdown to halt the spread of the deadly coronavirus .
“ Quarantine is often an unpleasant experience for those who undergo it .
Separation from loved ones , the loss of freedom , uncertainty over disease status and boredom can , on occasion , create dramatic effects , ” the seven researchers , who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medicine at King ’ s College London , wrote .
The researchers have based their findings on 24 studies previously carried out in 10 countries that have quarantined parts of their populations after the outbreak of deadly viruses , including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ( SARS ) , Ebola , H1N1 influenza ( swine flu ) , Middle East respiratory syndrome ( MERS ) and equine influenza ( horse flu ) .
In the SARS studies that were looked at , more than 20 percent of the people quarantined after having been in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having feelings of fear , while 18 percent said they felt nervous , 18 percent sad and 10 percent guilty .
Others reported having symptoms of post-traumatic stress ( PTS ) .
One study showed that people quarantined for longer than 10 days “ showed significantly higher post-traumatic stress symptoms ” than those who were isolated for a shorter period of time .
Living in quarantine can also have long-term negative effects , including the development of alcohol abuse and other dependency symptoms .
Two studies looking into the quarantine effects linked to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers had developed dependency symptoms which persisted as long as three years after the SARS outbreak .
The study also showed that the development of such symptoms may be amplified if those in quarantine lack access to health-care and basic necessities .
But other factors come into play as well .
“ Fake news and media can fuel anxiety by citing contradictory expert opinion , ” Professor Neil Greenberg , one of the authors of the study , told FRANCE 24 .
“ They not only make it more difficult for people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cope with the pandemic itself , ” Greenberg said .
He added that the socio-economic effects of a pandemic also heavily weigh on people ’ s minds .
“ Serious financial difficulties can lead to mental health problems , ” he said .
So how do you deal ?
Aside from listing the negative effects of life under quarantine , the researchers also presented a list of things that can help offset - or even prevent - the psychological consequences of isolation caused by quarantining .
Provide those who are quarantined with “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the researchers noted , so that they clearly understand the risks they would face if they were not isolated , as well as the reasons why they have been quarantined .
“ Reinforcing that quarantine is helping to keep others safe , including those particularly vulnerable ( such as those who are very young , old , or with preexisting serious medical conditions ) , and that health authorities are genuinely grateful to them , can only help to reduce the mental health effect and adherence in those quarantined , ” they wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ telephone hotline or an online service dedicated to answering questions about the illness in question and as to what people should do should they develop any symptoms .
“ This service would show those who are quarantined that they have not been forgotten and that their health needs are just as important as those of the wider public.
” Aside from ensuring that those who are quarantined have access to basic necessities like food and medicine , the study said authorities need prioritise giving people the appropriate tools , like uncensored internet access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This helps reduce both anxiety and distress .
“ You have to let people stay in touch with their friends and family , as well as with their colleagues , via email , social media and video conferences and so on , ” Greenberg told FRANCE 24 .
Greenberg also said it was important for people in quarantine to keep a healthy life style .
“ This is a time to try to sleep well , eat healthy , exercise as much as possible and avoid unhealthy habits like drinking or smoking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the study warned authorities against extending quarantines .
“ The authorities need to respect the duration of a quarantine and not extend it .
Doing the opposite would be particularly harmful to mental health , ” Greenberg said .
This article was adapted from the original in French .

