Police control and compliance with health measures in Paris, illustration -

Jacques Witt / SIPA

  • A new containment is put in place from this Friday midnight for 16 French departments.

  • This confinement is nevertheless very different from the confinement of November and even more than that of March.

  • Small recap of the measures with their chance - or not - of slowing the epidemic.

The sentence fell this Thursday evening during the weekly update of Prime Minister Jean Castex and Minister of Health Olivier Véran on the health situation.

Due to a strong circulation of the coronavirus with an incidence approaching or exceeding 400 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in these areas and an occupancy rate of resuscitation beds approaching 100%, 16 French departments (the eight departments of Île -de-France, the five of Hauts-de-France, Eure, Seine-Maritime and Alpes-Maritimes) will experience a new confinement from this Friday midnight and for a period of four weeks minimum.

But far from resembling that of March or November, this confinement is accompanied by new rules.

A "third way", as the Prime Minister called it.

Can these new measures work, and are they relevant to tackling the epidemic?

A brief overview of the third way.

Unlimited outing in time and within a radius of ten kilometers from home

Unlike the first and second confinement, it will be possible to be outside, under cover of having completed an exit certificate, for an unlimited period of time, and within a radius of ten kilometers around the home.

A measure that goes in the direction of numerous studies attesting that the outdoors and very ventilated areas greatly reduce the risk of contamination by the coronavirus, and that the overwhelming majority of transmissions take place in closed places.

A ComCor study from the Institut Pasteur released in March 2021 indicated that only 5% of the contaminations studied were made outdoors (15% indoors with an open window, and 80% in a closed enclosed space).

For epidemiology researcher Michaël Rochoy, this measure is therefore in the right direction, even if more communication would not have been too much: “For example, we could explain that it is a thousand times preferable to see someone in a park than at home or at home.

Show what can be done instead of quoting what cannot be done.

But allowing the outside, and starting - finally - to communicate on it, is essential, both for the support of the population and to limit gatherings in closed places.

"According to the doctor, the ten-kilometer limit, or even the certificate to be completed," doesn't really make sense.

The outside is made a restricted zone while it is the inside that should be better controlled.

"

Schools remain open, half-gauge in high schools

As during the second confinement, and unlike the first, the schools remain open with a passage in half-gauge in the high schools.

A clear will of the government, and contrary to what most of the other confined countries have done.

Wrongly?

Michaël Rochoy: “We can very well keep schools open, but if we recognize that it is an enclosed place and therefore a potential cluster, we must put the package on it by prohibiting moments without masks.

»Understand in particular, the canteen.

Eating meals outside, encouraging parents to take a longer lunch break to feed the children outside of school, prepare boxes, separate groups… There is no shortage of ideas.

"But as long as there are meals in the canteen, there will be a brewing of the virus, which then comes to families," laments the doctor.

For him, the return of indoor sport and the increase in breakfast at school wanted by the government are on the other hand "total nonsense given these factors".

Telecommuting four days out of five minimum

"All companies and administrations which can" must push "to the maximum" teleworking to set it up "at least four days out of five," said Jean Castex, indicating that controls would be reinforced on this subject, but without obligation.

Still according to the Institut Pasteur study, teleworking plays a protective role (-24% risk of contamination for partial teleworking, -30% for total telework compared to people doing the same work in an office).

“For out-of-home contaminations (58% of contaminations when the source person is known), it is above all contaminations in the family circle (38%), then in the professional environment (27%)”, also quotes the 'study.

Michaël Rochoy agrees: “It's a very good measure, even if once again, there is a lack of communication around the real problem, the moments without a mask.

Shared meals, coffee breaks, taking off your mask to smile at your colleague… ”

Interregional travel ban

Interregional travel will be prohibited for residents of the 16 departments concerned, except for compelling or professional reasons.

You cannot leave or re-enter these territories without these reasons.

Michaël Rochoy sees it more as "a measure that throws things on paper" than a truly effective measure.

He explains: “What matters is not to transmit the virus.

During the first wave, many residents of Île-de-France had left the region, but respecting the barrier gestures, this had not exported the epidemic elsewhere.

What is needed is to avoid contamination, not not to travel.

It is normal that people do not want to stay in maid's rooms for three months… ”

Closure of non-essential businesses

110,000 shops will close in the 16 departments concerned.

Only so-called essential businesses will be open, as well as bookstores, hairdressers and record stores (don't ask us why).

For Michaël Rochoy, this is a missed opportunity: “This measure may make sense, but once again it would have been necessary to explain the difference between enclosed and outdoor spaces, the importance of ventilation, the impact of aerosols in the air. transmission ”.

Nationwide curfew passes 7 p.m. this Saturday

Due to summer time, the curfew passes to 7 p.m. this Saturday throughout the territory.

A logical measure according to Michaël Rochoy: "Evening confinement does not make sense anyway, it only serves to limit aperitifs and meals shared in closed places, but again, instead of stupidly confining the evening. , it should have made a positive communication on "see yourself outside" and "avoid gatherings in closed places" ".

According to him, we can even completely remove the curfew, as long as we insist on the absence of interior visits.

Society

Containment: Hairdressing salons will remain open, announces Gabriel Attal

Economy

Containment: The government keeps its growth forecast at 6% in 2021

  • Covid 19

  • epidemic

  • Coronavirus

  • Health

  • Confinement