The objective of July 10 is confirmed. The French government wishes to end this date the state of health emergency put in place on March 24 to fight against the coronavirus. Matignon explained this decision Tuesday, June 9, insisting on "the development at this positive stage of the health situation".

"However, this exit from the state of health emergency must be organized rigorously and gradually", and the government will therefore present Wednesday to the Council of Ministers a bill which will, for four months, regulate access if necessary transport, to limit or prohibit certain gatherings and to close again certain establishments welcoming the public.

"These provisions would not, however, authorize the return to strict containment", such as that implemented from March 17 to curb the epidemic. The state of health emergency, in force since March 24, had been extended after two months until July 10. It "must remain an exceptional regime," insists Matignon.

A decree in the event of a relapse

The government therefore does not wish to extend it a second time. But the text presented Wednesday "leaves at the disposal of the Prime Minister part of his tools, for a period of four months" from July 10 if ever the epidemic, today deemed "under control" by the Scientific Council, was experiencing a rebound.

The exit from the state of health emergency "would thus be organized gradually, under the control of the Parliament which would be informed, under the same conditions as during the state of health emergency, of the measures taken by the government", specifies Matignon.

If a general or localized worsening of the situation were to justify more restrictive measures of liberty, the government should then resort again to the state of health emergency, which could be reinstated, on all or part of the territory, by a decree in the Council of Ministers.

With AFP

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