Covid-19 map of France shows spread as cases spike
A map showing the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus Covid-19 in France, region by region, has been published, after cases increased tenfold in just one week.
Overall, 191 cases have been confirmed across the country, three people have died, and 12 people are reported to be cured and well again.
The major “cluster” sites - major areas of infection - are currently Morbihan (Brittany) and the Oise (Hauts-de-France).
The Hauts-de-France is particularly affected, due to the “chain of transmission” from the Oise, where a 60-year-old teacher became the first French person to die of the virus.
The map - compiled by news network BMFTV - shows the number of cases per region, as well as the epicentres of major outbreaks. Only Centre-Val-de-Loire and Corsica have no confirmed cases so far.
Confirmed cases in France shot up tenfold in the past week, and went up from two to 12 cases between January 24 and February 24.
By yesterday (Monday, March 2), there were 191 confirmed cases. This has led ministers to say that the virus is at “stage two of three”, with “stage three” corresponding to an epidemic spreading across the entire country.
Today, government spokesperson Sibeth Ndiaye said that moving to stage three appeared increasingly likely and inevitable.
In comparison, in Europe, Italy has confirmed the largest number of cases so far - and the third largest number worldwide - at 2,036. There have been 165 cases in Germany, 120 in Spain, and 40 in the UK.
President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced this week that the risk level for the virus in the EU had been raised from “moderate” to “high”.
According to the European Commissioner for Health, Stella Kyriakides, the most recent total of confirmed cases in the EU was 2,100 cases, and 38 deaths - but this is rising all the time.
Worldwide, apart from China - which has seen 80,151 cases - the worst-affected countries are South Korea (5,186 cases) and Iran (1,501).
Source: Johns Hopkins CSSE / Screenshot
According to the World Health Organisation, the death rate for the virus is 2-5%, compared to 0.1% for seasonal ‘flu. But the actual rate could be lower than this, as there may be many mild or symptom-free cases that have not been counted.
The United Nations has said that while most people who get the virus will experience only mild symptoms, 14% would be in a serious condition, and 5% would become critical.
