60% of French people admit to having transgressed the rules of this second confinement, since its announcement two weeks ago.

-

HOUPLINE-FOX / SIPA

  • Faced with the variants and the progression of the epidemic, "very tight containment" is one of the scenarios considered by the executive, said government spokesman Gabriel Attal on Wednesday.

  • According to a survey, more than half of French people are against a new strict national confinement on the model of that of last March.

  • On social networks, some French people, opposed to the restrictions and a third confinement, even call for a day of civil disobedience on February 1.

Containment, episode 3?

Faced with the increase in cases of coronavirus contamination, the appearance of new, more deadly variants, and repeated calls from the medical profession, the prospect of a re-containment is increasingly plausible.

A "very tight confinement" is one of the scenarios envisaged by the government, moreover admitted the spokesman of the government, Gabriel Attal, this Wednesday.

The executive must however deal with new data: more than half of French people (52%) are against a new strict confinement, on the model of that of last March, according to an Elabe poll for BFMTV, published on Wednesday.

A figure up compared to the first two confinements.

The French more and more reluctant

The French were 93% to declare themselves in favor of the establishment of the first confinement, on March 18, 67% for the application of the second, on October 29, only 48% for the third.

“The first confinement was better lived, people discovered the danger of the virus.

The second, a little less, but people had in mind the gravity of the situation and accepted it anyway, ”explains Gérard Schmit, psychiatrist in Reims, former president of the French Federation of Psychiatry.

While the second October containment was announced after an outbreak of cases in a few days, the situation is not the same for this (future) third containment.

“We are not yet in an emergency situation, it is almost preventive confinement.

When there is imminent danger, human nature accepts restrictions much better, ”explains Catherine Belzung, neurobiologist in Tours and director of Inserm Unit 1253 Imaging and Brain (Imaging and Brain, iBrain).

One of the great dangers of a new confinement feared by specialists is the deterioration of the mental health of the population.

According to a poll carried out by Odoxa-CGI for France Bleu and franceinfo, at the end of November, 32% of French people felt depressed, with particularly worrying levels among young people under 25 and students (53%).

“The data shows that during the second confinement, there is an increase in stress, anxiety, depressive states and addictions.

This new confinement would intervene on an already weakened population.

In other words, if we start from lower, we risk arriving even lower, "fears Catherine Belzung, according to whom this third confinement in the middle of winter, with" low light ", will be even more difficult.

Lack of visibility

If the French had accepted the restrictions of the first two confinements, it is also because they thought they would "see the light at the end of the tunnel" in 2021. This was without counting the increase in cases and the arrival of many variants, more contagious and more deadly.

“The French thought the situation would improve after Christmas, with the arrival of the vaccine.

But delays in the vaccination campaign and the arrival of variants disrupted everything.

It's almost even more impactful than the confinement itself, ”said the neurobiologist.

And if there is one thing that is difficult to live with, it is the lack of visibility.

It's impossible to know when the bars and restaurants will reopen, to organize a weekend, or to give a return date to a life without a mask.

“In the long term, we know that within two years, it should be over, but in the medium term, it is difficult.

Human nature needs to have a horizon, ”she adds.

An idea shared by Gérard Schmit: "The impossibility of projecting oneself has created anxiety and a third confinement could generate even more, with the idea that we will never find a normal world".

Towards acts of civil disobedience?

While some French people have seen their mental health deteriorate, others have entered a phase of anger.

Faced with the prohibitions put in place by the government, some consider themselves infantilized: “When politicians speak out, they look like school teachers, the population feels infantilized.

Some have the impression that they are being asked to stay at home and to be very good, ”suggests Gérard Schmit.

For Catherine Belzung, "the calls for accountability launched by the executive lead the French to think that the government considers that they are not responsible citizens".

In Europe, several countries are facing protest movements in the face of restrictions, such as the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain and even Germany.

What if that anger turns into civil disobedience?

In France, for the moment, no demonstrations, but hashtags.

On Twitter, thousands of posts, accompanied by the message #JeNeMeConfineraiPas or # Civilian disobedience have appeared.

Internet users have even called for a “Citizen Disobedience Day” on February 1, inviting restaurants, theaters, sports clubs, bars and cinemas to reopen.

The executive is waiting to know the results of two impact studies, one on the 6 p.m. curfew, the other on the progression of variants of the virus, full data of which will be available on Friday, to decide on new sanitary measures.

The French will therefore have to wait a few days to find out what will happen to them.

Health

Coronavirus: Can the third confinement wait?

Economy

Coronavirus: Should “non-essential” businesses be left open in the event of re-containment?

  • Society

  • Covid 19

  • Confinement

  • Video

  • Coronavirus