Wow congratulations. Sofonie Dala had the great honour to attend a live conference about the next generation change makers, hosted by President Bill Clinton, Secretary Hillary Clinton and Vice President Kamala Harris

Greetings everyone!

WOW what an incredible week of connection, community, and collective impact.

Earlier this month I won the great opportunity to study online at Clinton Global Initiative University community.

If there's been anything educative and inspiring this month, it's the CGI-U 2021 Annual meeting. The past 4 days were decked with insight from some of the world's best business professionals, activists, political figures, and social entrepreneurs. 

The Annual Meeting has demonstrated the incredible resilience, dedication and power that young people possess. It was wonderful getting to know so many change makers across the world.

Networking with changemakers with whom I share the same commitment of using leading-edge tech-based solutions to make Education accessible for Out of School Women and Girls including disabled children and the importance of investing in Agriculture in order to reduce Global Hunger was my favorite part. I also made new friends and met wonderful people who are equally determined to influence and tilt the world for the better. The closing plenary presided over by President Bill Clinton, and Secretary Hillary Clinton featured perhaps our most awaited guest, the esteemed US Vice President Kamala Harris. This 5-star panel reinforced the vision of cohort attendees with words of advice born from decades of leadership.

Kindly follow the meeting here:

https://web.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=500820071295496&ref=watch_permalink

I thank the CGI-U team for the great experience, for the opportunity to share my vision and strengthen my CTA's framework.

Kudos to the CGI-U Class of 2021

Social entrepreneurs are super heroes working on fundamentally changing the world. 
Join us if you can!

Shoutout to #KhloeThompson: so inspiring, I run out of words to describe her. 

Last week over 300 change makers and I had the great honour to attend a live conference about the next generation change makers, hosted by Secretary Hillary Clinton.

I join Secretary Clinton in saying to Khloe “you give me hope” and here’s why:

→ she started Khloe Kares at the young age of 8 years old (distributing Kare bags to the homeless in LA)

→ she’s the author of "the girl who became the change"

→she annually travels to Ghana to help build clean water wells

→ she made clear how tired we are of fixing the issues from previous generations

→ and as if it was no big deal, she casually stated "I saw the difference and wanted to fix it. I am here to take over the world and want the youth to join me." And she will.

And here’s the craziest part....

Can you believe that she only turned 14 last week?(HBD, Khloe).

The 13th annual CGI U 2021 virtual meeting brought together 600 students from across the world who have made Commitments to Action — new, specific, and measurable initiatives that address pressing challenges. Hosted by President Bill Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, and Howard University from March 23-26, the meeting featured special guests Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, Stacey Abrams, Wes Moore, and others and explored topics on restoring faith in democracy, environmental justice, COVID-19 recovery, and creating systemic change.

Pictures 

Oh, pretty woman - Roy Orbison

Pretty woman, walking down the street

Pretty woman, the kind I like to meet

Pretty woman, I don't believe you, you're not the truth

No one could look as good as you, mercy

Pretty woman, won't you pardon me?

Pretty woman, I couldn't help but see

Pretty woman, you look lovely as can be

Are you lonely just like me?

Pretty woman, stop awhile

Pretty woman, talk awhile

Pretty woman, give your smile to me

Pretty woman, yeah, yeah, yeah

Pretty woman, look my way

Pretty woman, say you'll stay with me

'Cause I need you, I'll treat you right

Come to me, baby, be mine tonight

Pretty woman, don't walk on by

Pretty woman, don't make me cry

Pretty woman, don't walk away, hey, okay

If that's the way it must be, okay

I guess I'll go on home, it's late

There'll be tomorrow night, but wait

What do I see?

Is she walking back to me

Yeah, she's walking back to me

Oh, oh, pretty woman

DAAD German Government Development-Related Postgraduate Scholarships 2022/2023 for study in Germany (Fully Funded)

Application Deadline: Varying 

With its development-oriented postgraduate study programmes, the DAAD promotes the training of specialists from development and newly industrialised countries. Well-trained local experts, who are networked with international partners, play an important part in the sustainable development of their countries. They are the best guarantee for a better future with less poverty, more education and health for all. The scholarships offer foreign graduates from development and newly industrialised countries from all disciplines and with at least two years' professional experience the chance to take a postgraduate or Master's degree at a state or state-recognised German university, and in exceptional cases to take a doctoral degree, and to obtain a university qualification (Master's/PhD) in Germany.

