Paris (AFP)
After a long weekend marked by the gradual resumption of religious ceremonies, the government is preparing the next stages of deconfinement with announcements expected next week on the long holidays and the reopening of bars and restaurants, a consultation on the hospital and aid for sectors such as the automobile.
In addition, while the manufacturer Renault is at its worst, the President of the Republic should make "important announcements" on Tuesday as part of a support plan for the automotive industry. The Minister of Culture, Franck Riester, also mentioned a plan to support the book chain this weekend.
The Minister of Action and Public Accounts Gérald Darmanin, for his part warned Sunday that the French debt would "no doubt" exceed the threshold of 115% of gross domestic product at the end of the year, consequence of the support measures for the economy in the face of the health crisis.
Elected Saturday mayor of Tourcoing (North), with the resumption of the municipal councils elected in March, Gérald Darmanin also announced 3 billion euros in exemptions from social security contributions for companies in sectors particularly hit by the health crisis, such as catering , tourism, culture or sport.
Outside these sectors, companies having seen their social contributions deferred will be able to spread their payment, said the minister during the broadcast of The Grand Jury RTL-Le Figaro-LCI.
The government should also give details during the week on the next phase of deconfinement, in particular on the organization of summer holidays, which will have to be spent "rather in France", underlined the Minister for the Ecological Transition Elisabeth Borne on France Inter.
Restaurateurs and cafetiers will also know this week whether they will be able to reopen their establishments from June 2 in departments classified as "green".
- Careful masses -
On the 14th day of deconfinement, data on the epidemic - which has killed 28,289 people in France since March 1 according to Public Health France - remains downward oriented. The number of coronavirus patients hospitalized in intensive care continues to decline, with 1,665 patients on Saturday, or 36 less in 24 hours.
But specialists remain cautious about a disease whose incubation time can reach two weeks.
It is in this context, still uncertain but tinged with optimism, that the French have spent this long weekend, with repeated calls to respect the rules: do not stray more than 100 km from home, access restricted to leisure , maintaining barrier gestures and wearing a mask.
In addition, in the 30,000 municipalities where the municipal councils had been elected on March 15, mayors began to be invested on Saturday. The second round of municipal elections will take place in principle on June 28 for the 5,000 remaining municipalities.
Catholics went to Sunday mass in the parishes that had been able to organize in time, and Muslims were able to participate in the prayer of Eid el-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, in rare open mosques.
"Let's be careful!", However, recalled the Ministry of Health on Twitter. "During religious holidays, as with all activities, everyone must ensure that barrier gestures and distance are respected".
Moreover, in many churches the masses will only resume gradually by Pentecost next Sunday, and the leaders of other cults also advocate caution.
For Catholic parishes, "each bishop with his priests will determine the places where it can resume, carefully and gradually, Sunday, May 31, said Saturday Magnin, spokesman for the Conference of Bishops of France
The Muslim authorities called on the faithful to pray Eid al-Fitr at home. A celebration traditionally which is the occasion for family celebratory meals, visits to loved ones and gift exchanges. "We strongly recommend to consider a gradual resumption (of worship, note) from June 3," said Mohammed Moussaoui, president of the French Council of Muslim worship.
The Jewish authorities are on the same line. The Chief Rabbi of France Haïm Korsia insisted that we should not "rush to reopen the synagogues".
Friday, the Minister of the Interior Christophe Castaner had reminded, during a meeting with religious leaders, the preference of the authorities for a general reopening only after June 2.
- Optimism -
The government believes it is too early to draw conclusions, but some scientists no longer hesitate to assert that the Covid-19 epidemic is behind us, with the possibility that part of the population will be immunized.
The use of hydroxychloroquine, a remedy advocated and promoted by the controversial Professor Didier Raoult, is increasingly questioned: the Minister of Health Olivier Véran asked the High Council of Public Health on Saturday to propose "within 48 hours a revision of the derogating prescription rules "for treatments like hydroxychloroquine (the use of which in France is already very limited).
A nursery school and a primary school in Villeneuve-d'Ascq (Nord) closed their doors "until further notice" after the detection of a case of Covid-19 among the municipal agents who worked in the premises, in the presence teachers and pupils but "without direct contact", announced the mayor of the commune.
© 2020 AFP