Day-to-day communication.

While the possibility of a third confinement in France has been increasing for several days - in particular because of the epidemic curves and the threat of the Covid-19 variants -, the French Minister of European Affairs has delayed, Monday January 25 , this "hypothesis".

Asked about Radio Classique on this possibility, Clément Beaune replied: "I do not know (...), it has not yet been decided".

And he added: "On these serious matters, we must be careful and rigorous: the Minister of Health said that we are studying the impacts of the curfew (of 18 hours) which has been extended for two weeks in the national territory since mid-January. And depending on its impact on the health situation, does it help to break the curve, to better control the epidemic ... we will take, or not, additional measures. "

"There are assumptions, and it is normal for the press to state them," continued the minister, "but there is no decision at this time, and it is certainly not for me to decide. throw in a prognosis, because that's not my role. "

The verdict on the effects of the national curfew is expected this week - a Defense Council is due to take place on Wednesday regarding the health situation in France.

In an interview with the readers of the newspaper Le Parisien published on Sunday, Olivier Véran said to wait "to be fixed on the effects of the curfew".

"If it does not decrease and if the variants start to spread everywhere," the government "will take additional measures", he warned.

"And it's called containment."

"If we see that the virus starts to progress strongly, we close. We will do it if we have no choice," added the Minister of Health.

The containment "that we put in place in October was effective. But I can tell you that there is no hidden plan, nor a pre-written scenario."

With AFP and Reuters

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