Auch (AFP)

Prime Minister Jean Castex, traveling to a vaccination center in Auch, in the Gers, urged the French on Friday to "hold on" to the health front before the arrival of "many doses in June" and the imminent crossing the threshold of 20 million vaccinated.

"We must hold on, we will have a lot of doses in June, so new centers," said the head of government, during this first stage of his trip to his native department.

"That people do not hesitate to be vaccinated on their holiday resort", also insisted the Prime Minister, while on Tuesday, the Ministry of Health invited the French to "adapt" this summer, by s' striving to make their dates of departure on vacation and their Covid-19 vaccination appointments compatible.

France is very close to crossing the 20 million mark for the first injections this weekend in mid-May, despite the disaffection with the AstraZeneca.

According to figures released Thursday evening, 19,269,311 people received at least one injection and 8,544,122 people received two injections (12.8% of the total population and 16.3% of the adult population).

"The lower the incidence rate, the more effective the screening. So it is necessary to continue all the more," also welcomed the head of government, while all epidemiological indicators have been declining since the Beginning of the month.

Jean Castex, who is accompanied in the Gers by the Minister of Agriculture Julien Denormandie, must then go in the morning to a project to widen the national RN 124 in Gimont.

In the afternoon, he has to visit farmers on a farm in Sainte-Christie, before unveiling a plaque in honor of his grandfather Marc, in his hometown of Vic-Fezensac.

© 2021 AFP