Requirements

Graduates with at least two years' professional experience from the following countries: list of eligible countries

Value

Depending on academic level, monthly payments of 861 euros for graduates or 1,200 euros for doctoral candidates
Payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance cover
Travel allowance, unless these expenses are covered by the home country or another source of funding

Under certain circumstances, scholarship holders may receive the following additional benefit

Monthly rent subsidy
Monthly allowance for accompanying members of family

Click Here to apply: https://bit.ly/3dmwRL9

The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) Research Internships 2021 for early-career Researchers.

Application Deadline: April 23, 2021 

The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is an international non-profit, non- governmental organization that carries out high quality, policy relevant-research on population, health and education issues facing sub-Saharan Africa. The Center has internship opportunities listed below within its Research and Research Capacity Strengthening Divisions for a period of 3-6 months starting April 2021.

External Evaluation of the Advanced Newborn Care in Ghana (MEBCI 2.0).

Harnessing Heterogeneous COVID-19 data, to Build a Data Hub and Apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science to Support Public Health and Economic Decision Makings in Kenya and Malawi.
COVID-19 Observatory in Education in Africa.

Changing Food Systems in Kenya and Malawi and The Challenge of Antimicrobial Resistance.
Investigating The Role of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages in, and Perceptions Towards Childhood Obesity in the Slums of Nairobi.
Mapping The Functioning of the Baby Friendly Community Initiative and Identifying Needs Within the Kenyan Health System.
The Zero Hunger Project: Piloting the Nairobi Food System Vision for 2050.

Pilot Testing of the Mother and Baby Friendly Initiative plus Model for Human Milk Banking at Pumwani Maternity Hospital in Nairobi County (MBFI+ Project).
Describing Abortion Safety at The Population Level Using Network-Based Survey Approaches.

Challenging the Politics of Social Exclusion.
Lived Experiences, Social Determinants and Pathways to Unsafe Abortion in Kenya and Benin.

Factors Affecting Timely Completion of a PhD.
Statistical and Agent-based Modeling of Complex Microbial Systems: A Means for Understanding Enteric Disease Transmission Among Children in Urban Neighborhoods of Nairobi and Kisumu in Kenya.

Click Here to apply: https://bit.ly/3rEDiOA

PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival 2021 for youth Media Makers (all expenses paid to PLURAL+ Awards Ceremony)

 Application Deadline: 18 June 2021 https://bit.ly/3fthQcX

2021 marks the thirteenth anniversary of the PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival, a joint initiative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Today, the two organizations are announcing the 2021 call for video submissions and encouraging youth worldwide to submit films and make their voices be heard about the pressing social issues of our time.

Every year, PLURAL+ invites young people up to 25 years old to submit original and creative short films conveying constructive messages related to the themes of migration, diversity, social inclusion, and the prevention of xenophobia.

The winners will be invited all expenses paid to participate in the PLURAL+ Awards Ceremony, which will take place in late 2021.

The Jack Ma Foundation Africa Business Heroes Competition 2021 for young African Entrepreneurs (1.5 Million USD Prize)

 Application Deadline: 7th June 2021 https://bit.ly/39sMcbY

The Africa Business Heroes Competition (ABH) aims to identify, support and inspire the next generation of African entrepreneurs who are making a difference in their local communities, working to solve the most pressing problems, and building a more sustainable and inclusive economy for the future.

Requirements

Applicant should be …the Founder or a Co-Founder of the company.

Applicant has …African citizenship or is the child or grand-child of an African citizen.

The Company is …registered and headquartered in an African country, and primarily operates in Africa.

Company is …post-Idea stage. Business is 3 years old or more and has at least 3 years of revenue history.

Benefits

Pitch business legends

Opportunity to pitch to business legends and receive advice from them.

Win YOUR share of $1.5 million USD

All ten finalists win grant funds from $100,000 to $300,000.

Gain global recognition & exposure

nternational publicity via the televised Africa's Business heroes Show, press releases, news articles, TV/radio & print interviews.

Access mentorship & training

Tailored Feedback, Mentorship & Training via the Africa's Business Heroes Network of Partners and Judges.

Get connected with entrepreneurs ecosystem

An online community of ABH Alumni, judges and key stakeholders that promotes peer learning, engagement and networking.

