Unending Misery: the number of deaths keeps rising – the contagion is spreading more rapidly

The strict lock-down in Italy appears to be working to slow down the rates of infection

France coronavirus death toll jumps 240 to 1,100

But officially registered new infections rose just eight percent — the same as Monday and the lowest level since Italy registered its first death on February 21. The coronavirus has killed another 240 people in France, the top French health official said on Tuesday, bringing the death toll in the country from the pandemic to 1,100. Jerome Salomon told reporters that 22,300 people had tested positive for the virus in France, with a total of 10,176 hospitalized of whom 2,516 people are in intensive care. Officials believe that the published number of those infected largely underestimates the real figure, as only those showing severe symptoms are usually tested.

U.S. continues to downplay the virus threat: President Trump not only wants to avoid a national shutdown – he’s already talking about easing restrictions by Easter – April 12, 2020

German hospitals welcome first Italian coronavirus patients

German hospitals with spare capacity on Tuesday welcomed their first coronavirus patients from Italy, where an overwhelmed health-care system has seen the pandemic kill more people than in any other country. Ahead of an expected larger wave of home-grown infections that German authorities are preparing for, a first group of six Italian patients arrived at Leipzig airport in the eastern state of Saxony on Tuesday morning. The western state of North Rhine-Westphalia also announced plans to take 10 Italian patients over coming days. “We need solidarity across borders in Europe,” said state premier Armin Laschet. “We want to preserve the European spirit.” Germany has 27,000 confirmed coronavirus cases but only 114 deaths, and is using the time before the expected surge to strengthen its intensive-care capacity. The government is offering hospitals huge state subsidies to help accelerate plans to double that capacity, currently at around 28,000 beds. –TRT World