Castex puts his protective face mask on during a press conference
on the situation of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) in France, at
the Hotel de Matignon in Paris on August 27, 2020. CHRISTOPHE
ARCHAMBAULT / POOL / AFP.
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France’s prime minister announced Thursday that face
masks will become compulsory throughout Paris as he urged the
public to help halt a trend of mounting coronavirus
infections.
Jean Castex said 19 departments have been added to a map with
“red” zones of active virus circulation, meaning 21 of mainland
France’s 94 departments are now classified as such.
Official figures released Wednesday showed more than 5,400
confirmed new cases in just 24 hours, with admissions to hospital
and intensive care units on the rise.
There was an “undeniable resurgence” of the Covid-19 epidemic
throughout France, Castex told a press conference, with 39 positive
tests per 100,000 population — four times the level of a month ago,
and rising in all age groups.
The “positivity rate” — the percentage of tests that come back
positive — was up from one percent in May to 3.7 percent today, and
the so-called “R” rate of viral transmission is now 1.4 nationwide,
meaning 10 infected people are infecting 14 others on average.
More than 800 coronavirus patients are being admitted to
hospital on average each week, up from 500 six weeks ago, the prime
minister said.
“The epidemic is gaining ground, and now is the time to
intervene” to curb exponential infection growth, he said.
– Dash to avoid lockdown –
Castex announced that Paris, one of the 21 zones with active
virus circulation, will make face masks compulsory throughout the
city.
The city council later said the measure would come into effect
at 8:00 am on Friday.
Masks are already obligatory on public transport nationwide and
in most enclosed public spaces, including the workplace.
face masks are prepared by Sarah, a 45-year-old volunteer, who sews
face masks to be distributed to people in need, at her home in
Vincennes, eastern suburbs of Paris, on May 7, 2020, on the 52nd
day of a strict lockdown in France to stop the spread of COVID-19.
– GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT / AFP.
Local authorities in some cities and towns, including Paris,
have also used executive powers to make face coverings compulsory
in busy outdoor areas.
On Tuesday, the Mediterranean port city of Marseille — also in a
red zone — made masks compulsory in public places throughout the
city, including outdoors, and announced bars and restaurants would
close every day at 11:00 pm.
Castex said the government would do everything in its power to
avoid issuing new nationwide stay-at-home orders, but the
possibility could not be excluded entirely and localised lockdowns
may be on the cards.
– ‘Relaxation’ to blame –
He urged French people to do their part by taking
infection-prevention measures such as regular hand-washing and mask
wearing, and to practice social distancing.
Some “relaxation” in French society appears to have contributed
to the post-lockdown infection rise, he said, with some unwilling
to wear masks or follow guidelines to avoid parties or stay away
from older people at higher risk.
The rate of infection increase was particularly high among
people aged 20 to 30.
Castex said the situation was not yet “serious”, with the virus
incidence rate still 20 times lower today than it was at the peak
of the epidemic, when there were an estimated 1,000 cases per
100,000 of the population.
But if things do take a turn for the worse, he said hospitals
were ready with sufficient beds, masks and equipment.
The outbreak has claimed over 30,500 lives in France.
Masks will become obligatory for all children over 11 when they
return to school next week after the summer holidays, including on
the playground, Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer announced
Thursday.
AFP
Read more https://swordpress.com.ng/2020/08/28/masks-compulsory-across-paris-as-covid-19-cases-mount/
NYIF: Minister Hails Focal Group Volunteers
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare has
commended members of the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) Focal
Group for the dedication they have shown in carrying out their
unpaid volunteer work for the Fund.
The Minister, who made the commendation when the NYIF Focal
Group presented its preliminary report to him in Abuja on Thursday,
noted that the members were selected based on their skills,
competence and areas of expertise.
He explained that “We will take time to study this interim that
has been submitted by the NYIF Focal Group will be harmonized with
the interim report that the Technical Committee has submitted and
the outcome of that will be presented to the Steering
Committee.
“It is important for me to state that I am impressed, and I
commend the quality of work you have put in because this
assignment, membership of the Focal Group is not a paid assignment,
it is volunteer work. This is rendering service to the country and
to the youth,” he stressed.
The Focal Group’s team lead, Oladipupo Adebiyi, while presenting
the report during a virtual event, said “The NYIF initiative enjoys
public support especially from young Nigerians. Nigerians believe
the fund will address unemployment and reduce poverty amongst young
Nigerians.
“The fund will not only cushion the effect of the COVID-19
pandemic on the economic condition of young people, it will also
foster the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Most young Nigerians strongly posit that the success of the fund
will be contingent on its inclusiveness, monitoring and evaluation
mechanism and sustainability framework.”
The group’s terms of reference required that it Provide
advisory, insights and suggestions on the successful implementation
of the NYIF emanating from both the group and the youth population;
Propose ideas and initiatives that promote the NYIF and supports
its impact on youth entrepreneurship across the country; Provide
feedback on the expectations of the youth with regard to the
implementation of NYIF across the youth demography in the country;
Serve as ambassadors of the NYIF in their various communities and
spheres of influence; Coordinate the engagement of the NYIF with
youth groups and other stakeholders across the country for a proper
feedback process to strengthen the Fund; and Advise on other
related issue(s) as may be requested by the Inter-ministerial
Steering Committee.
*Media Office To The Honourable Minister Of Youth And
Sports Development*: Minister Hails Focal Group Volunteers
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare has
commended members of the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) Focal
Group for the dedication they have shown in carrying out their
unpaid volunteer work for the Fund.
The Minister, who made the commendation when the NYIF Focal
Group presented its preliminary report to him in Abuja on Thursday,
noted that the members were selected based on their skills,
competence and areas of expertise.
He explained that “We will take time to study this interim that
has been submitted by the NYIF Focal Group will be harmonized with
the interim report that the Technical Committee has submitted and
the outcome of that will be presented to the Steering
Committee.
“It is important for me to state that I am impressed, and I
commend the quality of work you have put in because this
assignment, membership of the Focal Group is not a paid assignment,
it is volunteer work. This is rendering service to the country and
to the youth,” he stressed.
The Focal Group’s team lead, Oladipupo Adebiyi, while presenting
the report during a virtual event, said “The NYIF initiative enjoys
public support especially from young Nigerians. Nigerians believe
the fund will address unemployment and reduce poverty amongst young
Nigerians.
“The fund will not only cushion the effect of the COVID-19
pandemic on the economic condition of young people, it will also
foster the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Most young Nigerians strongly posit that the success of the fund
will be contingent on its inclusiveness, monitoring and evaluation
mechanism and sustainability framework.”
The group’s terms of reference required that it Provide
advisory, insights and suggestions on the successful implementation
of the NYIF emanating from both the group and the youth population;
Propose ideas and initiatives that promote the NYIF and supports
its impact on youth entrepreneurship across the country; Provide
feedback on the expectations of the youth with regard to the
implementation of NYIF across the youth demography in the country;
Serve as ambassadors of the NYIF in their various communities and
spheres of influence; Coordinate the engagement of the NYIF with
youth groups and other stakeholders across the country for a proper
feedback process to strengthen the Fund; and Advise on other
related issue(s) as may be requested by the Inter-ministerial
Steering Committee.
*Media Office To The Honourable Minister Of Youth And
Sports Development*