[ad_1]
French schools will require all students aged six and over to wear face masks in class, Prime Minister Jean Castex said ahead of a new coronavirus lockdown starting at midnight.
Until now, masks were mandatory only for students 11 and older, but Castex told MPs that new efforts were needed “to protect all of our children, teachers and parents.”
As France prepares to begin a new month-long national lockdown, Germany has also imposed new drastic restrictions, and European leaders will meet today to discuss the rise in coronavirus infections on the continent.
The pandemic is increasing around the world, with hundreds of thousands of new infections daily exceeding 44 million known cases worldwide, with nearly 1.2 million deaths.
India, the second most affected nation in the world, has exceeded eight million cases.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s dramatic shutdown decision came after worrying spikes in infection in Europe have forced governments to contemplate reinstating punishment orders to stay at home.
“All of us in Europe are shocked by the spread of the virus,” Macron said in another televised address to the nation during which he stressed that the second blockade would be less severe than the first.
Bars and restaurants will be closed at least until early December, travel between regions will be limited and citizens will need an authorization form to leave their homes, he said.
But kindergartens, schools, factories and construction sites will remain open.
However, the lockdown may need to be extended beyond its initial December 1 deadline, said the government’s scientific adviser, Professor Jean-François Delfraissy.
President Macron said France could begin easing measures once Covid infections recede to around 5,000 per day from around 40,000 per day today.
But Professor Delfraissy, who chairs the scientific council that advises the French government on the pandemic, said: “By December 1, we will not be at 5,000 contaminations per day. I can tell you right away. We will need more time.” . “
In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel ordered a new round of closures from Monday, November 2 until the end of the month, although Germans will not be confined to their homes.
Latest coronavirus stories
Bars, cafes and restaurants must close, as well as theaters, operas and cinemas. Hotel stays must be restricted while professional sports, including Bundesliga football, will be rejected behind closed doors.
The chancellor told the lower house of parliament this morning that German intensive care units are at risk of being overwhelmed within a few weeks.
“We are in a dramatic situation,” he said.
Ireland moved to Tier 5 restrictions last week, and decisions by France and Germany will likely put pressure on other nations to follow suit, including the UK.
One of the biggest concerns for governments is public fatigue and anger at the economic, social and psychological costs of the closures.
The European Central Bank is facing mounting pressure to signal greater monetary stimulus and the words of ECB Director Christine Lagarde will be closely scrutinized today for any signs of possible action as the central bank considers boosting its pandemic response of more than one trillion euros.
It comes after he told the French daily Le Monde that any economic recovery seen over the summer “now risks losing momentum,” as new closures implemented to halt the second wave of the pandemic restrict business activity.
Current policymaking dates back to June, when the Frankfurt-based institution added to its pandemic stimulus package, known as PEPP.
Now it is pumping 1.35 trillion euros in cheap money to support fragile economies.
The United States still has the highest death toll and infection count in the world and, like Europe, is battling a major surge with tens of thousands of new cases daily as fears mount that hospitals could be overwhelmed.
There was further alarm when the FBI and two other US agencies warned of “a growing and imminent threat of cybercrime” to US hospitals, including ransomware attacks and the disruption of services.
The agencies urged hospitals to take precautions, saying such attacks “will be particularly challenging” due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The coronavirus has overshadowed Halloween celebrations on October 31, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that they can be high-risk and many events have been canceled.
But the town of Croton-on-Hudson, north of New York City, still celebrates its annual “Jack O’Lantern Blaze,” where more than 7,000 hand-carved pumpkins come to life for a sound and light show.
“I’m so glad this happened this year to save something for them,” said Sarah Nocerino, referring to her elementary school-age daughters.
“They’ve had so much that they couldn’t do this year, it was nice to have a tradition that we can still participate in for Halloween.”
[ad_2]