Paris (AFP)

It is the worst quarterly performance of the French economy since 1945: with a large part of its economy at a standstill due to the epidemic of Covid-19, the country entered into recession with a historic fall of 6% of GDP from January to March 2020.

At a time when the human toll continues to increase, exceeding the 10,000 dead in the country, this figure published Wednesday by the Banque de France testifies to the brutal losses of activity in particular in the sectors of construction, trade, transport , accommodation and catering.

In particular, activity was around one-third (-32%) lower than normal over the last fifteen days of March, while confinement, which began on March 17, must last at least until April 15.

Another record according to the Minister of Labor, Muriel Pénicaud .: the use of partial unemployment was requested for 5.8 million employees in France, or one in four in the private sector, which could cost 19.6 billion euros in three months.

The French are more than ever called to stay at home. The entry into force on Wednesday of new restrictions show that authorities and carers fear a relaxation with the return of sunny days in the middle of Easter holidays (in zone C for the moment, Ile-de-France and Occitanie), as shown many images of walkers in different parts of the country.

The Minister of the Interior, Christophe Castaner, authorized the prefects, in connection with the mayors, to tighten the measures in the event of release.

Things have not dragged on in the capital and in four other Ile-de-France departments, where any individual sporting activity is prohibited from Wednesday, from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, faced with the unusual number of "joggers" multiplying outings.

- "Not yet at the peak" -

Tuesday, France recorded a new very heavy daily toll in hospitals, with 597 additional deaths in 24 hours, a total of 7,091 since early March. In addition, 3,237 deaths have been recorded in nursing homes and medico-social establishments, making a total of 10,328 deaths.

In total, 7,131 patients require heavy intensive care, "an indicator that the epidemic continues to progress," noted the Director General of Health, Jérôme Salomon.

However, with discharges, the net increase in the number of patients in intensive care is less and less strong, with a balance of +59 Tuesday (against +94 Monday and +140 Sunday).

"We are not yet at the peak," repeated No. 2 of the Ministry of Health. "We are only in the ascending phase even if it is slowing down a bit, so tackling deconfinement today makes no sense."

"The worst is not behind us, not at all, on the contrary, we are in an extremely perilous phase where we should not be mistaken and start to deconfinate and do anything", a warned on his side on CNews Pr Philippe Juvin, chief of emergencies of the Parisian hospital Georges-Pompidou.

"The hour of containment will last," insisted for his part the Prime Minister, Edouard Philippe, during the session of questions to the government on Tuesday.

The Secretary of State for Transport, Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, advised the French to "wait" before booking trips for the summer holidays, the situation being "still too uncertain".

However, the government is preparing well after, and is currently working on the development of a smartphone application, usable "on a voluntary basis" to identify people who have been in contact with another by the coronavirus, the minister announced on Wednesday. Olivier Véran and Secretary of State for Digital Cédric O in an interview with Le Monde.

- Screening in nursing homes -

In the meantime, the pressure on hospitals and accommodation establishments for dependent elderly people (Ehpad) remains very strong.

Olivier Véran, announced the launch of a vast screening operation in these nursing homes, some of which have been decimated by the disease.

In addition, France is continuing its efforts to stock up on masks, which are now coveted by the whole planet where the epidemic has left more than 75,000 people dead. "Secure orders" now reach 1.6 billion units, Mr. Véran.

Widespread use of the mask remains an "open question" but the government maintains for the time being its recommendation to reserve its use for caregivers and infected people, he also said.

© 2020 AFP