COVID-19: ANGOLA REPORTS 66 RECOVERIES, 50 NEW INFECTIONS

 

Luanda - At least sixty six patients recovered, fifty new cases and two deaths is the balance of the last 24 hours in Angola.

The clinical bulletin indicates the recovery of 27 patients residing in Luanda, 22 in Huila, 14 in Cuando Cubango, 1 in Huambo, 1 in Cunene and 1 in Namibe.

Among the new cases, he said, 47 were diagnosed in Luanda, 1 in Cabinda, 1 in Cuanza Sul and 1 in Huila.

Of the new cases, whose ages range from 1 to 82 years, 30 are men and 20 women.

The deaths involve two Angolan citizens who lived in the provinces of Bié and Luanda.

The general picture of the country shows 22,182 positive cases, with 536 deaths, 20,446 recovered and 1,200 active. Of the active cases, 7 are critical, 9 serious, 40 moderate, 31 light and 1,113 asymptomatic.

There are 87 people in hospitalisation centres, 26 in institutional quarantine.

The authorities have 1,500 contacts of positive cases under medical surveillance.

The laboratories have processed 1,666 samples.

ANGOLAN PRESIDENT PROMOTES LUNCH TO MARK PEACE DAY

 Luanda - The President of the Republic, João Lourenço, will have a lunch next Friday, in the garden of the Presidential Palace, with historical figures, as part of the commemorations of the Day of Peace and National Reconciliation.

The Civil House of the President of the Republic said on Wednesday that "historical figures of the National Liberation Struggle" will join President Lourenço at the lunch.

On April 4, Angola marks the Day of Peace and National Reconciliation, a celebration resulting from the signing, in 2002, of the Memorandum of Understanding Complementary to the Lusaka Protocol.

The document initialled between the Angolan government and UNITA opened the doors for the holding of regular elections and the approval of the 2010 Constitution.

Witness: Officer in Floyd case gave onlookers a ‘cold’ stare

 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — As onlookers pleaded with Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin to take his knee off George Floyd’s neck, Chauvin just gave them a “cold” and “heartless” stare, the teenager who shot the harrowing video of the arrest testified Tuesday at Chauvin’s murder trial.

In tearful testimony, Darnella Frazier, 18, said that Chauvin continued to kneel on Floyd and that fellow Officer Tou Thao held the crowd back, even when one of the onlookers identified herself as a firefighter and begged repeatedly to check Floyd’s pulse.

“They definitely put their hands on the Mace, and we all pulled back,” Frazier told the jury.

Frazier said of Chauvin: “He just stared at us, looked at us. He had like this cold look, heartless. He didn’t care. It seemed as if he didn’t care what we were saying.”

Floyd’s death last May, along with the video of the Black man pleading that he couldn’t breathe and onlookers angrily yelling at the white officer to get off him, triggered sometimes-violent protests around the world and a reckoning over racism and police brutality across the U.S.

Frazier testified that she began recording the scene because “it wasn’t right, he was suffering, he was in pain.”

She said shed walked to a convenience store with her 9-year-old cousin when she came upon the officers and sent the girl inside because she didn’t want her to see “a man terrified, scared, begging for his life.”

Frazier breathed heavily and wept as she viewed pictures of Chauvin kneeling on Floyd and after a prosecutor asked her to describe how the encounter changed her life.

She said she looks at her father and other Black men in her life, and “how that could have been one of them.”

“I stay up at night apologizing to George Floyd for not doing more … not saving his life,” she said, adding of Chauvin: “It’s not what I should have done; it’s what he should have done.”

Another bystander, 18-year-old Alyssa Funari, testified tearfully that she also felt helpless to intervene when she saw Floyd struggling to breathe as Chauvin knelt on his neck and other officers pinned down his lower body.

“I felt like there wasn’t really anything I could do as a bystander,” Funari said, adding that she felt she was failing Floyd. “Technically I could’ve did something, but I couldn’t really do anything physically … because the highest power was there at the time,” she said, explaining that an officer held the crowd back.

The prosecution asked multiple witnesses to describe their horror at what they saw, buttressing the testimony with multiple videos.

Prosecutors played cellphone video recorded by Funari that showed bystanders becoming more frantic and agitated as they watched Floyd stop moving. The video, which had not been released before, also showed the woman who said she was a Minneapolis firefighter calmly walk up to Thao and offer to help, before he ordered her to get back on the curb.

