Coronavirus: a “new step is taken” in France

Text by: RFI Follow

Nineteen new cases of infection with the new coronavirus were confirmed on Friday in France, which brings to 57 their total number since the end of January, announced the Minister of Health. The government has put in place a battle plan to fight the virus. A plan focused on three stages. The country entered stadium 2 on Friday evening.

Publicity

" A new stage in the epidemic has been reached and we are now moving on to stage 2 ", said the Minister of Health visiting Crépy-en-Valois (Oise), where the first French man who died from infection was teaching. . “ The virus is circulating on our territory and we must curb its spread. ".

" In an epidemic situation, protecting yourself is also protecting others and it is the small gestures that make great protection ", continued Olivier Véran, who " now recommends, and for a period which remains to be determined, to avoid handshake ”.

" Several" clusters "(grouped cases) are identified " across the territory, he recalled. The main one is in the Oise: " There are 18 cases in the Oise this evening ", ie " 6 more " than Thursday.

► Also read: Coronavirus: France in search of the “zero patient”

In addition, there are " 6 cases in Annecy " (against four listed on Thursday), " 6 cases concerning travelers returning from organized trips to Egypt " (against two listed on Thursday) and " two cases in Montpellier ", according to Minister. " There are still twelve isolated cases, however ," he continued.

For now, the toll of the Covid-19 disease in France is two dead (a 60-year-old French teacher whose death was announced on Wednesday and an 80-year-old Chinese tourist), twelve healings and forty-three hospitalized patients .

A Defense Council and then an exceptional Council of Ministers on the coronavirus will be organized on Saturday.

The WHO (World Health Organization) raised to Friday the maximum level of the threat linked to the new coronavirus in the world, bringing it to " very high ".

What is stage 2?

Stage 1 was the arrival of the virus in the country. The virus was not in general circulation in the population.

France has now entered stage 2, that is to say that the virus is spreading. Clearly, the virus appears in several points of the national territory with clusters of cases. Strong decisions are needed to delay the spread.

Concretely, the closings of crèches or educational establishments can now be envisaged on a territorial or even national scale.

Visiting restrictions may be imposed in retirement homes and facilities for minors may be closed.

The plan also envisages a call to limit travel, the suspension of certain public transport and the restriction of large gatherings (shows, sporting events, fairs, shows ...).

Stage 3, finally, corresponds to the epidemic itself, when the virus circulates widely in the population. This stage, which lasts eight to twelve weeks, begins with the rapid increase in the number of cases. The priority is to “ mitigate the effects of the epidemic wave ”. In addition to the measures provided for in the first two stages, it involves mobilizing " reinforcement of health personnel ".

■ Measures for companies and employees

Employers and unions for once are all happy after a series of measures presented by the government on Friday to support companies and employees facing the coronavirus. The Minister of Labor, Muriel Pénicaud, announced the posting on the ministry's website of a "questions and answers" on the rules to be followed (on https://travail-emploi.gouv.fr/ ).

For companies, the coronavirus will be " considered a case of force majeure ", announced the Minister of Economy and Finance, Bruno Le Maire, after a meeting with the social partners at the Ministry of Labor.

This means in particular that " for all public procurement of the State, if there is ever a delay in delivery on the part of SMEs or businesses, we will not apply a penalty, " said the Minister. He also announced " possibilities of recourse to partial activity " and " the spreading of social and fiscal charges for the companies which will need it ".

The Minister of Labor emphasizes in particular that the employer can set up teleworking without the agreement of the employee, contrary to the usual practice.

In particular, it confirmed that the parents of confined children could be " put on sick leave " without a waiting day and with coverage for daily social security benefits.

The Confederation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (CPME), for its part, called in a press release " to large private principals so that they adopt the same behavior and show benevolence and solidarity towards their suppliers and their sub-contractors ”.

Above all, you have to anticipate if the risk ever arrives to prevent them (companies) from falling. When your employees can no longer come to work, well you cannot produce either.

François Asselin, President of CPME

A telephone platform, accessible on 0800 130 000 (free call from a landline in France, 7 days a week) provides information on 2019-nCoV and non-medical advice for people who have traveled in an area where traffic circulates. the virus or having encountered people who have circulated there.

Newsletter With the Daily Newsletter, find the headlines directly in your mailbox

Download the app

• coronavirus
• France
• Health and Medicine

On the same subject

[Special edition] From the epidemic to the pandemic? The coronavirus in seven questions