Paris (AFP)

The health situation continues to improve slowly in France where now half of the departments are classified green on the deconfinement map, but many doubts and concerns remain, from the reopening of schools to the quarantine measures planned for entry into France after the May 11.

Resuscitation services remain saturated but the noose is loosening, with 8 patients with Covid-19 less in the past 24 hours and since the start of the epidemic 50,784 people have been discharged from the hospital.

Three departments (Gers, Loire Atlantique and Mayenne) have joined the ranks of "greens" on the deconfinement map, and these are now 50 departments where a wider deconfinement can be organized. The final map will be published on May 7.

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner, however, warned that the green regions will not be free from constraints: "if you think that traffic can be totally freed up and the rules in this region not respected on the grounds that it is a green region, I can tell you that in two weeks it will be red. "

The government does not intend to drop the guard and has announced the extension of the state of health emergency until July 24. This can only be authorized by law, the text will be examined from Monday in the Senate and the next day in the National Assembly.

The executive has also made compulsory a "fortnight" for people arriving on the national territory and isolation if they are sick.

But the Elysee Palace clarified on Sunday evening: this rule will not apply to people from the EU, Schengen area or the United Kingdom.

As for people tested positive while they are already on national territory, no coercive measure is planned, the government counting on "the spirit of responsibility of the French".

- Brigades against contamination -

The government has also remained cautious about tracing the sick. The controversial StopCovid app will not be available on May 11.

But from day 1 of the deconfinement will be active "brigades" which aim to "break" the chains of contamination by identifying the people in contact with a patient, to invite them to be tested, or even to isolate themselves.

Marine Le Pen, who "does not believe" in the implementation of these instruments, criticized the government on Sunday for "entertaining the gallery".

The leader of the LR senators, Bruno Retailleau, announced that his party's elected officials will seize the Constitutional Council on the bill, while the Senate plans a commission of inquiry on the health crisis in June.

Many questions remain after May 11, mainly around the reopening of schools.

The "majority of nursery and primary schools" will be on May 11, assured the Minister of Education Jean-Michel Blanquer, with a maximum of 15 children per class.

To accommodate them, schools will have to respect a very strict health protocol: repeated hand washing, prohibited games, disinfection of equipment ... a real headache, especially in kindergarten, say some teachers.

While many mayors have announced that they will not reopen schools on May 11, a hundred parliamentarians from La République en Marche (LREM) have announced that they will offer better "legal protection" for councilors.

Another source of tension in anticipation of May 11: the sale of masks, possible from Monday in supermarkets, which will be mandatory in public transport.

The government has capped the selling price of surgical masks at 95 cents per unit, but not the price of cloth masks, due to the variety of models and their origin.

- Controversy around masks -

The controversy over an expected increase in the supply of masks was in full swing over the weekend. Large retailers once again defended themselves on Saturday for having built up "hidden stocks" of single-use masks, a "null" and "disgusting" controversy for the boss of the Leclerc group, "insane and unfounded" for that of U system.

The orders of the health professions have taken offense at the "staggering" number of masks advertised for sale by the large distribution, while the caregivers have missed them so much.

"There is a global shortage of masks. All the countries of the world have been confronted with this (...) this is no longer the case for France today", explained Christophe Castaner, acknowledging that the government n had "certainly not been clear enough" on the subject of masks.

On the economic level, the health crisis continues its ravages: the SNCF suffered a shortfall of two billion euros due to the virus, announced its CEO Jean-Pierre Farandou, considering state aid and cuts of posts.

- Measures for culture -

And on the transport side, the fear is great in Ile-de-France where the president of the region, Valérie Pécresse, requests that employees today in telework do not return to the office on May 11 to avoid the congestion of the metro or the RER.

The post-May 11 period also remains a source of concern for the cultural world, which has come to a complete halt since confinement. Emmanuel Macron promised "first steps" Wednesday for this sector.

Another question for the future: the holding of the second round of municipal elections. According to Christophe Castaner, it "will have to be done at the latest in June", even if his services are working on "a hypothesis" of two towers "at the end of September" for the only unelected municipal councils.

© 2020 AFP