Coronavirus updates As it happens (2020-10-15)
Oct 22, 2020
With record 42,000 new cases, France extends Covid curfew to cover 46 million people
France on Thursday registered a record 41,622 cases. The government has extended the anti-Covid curfew in place in nine cities to large parts of the country, taking to 46 million the number of people forced to stay indoors at night.
Paris and eight other French cities were placed under curfew from 9:00 pm to 6:00 am last weekend as daily new infections hit record levels.
Oct 22, 2020
France rolls out new Covid tracking app 'TousAntiCovid'
A new version of France's Covid-19 tracking app is to be launched on Thursday. "TousAntiCovid", or All against Covid, replaces StopCovid, the first version, which was scrapped after it failed to take off.
After the original StopCovid app was downloaded just 2.6 million times since its launch in June, President Emmanuel Macron announced a new version during a live TV interview on 14 October.
Oct 22, 2020
UN @75: Secretary-General Guterres Appeals For Global Ceasefire So World Can Focus On Fight Against COVID-19
In his Message on UN Day, which is celebrated on 24 October, the Secretary-General said: “The 75th anniversary of the United Nations falls in the middle of a global pandemic. Our founding mission is more critical than ever. To promote human dignity, to protect human rights, and to respect international law. And save humanity from war.”
Guterres further said “When the pandemic hit, I called for a global ceasefire. In our world today, we have one common enemy: COVID-19. Now is the time for a stepped-up push for peace to achieve a global ceasefire. The clock is ticking.”
Oct 21, 2020
France to roll out rapid antigen Covid tests at airports from Monday
France is to introduce rapid antigen Covid-19 tests at airports from next Monday, the country's transport minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari has announced.
“We are going to launch the tests in airports, especially on departure to destinations such as the United States or Italy, and for arrivals from countries in the high risk zones, so that we no longer have people returning from these countries in French territory without being tested,” he told the French news channel CNews.
Oct 21, 2020
Ex-PM Philippe grilled by French parliament over handling of Covid crisis
Former French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has appeared before a parliamentary commission of inquiry as part of a probe into the government's handling of the coronavirus crisis.
Philippe is one of four former and current ministers who are being investigated as part of the inquiry.
Oct 20, 2020
Ireland becomes first in EU to reimpose lockdown as Covid curbs tighten
Ireland has announced a six-week return to lockdown in a bid to halt the resurgence of the coronavirus. Prime Minister Micheal Martin issued a six-week nationwide "stay at home" order but said schools will stay open.
The move comes as nations across Europe beef up measures to halt the virus, ranging from shutting cafes, bars and businesses deemed non-essential to limits on the number of people in public spaces.
Oct 20, 2020
Rush for flu vaccine depletes French pharmacy stocks amid Covid concerns
Nearly a third of France's pharmacies have run out of stocks of the flu vaccine a week into an annual campaign. The Covid-19 epidemic has driven up demand for the jab, leaving some professionals concerned about a generalised shortage.
More than 5 million doses of the flu vaccine have been delivered since France's annual campaign began last Tuesday, representing nearly half of the entire previous season.
Oct 20, 2020
Gov't Not Massaging Covid-19 Figures – Okoe Boye
A Deputy Minister for Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye has rejected claims that government may be hiding the actual coronavirus figures to create a false sense of security in Ghana.
Providing updates on the country's case count, as of Friday, October 16, 2020, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo indicated that the number of active cases has declined further to 398.
Oct 20, 2020
France surpasses 2,000 Covid patients in ICU for first time since May
The number of Covid-19 patients occupying intensive care beds in France has risen above 2,000, the highest level since the last days of the first epidemic wave of late winter and early spring.
The total number of Covid patients in ICU climbed by 151 in 24 hours to reach a total of 2,099, according to daily reports on Monday.
Oct 20, 2020
India's Covid-19 crisis likely under control by early 2021, say experts
India has passed the peak number of Covid-19 infections and, if current trends continue, should see a dramatic decrease in cases by February 2021, according to a panel of experts.
The coronavirus epidemic in India may already have peaked and, if the use of masks and physical distancing measures continue to be effective at the current level, the epidemic will most likely have run its course by February next year, a government-appointed committee of scientists has said.