While differences exist in the government concerning the severity of the measures to be adopted against the coronavirus epidemic, the Minister of Health Olivier Véran himself announced the new rules.

A way for him to reaffirm his authority, after having been put under pressure during a previous Defense Council. 

Faced with the rebound of the coronavirus epidemic, the government is tightening the screw.

The Minister of Health Olivier Véran thus unveiled on Wednesday several draconian measures, including the closure of bars and restaurants in Marseille and Guadeloupe.

But everything is not yet settled, and there is still room for maneuver for local actors, especially for the sensitive issue of places of worship. 

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Because in principle, the announcement of the closure of party rooms for associative meetings would force Jewish communities to give up the Yom Kippur celebrations this weekend.

The consistory is currently negotiating with the authorities.

And it is the same for other religions, including in Marseille, where places of worship have been spared, which is not insignificant concerning Muslim worship, while the Ministry of the Interior is in full preparation. of a very delicate bill on separatism.

Véran wanted to present the measurements himself

More generally, there are strong differences within the government between those who think that we should not hesitate to be restrictive and those who fear that the French, at their wit's end, will not accept this new turn of the screw.  

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In addition, Olivier Véran wanted to take political responsibility for these announcements when the Prefecture of Police wanted to do so.

For the Minister of Health, it is a question of authority, when he was put under pressure during a previous Defense Council about the quality of the plan he was proposing.

Matignon finally decided: Olivier Véran was able to announce the turn of the screw.