France leads Europe’s virus surge just as schools reopen

THe surge in new coronavirus cases in France is far outstripping increases in other european countries and is coming just as millions of children return to school, leaving the government weighing ways to respond.

New cases jumped by almost 9,000 on Friday, the biggest daily increase since the start of the pandemic. That was almost twice the advance in Spain and about four times italy’s, with daily cases in both countries at or near the highest gains in months. infections are also surging in germany and the UK.

Part of the French spike is linked to testing increasing to more than 1 million a week, and policymakers can take some comfort from the fact that hospitalizations and fatalities are contained. The number of patients in intensive care was at 473 Friday, compared with about 7,000 at the peak. Still, the surge is coming just as 12 million students return to school, creating pressure for action on a government reluctant to consider a new, national lockdown.

“i can’t imagine a total reconfinement and the president doesn’t want to consider a general re-confinement,” Health Minister olivier Veran said on BFM TV Saturday. “The lockdown was a lid on a cauldron that was spilling over. Today, we have other means to fight against the spread of the virus, and above all we’re able to track it.”

New measures did go into effect this week. Masks are now mandatory for companies with groups working in enclosed spaces and cities from Paris to Marseilles are making masks compulsory, even outside. Children older than 11 also have to cover their faces.

Some things remain sacrosanct. The Tour de France started in Nice last week after a two-month delay. Still, with strict health protocols in place, the cyclists’ grand Depart was watched by just 100 people.

Across europe, cases have been jumping due to a combination of stepped up testing and an easing of lockdown measures that permitted millions to travel this summer. reviving broad lockdowns may not be an option for leaders struggling to revive crippled economies who are facing growing public fatigue, and even open opposition to restrictions that have triggered protests in places like germany, the UK and italy.

The economy may continue to take priority over lockdowns as long as hospitalizations and fatalities remain constrained. Many of the new infections have been among younger, healthier people, who tend to recover more quickly and with fewer complications. President emmanuel Macron’s government announced a 100 billioneuro ($118 billion) stimulus plan on September 3, as France tries to revive an economy that’s forecast to contract 11 percent this year.

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The US added 50,859 cases, a 0.8 percent increase compared with the average 0.7 percent daily rise of the previous seven days, data from Johns Hopkins University and Bloomberg show. Total cases were 6,200,375.

Another 965 deaths were reported nationally, after three straight days of increases over 1,000. Total fatalities reached 187,750.

New cases in Texas climbed 0.7 percent to 635,315, the Department of State Health Services said on its website. That matches the nationwide average daily increase over the past week based on data compiled by Johns Hopkins University and Bloomberg.

The seven-day positive-test rate declined slightly to 9.6 percent on Friday, which compares with a level of 16.2 percent two weeks ago, according to Texas state data released on Saturday. Deaths increased by 177 to 13,408.

Maine wedding cited in outbreak

cases and 134 virus-related deaths as of Saturday, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Wisconsin record called ‘reporting’ problem

WISCONSIN’S state health department blamed “a problem with reporting that has been fixed” for a record 1,498 new coronavirus cases reported on Friday. while the seven-day average daily increase in cases of 767 was high compared with early this summer, it’s less than a peak in late July, the agency said on Twitter.

As cases on US campuses explode, the University of wisconsin-madison said Friday it had ordered members of nine fraternities and sororities to quarantine in response to an unspecified number of cases among members.

“our goal is to stop any further spread of the virus among our students and the broader community,” Jake Baggott, executive director of university health services, said in a statement.

other developments:

Mexico orders more death certificates

Victoria state, the center of Australia’s worst coronavirus outbreak, is set to begin a gradual easing of strict lockdown measures from Sept. 14 following a decline in new cases in recent weeks.

The first changes will be a lengthening of permitted outdoor exercise time to two hours, and gradual increases in the number of people that can gather together outdoors, The Australian paper reported, citing a leaked document from the state government.

Premier Daniel Andrews is set to outline the state’s path out of lockdown on Sunday, but has said any changes would be made in a “steady and safe way.”

Brazil’s cases, deaths slow

Brazil reported 30,168 cases, fewer than 51,194 reported the previous day, for a total of 4,123,000. Another 682 fatalities were reported, down from the 907 reported the day before. Total deaths are 126,203.

The nation has been hit hardest by the virus after the US, though india’s cases are expected to surpass Brazil’s in the next few days.

Nigeria asks for fair vaccine distribution

europe should work with African countries to ensure equitable access to an affordable Covid-19 vaccine once it’s available, Nigerian Vice President Yemi osinbajo said.

Speaking at a joint eu-africa forum, osinbajo urged the european Union to support the global non-profit group gavi, the vaccine alliance, to help developing countries obtain vaccines at the same time as the rest of the world.

“This is a matter that should not be taken for granted,” osinbajo said in a statement on Saturday.

PORTUGAL reported on Saturday the largest daily increase in the number of cases since May. There were 486 new cases, above 400 for a third day for a total to 59,943, the government said. The number of patients in intensive care units rose by 1 to 41.

Italy cases high before schools open

ITALY reported 1,695 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, a number close to the four-month high recorded on Friday. infections have been inching up all week amid vastly expanded testing, as italians return from holiday where social distancing was lax and less than 10 days before the planned reopening of schools.

italian Prime Minister giuseppe Conte said earlier Saturday that coronavirus outbreaks this autumn may prompt local restrictions but not a nationwide lockdown.

UN warns famines are imminent: NYT

FAMINES are looming in Yemen, South Sudan, northeast Nigeria and the Democratic republic of Congo, the first of the pandemic era, the New York Times reported, citing a letter from the top humanitarian official of the United Nations.

The risk of famines in these areas had been intensified by “natural disasters, economic shocks and public-health crises, all compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic,” the official, Mark Lowcock, wrote in a letter to members of the UN Security Council. Millions of lives are endangered in the areas, the newspaper said.

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