Jean Castex and Olivier Véran -

AFP

  • Jean Castex and Olivier Véran announced new restrictions at a press conference on Thursday, as the health situation deteriorates.

  • A new confinement was notably decided in 16 departments.

End of the suspense.

The executive announced on Thursday new restrictions to try to curb the "third wave" of the Covid-19 epidemic, which will "hit very hard" until mid-April, according to Emmanuel Macron.

They first concern Ile-de-France and Hauts-de-France, two regions particularly affected by the marked acceleration in the circulation of the virus in France.

But other departments will also be subject to restrictions.

20 Minutes

recaps you what to remember.

The epidemic is racing

"The progression of the epidemic is accelerating," lamented the Prime Minister.

"This recovery is akin to a third wave, as we approach 100,000 dead," he continued.

An aggravation due to the arrival of the British variant, "which represents three quarters of contaminations", which is more contagious and more virulent.

France recorded nearly 35,000 new cases of Covid-19 on Thursday in 24 hours.

After a very slight decrease in Covid patients in intensive care on Wednesday, the pressure on these services is on the rise, with 4,246 patients against 4,219 the day before, a new high since the end of November.

“One person every four minutes” arrives in intensive care, said Jean Castex.

Several regions are of particular concern to the government, notably Ile-de-France, where “the incidence is 446 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Hospital pressure is very strong, with more than 1,200 people admitted to intensive care ”.

Another black point: the Hauts de France, "where the incidence rate is 381 and should quickly exceed 400".

Ditto for Seine-Maritime and Eure, where resuscitation capacities are almost saturated.

Total containment for 16 departments, including those of Ile-de-France and Hauts-de-France

The Prime Minister announced confinement 7 days a week in 16 departments from midnight Friday and for four weeks.

These are Paris, Seine-et-Marne, Yvelines, Essonne, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne, Val-d'Oise, l 'Aisne, Nord, Oise, Pas-de-Calais, Somme, Alpes-Maritimes, Seine-Maritime and Eure.

But it will not be a containment as in March 2020. Schools and colleges will remain open.

The high schools will all switch to "half-gauge", announced the Prime Minister.

Physical and sports education, during school time, "can resume normally," said Jean Castex.

The essential shops will remain open, with bookstores and record stores in addition.

But the so-called non-essential shelves of supermarkets will be closed.

Travel outside the home will be regulated according to more flexible rules.

It will be possible to walk outside during the day, without time limit, within a radius of 10 kilometers with a certificate.

But outside, not to go to friends.

The curfew will be maintained, but is going from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. across the country.

Interregional travel is prohibited for people from the 16 re-defined departments, "except for compelling or professional reasons".

"These measures can be extended to other parts of the territory and are applied for the moment at least for four weeks", warned Jean Castex.

To justify them, Jean Castex explained that "the confinement on weekends is insufficient to break the dynamics of the epidemic".

Teleworking even more incentivized

"All companies and administrations must push telework to the maximum," said the Prime Minister.

Employees will have to work at home four days a week, but will still be able to come to the premises one day.

Believing that "the time of meals in the workplace" is particularly at risk, the Prime Minister also called for the establishment "by the beginning of next week" of a "significantly strengthened protocol for collective catering in companies ”.

The relaunch of the AstraZeneca vaccination

After the (new) green light given this Thursday by the European Medicines Agency to the AstraZeneca vaccine, Jean Castex announced the resumption of vaccinations with this serum, suspended on Monday.

He referred to "the extremely rare side effects" of said vaccine and underlined "the demonstrated efficacy of the AstraZeneca vaccine".

The High Authority for Health (Has) will update its recommendation to resume vaccination this Friday.

"We will resume the campaign tomorrow afternoon," predicted Jean Castex, who confirmed that he himself would be vaccinated with AstraZeneca.

A more precise schedule for mass vaccination

Vaccinations continued to advance, despite the AstraZeneca vaccine being suspended this week.

In total, 5,748,698 people received at least one injection, and 2,393,568 had their two doses, according to the Directorate General of Health.

"We have almost vaccinated all residents of nursing homes, which represent 1% of the population," said Jean Castex.

Vaccination for people over 65 will be open from mid-April.

Jean Castex also recalled France's objective of vaccinating 10 million people in mid-April, 20 million in mid-May and 30 million by the summer.

World

Coronavirus: "No proof" that vaccines cause blood clots, according to British regulator

Economy

Coronavirus: The health crisis cost more than 160 billion euros to the State in 2020

  • Covid 19

  • Jean Castex

  • Confinement

  • Olivier Véran

  • Coronavirus