Life in quarantine can negatively affect your mental health, causing post-traumatic stress, confusion and even anger, a new study from King’s College London shows. But by getting uncensored access to up-to-date information, staying in touch with loved ones and keeping active on social media, researchers believe these negative effects can be staved off.
“Quarantine is often an unpleasant experience for those who undergo it,” the researchers said in their paper which was published in The Lancet last month.
Advertising Read more
The study, “The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence”, was published in The Lancet medical journal in February. It comes as country after country – including badly-hit China, Italy, France and Spain – have ordered its populations into lockdown to halt the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
“Quarantine is often an unpleasant experience for those who undergo it. Separation from loved ones, the loss of freedom, uncertainty over disease status and boredom can, on occasion, create dramatic effects,” the seven researchers, who are all associated with the department of psychological medicine at King’s College London, wrote.
The researchers have based their findings on 24 studies previously carried out in 10 countries that have quarantined parts of their populations after the outbreak of deadly viruses, including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Ebola, H1N1 influenza (swine flu), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and equine influenza (horse flu).
Can lead to addictions
In the SARS studies that were looked at, more than 20 percent of the people quarantined after having been in close contact with suspected SARS cases reported having feelings of fear, while 18 percent said they felt nervous, 18 percent sad and 10 percent guilty. Others reported having symptoms of post-traumatic stress (PTS). One study showed that people quarantined for longer than 10 days “showed significantly higher post-traumatic stress symptoms” than those who were isolated for a shorter period of time.
Living in quarantine can also have long-term negative effects, including the development of alcohol abuse and other dependency symptoms. Two studies looking into the quarantine effects linked to the SARS virus showed that some health-care workers had developed dependency symptoms which persisted as long as three years after the SARS outbreak.
The study also showed that the development of such symptoms may be amplified if those in quarantine lack access to health-care and basic necessities. But other factors come into play as well. “Fake news and media can fuel anxiety by citing contradictory expert opinion,” Professor Neil Greenberg, one of the authors of the study, told FRANCE 24. “They not only make it more difficult for people to cope with their isolation, but to cope with the pandemic itself,” Greenberg said.
He added that the socio-economic effects of a pandemic also heavily weigh on people’s minds. “Serious financial difficulties can lead to mental health problems,” he said.
So how do you deal?
Aside from listing the negative effects of life under quarantine, the researchers also presented a list of things that can help offset - or even prevent - the psychological consequences of isolation caused by quarantining.
Provide those who are quarantined with “as much information as possible”, the researchers noted, so that they clearly understand the risks they would face if they were not isolated, as well as the reasons why they have been quarantined.
“Reinforcing that quarantine is helping to keep others safe, including those particularly vulnerable (such as those who are very young, old, or with preexisting serious medical conditions), and that health authorities are genuinely grateful to them, can only help to reduce the mental health effect and adherence in those quarantined,” they wrote.
They also recommended setting up a telephone hotline or an online service dedicated to answering questions about the illness in question and as to what people should do should they develop any symptoms. “This service would show those who are quarantined that they have not been forgotten and that their health needs are just as important as those of the wider public.”
Stay occupied
Aside from ensuring that those who are quarantined have access to basic necessities like food and medicine, the study said authorities need prioritise giving people the appropriate tools, like uncensored internet access and smartphones, to stave off boredom. This helps reduce both anxiety and distress. “You have to let people stay in touch with their friends and family, as well as with their colleagues, via email, social media and video conferences and so on,” Greenberg told FRANCE 24.
Greenberg also said it was important for people in quarantine to keep a healthy life style. “This is a time to try to sleep well, eat healthy, exercise as much as possible and avoid unhealthy habits like drinking or smoking too much, or gambling.”
Finally, the study warned authorities against extending quarantines. “The authorities need to respect the duration of a quarantine and not extend it. Doing the opposite would be particularly harmful to mental health,” Greenberg said.
This article was adapted from the original in French.
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france24--2020-03-23--1.3 billion under curfew: India ramps up coronavirus response

The normally packed streets of India ’ s cities were virtually deserted Sunday as the government ordered a 14-hour curfew in its efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic , asking the country ’ s population of some 1.3 billion to stay at home .
Though not mandatory , images of empty cities suggest the curfew , which ran from 7am to 9pm , was mostly well-observed .
`` This ( voluntary curfew ) that has been launched is good as it is for the public because everyone will want to stay away from this disease .
Whatever steps the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Murshad , a Delhi resident , told Reuters .
It comes as the country starts to ramp up its coronavirus response , with capital Delhi going into full lockdown on Monday along with most major cities across India .
All inter-city and long distance trains , which normally carry 23 million people a day , have also been suspended .
With its large population , crowded cities and overburdened public health system , there are fears India could be hard hit by the virus without drastic action .
The policies of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in some quarters , with the one-day curfew and an order to clap for health workers at 5pm Sunday dismissed by some as largely symbolic with little public health value .
India has so far recorded 415 cases of the coronavirus and seven deaths , but health experts have warned these figures may be low because of a lack of substantial testing .

