Paris (France) (AFP)

A defense council dedicated to the Covid is organized this Wednesday morning at the Elysee, just before the Council of Ministers, said the Elysee, a meeting which could in particular toughen health measures in Paris.

President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that several decisions would be taken "in the next few hours" and announced by Minister of Health Olivier Véran.

The minister is to hold a press point this Wednesday at 7 p.m.

The defense council must address the epidemic situation, the need for localized measures where the circulation of the virus increases or how to speed up test results and how to use saliva tests, according to sources close to the executive.

Paris, where the incidence rate of the virus has skyrocketed and now reaches 204 cases per 100,000, according to the ministry, or more than in Lyon or Marseille, should in turn be subject to stricter measures.

According to corroborating sources, during a meeting on Monday between the Ile-de-France Regional Health Agency, the town hall and the Paris Police Prefecture, the ban on the sale of alcohol from 8:00 p.m., the ban on all gatherings beyond 10 people, as well as the lowering of the maximum authorized level for large gatherings of 5,000 to 1,000 people.

The ban on the rental of halls for parties, including weddings, is also being considered.

On the other hand, no measure would be considered for nursing homes in the Paris region, transport, or timetable restrictions for bars and restaurants, categorically rejected by the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo.

The mayor of Paris warns against overly restrictive measures that would handicap economic and social life.

"We call for vigilance: we are going to live for a long time with this virus, something must be done that is liveable. The objective is to protect ourselves but we must let a social life take place", according to Anne Souyris, deputy of the mayor of Paris in charge of Health.

"If we still ban all outdoor events, what are we going to do with cultural events like the + White Night + (scheduled for October 3) or open-air cinemas?"

she wondered.

While the Scientific Council calls for stricter constraints in the 20 large metropolises, Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Lille and Marseille have all already announced in recent days new restrictions to try to stop the rebound of the virus.

These limitations relate to the size of the authorized gatherings, visits to nursing homes, closures or reductions in hours of bars.

France has thus tightened health conditions for millions of French people, in an attempt to slow down the epidemic rebound which is also affecting other neighboring countries.

© 2020 AFP