PARIS (Reuters) – French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic in a conference call Thursday with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Macron’s workplace said, as world leaders prepare for a new imaginable wave of the virus.
“The President of the Republic and the Prime Minister of Australia shared their analyses on the evolution of the international COVID-19 epidemic and on the steps taken to save its resurgence,” said one from the French presidency.
Australia’s most populous state of the time, Victoria, reported five COVID-19 deaths on Thursday in the past 24 hours and the third largest buildup of coronavirus cases.
Melbourne, the state’s largest city, has also noticed an increase in infections in recent weeks, leading the government to impose a six-week partial blockade and make the face mask mandatory for its citizens or a fine of A$200 ($143).
France has the sixth-highest coronavirus death toll in the world.
Reporting through Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing through Mark Potter
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