The normally packed streets of India’s cities were virtually deserted Sunday as the government ordered a 14-hour curfew in its efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic, asking the country’s population of some 1.3 billion to stay at home.
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Though not mandatory, images of empty cities suggest the curfew, which ran from 7am to 9pm, was mostly well-observed.
"This (voluntary curfew) that has been launched is good as it is for the public because everyone will want to stay away from this disease. Whatever steps the government will take will be for our good," Murshad, a Delhi resident, told Reuters.
It comes as the country starts to ramp up its coronavirus response, with capital Delhi going into full lockdown on Monday along with most major cities across India. All inter-city and long distance trains, which normally carry 23 million people a day, have also been suspended.
With its large population, crowded cities and overburdened public health system, there are fears India could be hard hit by the virus without drastic action.
The policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi have faced criticism in some quarters, with the one-day curfew and an order to clap for health workers at 5pm Sunday dismissed by some as largely symbolic with little public health value.
India has so far recorded 415 cases of the coronavirus and seven deaths, but health experts have warned these figures may be low because of a lack of substantial testing.
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france24--2020-03-23--WHO warns coronavirus ‘accelerating’ as Italy’s death toll rises by 602 in a day

The pandemic of disease caused by the coronavirus is accelerating , the World Health Organization ( WHO ) said on Monday , with more than 300,000 cases now recorded and infections reported from nearly every country worldwide .
The warning came as Italy on Monday recorded its smallest daily rise of coronavirus deaths in recent days .
While it took 67 days from the first reported case to reach the first 100,000 cases of COVID-19 , it took only 11 days for the second 100,000 cases , and just four days for the third 100,000 cases , WHO Director-General Tedros @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are not prisoners to statistics .
We 're not helpless bystanders .
We can change the trajectory of this pandemic , '' Tedros told an online briefing for more than 300 journalists .
He called for global political commitment to change the trajectory of the pandemic , urging countries to take both defensive and attacking measures .
`` Asking people to stay at home and other social distancing measures are an important way of slowing down the spread of the virus and buying time , but they are defensive measures , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to attack the virus with aggressive and targeted tactics - testing every suspect case , isolating and caring for every confirmed cases and tracing and quarantining every close contact . ''
The WHO warning came as the death toll from the outbreak in Italy grew by 602 to 6,077 , the head of the Civil Protection Agency said on Monday , an 11 percent increase but the smallest rise in numerical terms since Thursday , suggesting a clear downward trend .
On Sunday , 651 people died .
That followed 793 on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total number of confirmed cases in Italy rose to 63,927 on Monday from a previous 59,138 , an increase of 8 percent , the Civil Protection Agency said -- the lowest rise in percentage terms since the contagion came to light on February 21 .
Of those originally infected nationwide , 7,432 had fully recovered on Monday compared to 7,024 the day before .
There were 3,204 people in intensive care against a previous 3,009 .
The hardest-hit northern region of Lombardy remained in a critical situation , with a total of 3,776 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 3,456 deaths and 27,206 cases reported up to Sunday .

The pandemic of disease caused by the coronavirus is accelerating, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday, with more than 300,000 cases now recorded and infections reported from nearly every country worldwide. The warning came as Italy on Monday recorded its smallest daily rise of coronavirus deaths in recent days.
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While it took 67 days from the first reported case to reach the first 100,000 cases of COVID-19, it took only 11 days for the second 100,000 cases, and just four days for the third 100,000 cases, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said.
"But we are not prisoners to statistics. We're not helpless bystanders. We can change the trajectory of this pandemic," Tedros told an online briefing for more than 300 journalists.
He called for global political commitment to change the trajectory of the pandemic, urging countries to take both defensive and attacking measures.
"Asking people to stay at home and other social distancing measures are an important way of slowing down the spread of the virus and buying time, but they are defensive measures," he said.
"To win we need to attack the virus with aggressive and targeted tactics - testing every suspect case, isolating and caring for every confirmed cases and tracing and quarantining every close contact."
Italian daily death toll mounts by 602
The WHO warning came as the death toll from the outbreak in Italy grew by 602 to 6,077, the head of the Civil Protection Agency said on Monday, an 11 percent increase but the smallest rise in numerical terms since Thursday, suggesting a clear downward trend.
On Sunday, 651 people died. That followed 793 on Saturday and 627 on Friday.
The total number of confirmed cases in Italy rose to 63,927 on Monday from a previous 59,138, an increase of 8 percent, the Civil Protection Agency said -- the lowest rise in percentage terms since the contagion came to light on February 21.
Of those originally infected nationwide, 7,432 had fully recovered on Monday compared to 7,024 the day before. There were 3,204 people in intensive care against a previous 3,009.
The hardest-hit northern region of Lombardy remained in a critical situation, with a total of 3,776 deaths and 28,761 cases. That compared with 3,456 deaths and 27,206 cases reported up to Sunday.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-23--Empty parks and river banks as Paris maintains ban over coronavirus fears

