Coronavirus: The mayor of Dunkirk requests an "emergency examination" of the situation in his territory from the government (Illustration, Malo-les-Bains) -

M.Libert / 20 Minutes

  • Confined for two weekends, the Dunkirk sector has seen the epidemic figures drop significantly.

  • Tensions are nevertheless still great in the hospital where all the resuscitation beds are occupied.

  • The prefecture has thus decided to extend the confinement measure for three additional weekends.

The Northern Prefecture announced on Tuesday an extension of the weekend containment measure in the Dunkirk sector.

Put in place two weeks ago when the epidemic situation was racing in this territory, this measure has not yet made it possible to sufficiently lower the incidence rates.

It had been two weekends that the inhabitants of the Urban Community of Dunkirk (CUD) and the Hauts de Flandre Community of Municipalities (CCHF) had to stay locked in their homes.

"The first effects of the measures deployed since February 13, and in particular the confinement on weekends, are starting to be felt", assures the prefecture of the North.

For the CUD, the incidence rate has thus fallen by 24.4%, 23.6% for the CCHF.

An improvement which nevertheless remains well above the national average, established at 216.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

A hospital sector still in great tension

However, this is not enough to lift the restrictions.

In fact, the Dunkirk hospital is still under extreme tension with 80 hospitalized Covid patients and no more room in the intensive care unit.

According to the authorities, more than 90 patients have already been transferred for a month to other hospitals in the region and 5 outside Hauts-de-France.

"Michel Lalande, prefect of the North, decided, after consultations with the elected officials of the territory, to extend the confinement for the next three weekends in the territories of the CUD and the CCHF," said the prefecture on Tuesday.

The principle remains the same: daytime outings are prohibited between Saturday, 6 a.m. and Sunday, 6 p.m.

Only travel for exceptional reasons is authorized, in particular for work, for medical reasons or to practice physical activity one hour a day.

  • Confinement

  • Coronavirus

  • Dunkirk

  • Health

  • Society

  • Lille