France has Announced

France has announced its gone in to Recession

Not surprised considering they had months of strikes and protests before this virus kicked off.

France reports 987 more deaths

France has reported 987 more deaths of people who had coronavirus.

The total death toll in France has now risen to 13,197.

However, the number of patients in intensive care fell for the second day in a row, top health official Jérôme Salomon told reporters, describing the trend as a “ray of sunshine”.

Deaths increased by 554 to 8,598 in hospitals and by 433 to 4,599 in homes for the elderly and dependant, he said.

France has the third highest coronavirus death toll in the world, surpassed only by Spain and Italy.

A tally by Johns Hopkins University says there are more than 118,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in France, the fifth highest in the world.

France reports 987 more deaths

France has reported 987 more deaths of people who had coronavirus.

The total death toll in France has now risen to 13,197.

However, the number of patients in intensive care fell for the second day in a row, top health official Jérôme Salomon told reporters, describing the trend as a “ray of sunshine”.

Deaths increased by 554 to 8,598 in hospitals and by 433 to 4,599 in homes for the elderly and dependant, he said.

France has the third highest coronavirus death toll in the world, surpassed only by Spain and Italy.

A tally by Johns Hopkins University says there are more than 118,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in France, the fifth highest in the world.

And today we were only 7 deaths behind them!! But one thing I read yesterday, was very interesting, a report from Italy, states that only 12% of deaths there,are actually given the cause of death as covid 19 on the death certificate,and says whilst others had died,it was because they had 2/3 serious condition,like kidney failure, heart attacks etc,whilst they died,it was for other causes,and not of corona virus,although they had tested positive for the virus before dying,it was not cause of death on 88% of death certificates o

France’s hospital deaths and ICU patients drop

France has reported a slight drop in the number of hospital deaths and patients in intensive care, as its health ministry said the country’s coronavirus epidemic had reached a “plateau”.

The country recorded 315 additional hospital deaths in the last 24 hours, a drop from the 353 announced on Saturday.

That brings the total number of coronavirus-related deaths in hospitals and care homes to 14,393 in France, the third highest in the world.

There was another glimmer of hope, however.

The net number of patients with Covid-19 in intensive care dropped for the fourth consecutive day, bringing the total down to 6,845.

France’s health ministry said the epidemic appeared to be plateauing but stressed caution, saying: "We must remain vigilant."

At 20:00 local time (19:00 BST) on Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron will deliver his third TV address to the nation on the coronavirus pandemic.

It comes at a time when France’s coronavirus epidemic is showing tentative signs of slowing down. On Sunday, hospital deaths dropped slightly and, for the fourth day in a row, the number of patients in intensive care fell.

French health officials have attributed these reductions to the strict national lockdown imposed by President Macron on 17 March. As the lockdown nears its expiration date, 15 April, Macron’s speech will outline the next steps of his government’s plan.

In briefings to French media outlets, presidential sources have said Macron will extend the lockdown beyond 15 April. An Elysées Palace source told AFP news agency that Macron might extend it until at least the middle of May.

The date should be "long enough away so everyone understands the effort that still needs to be made but sufficiently close to sketch out how France will look afterwards", the source added.

Like other world leaders, Macron will be mindful of the advice issued by health experts, who have warned of a deadly Covid-19 resurgence should restrictions be lifted too soon.

In France, 11 May is now at the centre of everything

Hugh Schofield

BBC News, Paris

President Macron’s mission was to provide the French with some rays of hope in the gloom, but without making unrealistic promises.

He did it by fixing a date - 11 May - around which people can start thinking about planning their lives.

Monday, 11 May is the day which from now on will be at the centre of everything.

For many, its prospect will be what gets them through four more weeks of isolation - with all the psychological pressure that that entails. Others will find they can start imagining a world where ordinary things start happening again - like holidays, weddings, work-trips and walks in the park.

But the president was quite clear that the world post-11 May will not be like the world pre-17 March.

The old and vulnerable will continue to have to self-isolate. Cafes and bars will remain closed.

It was an important address because it contained the first hint of a France emerging from its cocoon.

But no-one is under any illusions about what awaits.