A view shows closed Paris ' antique booksellers or bouquinistes along the deserted banks of the river Seine at Saint Michel district in Paris as a lockdown is imposed to slow the rate of the coronavirus disease ( COVID-19 ) in France , March 18 , 2020 .
Paris will maintain a ban on gatherings on promenades along the Seine river , the lawns of Les Invalides and the Champs de Mars around the Eiffel Tower in efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus , police said on Monday .
Paris police had initially ordered the ban for the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last until lockdown measures ordered by French authorities are lifted .
The move to maintain the ban came a day after French lawmakers approved tougher penalties for defying a nationwide lockdown order as the coronavirus death toll rose on Sunday , with a first member of the country 's medical profession amoung the victims .
Reacting to news of the doctor 's death , Health Minister Olivier Véran paid tribute to medical staff confronting the pandemic and urged other workers to keep key services running , even as the lockdown halts many businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is making a heavy sacrifice in our country today , '' Véran said on LCI television .
The doctor who died was an emergency specialist at the university hospital in Compiègne , north of Paris , where several other staff have tested positive for the virus , according to French media reports .
The coronavirus death toll recorded by French hospitals rose by 186 to 860 on Monday , officials said , while the number of confirmed cases increased by 20 percent to 19,856 .

Paris will maintain a ban on gatherings on promenades along the Seine river, the lawns of Les Invalides and the Champs de Mars around the Eiffel Tower in efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus, police said on Monday.
A view shows closed Paris' antique booksellers or bouquinistes along the deserted banks of the river Seine at Saint Michel district in Paris as a lockdown is imposed to slow the rate of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in France, March 18, 2020.
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Paris police had initially ordered the ban for the past weekend only. The ban will now last until lockdown measures ordered by French authorities are lifted.
The move to maintain the ban came a day after French lawmakers approved tougher penalties for defying a nationwide lockdown order as the coronavirus death toll rose on Sunday, with a first member of the country's medical profession amoung the victims.
Reacting to news of the doctor's death, Health Minister Olivier Véran paid tribute to medical staff confronting the pandemic and urged other workers to keep key services running, even as the lockdown halts many businesses deemed non-essential.
"The medical profession is making a heavy sacrifice in our country today," Véran said on LCI television.
The doctor who died was an emergency specialist at the university hospital in Compiègne, north of Paris, where several other staff have tested positive for the virus, according to French media reports.
01:43
The coronavirus death toll recorded by French hospitals rose by 186 to 860 on Monday, officials said, while the number of confirmed cases increased by 20 percent to 19,856.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-23--Spain’s death toll soars past 2,000 mark in Europe’s second-worst coronavirus outbreak

The coronavirus death toll in Spain reached 2,182 , adding 462 fatalities overnight , the health ministry said on Monday , while the total number of confirmed cases rose to 33,089 – up from 28,572 cases on Sunday .
Amid mounting alarm over the rising number of cases of and deaths due to the coronavirus , the Spanish government is seeking to extend until April 11 a state of emergency that it has imposed to try to control Europe 's second-worst outbreak of coronavirus .
`` We are at war , '' Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told a news briefing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to launch a massive , coordinated public investment programme like post World War II 's Marshall Plan .
The nationwide state of emergency , announced on March 14 and intended to last 15 days , bars people from all but essential outings .
The infected in Spain include nearly 4,000 health workers -- more than one in ten of total confirmed cases -- officials said on Monday .
Like in other countries hit hard by the virus , nurses , doctors and other health workers have said they are not getting enough protective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to manufacture , buy and distribute more of them .
Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo was hospitalised on Sunday with respiratory infection and is awaiting coronavirus test results , the government said on Monday .
Results for Calvo , born in 1957 , will be released as soon as they are known , the statement said .
Two other ministers and the wife of Prime Minister Sanchez have also tested positive for the coronavirus over the past weeks .
With an extension to April 11 of a nationwide lockdown set to be approved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , head of Spain 's health emergency committee , said now was not the time for people to relax on respecting rules that ban anyone from leaving their home except to go to work , buy food or go to the pharmacy .
`` On several occasions it has been said that the peak ( of the epidemic ) could be reached this week .
Reaching the peak does not involve having controlled the problem , it means that you have to redouble your efforts not to take a step backwards , '' @ @ @

