Jean Castex during the press conference on the Coronavirus on December 10.

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Daniel DERAJINSKI-POOL / SIPA

  • The Prime Minister, Jean Castex, and the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, took stock, this Thursday evening, on the health crisis linked to the epidemic of new coronavirus.

  • The return of cinemas, museums, theaters, restaurants and bars, it is not worth thinking about it before February.

    A stopover will be organized on January 20.

    As for people aged over 75, they will be able to be vaccinated "from Monday, January 18".

  • The government plans to postpone the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine "up to six weeks instead of three" to have more doses.

Gloomy news, but hope is there.

After presenting his wishes and sending his thoughts to people who have suffered from the horrors of the pandemic, Jean Castex took stock of the health situation before defending the government's vaccine strategy.

“The vaccine is the main source of hope for getting out of the crisis,” the Prime Minister insisted.

At a time when the WHO is asking Europe to "do more" in the face of an "alarming situation", the head of government and the Minister of Health Olivier Véran have given more visibility to the sectors affected by the crisis. Covid-19.

Back to the main announcements from the press conference this Thursday.

Two worrying new strains of the virus

The second wave is still here.

The situation in France is still fragile and the pressure on hospitals remains strong with more than 200 intensive care admissions each day and one in two beds occupied by a Covid-19 patient.

Two variants resulting from mutations are of particular concern to the authorities.

Two “risk clusters” of the British variant of the coronavirus, which is more transmissible, have been detected in France, Brittany and Ile-de-France.

In total, 19 cases of contamination by this variant have so far been confirmed throughout France, as well as three others by another variant that appeared in South Africa.

The border with the United Kingdom will remain closed "until further notice" to prevent the circulation of this new strain.

6 p.m. curfew could be extended

Let it be said, there is no question of relaxing the measures at all.

On the contrary, ten new departments could be affected by an advanced curfew at 6 p.m.

Decisions will be made "by tomorrow evening" for implementation from Sunday.

The Prime Minister does not rule out strengthening national measures depending on developments in the coming weeks.

What about culture, ski resorts, restaurants and bars?

The return of cinemas, museums, theaters is not for now.

And let's not even talk about restaurants and bars.

All the activities, all the establishments, all the equipment that are closed today will remain so until the end of the month.

A point will be made on January 20 with all the affected sectors to consider a recovery in early February.

Likewise with mountain professionals, to study the possibility of reopening the ski lifts for the February holidays.

Do not plan to drink at the counter or eat a bib at your favorite restaurant until at least mid-February.

All the mechanisms put in place to economically support these sectors are maintained under the same conditions.

An immediate work stoppage

From January 10, a person who shows symptoms or who has been in contact with the virus will be able to register on the Health Insurance website to obtain an “immediate” compensated work stoppage without a waiting period.

From January 20, each person declared positive will be offered a home visit by a nurse.

Systematic follow-up will be carried out by Health Insurance with two to three phone calls over seven days.

The vaccine available to over 75s from January 18

People over the age of 75 will be able to be vaccinated "from Monday January 18".

The Prime Minister made it clear that "45,000 people" have been vaccinated "in the last five days".

These vaccinations "will take place in vaccination centers" since one center per department has already been opened, ie 100 on the territory.

From Monday, there will be 300, then 600 gradually until the end of January.

To make an appointment, a telephone number will be communicated shortly.

He will refer to the vaccination centers closest to the home.

In addition, an Internet site, sante.fr, will make it possible to point out and take you on line.

Expand vaccination coverage

The idea has provoked many debates, but Olivier Véran assures him: "it is possible without risk and without loss of effectiveness to postpone the second injection of the vaccine" Pfizer-BioNTech against Covid-19 "for up to six weeks instead of three ”.

This recommendation comes from an opinion that the Medicines Agency (ANSM) just posted on its website on Thursday.

The administration schedule for this vaccine, authorized in the European Union since December 21, is based on two doses spaced 21 days apart, a time limit defined by the laboratories that developed it.

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  • Society

  • Curfew

  • Video

  • Anti-covid vaccine

  • Covid 19

  • Olivier Véran

  • Coronavirus

  • Health

  • Jean Castex