Céline Géraud, edited by Gauthier Delomez 12:03 p.m., December 23, 2021
While many of our European neighbors are gradually putting in place health restrictions in the face of the Omicron variant, France refuses to tighten the screw any further and is betting on mass vaccination.
A strategy that detonates in Europe, but which can be quickly called into question with the spread of Covid-19.
DECRYPTION
France and its exceptions.
A whole story, which also applies to the management of the health crisis.
If many of our European neighbors are taking new restrictive measures in the face of the spread of the Omicron variant of the Covid, and this even though the vaccination is deployed, France prefers to let the Christmas holidays pass and not to tighten the screw, in any case. not right away, by betting on mass vaccination.
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Containment, curfews and closures in Europe
A French strategy that detonates in Europe.
Most of our neighbors have recently decided to apply more or less drastic restrictive measures.
In the Netherlands, all inhabitants, even vaccinated, are re-confined until January 14.
In Austria, the measure was lifted only for vaccinated people, and from February 1, non-vaccinated people will even have to pay a fine based on their income.
In Germany, from December 28, the rule not to exceed ten guests at home will be asked of vaccinated people.
German league football matches will be played behind closed doors until further notice.
Also, in Portugal, teleworking is compulsory for two weeks, and bars and nightclubs are closed.
Even Spain, the world champion in vaccination, is tightening the screws.
The mask is again compulsory outdoors, and the curfew is active in Catalonia.
We can also mention Belgium which, from Sunday, will close its cinemas and theaters.
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A French strategy confronted with the Omicron variant
All these health restrictions are not, with the exception of the closing of nightclubs, the choice of France.
The government has made the bet to bet everything on an acceleration of the vaccination rather than on the restrictions.
Today, 76% of French people have received a complete vaccination schedule and since the announcement of a future vaccination pass, 50,000 unvaccinated people flock to the centers every day.
We must also not forget that since the release of successive confinements and curfews, the French have had to continue to wear the mask without interruption in all public places and indoors.
This must have saved us from a violent relapse observed in Germany or Great Britain.
But it is not certain that this strategy is still tenable in the face of the outbreak of the Omicron variant.
The number of contaminations could exceed 100,000 cases per day in the country by the end of December, as Health Minister Olivier Véran said on Wednesday.
And the situation is getting more tense every day in hospitals.