COVID-19 deaths surpass 10,000 in France
Less than 8 weeks following the first COVID-19 death, an 80-year-old tourist from China, was reported on Feb. 14, France now became the fourth country globally after Italy, Spain and america to report a lot more than 10,000 deaths.
However, pressure was easing in intensive care units thanks to slowing rise in serious cases and an increasing number of cured patients.
Some 30,000 are actually obtaining treatment in hospitals, including 7,131 who need to be placed on ventilator, a one-day increase of 59 weighed against 94 on Monday.
"It is an important indicator that allows us to assess the strain in hospitals and the need to mobilize all of the human and logistical resources," Salomon said.
Also, the number of folks who have recovered "is increasing each day," the state noted. Altogether, 19,337 patients in France have recently come out of hospital cured.
Despite some good signs, Salomon said that the time for lifting the confinement hasn't come yet.
"Relaxing efforts will be extremely dangerous for patients and caregivers," he warned, urging people "to absolutely be mobilized on containment, barrier gestures and social distancing."
France chosen March 17 to put its 67 million residents into lockdown to curb the spread of the virus. The measures have already been extended until April 15, and so are apt to be extended again.
"Enough time of lockdown can last. This is essential. What counts is to ensure that confinement works, that the virus circulates slowly enough in order that the number of severe cases in intensive care units does not exceed the overall capacity of our hospital system," French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said early Tuesday.
Throughout a question session at the National Assembly, Philippe told lawmakers that the federal government was focusing on lifting the confinement, but "it will not be for tomorrow."
"This is why why we are preparing. To get ready does not mean that it is ready. That designed to focus on technical, scientific and logistical levels to prepare yourself when the time comes," he said.
