Coronavirus: "the fight has only just begun", warns Edouard Philippe

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Edouard Philippe warned this Saturday that "the first 15 days of April will be even more difficult than the 15 days which have just passed" in the coronavirus crisis in France. Along with the Minister of Health Olivier Véran, the Prime Minister detailed the government's action plan against the Covid-19.

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" I want to tell you things with clarity and frankness : the fight is just beginning, the first 15 days of April will be even more difficult than the 15 days which have just passed ", said Edouard Philippe during a information point for the French, held in particular with the Minister of Health Olivier Véran and the Director of Health Jérôme Salomon. The Prime Minister welcomed " a collective effort ", " first that of the carers, admirable, courageous, committed ", " but also the remarkable effort of those who, in the second line, ensure the continuity of life of the nation ".

Supported by maps and curves of the epidemic, Edouard Philippe recalled the two main thrusts of the government's strategy: " increasing our capacity in the intensive care unit " and " flattening the curve " of the spread of the virus and serious cases with home confinement. " I will not let anyone say that there was a delay in the decision on containment " from March 17, and which was extended until April 15, said the head of government, recalling the side " unpublished for over a century ”of this“ global epidemic ”.

Faced with criticism from the opposition and part of the medical profession, the Prime Minister launched: “ When the time comes, we will learn the lessons of the crisis together. I am not one of those who discard their responsibilities. Some think they know perfectly well what should be done and do not hesitate to formulate ex post criticism. I leave them this luxury ”.

One billion masks and five million tests ordered

The Minister of Health Olivier Véran also detailed all the measures taken by the government to deal with the Covid-19 epidemic. " More than a billion masks have been ordered from France and abroad for the weeks and months to come, " announced the minister. These masks, he said, are intended for " all those who, not being caregivers, will be able to find with guaranteed masks a good way to equip themselves, to reassure themselves and to protect themselves ".

France will also go up to plan to carry out tests detecting the coronavirus. " France has placed an order for 5 million rapid tests which (...) will increase our screening capacity by around 30,000 additional tests per day in April, 60,000 in May and more than 100,000 tests per day in June, ”said Olivier Véran. They will be added to the classic “ 50,000 tests ” that will be carried out every day “ by the end of April ”, compared to 12,000 currently.

(With AFP)

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• Coronavirus
• France
• Edouard Philippe
• Health and Medicine

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