The coronavirus death toll in Spain reached 2,182, adding 462 fatalities overnight, the health ministry said on Monday, while the total number of confirmed cases rose to 33,089 – up from 28,572 cases on Sunday.
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Amid mounting alarm over the rising number of cases of and deaths due to the coronavirus, the Spanish government is seeking to extend until April 11 a state of emergency that it has imposed to try to control Europe's second-worst outbreak of coronavirus.
"We are at war," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told a news briefing over the weekend, calling on Europe to launch a massive, coordinated public investment programme like post World War II's Marshall Plan.
01:07
The nationwide state of emergency, announced on March 14 and intended to last 15 days, bars people from all but essential outings.
Health workers at risk
The infected in Spain include nearly 4,000 health workers -- more than one in ten of total confirmed cases -- officials said on Monday.
Like in other countries hit hard by the virus, nurses, doctors and other health workers have said they are not getting enough protective kits. Authorities and companies are scrambling to manufacture, buy and distribute more of them.
Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo was hospitalised on Sunday with respiratory infection and is awaiting coronavirus test results, the government said on Monday. Results for Calvo, born in 1957, will be released as soon as they are known, the statement said.
Two other ministers and the wife of Prime Minister Sanchez have also tested positive for the coronavirus over the past weeks.
With an extension to April 11 of a nationwide lockdown set to be approved by parliament on Wednesday, Fernando Simon, head of Spain's health emergency committee, said now was not the time for people to relax on respecting rules that ban anyone from leaving their home except to go to work, buy food or go to the pharmacy.
"On several occasions it has been said that the peak (of the epidemic) could be reached this week. Reaching the peak does not involve having controlled the problem, it means that you have to redouble your efforts not to take a step backwards," Simon said.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-23--WHO weighing in on coronavirus risk to 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Amid calls to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympics , the head of World Health Organization ’ s emergencies programme on Monday said the WHO was advising authorities on the risks and that a decision would be made “ very soon ” .
Speaking to reporters in Geneva Monday , Dr. Mike Ryan , head of WHO 's emergencies programme , said he believed a decision would be made `` very soon '' regarding the future of the Games .
`` We have every confidence the Japanese government and the IOC ( International Olympic Committee ) would not proceed with any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ athletes and spectators , '' Ryan said .
His comments came as World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe called for a postponment , saying it is `` neither feasible nor desirable '' to hold the Games while the world fights the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
Coe made the remarks in a letter to IOC President Thomas Bach ahead of an IOC meeting on Sunday .
At the meeting , the IOC said it would hold discussions that would include an option of putting back the July 24 start date , or even moving the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A decision on the Games ' future would be made within the next four weeks , it said .
Calls to postpone the Games have risen sharply in the past few days , as the deadly coronavirus continues to spread to country after country .
Canada on Sunday announced it would not send teams this summer and Australia told its athletes to instead prepare for the Olympics to take place in 2021 .
On Monday , Japan ’ s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe – who for weeks has insisted that his country will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conceded that postponing the event may become `` inevitable '' .
Lawrence Waterman , London 2012 's head of health and safety , on Monday also joined the chorus of demands for a postponement .
`` These games need to be postponed , and the sooner the IOC and the Japanese government face up to this the better .
It 's simply not safe to put the games on during a global pandemic , '' Waterman said in a statement .
`` People 's safety and health should come before the costs of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first in history to be completed without a single fatality , we set the standard on health and safety at the Olympics .
`` Key to that is testing venues with real crowds to iron out problems .
That 's simply not possible if people are to be two metres apart . ''
Coronavirus infections have been reported by 192 countries outside China , where the virus originated .
More than 337,000 people have been infected across the world and over 14,600 have died .
Japan has over 1,800 confirmed cases with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requiring big sacrifices from us all .
The IOC should be no exception , '' Waterman added .
`` However much they want to see the red carpet rolled out for them in Tokyo , the only responsible thing is to postpone the games .
They should do so now . ''

