ADVERTISEMENT

France Posts Record New Virus Cases as Minister Warns of ‘Violent’ Second Wave

France posted a record number of new virus cases as the nation’s health minister warned of a “violent” second wave.

France Posts Record New Virus Cases as Minister Warns of ‘Violent’ Second Wave
Civil Protection ambulance crew prepare to move a patient inside a home for the elderly in Paris, France. (Photographer: Nathan Laine/Bloomberg)

France posted a record number of new virus cases, 58,046, as the nation’s health minister warned of a “violent” second wave of the illness sweeping the country.

France is also facing a surge in intensive care patients, Health Minister Olivier Veran said at a briefing on Thursday. Virus patients now account for more than 85% of French hospitals’ initial intensive-care capacity. Another 363 people died from the virus, bringing the total to 39,037, French public health agency figures showed.

Europe is battling a new surge in the virus, with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French Prime Minister Jean Castex discussing the epidemic in a video conference on Thursday. France started a second lockdown last week, with limits on movement and closures of some stores. Paris is also shutting down all food-delivery and takeout services between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., as well as banning alcohol sales and public drinking.

“If we do not sufficiently respect the lockdown, we will experience a wave that is stronger than the first, longer,” Veran said at the briefing. “The second wave is here and it’s violent.”

France Posts Record New Virus Cases as Minister Warns of ‘Violent’ Second Wave

The French economy will shrink 11% in 2020, based on the lockdown ending on Dec. 1 and a gradual recovery in activity afterwards, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Wednesday.

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.