China News Agency, Paris, April 13 (Reporter Li Yang) French President Macron delivered a national television speech on the new crown pneumonia epidemic on the evening of the 13th local time, announcing that French "closure" and other control measures will be extended to May 11.
Macron admitted in his speech that France was clearly not fully prepared for the crisis. He said that the current French epidemic is far from over, but the production of medical materials such as masks and respiratory muscles is increasing, and work on vaccine research and development is also intensifying.
Macron said that the control measures will continue to be extended for four weeks until May 11. He emphasized that the control measures will continue to be strictly enforced and called on all people to unite and abide by them.
In response to the epidemic, a series of control measures such as the French "closure of the city" began on March 17, originally scheduled to end on March 31, and have been extended to April 15 by the French government. At present, the control measures have been implemented for nearly a month, and the extension to May 11 means that the control measures will last up to 8 weeks.
Macron said that after May 11, France will consider the step of gradually "unblocking". He said that after May 11th, French primary and secondary schools will resume teaching one after another, and the government will help every French get masks. He also announced support for industries such as tourism and catering, which were severely affected by the epidemic.
Macron also said that after May 11, cafes, restaurants and other public places are still closed, and large-scale events will not be held; the elderly and frail people should reduce their outings; the resumption of classes in French higher schools "will not be earlier than summer." In addition, France will help African countries cope with the epidemic.
Regarding the virus testing problem that the French people are generally concerned about, Macron made it clear that he would not start testing for all French people, but would start testing for all symptomatic patients from May 11. He said that French people can voluntarily use digital applications to determine whether they have been in contact with patients with new coronary pneumonia.
According to the latest epidemic data released by the French Ministry of Health on April 13, the number of deaths from French new coronary pneumonia rose to 14,967, with 574 deaths on that day; the number of serious patients is currently 6,821. There were 3,725 deaths in the Paris region, where the French epidemic was the worst, and 211 deaths on that day. (Finish)