Frazier likewise testified that the bystanders became increasingly upset by what they were seeing and got louder and louder, “more so as he was becoming more unresponsive.”

Chauvin attorney Eric Nelson sought to use the same evidence to show that Chauvin and his fellow officers found themselves in an increasingly tense and distracting situation, with the growing crowd becoming more and more angry over Floyd’s treatment.

But witnesses also testified that no bystanders interfered with police. When Frazier was asked by a prosecutor whether she saw violence anywhere on the scene, she replied: “Yes, from the cops. From Chauvin, and from officer Thao.”

Chauvin, 45, is charged with murder and manslaughter, accused of killing Floyd by pinning the 46-year-old handcuffed man to the pavement for what prosecutors said was 9 minutes and 29 seconds. Floyd was arrested after being accused of trying to pass a counterfeit $20 bill at the convenience store.

The most serious charge against the now-fired officer carries up to 40 years in prison.

The defense has argued that Chauvin did what his training told him to do and that Floyd’s death was not caused by the officer but by a combination of illegal drug use, heart disease, high blood pressure and the adrenaline flowing through his body.

Earlier Tuesday, Donald Williams, another one of the onlookers who shouted at Chauvin, testified that he called 911 after paramedics took Floyd away, “because I believed I witnessed a murder.”

Williams, a professional mixed martial arts fighter who said his training includes chokeholds, returned to the witness stand a day after describing seeing Floyd struggle for air, his eyes roll back in his head, and Floyd “slowly fade away … like a fish in a bag.”

On Tuesday, prosecutors played back Williams’ 911 call, in which a dispatcher offers to switch him to a sergeant. As he is being switched, Williams can he heard yelling at the officers at the scene, “Y’all is murderers, bro!”

During cross-examination, Chauvin’s attorney pointed out that Williams seemed to grow increasingly angry at the police, taunting Chauvin with “tough guy,” “bum” and other names, then calling Chauvin expletives, which the defense lawyer repeated in court.

Williams initially admitted he was getting angrier, but then backtracked and said he was controlled and professional and was pleading for Floyd’s life but wasn’t being heard.

Williams said he was stepping on and off the curb, and at one point, Thao, who was controlling the crowd, put his hand on Williams’ chest. Williams admitted under questioning that he told Thao he would beat the officers if Thao touched him again.

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Mason jailed 20 days for aiding Nigerian to acquire Ghanaian passport

 The Kaneshie District Court has sentenced a 28-year-old mason to 20 days imprisonment for aiding a Nigerian to acquire a Ghanaian passport.

Joseph Awuah, would also pay a fine of GH¢2, 400.00 in default serve 30 days imprisonment.

Awuah was charged with abetment of crime to wit attempting to obtain Ghanaian passport through false declaration.

Awuah pleaded guilty before the Court presided over by Ms. Rosemond Egyiri which convicted him on his own plea and sentenced him accordingly.

Prosecuting, Chief Superintendent of Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Mr Adolf Asenso-Aboagye, said Awuah was arrested by the GIS Takoradi Command for aiding one Wisdom Eugene Iyamu, a Nigerian to attempt to procure a Ghanaian passport.

According to Chief Supt Asenso-Aboagye, investigations revealed that Joseph met Wisdom and one Kelly at Arvo Hotel in Takoradi and the said Kelly enquired from Joseph if he could assist Wisdom to acquire a Ghanaian passport.

The prosecution said Kelly then gave Joseph GHC550.00 to start the processing of the passport.

He said Joseph then bought a passport form and booked an appointment in the name of Anthony Kwarteng for Wisdom.

He said Wisdom, Kelly and Joseph proceeded to the Passport Application Centre in Accra, where Wisdom was nabbed by the GIS officials.

The prosecution said Joseph and Kelly absconded.

He said Joseph was put under surveillance and was picked up at a cyber café at Takoradi while processing other applicants’ forms.

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Qatar health official calls for lockdown as COVID cases rise

 Ahmed al-Mohammed of the Hamad Medical Corporation says a return to full lockdown is the best way to stem the spread of the virus.

A Qatari health official has called for a full lockdown in the country to stem the spread of the coronavirus as the country continues to report an increasing number of infections on a daily basis.

Ahmed al-Mohammed, acting chairman of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) Intensive Care Units, said on Monday that Qatar was witnessing a peak in the number of cases since the first wave, including a reportedly large number of infections among children under the age of 14.

