Covid-19: France facing a critical health situation
French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris, March 18, 2021. REUTERS - POOL
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A group of 41 AP-HP crisis medical directors is sounding the alarm.
French President Emmanuel Macron spoke in the Journal du Dimanche on Sunday March 28 to say that no new measure has been decided for the moment.
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Should we expect new measures to fight against the spread of Covid-19 in France?
"
Nothing is decided
", explains
the French head of state
in
the columns of the JDD
this Sunday.
"
For the coming days, we will look at the effectiveness of the braking measures and if necessary we will take those which are necessary
", underlines Emmanuel Macron in an interview carried out Friday evening, while the health situation is again qualified as "
criticism
”by the executive.
Saturation of hospitals, schools overwhelmed despite a new, stricter health protocol… Alarm signals are increasing in France where the spread of the virus is exploding, spiked by the more contagious British variant.
Defense Council Wednesday
Faced with the health situation which is evolving in the wrong direction,
calls for stricter measures are increasing.
This Sunday, 41 crisis medical directors of the AP-HP (Public Assistance - Hospitals of Paris) warn and evoke a "
situation of disaster medicine
".
They even explain that they are preparing to “
sort out patients in order to save as many lives as possible
”.
“
In the next two weeks
, say the signatories,
we already know that our support capacities will be exceeded.
"
Alain Riou, resuscitator
The situation is the same in schools, the closure of which has been debated for several days now.
In Seine-Saint-Denis for example, a particularly affected Ile-de-France department, elected officials once again denounced the catastrophic situation of schools: “
For several weeks and every day more, the health situation in schools [in the department] has deteriorated.
More and more [...] students, teachers, municipal staff are infected by the virus.
They can no longer carry out their missions,
”warned five mayors of the department on Saturday in
Le Parisien
.
Among 0-14 year olds the incidence rate increased by 31% from March 15 to 21 compared to the previous week, according to the epidemiological point published Friday by the health agency.
While new measures are demanded by many elected officials and doctors, a Defense council is due to be held on Wednesday to decide.
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To read also: Covid-19: Macron persists in his strategy but evokes “new measures” in France
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