Paris (AFP)

The health system will "stand up" to the coronavirus which has killed more than 4,500 people in France and threatens to saturate hospitals, said Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, who warned that the confinement in force since March 17 will probably be extended beyond April 15.

"The main thing is that the system holds up" and it "will hold up but we must remain concentrated, mobilized and vigilant," the Prime Minister said Thursday evening during a special broadcast on TF1 and LCI.

Since March 1, Covid-19 has killed 4,603 people in hospitals, including 471 between Wednesday and Thursday. At least 884 elderly people have also died in retirement homes since the start of the epidemic, according to an initial official assessment, albeit partial, announced on Thursday.

The collection of figures in retirement homes is still in progress, warned the Director General of Health Jérôme Salomon, noting of "great inequalities in the collection between regions", when announcing this first assessment expected since several days.

The Regional Health Agency of Grand Est, one of the most affected regions, for example, reported having recorded 570 deaths in Ehpad (accommodation establishments for dependent elderly people).

In addition, nearly 6,400 people require heavy intensive care, or 382 more in one day.

Faced with the danger of saturation in hospitals, especially in the Grand Est and Ile-de-France, evacuations continue to hospitals in less affected regions.

In total, according to the Directorate General of Health, 439 patients in critical condition have been evacuated since March 18 and other operations will follow in the coming days.

To cope with the wave, Edouard Philipe announced the opening "of an ultra modern platform" at the Henri-Mondor hospital in Créteil (Val-de-Marne) "in April", allowing to accommodate "86 patients additional ".

Another saturated sector is the undertaker. The Paris police prefecture has announced that a building on the Rungis wholesale market is to be transformed into a "large capacity" funeral home to accommodate the coffins of victims.

- "Not for tomorrow morning" -

Authorities are also starting to think about strategies for getting out of containment, which "is not for tomorrow morning," Edouard Edouard warned again.

He stressed that "the logic of containment must prevail, at least until April 15" and "probably longer" if sanitary conditions require it.

"This deconfinement can only take place gradually," he reiterated, adding that "we are thinking about several scenarios" with "health experts, logisticians" under the leadership of the interministerial delegate at the Olympic Games, Jean Castex.

This strategy will strongly depend on the availability of tests, while the government is already criticized for its management, in particular masks.

The competition for drugs and protective equipment is as global as the epidemic: the president of the Ile-de-France region Valérie Pécresse (ex-LR) said she saw a load of masks escape her in China for the benefit of 'Americans who had "outbid" to get it.

"Now we have to get deliveries, it's an exercise that is not always easy," said Philippe, referring to "the considerable demand that comes to China from the United States, from all over the world." 'Europe, from all over the world ".

President Emmanuel Macron, for his part, met with members of the Scientific Council on Covid-19, who have already estimated that the confinement could last up to six weeks at least.

In addition to the paper device already in place to justify exits in confinement time, a digital displacement certificate will be available from Monday.

- Reinforced controls-

The Easter holidays begin Friday for Zone C (Ile-de-France and Occitanie). But "there should not be any departures on vacation in the coming days. All those who are in violation will be punished," said the head of government.

To ensure that the French concerned do not leave, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner has strengthened controls on major highways, but also in airports and stations where "rail supply is reduced to 6% his capacity".

"Any abuse will be punished," warned the minister.

He also asked the prefects concerned to check the level of seasonal rentals in tourist areas.

The Paris police prefect has announced that it wants to enforce confinement "with the utmost firmness" with the implementation of reinforced controls, as of Friday.

However, it takes "a break" recommends the Minister of Education Jean-Michel Blanquer, for whom it is a question of "respecting the rest time that holidays represent". Beyond, "the bac 2020 will not take place under normal conditions", warned the Prime Minister who seems to favor "the track of continuous monitoring".

burs-jmo-ach-cg / ao / roc

© 2020 AFP