“The number of cases in the intensive care units in February was 53. We now have more than 300 cases,” al-Mohammed said in an interview on Qatar TV. “Look at the jump [in the number of cases] over the past few months. Even during the peak of the pandemic last year, we didn’t have that many cases in intensive care.”

On Tuesday, the country reported 720 new cases and three deaths with daily totals steadily rising in recent weeks. Since the start of the pandemic, Qatar has reported more than 179,000 positive cases, including 289 deaths.

“A full lockdown, such as what we had last summer where the roads were empty and people worked from home, is the best way to stem the spread of the virus,” al-Mohammed said.

“As long as people continue to interact with one another, attend workplaces and gather at events, the virus will continue to spread. We did not witness such numbers at the peak of the first wave.

“To put this into perspective, at the peak of the first wave in May 2020, we had about 220 patients in intensive care. It is clear that people are becoming sicker and experiencing more severe symptoms in this second wave of the virus.”

Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health said the circulation of the UK variant of the coronavirus has contributed significantly to the increasing number of cases.

Last week, Qatar announced a series of coronavirus-related restrictions on education, leisure and business activities, including closing gyms and restricting restaurant capacity.

Last month, authorities announced a 32-point plan to curb the surge that raised fears of a new wave of infections.

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA

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Over 4,000 migrants, many kids, crowded into Texas facility

 DONNA, Texas (AP) — The Biden administration for the first time Tuesday allowed journalists inside its main border detention facility for migrant children, revealing a severely overcrowded tent structure where more than 4,000 migrants, including children and families, were crammed into pods and the youngest kept in a large play pen with mats on the floor for sleeping.

With thousands of children and families arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border in recent weeks and packing facilities, President Joe Biden has been under pressure to bring more transparency to the process. U.S. Customs and Border Protection allowed two journalists from The Associated Press and a crew from CBS to tour the facility in Donna, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley.

The facility has a capacity of 250 but more than 4,100 people were being housed on the property Tuesday. Most were unaccompanied children processed in tents before being taken to shelters run by the Department of Health and Human Services and then placed with a family member, relative or sponsor.

The children were being housed by the hundreds in eight pods about 3,200 square feet (297 square meters) in size. Many of the pods had more than 500 children in them.

Oscar Escamilla, acting executive officer of the U.S. Border Patrol in the Rio Grande Valley, said 250 to 300 kids enter daily and far fewer leave.

“That number is so lopsided,” said Escamilla.

On Tuesday, journalists watched children being processed. They went into a small room for lice inspection and a health check. Their hair was hosed down and towels were tossed in a black bin marked “Lice.” The minors — many of whom have made long journeys to get to the border, including stretches on foot — were also checked for scabies, fever, and other ailments. No COVID-19 test was administered unless a child showed symptoms.

Nurse practitioners also gave psychological tests, asking children if they had suicidal thoughts. All shoelaces were removed to avoid harm to anyone.

The children were then led down a green turf hall to a large intake room. Those 14 and older are fingerprinted and have their photo taken; younger children did not.

Then they were taken to a second intake room where they got notices to appear for immigration court. Border Patrol agents asked them if they had a contact in the U.S. and allowed the child to speak with them by phone.

Children were given bracelets with a barcode that shows the history of when they showered and medical conditions.

Outside the facility, the roar of construction equipment could be heard along with air conditioning units.

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IMF chief predicts faster global recovery, warns fight isn’t ove

 IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said that the United States’ $1.9 trillion support package and rising confidence from increased vaccinations in many advanced economies were the primary reasons for the forecast upgrade.

The head of the 190-nation International Monetary Fund says prospects for global growth have brightened since January, helped by a $1.9 trillion United States rescue package. But she warns that uneven progress in fighting the coronavirus pandemic could jeopardise economic gains.

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Tuesday that when the IMF releases its updated economic forecast next week, it will show the global economy growing at a faster pace than the 5.5 percent gain it projected at the start of the year.

In remarks hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations, she said that the $1.9 trillion support package that US President Joe Biden signed into law on March 11 and rising confidence from increased vaccinations in many advanced economies were primary reasons for the forecast upgrade.

Georgieva said that governments around the globe had taken extraordinary actions over the past year including providing a combined $16 trillion in support and a massive injection of liquidity into the financial sector by the world’s central banks. Without this prompt response, Georgieva said the last year’s downturn would have been three times worse.

