Fourteen renowned doctors demanded Saturday "the wearing of the mandatory mask in all closed public places" to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic from starting again, noting a relaxation in the respect of barrier gestures.
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The mask, "an important condition to limit the spread of the virus"
"It would be really regrettable not to use these effective and accessible means" to slow down the epidemic "which are: the wearing of the compulsory mask in all closed public places, the physical distancing as much as possible and the washing of hands", they argue in a forum published by Le Parisien-today in France . In this text, written by Antoine Pelissolo, professor in psychiatry, and Jimmy Mohamed, general practitioner and columnist on Europe 1, they recognize that the mask "remains uncomfortable".
But they stress that "unlike the beginning of the year", we now know that it is "an important condition to limit the spread of the virus" if "everyone is carrying it" and that "we have stocks today required".
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Among the co-signers are infectiologists Eric Caumes, Karine Lacombe and Anne-Claude Crémieux, as well as emergency physician Philippe Juvin and nephrologist Gilbert Deray. "For all of us, the temptation is great and understandable to resume a normal life, to forget the virus, to enjoy the summer, the beaches, evenings with friends and the newfound closeness. Unfortunately, the virus does not not forget us, "they warn, while surveys carried out by Santé publique France among French people show less respect for barrier gestures in recent weeks.
To pull itself together, before it is "too late to avoid a new confinement"
So they invite the French to pull themselves together before it is "too late to avoid a new confinement, more or less complete" and say they no longer want to "count the dead" as during the first wave of the epidemic. On the eve of vacation departures, Prime Minister Jean Castex and Minister of Health Olivier Véran on Friday called on the French to "daily vigilance" and to wear a mask to "prevent" a "possible second wave of the epidemic".
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And the public health agency France public health warned Friday in its weekly point that one observed a "new tendency with the increase in the circulation of the virus SARS-CoV-2" in metropolitan France, even if it is maintained "with a low level".