France reports 'exponential' rise in new COVID-19 cases as schools set to open
Amid worries that France could become a new virus hotspot, Macron defended his government's push to restart the economy and its handling of the post-lockdown period
- Aug 29, 2020,
- Updated Aug 29, 2020 11:12 AM IST
With France's national health agency decrying an "exponential" rise in new virus infections, French President Emmanuel Macron has said he couldn't rule out a new nationwide lockdown. France registered more than 7,000 new virus infections in a single day Friday, up from several hundred a day in May and June, in part thanks to ramped-up testing. But the rate of positive cases is also growing, with more than 30 positive tests per 100,000 people in 20% of the country's regions. That figure was in the single digits a month ago.
"The dynamic of the epidemic's progression is exponential," the national health agency said on Friday. While the number of hospitalized patients remains well below levels during the height of France's outbreak in the spring, it is rising, notably in areas where the virus is circulating most intensely.
"Nothing in theory can be excluded," Macron told reporters on Friday when asked about a new nationwide lockdown. "I would not have learned much from what we have lived through for eight months if I said I totally exclude it." Macron said the government favours regional measures to stop outbreaks and will do everything it can to prevent a new nationwide lockdown by "learning to live with the virus." France's strict two-month lockdown in the spring devastated its economy but was credited with sharply slowing the virus.
France has seen more than 30,600 confirmed deaths from COVID-19, the third-highest toll in Europe after Britain and Italy. In addition, experts say all confirmed numbers understate the true impact of the pandemic due to limited testing and other factors. Amid worries that France could become a new virus hotspot, Macron defended his government's push to restart the economy and its handling of the post-lockdown period. Over the summer, French people travelled around the country for family gatherings and dance parties blamed for fuelling the rise in cases.
In contrast, fellow EU member Hungary announced Friday it will close its borders to foreigners beginning on Tuesday. Speaking through a mask, he admitted that masks are "bothersome, annoying" but called it "a reasonable constraint that we should accept for a certain time" to revive the economy.
He also promised 15 billion euros ($17.8 billion) in state investment in projects to bring jobs and manufacturing back to France, and inaugurated a new production site at the Seqens pharmaceutical plant north of Paris. France's dependence on suppliers in China fuelled its shortages of masks, medicines and other medical supplies.
With France's national health agency decrying an "exponential" rise in new virus infections, French President Emmanuel Macron has said he couldn't rule out a new nationwide lockdown. France registered more than 7,000 new virus infections in a single day Friday, up from several hundred a day in May and June, in part thanks to ramped-up testing. But the rate of positive cases is also growing, with more than 30 positive tests per 100,000 people in 20% of the country's regions. That figure was in the single digits a month ago.
"The dynamic of the epidemic's progression is exponential," the national health agency said on Friday. While the number of hospitalized patients remains well below levels during the height of France's outbreak in the spring, it is rising, notably in areas where the virus is circulating most intensely.
"Nothing in theory can be excluded," Macron told reporters on Friday when asked about a new nationwide lockdown. "I would not have learned much from what we have lived through for eight months if I said I totally exclude it." Macron said the government favours regional measures to stop outbreaks and will do everything it can to prevent a new nationwide lockdown by "learning to live with the virus." France's strict two-month lockdown in the spring devastated its economy but was credited with sharply slowing the virus.
France has seen more than 30,600 confirmed deaths from COVID-19, the third-highest toll in Europe after Britain and Italy. In addition, experts say all confirmed numbers understate the true impact of the pandemic due to limited testing and other factors. Amid worries that France could become a new virus hotspot, Macron defended his government's push to restart the economy and its handling of the post-lockdown period. Over the summer, French people travelled around the country for family gatherings and dance parties blamed for fuelling the rise in cases.
In contrast, fellow EU member Hungary announced Friday it will close its borders to foreigners beginning on Tuesday. Speaking through a mask, he admitted that masks are "bothersome, annoying" but called it "a reasonable constraint that we should accept for a certain time" to revive the economy.
He also promised 15 billion euros ($17.8 billion) in state investment in projects to bring jobs and manufacturing back to France, and inaugurated a new production site at the Seqens pharmaceutical plant north of Paris. France's dependence on suppliers in China fuelled its shortages of masks, medicines and other medical supplies.