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.

Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP

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.

AFP - THOMAS SAMSON

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.

REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

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.

REUTERS - GONZALO FUENTES

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.

REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

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.

REUTERS - BENOIT TESSIER

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.

AP - Mahesh Kumar A

Oct 19, 2020

Govt To Outline COVID-19 Success On Tuesday

Government is expected to outline the successes chalked in the management of the COVID-19 Pandemic at the next Nation Building Updates (NBU) scheduled in Accra on Tuesday 20th October 2020.

The Nation Building Updates is a weekly event designed by the Ministry of Information to provide stakeholders in Ghana’s democracy with detailed updates on key interventions executed by Government.

Oct 19, 2020

Italy further tightens restrictions to combat rising Covid-19 infections

As Italy battles a resurgence of Covid-19 after posting a new record of more than 11,700 daily infections, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has announced a new package of restrictions to try to contain the "critical" situation.

The premier told a late evening press conference on Sunday evening that “all measures must be adopted to avoid a new general lockdown which the country cannot afford and which would risk compromising its economic and social fabric”.

AFP

Oct 19, 2020

Police fine revellers at all-night Brittany rave for breaking Covid rules

Police in France's north-western Brittany region have fined dozens of people after around 800 attended a rave on Saturday night near Rennes despite a ban on gatherings of more than six people.

Police told the newspaper Ouest-France that social distancing rules in place to stem skyrocketing Covid-19 cases were in no way respected at the party,

Oct 19, 2020

Let's Avoid Second Wave Of COVID-19 By Following All Protocols — Akufo-Addo

President Akufo-Addo has urged Ghanaians to comply strictly with the protocols on hygiene and social distancing to stem a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He maintained that the country cannot afford a reversal of the gains made so far in the fight against the disease, and thus, all must ensure that no effort was spared to keep COVID-19 at bay, especially in an electioneering period.

Oct 19, 2020

Britain steps up anti-Covid restrictions, leaves 'circuit-breaker' lockdown on option

As the coronavirus crisis continues in Britain, and the number of people infected with Covid-19 rises by the day, authorities are looking into what other measures should be taken at local levels to avoid another national lockdown.

Tighter lockdowns are being considered for London and northern parts of England, including Manchester and parts of Lancashire. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, had called for greater lockdown enforcement as 11 boroughs of the capital are witnessing more than 100 news cases every week per 100,000 people.

AFP

Oct 19, 2020

COVID-19: Ghanaians Have Let Their Guards Down – GMA

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) says Ghanaians have let their guards down in the fight against COVID-19.

According to the association, the fear factor needed to curb the spread of the deadly virus appears to have diminished with the political season setting in.

Oct 19, 2020

COVID-19: Three-day Period For Negative PCR Test Result Still Stands – Akufo-Addo

President Akufo-Addo has described as untenable calls for the extension of the three-day negative PCR test requirement for persons seeking to travel to Ghana through the country’s air borders.

According to him, the extension will not be in the best interest of the country.

Oct 19, 2020

No More Patients At Covid-19 Isolation Centres – Akufo-Addo

President Akufo-Addo has announced that Ghana no longer has patients at its Coronavirus isolation centres.

He made the revelation on Sunday night, October 18, 2020, as he delivered his 18th update on measures being taken against the Coronavirus in Ghana.

Oct 19, 2020

Covid-19 Remains A Mystery, Be Mindful And Wear Your Nose Masks – Akufo-Addo

President Akufo-Addo has once again urged everyone in Ghana to remain very mindful about the novel Coronavirus.

According to the President, Ghana's active cases have dropped significantly, there was still the need for everyone to adhere to the Coronavirus safety protocols as outlined by the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health.

Oct 19, 2020

[Full Text] Akufo-Addo’s 18th COVID-19 Update To Ghanaians

ADDRESS TO THE NATION BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO-ADDO, ON UPDATES TO GHANA'S ENHANCED RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, ON SUNDAY, 18TH OCTOBER 2020

Fellow Ghanaians, good evening.