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“Very high”. Such is now the level of the international threat linked to the coronavirus according to the world health organization (WHO). Friday, the institution raised this indicator to its maximum degree, noting the presence of a first case in Saharan Africa and inviting all the countries still spared to prepare for the arrival of Covid-19. Follow the situation on Saturday live, all day.
Information to remember:
- The number of cases recorded in France rose to 57, with 19 additional patients declared on Friday
- Exceptional meetings must be held Saturday morning around Emmanuel Macron
- WHO invites countries still spared to prepare for the arrival of the virus
Europe prepares for new cases
The WHO alert comes in while the official number of contaminations rose to 57 on Friday evening in France, including the most important focus in the Oise – 18 people. The mayor of Compiègne called for “national solidarity” on Friday, asking for reinforcements at the city hospital, where a hundred agents are confined after the passage of an infected patient. Some other hospitals, such as that of Valenciennes, recommend postponing visits “as a precaution”.
Emmanuel Macron chairs a Defense Council on Saturday followed by an exceptional Council of Ministers to take stock of the epidemic, which has taken “a new step” in France. This initiative “will allow us to make all the necessary decisions” to prevent the spread of the virus, said Minister of Health Olivier Véran.
In Italy, where the epidemic seems to be stemming, experts are calling on us not to declare victory too soon. “We should not, under the pressure of certain political and economic sectors, give in to the temptation of a rapid return to normal”, recommended Friday the professor in virology Massimo Galli, advising to reopen “gradually and only certain” closed places Start of the week.
Many European states are also preparing for an increase in contamination on their soil and a special meeting of EU health ministers is announced for March 6.
A dark week for scholarships
The weekend will mark a respite for the global economy, which was hit hard this week. Friday evening, the European stock markets all plunged at closing: -3.38% in Paris, 3.39% in London and 3.86% in Frankfurt. In one week, the markets wiped out six months of gains, with a brutality that may recall the financial cataclysm of 2008.
Economists’ growth forecasts for the first quarter or for the whole of 2020 have all been revised downwards, but most expect a time-limited impact and a catch-up from the second quarter. The brake should obviously be important for China. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) revised the Asian giant’s annual growth forecast from 6% to 5.6%, and the rating agency Moody’s lowered it by 0.6 points to just 5.2%.
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