Amid calls to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the head of World Health Organization’s (WHO) emergencies programme on Monday said the organisation was advising authorities on the risks and that a decision would be made “very soon”.
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Speaking to reporters in Geneva Monday, Dr. Mike Ryan, head of WHO's emergencies programme, said he believed a decision would be made "very soon" regarding the future of the Games.
"We have every confidence the Japanese government and the IOC (International Olympic Committee) would not proceed with any Games if it would be dangerous to athletes and spectators," Ryan said.
His comments came as World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe called for a postponment, saying it is "neither feasible nor desirable" to hold the Games while the world fights the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Coe made the remarks in a letter to IOC President Thomas Bach ahead of an IOC meeting on Sunday. At the meeting, the IOC said it would hold discussions that would include an option of putting back the July 24 start date, or even moving the Games by a year or more. A decision on the Games' future would be made within the next four weeks, it said.
Calls to postpone the Games have risen sharply in the past few days, as the deadly coronavirus continues to spread to country after country. Canada on Sunday announced it would not send teams this summer and Australia told its athletes to instead prepare for the Olympics to take place in 2021.
On Monday, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe – who for weeks has insisted that his country will host the 2020 Olympics in July – conceded that postponing the event may become "inevitable".
US, London 2012 head of health and safety joins chorus
Lawrence Waterman, London 2012's head of health and safety, on Monday also joined the chorus of demands for a postponement.
"These games need to be postponed, and the sooner the IOC and the Japanese government face up to this the better. It's simply not safe to put the games on during a global pandemic," Waterman said in a statement.
"People's safety and health should come before the costs of delaying contracts. The London Games were the first in history to be completed without a single fatality, we set the standard on health and safety at the Olympics.
"Key to that is testing venues with real crowds to iron out problems. That's simply not possible if people are to be two metres apart."
The US has followed suit endorsing a delay in the Games. The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee released a statement saying it had polled athletes and concluded that "the enormous disruptions to the training environment, doping controls and qualification process can't be overcome in a satisfactory manner".
Coronavirus infections have been reported by 192 countries outside China, where the virus originated. More than 337,000 people have been infected across the world and over 14,600 have died.
Japan has over 1,800 confirmed cases with 49 deaths.
"The coronavirus is requiring big sacrifices from us all. The IOC should be no exception," Waterman added.
"However much they want to see the red carpet rolled out for them in Tokyo, the only responsible thing is to postpone the games. They should do so now."
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-23--Metalworkers in Italy’s coronavirus-ravaged Lombardy region to strike, want more businesses closed

Metalworkers unions in Italy 's northern Lombardy region said on Monday they would strike to protect the health of their members because a government decree temporarily shutting many businesses due to coronavirus contained too many loopholes and exceptions .
The three main unions , FIOM , FIM and UILM , said in a statement that the list of companies that can continue working `` has been excessively extended , covering areas of dubious importance '' and allowing firms `` excessive discretion '' in applying for exemptions .
Lombardy is the Italian region worst hit by the epidemic , which killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The statement noted the unions would hold a one-day strike on Wednesday and would announce details in the coming days .
The government decree , signed on Sunday , says all but `` essential '' businesses must close until April 3 , and sets out a long list of sectors deemed essential .
Over the weekend , Communist-run Cuba dispatched a brigade of doctors and nurses to Italy to help in the fight against the novel coronavirus at the request of Lombardy authorities as the region struggles to cope with the crisis .

