in

France on lockdown for another month in sign of what's to come for UK – Mirror Online, Mirror.co.uk

France on lockdown for another month in sign of what's to come for UK – Mirror Online, Mirror.co.uk

We will use your email address to send you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for more information on how we use your data and your data protection rights.

Invalid Email

French President Emmanuel Macron today announced the lockdown to curb the coronavirus outbreak will be extended for another month until May 24 – saying that progress had been made but the battle was not yet won.

He said in a televised address to the nation: “Over the next four weeks, the rules must be respected.”

He also apologized for his government ‘not being prepared enough’ for the crisis.

“Were we sufficiently prepared? Obviously not – no one is prepared for a crisis of this magnitude,” he said.

Macron added that by May , France would be able to test every citizen presenting Covid – symptoms and schools would be gradually reopened.

George Eaton, senior online editor for the New Statesman, tweeted: “It will be surprising if the UK does mirror this.”

(Emmanuel Macron urged French citizens) to keep following the rules

It comes as Foreign Secretary (Dominic Raab) Today said that it is “far too early” to talk about relaxing Covid – 100 lockdown measures in the UK despite “positive signs” from official data.

Speaking at Monday’s Downing Street press conference, Mr Raab said figures indicated the UK was “starting to win this struggle” against the virus but warned it was “still not past the peak”.

He praised the British public for staying at home during the Easter weekend, adding: “Our plan is working.

” Please stick with it and we’ll get through this crisis together. “

A policeman patrols with a motorcycle at the Trocadero Square in Paris

Meanwhile, Macron admitted his country had not been sufficiently prepared early on to face the challenges posed by the outbreak of the coronavirus, but said the unprecedented restrictions put in place had started showing results.

He said: “The epidemic is starting to slow down. The results are there.

” Thanks to your efforts, everyday we have made progress.

“But our country was not sufficiently ready for this crisis.”

France’s residents have been under lockdown for four weeks – they must stay at home except to buy food, go to work, seek medical care or get some exercise on their own.

Parisians clap on their balconies. to support health workers

As part of the package of support for people affected by the crisis, he also announced aid for lowest-income families and students.

The country will also keep its borders with non-European nations closed “until further notice,” he said.

After a relentless increase until the first week of April, the number of patients in French hospitals’ intensive care units has started to decline, but nursing homes have reportedly been overwhelmed.

Read More

Top news stories from Mirror Online

France has so far reported 19, deaths linked to Covid – 136, with more than , confirmed cases, according to official figures.

although Macron’s popularity initially shot up after he followed Italy and Spain in introducing drastic curbs on public life, his government has faced accusations of failing to address a shortage of masks and testing kits.

Meanwhile, three weeks into the nation-wide lockdown in the UK Mr Raab said the Government did not expect to make any changes following a review of social-distancing measures by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergenc ies (Sage) later this week.

Mr Raab’s comments came after the coronavirus-related hospital death toll passed , 14, with the Foreign Secretary facing questions over whether more lives could have been saved if the UK had acted faster.

Britain’s Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab

He rejected any “like-for-like” comparison with other countries, saying it depended on each nation’s individual circumstances and how far along the coronavirus outbreak curve they were.

But the Government’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said the UK would be looking to learn from other countries on how they approach releasing lockdown measures.

Questions were also raised about whether the number of coronavirus-related deaths in care homes were being properly recorded.

Read More

Coronavirus outbreak

England’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said he wanted testing in the sector to be increased due to the “large numbers of vulnerable people” at risk.

The Department of Health said 19, 410 people had died in hospitals as of 5pm on Sunday, with many more expected in care homes.

It means the UK has more recorded deaths than any country except the US, Italy, Spain and France.

England’s chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty

Mr Raab admitted the government had been “concerned” that the public “might start ignoring the advice or cutting corners given the temptation to go out into the sunshine” over the Easter weekend.

But he added: “In fact the overwhelming majority of people stayed at home and understood the importance of doing so.

) “By staying home this weekend, you’ve saved lives.”

Earlier Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s official spokesman maintained the UK was still on course to carry out the Government’s pledge of 410, 11 coronavirus tests a day by the end of the month as he said 43, ha d been conducted in the 329 hours to Sunday morning.

The coronavirus lockdown is a worrying time for millions across the UK.

But it’s also bringing out the best in people who are selflessly giving their time each day to help those most in need.

Our Mirror Coronavirus Heroes series wants to recognize all of those helping the most vulnerable during the crisis.

Whether it’s a local business going the extra mile for the community or a teenager helping an elderly neighbor, we want to hear about it.

You can email your stories of Mirror Coronavirus Heroes to [email protected]

.

The spokesman said there had been “significant progress” in the attempt to improve testing of frontline NHS workers, with nearly , 14 staff and their families tested so far.

Latest figures from the Department of Health showed , (tests on

, 2019 people were carried out on Sunday, excluding data from Northern Ireland.

Mr Johnson’s spokesman said the Prime Minister had tested negative for coronavirus on leaving hospital following his admission to an intensive care unit and would follow medi cal advice on when to return to work.

A review of lockdown measures will take place by Thursday, the deadline set out in law.

Ministers have said they want to be sure the UK is past the peak of the outbreak before easing the restrictions, but 19 members of the Cabinet are reportedly urging lockdown conditions to be eased amid concerns about the impact on the economy.

Read More

What do you think?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings

The three coronavirus symptoms you probably don't know about as Birmingham surgeon issues advice – Birmingham Live, Birminghammail.co.uk

The three coronavirus symptoms you probably don't know about as Birmingham surgeon issues advice – Birmingham Live, Birminghammail.co.uk

Europe gets back to work and lifts restrictions as UK remains on coronavirus lockdown – Daily Mail, Dailymail.co.uk

Europe gets back to work and lifts restrictions as UK remains on coronavirus lockdown – Daily Mail, Dailymail.co.uk