Covid-19 deaths in France rise, ICU patient numbers down
The French health authorities on Tuesday reported the highest 24-hour death toll yet from Covid-19 virus infection, with a total of 762 new fatalities, bringing the total number of recorded coronavirus-related deaths to 15,729, but the numbers of patients treated for the infection in intensive care fell for the sixth day in a row, to 6,730.
FranceFrance reported the most new coronavirus deaths and cases in four days on Tuesday after the country’s lockdown was extended into May, while the number of intensive-care patients dropped for a sixth day, reports Bloomberg.
Deaths linked to the virus rose by 762 to 15,729 fatalities, according to data published online by the health ministry. New recorded infections rose by 6,524 to 143,303.
France forecasts its economy will contract 8% this year, after President Emmanuel Macron said lockdown measures aimed at checking the coronavirus outbreak will be extended to May 11th. The International Monetary Fund predicts a global contraction of 3%, the biggest downturn since the Great Depression. Recovery in 2021 will depend on the pandemic fading in the second half of the year, allowing confinement efforts to be gradually scaled back, the IMF said.
