France readies for third lockdown as ICUs fillApril 3, 2021 - 12:14 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - France is battling a spike in Covid-19 patients in intensive care units as it prepares to go into a third nationwide lockdown, The Canberra Times reports. On Friday, April 2, there was another 145 people moved into intensive care units, the highest daily increase in five months, with 5254 people now in ICU with coronavirus. The risk of emergency wards being unable to cope was one of the main reasons for President Emmanuel Macron to order a third nationwide lockdown this week. After unsuccessfully trying to contain the virus with a curfew and regional lockdowns, France will start a third lockdown next week, with schools and non-essential businesses closed nationwide for four weeks. Macron said the number of ICU beds will be raised from 7000 to over 10,000. At the peak of the first lockdown in spring 2020, France saw a high of 7148 Covid-19 patients in ICUs, but that fell back to a few hundred in August following the strict first lockdown. During November's less restrictive lockdown, ICU numbers peaked at just under 5000, but since then they have only briefly dipped below 3000 in December. With new infections rising sharply, doctors expect the third wave of the virus will peak in the coming two weeks. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Viva-MTS: Tech solutions to modernize infrastructure of border village The border village has been the focus of Viva-MTS and the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Values since 2015. Ucom's fixed network launched in Artashat To mark this occasion, the company has introduced a special offer exclusively for Artashat residents. “By Your Side”: IDBank's new support program for displaced Artsakh citizens IDBank is launching a long-term social support program for forcibly displaced Artsakh residents. The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. |