Metalworkers unions in Italy's northern Lombardy region said on Monday they would strike to protect the health of their members because a government decree temporarily shutting many businesses due to coronavirus contained too many loopholes and exceptions.
File photo of Italian army soldiers deployed to Lombardy to enforce the coronavirus lockdown, March 21, 2020.
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The three main unions, FIOM, FIM and UILM, said in a statement that the list of companies that can continue working "has been excessively extended, covering areas of dubious importance" and allowing firms "excessive discretion" in applying for exemptions.
Lombardy is the Italian region worst hit by the epidemic, which killed 5,476 people nationwide up to Sunday.
The statement noted the unions would hold a one-day strike on Wednesday and would announce details in the coming days. The government decree, signed on Sunday, says all but "essential" businesses must close until April 3, and sets out a long list of sectors deemed essential.
Over the weekend, Communist-run Cuba dispatched a brigade of doctors and nurses to Italy to help in the fight against the novel coronavirus at the request of Lombardy authorities as the region struggles to cope with the crisis.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-24--Afro-jazz great Manu Dibango dies after contracting coronavirus

Afro-jazz music legend Manu Dibango died on March 23 , 2020 , after contracting the new coronavirus .
Veteran Afro-jazz star Manu Dibango died on Tuesday after contracting the coronavirus , his music publisher told AFP .
The 86-year-old Cameroonian , best known for the 1972 hit `` Soul Makossa '' , is one of the first worldwide stars to die as a result of COVID-19 .
`` He died early this morning in a hospital in the Paris region , '' his music publisher Thierry Durepaire said .
Dibango arrived in Marseilles in 1949 as a teenager and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2010 .
He maintained his energy and love for live performance that defined his 60-year career with a 2019 tour with Symphonic Safari , mixing jazz and classical music .
A message on his official Facebook page confirmed that his death had come after he contracted COVID-19 .
`` His funeral service will be held in strict privacy , and a tribute to his memory will be organized when possible , '' the message said .
The saxophonist was one of the pioneers of Afro jazz and also fused funk with traditional Cameroonian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michael Jackson of borrowing one of his hooks for two songs on the legendary `` Thriller '' album .

Veteran Afro-jazz star Manu Dibango died on Tuesday after contracting the coronavirus, his music publisher told AFP.
Afro-jazz music legend Manu Dibango died on March 23, 2020, after contracting the new coronavirus.
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The 86-year-old Cameroonian, best known for the 1972 hit "Soul Makossa", is one of the first worldwide stars to die as a result of COVID-19.
"He died early this morning in a hospital in the Paris region," his music publisher Thierry Durepaire said.
Dibango arrived in Marseilles in 1949 as a teenager and was made Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur in 2010.
He maintained his energy and love for live performance that defined his 60-year career with a 2019 tour with Symphonic Safari, mixing jazz and classical music.
Pioneer
A message on his official Facebook page confirmed that his death had come after he contracted COVID-19.
"His funeral service will be held in strict privacy, and a tribute to his memory will be organized when possible," the message said.
The saxophonist was one of the pioneers of Afro jazz and also fused funk with traditional Cameroonian music.
In 2009, he accused Michael Jackson of borrowing one of his hooks for two songs on the legendary "Thriller" album.
Jackson settled out of court.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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france24--2020-03-24--Artist behind beloved French comics 'Asterix and Obelix' dies aged 92

FILE PHOTO : Albert Uderzo , the artist of all thirty-three Asterix adventures and story writer of the last nine books , sits next to a model of Asterix during a news conference in Brussels September 22 , 2005 .
Albert Uderzo , who drew the `` Asterix and Obelix '' comics that delighted legions of children and adults over the past six decades , has died aged 92 , his family said Tuesday .
`` Albert Uderzo died in his sleep at his home in Neuilly , after a heart attack that was not linked to the coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ past several weeks , '' his son-in-law Bernard de Choisy told AFP .
Uderzo and author René Goscinny are known as the `` fathers '' of the French comic series about a small village of Gauls who stand up to Roman occupiers .
Uderzo was initially the illustrator of the `` Asterix and Obelix '' comic strip written by Goscinny , who died in 1977 .
After Goscinny ’ s death , Uderzo wrote and illustrated the series until he retired in 2009 .
Asterix , the mustachioed hero , who has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obelix since 1959 , has become a mainstay in the publishing industry , with more than 370 million albums sold worldwide

