Paris (AFP)

France is preparing to remain confined for a few more weeks to interrupt the circulation of the coronavirus which is accelerating with more than 1,000 dead, while Emmanuel Macron makes a visit on Wednesday to an army field hospital in Mulhouse (east) .

While the president has placed doctors and researchers on the front line of the "war" against the epidemic, the scientific committee recommends the extension for a total period of six weeks - until April 28 - of the confinement initially planned for two weeks minimum.

It is still only an "estimate among others", commented the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, recognizing however that the government generally agreed with the recommendations of the committee.

"When the circulation of the virus is controlled, then the lifting of the containment can be tackled. If it is possible to lift it earlier, we will obviously do it," he added.

According to the assessment of health authorities on Tuesday evening, 1,100 deaths have been recorded in the hospital since the start of the Covid-19 epidemic and 2,516 patients were on Tuesday evening in intensive care (+434) out of a total of 10,176 hospitalized patients.

While few experts venture to predict the date of the "peak", a European clinical trial started Sunday in at least seven countries to test four experimental treatments. At this stage, chloroquine, one of the treatments tested which is debated, could be administered to patients suffering from "severe forms" of the coronavirus, but not for "less severe" forms, declared on Monday the High Council of Public Health .

Professor Raoult, whose recommendations for chloroquine treatment of Covid-19 patients are controversial, announced Tuesday to step back from the scientific council accompanying the executive on the disease, ensuring favoring a "direct" link, in particular with Emmanuel Macron.

- Heavy balance in retirement homes -

The president installed Tuesday afternoon a new Analysis, Research and Expertise Committee (Care), which brings together 12 researchers and doctors, to advise the government on treatments and tests against coronavirus.

After eight days of confinement, the results are particularly cruel in retirement homes: 16 deaths in an establishment in Saint-Dizier (Haute-Marne), seven in an Ehpad in Haute-Savoie, 20 in another in the Vosges.

In the East, mobilization is increasing to relieve hospitals: a first patient was admitted to the army field hospital in Mulhouse and thirty others will be evacuated by TGV on Wednesday to relieve Alsace, the region most affected by coronavirus.

This "medicalized TGV", a first in Europe, will be used for the first time to transfer patients from Strasbourg and Mulhouse to regions less affected by the epidemic, announced Olivier Véran before the deputies.

Emmanuel Macron will go to the army field hospital in Mulhouse on Wednesday "to pay tribute to the nursing staff" and "to show his solidarity with the Grand Est region which is badly affected" by the coronavirus crisis, announced the Elysium.

- "This is not enough" -

"Many of our fellow citizens would like to find the time before, (...) but it is not for tomorrow," warned Édouard Philippe on Monday evening, announcing a tightening of the containment measures: "Going out to take his children or doing sports is within a radius of 1 km from home, maximum for one hour, alone and once a day, "he said.

Tens of thousands of infractions have been noted and the penalties have been tightened for those who do not respect these instructions. The 135 euros lump sum fine goes to 1,500 euros in the event of recidivism "within 15 days" and may go up to "3,700 euros fine and six months in prison".

"I think like many colleagues that it is not enough," launched the head of the infectious diseases department of Saint-Antoine hospital in Paris, Karine Lacombe, Tuesday on France Inter. According to her, "move to a higher containment scale.

The mayors of more than thirty cities have also implemented a curfew, such as Nice, Mulhouse or Perpignan.

© 2020 AFP