But she said economic prospects are “diverging dangerously” with the global economy now in a multi-speed recovery increasingly powered by two engines — the US and China, the world’s two biggest economies, while other countries fall behind.

Georgieva said the world faced “extremely high uncertainty” with so much depending on the path of the pandemic with new strains of the virus now holding back growth prospects, especially in Europe and Latin America.

Private economists are forecasting that the US economy could grow by 6 percent to 7 percent this year, which would be the best performance since 1984. But Georgieva said strong growth in the US could trigger a rapid rise in interest, which could trigger significant capital outflows from emerging-market and developing economies.

She said that emerging-market and low-income countries already have limited firepower to fight the crisis and are highly exposed to the declines in tourism and other sectors hit hard by the pandemic.

She said how to best address the pandemic would be the key agenda item when the IMF and its sister organisation hold their virtual spring meetings next week. Those discussions will also include a meeting of the finance ministers of the Group of 20 major industrial countries.

She said that the IMF estimates that faster progress in ending the health crisis could add almost $9 trillion to global gross domestic product by 2025.

“Given diverging recoveries, it is prudent to keep a close eye on financial risk, including stretched asset valuations,” she said. “And major central banks have to carefully communicate their policy plans to prevent excess financial volatility at home and abroad.”

SOURCE: AP

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French virus surge raises harrowing specter of ICU overloads

 PARIS (AP) — When French President Emmanuel Macron holds his coronavirus strategy meeting this week, some of the figures at his disposal from overburdened hospitals will show why doctors are bracing for the possibility of unprecedented misery from rampaging infections.

Internal projections by the Paris public hospitals authority, some of which were seen by The Associated Press, suggest that intensive care units in the region of 12 million people may soon have to find space for more critically ill patients than ever. Nationwide, the number of ICU patients has already eclipsed the levels of France’s last deadly surge i n autumn.

Increasingly, hospital indicators suggest that this new surge risks becoming the worst one yet, raising the pressure on Macron to reverse course and lock down the country once again, as he did in October and November.

At Bichat Hospital, one of Paris’ biggest, Dr. Aurelie Gouel’s job of finding space for surgeries in its rabbit-warren of operating rooms is getting harder. Her phone rings constantly with requests for increasingly squeezed resources. Half of the ORs have been shut down this week to free up staff and space for COVID-19 care, Gouel said.

“The hospital isn’t big enough to absorb the people who are sick,” she said Tuesday. “We’re under pressure to open extra beds but can’t do that with health care workers who are exhausted.”

Less-urgent procedures like hip replacements are being postponed. “Even if the patient is in pain, and I understand that being in pain is a real problem, they will have to wait,” Gouel said.

Outside the capital, ICU wards are also at the bursting point. Virus patients occupy all 16 regular ICU beds at the main hospital in Amiens, where Macron was born and schooled. Ten more temporary ICU beds set up this month in a pediatric wing for non-COVID-19 patients are mostly also full.

Dr. Michel Slama, the ICU deputy head, said Tuesday that at the current rate of admissions, and without stricter virus control measures, his hospital could soon be facing its worst battle with the virus to date.

“See that slope? See how sharp it is?” he said, pointing to a chart of virus infections and hospitalizations in northern France, including the Amiens region.

In the ICU, relatives circled in silence around the bed of a 60-year-old man close to death.

The French situation echoes the recent experience of Britain, which saw infections surge in December as a more contagious virus variant took hold, before then spreading in France and elsewhere in Europe. But where British Prime Minister Boris Johnson responded by locking his country down again, Macron has instead pursued a strategy of trying to contain infections with softer measures and to outrun them with vaccinations.

An overnight nationwide curfew has been in place since January. In Paris and other regions where the virus is spreading rapidly, residents also have extra restrictions on movement and nonessential stores are closed.

Doctors want even stricter controls, warning that surging infections could soon overwhelm their ability to care for the sick and force them to choose which patients they have resources to save. French ICUs had to make room for another 569 new patients on Tuesday, pushing the nationwide total beyond 5,000 for the first time in 11 months.

When Macron and his ministers and aides meet Wednesday, closing schools will be up for discussion. That’s an option his government has described as a last resort and resisted since a switch to online teaching in France’s first lockdown in 2020 proved particularly damaging for underprivileged kids and contributed to an explosion of child mental health issues.

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