Albert Uderzo, who drew the "Asterix and Obelix" comics that delighted legions of children and adults over the past six decades, has died aged 92, his family said Tuesday.
FILE PHOTO: Albert Uderzo, the artist of all thirty-three Asterix adventures and story writer of the last nine books, sits next to a model of Asterix during a news conference in Brussels September 22, 2005.
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"Albert Uderzo died in his sleep at his home in Neuilly, after a heart attack that was not linked to the coronavirus. He had been extremely tired for the past several weeks," his son-in-law Bernard de Choisy told AFP.
Uderzo and author René Goscinny are known as the "fathers" of the French comic series about a small village of Gauls who stand up to Roman occupiers.
Asterix’s 38th adventure has been printed in 5 million copies Handout, Didier CONRAD / Asterix ® - Obelix ® / LES EDITIONS ALBERT RENE / AFP
Uderzo was initially the illustrator of the "Asterix and Obelix" comic strip written by Goscinny, who died in 1977.
After Goscinny’s death, Uderzo left Dargaud, his original publisher, to set up his own company, Les éditions Albert-René, and took up the torch for eight solo Asterixes (not counting the anniversary and short story albums). He wrote and illustrated the series until he retired in 2009.
Uderzo, who was the son of Italian immigrants, rose to fame thanks to the mustachioed hero, Asterix, who has entertained readers with his magic-potion exploits alongside Obelix since 1959. Uderzo's success brought fortune thanks to the 370 million albums sold worldwide (translated into 111 languages or dialects), about fifteen films (animation and cinema), a leisure park, and hundreds of merchandising products.
But despite his role in creating a global phenomenon Uderzo managed to maintain his anonymity. Those who knew him described the artist as reserved and someone who preferred to talk about his work rather than himself.
"My hand was not made for this job," he said reflecting on his work."They're butcher's hands, I've got big bones, like my father. I inked all my drawings with a brush, which requires a lot of skill."
Aside from drawing, he was also a great Ferrari enthusiast who reportedly collected about twenty cars.
Like Hergé for Tintin, Uderzo didn't want any new Asterixes after his death. He finally changed his mind. In 2011, suffering from rheumatoid arthritis in his right hand, he passed the baton (in agreement with Anne Goscinny, her father's sole beneficiary) to younger authors, while closely following their work.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, REUTERS)
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france24--2020-03-23--France’s coronavirus death toll rises by 186 in a day, lockdown measures tightened, says PM Philippe

French rescue team wearing protective suits carry a patient on a stretcher from Mulhouse hospital before being loaded into a helicopter on March 23 , 2020 .
French health authorities reported 186 new deaths from coronavirus on Monday , taking the total to 860 in a sharp 28 percent toll rise as Prime Minister Édouard Philippe announced further lockdown measures on outdoor exercise and open-air markets .
As France entered the second week of a nationwide lockdown , the toal number of confirmed coronavirus cases also increased Monday to 19,856 , or a rise of about 20 percent in 24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Health Minister Olivier Véran said 2,082 people were in a serious condition needing life support , up 19 percent compared to Sunday , in another increase compared to the last three official tallies .
The latest victims included a general practitioner and a gynaecologist , bringing the number of health workers who have died from the contagion to five , Véran confirmed .
The rise in coronavirus tolls came as French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe said the country ’ s tight lockdown , originally believed to last around 15 days , could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that his government was tightening restrictions even further .
From Tuesday , the public will only be able to exercise alone or with their children once a day , for no more than an hour , and within a kilometre of their home , said Philippe .
Open-air markets would also be closed , he added .
`` A lot of citizens want normalcy to return , but it 's not happening soon , '' said Philippe .
`` We feel the lockdown measures we have taken , and which we will toughen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Philippe refused to rule out localised curfews but said the decision for those lay with local authorities .
Several are already in place , including in the southern city of Nice on the Mediterranean coast .
`` We do not want to put a national curfew in place .
But we told prefects to get in touch with mayors who deem ( a curfew ) necessary .
And we will not hesitate , where necessary , to take tougher measures , meaning curfew measures , '' the prime minister said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment Philippe also echoed Health Minister Véran 's statement that the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine would not be put on the market for mass use against coronavirus until more testing had been done .
Earlier Monday , Véran noted that in the absence of any conclusive data , he will be issuing an order to “ regulate the use of hydroxychloroquine outside the traditional marketing authorisations , which will therefore be accessible to hospital medical teams who wish to use it '' .
There are as yet no vaccines or treatments approved against coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States and Europe to see whether hydroxychloroquine can prevent , or reduce the severity of , the illness .
French hospitals began testing the anti-malarial and three other drugs on Sunday , research institute Inserm said , as part of a European programme involving 3,200 COVID-19 patients .