The deconfinement protocol in France is now known and will take place in four stages, including the reopening of the terraces from May 19.
While the first cases of the Indian variant were detected in France on Thursday, the number of people in intensive care continued to decline slowly.
Follow the evolution of the situation live.
After weeks of re-containment in the face of the third wave of Covid-19, President Emmanuel Macron gave his prospects for a "gradual exit" in an interview with the regional daily press published Thursday afternoon, with in particular a reopening of the terraces, shops and cultural venues on May 19.
While the first cases of the Indian variant were detected in France on Thursday, hospital pressure continued to decline little by little in France: the intensive care units had 5,804 patients on Thursday against 5,879 the day before.
Worldwide, the Indian variant, already detected in more than 17 countries, is causing concern.
The situation seems out of control in India, with 3,645 deaths from Covid-19 in 24 hours, a new record.
Follow the evolution of the situation live.
The main information:
The deconfinement will be done in four stages, announced the Elysee on Thursday
Shops and terraces will reopen on May 19 with limited gauges, if the sanitary situation allows it.
5,804 patients are in intensive care on Thursday, a figure down slightly
The Indian variant detected in 17 countries, including France
Deconfinement in four stages ...
The deconfinement will be done in four stages, spread over the months of May and June.
The curfew will be maintained at 7 p.m. from May 3 to 19.
It will then be shifted twice, at 9 p.m. on May 19 and at 11 p.m. on June 9.
It should finally be deleted at the start of summer vacation on June 30.
As for the bars and restaurants, they will be able to reopen their terraces on May 19, then their covered parties on June 9, each time with tables of up to six people and an adapted sanitary protocol.
The details of the 1st stage of #deconfinement which will take place on Monday, May 3, according to information from Europe 1: pic.twitter.com/TyEnRbJpVN
- Europe 1 (@ Europe1) April 29, 2021
For the reopening of shops and cultural places, the horizon is set for May 19, respecting a gauge set at 800 indoors and 1,000 outdoors for events - which the public will have to remain seated.
It should also be noted that the easing of teleworking is not planned before June 9.
The same goes for the reopening of sports halls.
... Subject to the health situation
In an interview posted online Thursday afternoon by the regional daily press, the Head of State warned that the reopening can only take place if the health situation allows.
Some departments may therefore not be affected by the same timetable for lifting the restrictions.
Brake measures "will apply in a metropolis or a department according to three criteria: the incidence rate which would again exceed 400 infections per 100,000 inhabitants, a very sudden increase in this rate and a threat of saturation of services. resuscitation. "
A "health pass" for "stadiums, festivals and fairs"
Emmanuel Macron also considers that it would be "absurd not to use" a health pass system "in places where crowds mingle, such as stadiums, festivals, fairs or exhibitions", access to which would then be subject to a negative test or certificate of immunity.
"It could not be compulsory to access places of everyday life such as restaurants, theaters and cinemas, or to go to friends," warns the head of state, however.
"This pass, which will be paper or digital, via the TousAntiCovid application, will show that one is vaccinated or tested negative in the two preceding days," said the president.
Vaccination opens for obese people on May 1
The President of the Republic has announced that vaccination will be extended "from May 1" to all people over 18 years "who are seriously overweight", ie a body mass index greater than 30. "J ' invites the 2.3 million French people concerned to go to the vaccination centers this weekend, "said Emmanuel Macron, excluding for the moment to open vaccination to all.
Obese people over 55 were already given priority for vaccination.
Hospital pressure on the decline
The number of patients hospitalized in intensive care continued to fall on Thursday, below 6,000, with 5,804 patients, according to figures from Public Health France, against 5,879 people the day before.
The total number of hospitalized Covid-19 patients was 29,487 on Thursday.
321 patients died in hospital between Wednesday and Thursday, bringing the total toll since the start of the epidemic to 104,239 deaths.
In addition, 26,538 tests turned out to be positive between Wednesday and Thursday, much less than the day before (31,539).
For a little over two weeks, the number of Covid-19 patients hospitalized in these services has been close to 6,000 patients.
A figure below the peak of the first wave in April 2020 (around 7,000) but higher than that of the second wave in the fall (4,900).
First cases of Indian variant detected in France ...
Three cases of the Indian variant of Covid-19 have been detected in mainland France, the Ministry of Health announced on Thursday in a press release.
A first case, in Lot-et-Garonne, had already been announced at the end of the afternoon by the Regional Health Agency of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, while according to the ministry, "two other cases were detected in the Bouches-du-Rhône ".
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... and cases in "at least 17 countries"
According to the WHO, the B.1.617 variant, more commonly known as the Indian variant, has been detected in more than 1,200 genome sequences, in "at least 17 countries".
“Most of the footage uploaded to the GISAID database comes from India, UK, US and Singapore,” WHO said.
In recent days, the variant has also been reported in several European countries.
>> READ ALSO -
Coronavirus: how the Indian government is trying to hide the health disaster
India recorded 3,645 new deaths from Covid-19 on Thursday, 350 more than the day before, a new record for this country severely hit by a second epidemic wave, according to figures from the Ministry of Health.
The country now deplores 204,832 deaths from the coronavirus, but many experts believe the real toll is much higher.
Nearly 380,000 new contaminations have been identified in the past 24 hours, once again breaking a world record.
Faced with this situation out of control, the French community is worried.
Whether tourists or residents, they all wonder about the days and weeks to come.
Discover here their daily life, entrusted to the microphone of Europe 1.
More than 3.13 million dead
The pandemic has killed at least 3,152,646 people around the world since December 2019, according to a report established Thursday by AFP from official sources. The United States has the highest death toll (574,329) followed by Brazil (401,186), Mexico (215,918), India (204,832) and the United Kingdom (127,480).