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French PM Edouard Philippe Says Coronavirus Situation Improving, But Crisis Not Over Yet

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe attends a news conference, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Paris, France April 19, 2020. Thibault Camus/Pool via REUTERS

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe attends a news conference, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Paris, France April 19, 2020. Thibault Camus/Pool via REUTERS

Edouard Philippe said there were signals that pressures on hospitals were easing, after the number of people in intensive care dropped for several days in a row.

  • Reuters Paris
  • Last Updated: April 19, 2020, 11:08 PM IST
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The coronavirus situation in France is improving "slowly but surely", French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on Sunday, while warning that the health crisis was far from over.

Philippe said there were signals that pressures on hospitals were easing, after the number of people in intensive care dropped for several days in a row.

France, which has recorded close to 20,000 deaths as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, has been in virtual lockdown for nearly five weeks, but is due to start easing some confinement measures from May 11.

Philippe said that an economic crisis was only just starting as a result of the outbreak, adding that it would be "brutal".

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  • Active Cases

    14,175

    +880*  
  • Total Confirmed

    17,265

    +1,149*  
  • Cured/Discharged

    2,547

    +245*  
  • Total DEATHS

    543

    +24*  
*change over the previous day
Data Source: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India
Updated: April 20 (08:00 AM)
Testing centres

World

  • Active Cases

    1,614,290

    +40,697*  
  • Total Confirmed

    2,404,249

    +74,710*
  • Cured/Discharged

    624,725

    +29,496*  
  • Total DEATHS

    165,234

    +4,517*
*change over the previous day
Data Source: Various
Testing centres